Oftentimes the cause of pain is quite obvious. Perhaps a broken leg or a bruise you got from an accident has given you a sense of discomfort. There are times when the source of pain is unseen, such as a slipped disc, arthritis pain, fibromyalgia and more. Over-the-counter medications such as Advil or Tylenol may ease the pain temporarily but it comes at the cost of our overall health. What if a plant-based remedy can relieve your pain with minimal risk of side effects? It might sound too good to be true. To learn more about using CBD for pain and its beneficial healing properties, keep reading!
Types of pain
There are numerous reasons that can cause pain, and sometimes it requires a thorough diagnosis by our physicians.
Arthritis
Arthritis is one of the most common diseases that 1 in every 5 Americans suffer from. The most common form of arthritis, Osteoarthritis, is caused by “wear and tear” damage. As for Rheumatoid arthritis, it is an autoimmune disease that deteriorates the immune system of that particular area of the body. To treat the underlying cause for arthritis, a holistic approach is often suggested. These include daily habits of moving the joints, fixing a bad posture, switching to a healthy diet, or taking herbal supplements that help fight inflammation. If you suspect any symptoms such as pain, redness or swelling around your joint area, consult with your physicians to find the best treatment plan for you.
Neuropathic pain
Neuropathic pain occurs when the actual nerves themselves are damaged. When the pain radiates around the joint affecting the nerves around the area for a prolonged time, it may lead to abnormal firing of these nerves and resulting in a stabbing-like pain. This type of pain is less likely to be mitigated by anti-inflammatory medications. Rather, working with a counselor seems to offer the best course of treatment. Physical therapy, relaxation therapy, massages or acupuncture are some of the methods that are found to be helpful.
Can CBD help with your pain?
It’s important to understand that CBD may reduce pain, but it’s not a cure for pain. CBD works by interacting with our own body receptors, such as serotonin, adenosine, vanilloid and glycine receptors. These receptors modulate many functions of our body, such as our mood, inflammatory response, and sleep cycle. Here at PLANT OF LIFE, we believe in the power of the holistic healing process, focusing on our whole mind and body rather than a specific health condition. Since the scope of this blog is to uncover some findings on using CBD for pain, let’s dive into some science.
THC and CBD: The Power Couple
CBD is an entirely different compound from THC, in which there are no psychoactive effects. Although THC may be judged by its recreational purpose, THC has its own medical benefits when dosed correctly. However, when THC and CBD are paired together, they create a synergistic effect, namely the “Entourage effect”. Scientists believe that the full spectrum of cannabinoids act synergistically to enhance the therapeutic benefits of the plant. In simple words, when THC and CBD are coupled together, THC’s anti-inflammatory and pain killing properties can be enhanced while reducing the unwanted side effect. 2018 study shows strong support on the possibility of using full spectrum CBD as a treatment for pain.
Healing without the High
None of our products at PLANT OF LIFE will leave you feeling intoxicated. All products are made with organic hemp plants which by legal standard only contains less than 0.3% THC. This small amount is not enough to leap over the intoxicating threshold, but enough to establish the entourage effect, along with the other beneficial cannabinoids such as CBN, CBC, CBG, and terpenes.
If THC consumption is still your concern, due to high sensitivity or a small risk of drug screening for insurance claim, you still have options with our THC Free CBD Oil or Broad Spectrum Heal Stick. Topical products are applied directly onto the sore muscle/joint area. Not only does it contains arnica flower, comfrey extracts and CBD all of which are natural ingredients to help fight inflammation and arthritis pain, it contains menthol crystal to desensitize your pain receptors. A few swipes on top of the area are all it takes to get the relief we deserve.
Case Study – Survey with 2,202 participants on using CBD for Pain
Thanks to Project CBD, a California-based non-profit organization and a big supporter of CBD and cannabis plants, we are sharing one successful case study on how effective CBD is in alleviating pain perception of 2,202 participants.
Results from this survey seem promising with approximately 70% of participants reporting “much better” in the aspect of pain intensity while 23% reported “a little better”. Pain score represents the average decrease in intensity of 60%. And here is the last quote from Project CBD:
“In light of the well-known dangers of opiates, this suggests that CBD has significant potential as a nontoxic, non-addictive, alternative pain remedy”
Bottom Line
More research is underway to approve CBD as a treatment option for arthritis, neuropathic pain and chronic pain. Arthritis Foundation is showing its support for using CBD to fight inflammation and arthritis. Project CBD is dedicated to opening surveys and publishing scientific research on cannabinoids and its healing properties. The market is growing rapidly and so are the research bodies of potential in this natural ingredient. Here at PLANT OF LIFE, we wish to highlight the fact that the natural healing process is rather progressive than immediate. And it accounts for other factors than just a single health condition, but rather our overall well-being. We find CBD to be extra beneficial when combined with other relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditating, breathing exercises, hot baths, and more.
Please feel free to message us via Email or Live Chat if you have any inquiries or questions!