CBD for Pain - 5 Things You Should Know About
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a substance obtained from cannabis, which researchers believe might help treat various medical conditions. CBD is mostly useful in managing diseases that manifest in pain, stress and anxiety, inflammation, insomnia, and seizures.
One of the best things about cannabidiol is that it’s non-psychoactive. Therefore, you can use the substance to manage pain without worrying about getting intoxicated.
Even so, there are various things to know before you start using CBD for pain management. Read on as we highlight the five things to know about CBD for pain.
- CBD is effective for different kinds of pain
There are two major types of pain, including nociceptive and neuropathic pain.
Nociceptive pain refers to the pain that’s caused by sudden trauma or injury to a tissue, muscle, or bone. Examples of situations that might trigger nociceptive pain include car accidents, heavy falls, and strenuous workouts.
On the other hand, neuropathic pain refers to the pain experienced due to damage or persistent pressure on the body’s nerves. In most cases, neuropathic pain is caused by chronic diseases like arthritis, osteoporosis, cancer, fibromyalgia, and multiple sclerosis.
Now, CBD is effective against both nociceptive and neuropathic pain.
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For instance, the substance can help to relieve the delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS), a form of nociceptive pain that sets in several hours following intensive workouts. CBD might also help to relieve neuropathic pain resulting from various chronic diseases like cancer, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, etc.
For instance, the substance can help to relieve the delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS), a form of nociceptive pain that sets in several hours following intensive workouts. CBD might also help to relieve neuropathic pain resulting from various chronic diseases like cancer, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, etc.
- There are numerous products to experiment with
Initially, most CBD products came in the form of oral tinctures, which were intended for sublingual administration. With time, however, the industry has witnessed the introduction of more creative ways to administer cannabidiol.
Today, you can vape CBD-containing e-liquids, apply CBD-enriched skincare products, swallow encapsulated CBD, or consume CBD-infused edible products like gummy bears. And if you’re not opposed to the idea of smoking, you could as well smoke-dried hemp buds.
Generally, the delivery method you choose depends on your desired effects. For instance, you might consider the best CBD capsules or CBD-infused edibles if you’re looking for long-lasting effects. Although the effects of edibles generally take longer to kick in, those effects can last in your system for hours or even days.
On the flip side, vaping CBD-containing e-juices, smoking dried hemp buds, and dripping CBD oil tinctures underneath your tongue come with the shortest onset time. However, these three delivery methods usually deliver short-lasting effects.
- Doses vary with each user
One of the unique things about CBD and other cannabis extracts is the flexibility of doses. Generally, CBD has no ideal dose.
The amount of the substance you consume depends on the following factors;
- Age
The very young and the very old should moderate their CBD intake due to their rather sensitive stomachs.
- Metabolic rate
The higher the metabolic rate, the lower the CBD doses you should consume. That’s because a high metabolic rate translates to faster onset time.
- CBD concentration in a product
The higher the strength of CBD in a product, the lower the doses should be.
- The medical condition you’re using it for
Naturally, conditions that manifest in excruciating pain, such as migraines, arthritis, and muscle sprains, deserve higher CBD doses.
If you’re ever in doubt, remember to begin low, preferably with 3 milligrams of CBD per dose for every six hours or so. You can then work your way up depending on your body’s response to the substance.
- There are side effects to watch out for
Cannabidiol is a plant-based extract, so it’s natural to imagine that it doesn’t induce any side effects.
However, various studies have shown that CBD might trigger a host of side effects, including nausea, loss of appetite, changes in weight, diarrhea, fatigue, and lightheadedness.
As you may have guessed, CBD's side effects vary in intensity, depending on your sensitivity to the substance and overall immunity. The saving grace, however, is that these side effects are usually mild and short-lasting.
However, should the side effects last more than a couple of hours, avoid using any more CBD, and seek urgent medical intervention. In the same breath, experts advise against using cannabidiol for pain management if you’re already under medication.
- The legality of CBD is not a black and white affair
It’s undeniably true that CBD enjoys higher legal approval compared to other cannabis-based products. That’s mostly because of its non-psychoactive nature.
However, it’s important to remember that, like most cannabis extracts, CBD remains illegal in various countries worldwide.
In the United States, the 2018 Farm Bill legalized the possession, distribution, and use of CBD as long as the product contains a maximum concentration of 0.3% of the psychotropic compound, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
However, the federal government still bundles CBD and other cannabis-derived products in the Schedule 1 group of substances, which means that you cannot use CBD in a federal property like state parks and state buildings.
Wherever you are in the world, always establish CBD's legality in your country before using the substance for pain management.
Cannabidiol is effective against different kinds of pain. Unlike conventional analgesic drugs, CBD treats pain without exposing the user to severe side effects.
Reference Links
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2018.01259
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5569602/
https://www.farmers.gov/manage/farmbill
https://healthblog.uofmhealth.org/health-management/should-you-take-cbd-for-pain
