The cannabis industry is now booming after its legalization in over 50 states in the US. Its benefits are undeniable, and many people are now seeking refuge from its pain, anxiety, and stress-relieving effects. Though there has been speculation about its euphoric effects, people fail to realize that it is the sister compound responsible for the psychoactive effects. THC is not CBD because CBD has medicinal benefits, while THC is best for recreational purposes. Does CBD work for pain? The article shall deliberate on how CBD can help you manage arthritis, cancer, and migraine pain.
What is CBD?
Before delving into how CBD can work for pain, it is vital to define what CBD is. Cannabis is a famous product that faced many setbacks and questions concerning its intoxication. CBD is one of the compounds among the 100 compounds available in Cannabis. You can harvest CBD cannabis plants such as hemp. Cannabis contains a mix of compounds, and you can harvest pure CBD through the CO2 extraction process.
CBD has many functional benefits, and it is the type of CBD you take that will determine if you have trace amounts of THC or not. Or not. Full-spectrum CBD will have a trace amount f THC but is often below 0.3%. An isolate CBD is a pure form CBD that is often harvested from the hemp plant, while the whole spectrum CBD will have terpenes and phytocannabinoids that will work to add the synergistic Value of CBD.
How CBD Works for Pain?
Yes, CBD is an option when you are suffering from chronic pain. Though its effects are not expressively related to pain, it influences the endocannabinoid system, regulating moods. CBD may influence the receptors in the ECS to bring calming effects, which may positively reduce the pain.
Patients who experience chronic pain often find relieves when they take CBD products such as CBD gummies, CBD oils, and CBD topicals. CBD is a natural pain killer that will relieve you from extreme pain that results from cancer, arthritis, migraine pain, and inflammation. It is rich in antioxidant that has an impact in the receptors of pain.
Let have a look on how CBD can help with the following conditions:
CBD for Chronic Pain
An endocannabinoid system is a cell signaling system in the human body that is responsible for sending signals to the brain. The receptors, which are the tiny proteins in the cell system, receives and transmits signals to the brain cells. The receptors will stimulate the brain’s cells to generate inflammatory and pain-relieving effects, good for pain management. It is this influence that makes CBD useful for treating chronic pain and back pain.
According to the 2018 review on how CBD can relieve chronic pain, the results were positive after checking on specific conditions such as neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, and cancer pain. The researchers found out that the results for managing pain were positive and did not have any adverse side effects.
CBD for Arthritis Pain
CBD can also be effective for treating arthritis pain. According to the 2016 study that looked into the rats suffering from arthritis, it was evident that CBD reduces the overall pain, and no obvious side effects were visible. Taking a small dose of CBD has no impact on pain, while a sufficient dose was sufficient to gap pain.
Receiving a substantially heavier dose of CBD did not have any extra impact implying that you need a sufficient dose rather than taking them in excess. These anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects of CBD could have the potential to relieve arthritis pain in humans.
CBD for Cancer Treatment
Cancer is among the notorious conditions that will expose patients to serious pain. Using CBD to treat cancer has shown positive results. Research on mice shows that CBD can lead to the shrinking of cancerous tumors. According to the national cancer institute(NCI), CBD can be a possible solution for reducing chemotherapy side effects. The common chemotherapy side-effects are pain, vomiting, and lack of appetite.
CBD for Migraine Pain
There is still scarce research about CBD and migraine pain. The available studies about eh use of CBD in treating migraine considers CBD and THC used together. The two-phased study found out that high doses of CBD and THC will relieve acute pain.
The combination of compounds proved to be effective when in high doses. Migraine pain and headaches have a close relationship, and the respective effects that the patients receive are subjective.
Is CBD Safe for Use?
Yes, CBD is a safe product that will address pain and anxiety. CBD does not have any side effects, neither will it cause euphoric effects. CBD is good for medicinal purposes, while it may not cause any health impact if you take it in excess.
You should only seek a physician’s advice if you are getting started with CBD. Start with a small dose and gradually increase it until you arrive at the best dose that delivers better results to you. CBD can interact with some medication, and therefore you should not take it when you are taking some medications. Ask your physician about the possible interactions.
CBD is federally legal in 50 states in the US. The 2018 farm bill has made the use of CBD to be legal. The products qualify to be a CBD if the THC content is below 0.3%. Check the CBD regulation in your country before ordering the CBD products.
The Bottom Line
To conclude, without the euphoric effects of THC, CBD is emerging as a promising medicinal agent for treating pain, inflammation, seizures, and anxiety.
Our understanding of CBD’s involvement in pain management is still developing. Still, data from animal research suggests that CBD relieves pain via interacting with and modulating the endocannabinoid, inflammatory, and nociceptive (pain-sensing) systems.
Cannabinoids receptors interact with our own naturally occurring cannabinoids in the endocannabinoid system. Many activities in the body are regulated by this system, including metabolism and appetite, mood and anxiety, and pain perception.