CBD has become an increasingly popular supplement for many individuals worldwide who are looking to tap into its pain-relieving properties. As skepticism around pharmaceutical pain relievers has grown, many individuals are looking to natural remedies that can relieve pain while minimizing the risks of addiction and harmful side effects. CBD, or Cannabidiol oil, has emerged as a logical alternative that can provide pain-relieving benefits with limited, mild side effects.
Given the growing interest in natural and holistic healing modalities, it’s no surprise that it has found an increasing user base interested in exploring its many health benefits. Due to its complicated legal history, however, research into CBD’s effects has been slow-moving. Increasing numbers of research studies are now being published to validate CBD’s positive results, but more research is still needed to confirm these findings further.
Misleading marketing campaigns and misinformation online has given some CBD proponents false notions about its effects that aren’t always consistent with the evidence. Let’s separate fact from fiction regarding CBD’s pain-relieving properties based on the evidence we have at our disposal.
One noteworthy study published in the European Journal of Pain used an animal model to demonstrate how CBD can help reduce pain and inflammation caused by arthritis when applied topically. Another frequently-cited study showed how CBD could counteract inflammatory and neuropathic pain, which are two of the types of pain that are most difficult to treat. All that being said, more studies are needed to validate these findings further.
Consumers should be wary of companies that market CBD as an infallible treatment for all chronic pain types. Instead, it should be thought of as a supplement that can provide relief from specific types of pain caused by certain mechanisms in the body.
CBD is also being used by consumers suffering from a variety of conditions besides chronic pain. Some of these conditions include anxiety and depression, Epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s Disease, and many others, according to this Kyro article.
Aside from studies that indicate CBD’s ability to relieve inflammatory pain caused by arthritis, another report showed that CBD could benefit users who have Multiple Sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis, or MS, is an autoimmune disorder that can cause many adverse effects throughout the body.
One of the most common symptoms of MS is the involuntary contraction of muscles in the body. The report showed that CBD could help to reduce the severity of these muscle spasms. The findings are relatively modest, but many study participants reported a reduction in spasticity, which is encouraging. More studies should be conducted to explore CBD’s application and other benefits it could present to consumers suffering from MS.
A 2018 review analyzed many different studies conducted between 1975 and 2018 to understand CBD’s ability to relieve chronic pain, neuropathic pain, and fibromyalgia. The authors of this review concluded that CBD effectively encouraged holistic pain management with limited to no side effects.
As this article from the Washington Post explains, many athletes are beginning to use CBD to relieve aches and pains that develop from their athletic pursuit. Many athletes are finding that they need to exercise caution when integrating CBD into their wellness routine to ensure they do not violate doping regulations about their sport. These regulations relate to CBD’s complicated legal history that has impeded more research into its benefits from taking place.
The National Cancer Institute has indicated that CBD can help mitigate chemotherapy side effects, including pain, vomiting, and lack of appetite. In fact, in one 2010 study, taking a CBD extract alongside opioids was more effective in treating pain than taking opioids alone. A subsequent 2013 study had similar findings.
More research needs to be done to validate CBD’s utility in mitigating chemotherapy side effects, but these findings are certainly a cause for optimism.
A 2017 study indicated that CBD is effective in reducing acute pain caused by migraines. The study found a daily dose of 200 mg of CBD and THC compounds reduced migraine occurrence by 40.4 percent. Study participants suffering from cluster headaches also reported a pain-relieving effect from CBD.
Many creatives are using CBD topically for its pain-relieving properties. According to this article from the New York Times, creative professionals, including models and Broadway actresses, use topical CBD products to relieve pain caused by innovative performances. CBD has found a new home in many beauty products that have become increasingly popular due to its pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory benefits.
CBD’s ability to help alleviate chronic pain caused by various conditions could be linked to its chemical composition and how the body processes it. According to this Daily CBD Mag article, endocannabinoid receptors play a vital part in modulating pain and the inflammatory response to osteoarthritis. Since CBD interacts with a user’s endocannabinoid system, this could explain its efficacy for treating chronic pain caused by arthritis.
In conclusion, more research is needed to prove CBD’s ability to relieve different types of pain. However, studies that have been published in many medical journals give us reason to believe that it could well play a role in doing so. It’s also undoubtedly true that CBD has been embraced by the creative and athletic communities for its pain-relieving properties for high performers, mainly when it’s applied topically.
A sober, careful optimism is the best way to regard CBD in terms of its ability to relieve pain based on the research conducted thus far. It’s more important than ever not to consider any substance, including CBD, as a miracle cure for pain or other conditions, and to be skeptical of misleading marketing campaigns that attempt to do so.
Staying healthy is a holistic process with many different elements to consider, which is why it can be a good best practice to keep up-to-date with a quality lifestyle publication in addition to exploring the benefits of CBD and other substances.
CBD has many natural benefits, but it is important to use CBD in appropriate dosages. Hence, before considering CBD to treat any medical or non-medical condition, do consult with a doctor.
