CBD, known in full as Cannabidiol is a form of cannabinoid. It is a chemical that is sourced naturally from cannabis plants like hemp and marijuana. However, unlike regular cannabis, CBD does not induce that high feeling that is known as euphoria. The euphoria is a result of a chemical known as tetrahydrocannabinol, which is not found in CBD. Therefore, CBD is used for other purposes like for pain management.
CBD for pain management
CBD is commonly used by people that are suffering from chronic pain. The chemical is added to topical products like creams and oils. The topical CBD products are effective in relieving pain, inflammation, and other discomforts that are associated with different medical conditions. Medical research indicates that CBD topical products can be used as an alternative to regular pain medication like opioids. Patients with chronic medical diseases like cancer, as well as susceptibility to addiction, have been known to use CBD for pain management as opposed to opiates. The reason is that pain medications like opioids are highly addictive, and they have adverse side effects. However, when CBD is used for pain management, there needs to be a prescription from the doctor.
How does it work?
The human body is made up of a cell-signalling system that is known as the endocannabinoid system. According to research, CBD works by interacting with the primary elements of the system’s receptors in the brain and the immune system as well. The role of the receptors is to receive all kinds of signals, especially chemical signals. The signals are sourced from a variety of stimuli. The reception of the signals helps to trigger a response from the cells. The resulting response creates a pain-relieving as well as an anti-inflammatory impact hence the role of pain management.
Types of CBD products used for pain management
There are three main types of CBD products that are used for pain and inflammation. They are:
- Topical CBD creams
These creams can be used to relieve two types of pain. The first type is nociceptive pain. This type of pain is when the fivers of the nerves are acted on by one or more mechanisms. Such mechanisms include chemicals, inflammation, and mechanical. The other type of pain is neuropathic pain. It is a kind of pain that is generated directly from the nervous system. By definition, there is no external cause for this kind of pain. Both the two types of pains are a result of an underlying condition like chronic diseases CBD oils are useful in the management of both types of pain.
CBD creams are mostly manufactured using natural ingredients. The ingredients are carefully picked for different purposes, all related to pain management. For instance, a CBD cream can be made from shea butter, organic beeswax, and cocoa butter. However, all these other ingredients are secondary to the main one, which is CBD. The rate at which the topical CBD creams work depends on the potency of the formula. Highly potent creams tend to be more fast-acting than the latter.
- Topical CBD Oils
CBD oils work in the same manner as creams. However, as the name suggests, oils are more liquid than highly viscous creams. CBD oils are manufactured from industrial hemp. The hemp contains a higher content of CBD than marijuana. Manufacturers of CBD oils use a wide variety of methods to extract the chemical before adding it to carrier oil. The products come in different strengths and can be used for a wide range of applications. CBD oils can be used to relieve pain from arthritis, cancer, and other chronic illnesses. However, patients are only allowed to use the products if they have a doctor’s prescription or recommendation. CBD oils can also be used to treat anxiety, seizures, and epilepsy, to name a few conditions.
- CBD vape juice
CBD vape juice also goes by the name CBD vape oil. It refers to any form of vape juice that contains CBD instead of nicotine. The products are made by combining CBD vape additives with existing juice flavours. The products are specially formulated for vaping. However, the ingredients are edible. The vape juice does not cause euphoria (state of high) because it is formulated with CBD isolate and not THT. The CBD vape juices can be used to treating insomnia, anxiety, neurodegenerative conditions, and pain management. The amount of CBD vape juice that is effective for pain management depends on the user’s age, weight, tolerance, and symptoms. For instance, different conditions would require varying dosages.
Conclusion
There is a lot of research showing that CBD is effective in pain management. For this reason, CBD chemicals have become very popular in the medical industry. The popularity and its increased applications have triggered more research into the compound, its benefits, and adverse effects.