Chronic pain sufferers can now find relief with CBD.
In the US alone there are millions of people that suffer from chronic pain. Chronic pain is the kind that lasts for long periods of time and sometimes for the rest of a person’s lifetime. Once a person has chronic pain, their entire life can change in many ways.
Doctors have long known that people suffering from chronic pain also eventually suffer from depression as well.
They are now linking many other problems to chronic pain like anxiety, fatigue and insomnia.
The good news is, CBD may be the answer to alleviating these problems
Why Opioids Are Not the Answer
One of the first prescriptions that most doctors will hand out is one for any of the major opioids that are available in pill form. These are hard drugs that a person can become addicted to if they take too many for too long. One of the other major problems with all drugs in this category is that over time, their effect wears off sooner and the patient requires a higher dose. This cycle can lead to addiction and often does.
Scientists are now discovering that if a person quits the opioid drug, their pain comes back even worse. This is one of the reasons why there are so many people addicted to opioids and now in the US alone, there are approximately 70,000 overdose deaths per year.
CBD Oil May Be the Solution
There have been many case studies lately that show CBD oil can relieve the pain for many chronic pain sufferers. In fact, CBD has made a huge difference in the quality of life for many people suffering from chronic pain.
In fact, research is now showing that the cannabis oil with THC is far less effective with pain than the CBD oil. Many medical marijuana users find that CBD oil the most effective for treating chronic pain like arthritis.
The Effects of CBD Oil on Arthritis Pain
First there are two main types of arthritis, Rheumatoid and Osteoarthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by a person’s own body attacking the joints causing inflammation while Osteoarthritis is caused by repetitive motion or accidental injuries.
CBD oil works in two ways, one by reducing the inflammation in the joints directly. The inflammation is what causes the pain, and as long as it’s there, there will be a pain. Secondly, CBD oil works by blocking pain signals that are sent up the brain.
CBD for Migraines
Even the limited research we have points to a daily dose of CBD to reduce intensity and frequency of migraine symptoms. Research suggests adding CBD oil to your daily routine as a preventative treatment. Because CBD can also help with many migraine triggers like stress, anxiety and insomnia, this approach is two-fold. CBD helps to prevent the headaches as much as the triggers.
Using CBD for migraines has been a game changer for so many people. If you’re looking to recommend CBD to a friend or family member, remind them that CBD is non-psychoactive and it doesn’t get you high. Plus, if it’s derived from the hemp plant, CBD can be shipped to all 50 states.
Ways to Use CBD Oil for Pain
There are dozens of ways that people have found to use the oil for best results. Some people take CBD oil drops under the tongue and others find relief from applying CBD cream externally to the joint. Many people do both depending on the amount of pain they are suffering and how fast they need relief.
While you can rub the CBD cream directly on the painful joint, such as a knee, for example, many people find that having the oil in a cream helps keep the oil in contact with the skin longer and is more effective that way.
In addition to that, it is common to find CBD topical pain rub mixed with other essential oils that also have beneficial properties in controlling inflammation and pain.
The World Health Organization has found CBD to provide real medicinal benefits from preventing seizures to alleviating anxiety and helping insomniacs.
How CBD Affects The Body
CBD works on the body by influencing the endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system helps to keep our bodies balanced. Everything from appetite to pain sensation, mood, memory, immune system functions and inflammation control.
Similar to how we use vitamin C to kick start our immune system, CBD acts as a kick starter to help the functions of the body’s central regulatory system.
Stress
A good number of CBD users enjoy its stress elimination properties. Elements of the oil directly activate serotonin receptors in the brain causing an anti-stress effect.
CBD can also promote several processes in the brain that help to combat the effects of stress to regulate anxiety and depression.
Anxiety
Whether it’s social anxiety or generalized anxiety disorder, CBD may be the solution you’re looking for. There’s plenty of evidence to show CBD is effective in treating anxiety.
“Most patients seem to be using CBD as an anti-anxiety medication… it helps calm them down and relax them,” said Dr. Solomon. “The biggest clinical studies show it does help decrease anxiety when you take 300 to 600mg of CBD.”
Anxiety case studies show CBD provides a calming effect of serenity and prevents recurring anxiety problems.
In a review of scientific literature by researchers from the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, scientists found that studies clearly suggest an anxiolytic-like effect of CBD.
If you’re looking to catch up on some sleep, CBD may be able to help you. CBD has made a huge difference in the quality of life for people with sleep disorders.
“What CBD does is help balance our endocannabinoid system, the main job of which is to keep our body in homeostasis,” says Aimée Gould Shunney, a licensed naturopathic doctor at Santa Cruz Integrative Medicine.
She says, “CBD calm’s down your body’s stress response and brings those cortisol and adrenaline levels back to baseline.”
Further information can be found in the article on CBD for insomnia.
Chronic Pain
CBD can be as effective for pain relief as an opioid, but without the potential for deadly addiction and side-effects. The compounds in CBD oil provide quick relief from inflammation and pain.
Dr. Solomon shared a self-report study he conducted at U.C. Berkeley, which tracked patients that were using opioids for pain relief. When subjects tried using CBD instead of opioids, the majority “reported that CBD provided relief equal to their other medications, but without the unwanted side effects.” He noted that more research needs to be done, but all signs point to pain relief—which would lead to fewer opioid-related deaths.
Among the top benefits of CBD is to manage chronic pain diseases like fibromyalgia and arthritis.
Over the counter pain killers have harmful effects such as liver damage and are thus unsuitable for prolonged use. This is why many chronic pain patients are opting to shift to CBD for hope.
According to the Florida Marijuana Medical Doctors, one of the most important benefits of CBD is to reduce inflammation in the brain. Studies have linked inflammation to issues such as anxiety, depression, memory trouble, stroke, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, fatigue and brain fog. In addition, the same studies suggest CBD can slow inflammatory responses in the body. Reducing this response in the brain means alleviating many symptoms associated with neurological conditions.
CBD protects neurons in the brain from damage due to aging deformities and diseases. Damaged neurons can lead to loss of basic functions like balance, locomotion, talking, memory and breathing.
The neuro-protective agents in CBD are due to anti-oxidants present in its composition. These include ascorbic acid also known as vitamin C and a-tocopherol (vitamin E).
Another benefit of using CBD is its ability to boost cognition so that the brain is working at optimal conditions avoiding mood swings, trauma and anxiety.
Epilepsy and Seizures
In 2018, the FDA approved a CBD-based drug to treat seizures, which was a huge step in making this natural medicine more available to the public and to patients who need it to survive. To date, of all the reported health benefits of CBD oil, this has been the most researched (and proven) use.
Patients suffering from seizures and epilepsy attacks can benefit greatly from the use of CBD. In a recent study on children with treatment resistant-epilepsy, doctors found that there was a reduction in the number of attacks in about 80% of the children.
Here’s an article from the European Pharmaceutical Review showing significant reduction in the the number of dangerous seizures in patients with a severe form of epilepsy.
The British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology also reported CBD as a suitable treatment for conditions such as epilepsy and schizophrenia.
Diabetes
Patients diagnosed with diabetes need to be vigilant in selecting diet and supplements for better living. CBD oil is a supplement that could benefit diabetic people. It helps in blood sugar regulation among other imbalances related to diabetes of all types.
CBD has low sugar content and thus considered a suitable food additive for diabetic persons. Additionally, it contains a proper ratio of the fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6 that are essential to lowering cholesterol. This will reduce the deposition of cholesterol in the inner walls of blood vessels reducing the risk of vascular disease. Daily dosage of CBD can help to prevent stroke and heart attacks.
People using CBD for diabetes report positive results without the side effects often seen with diabetic treatment.
Rejuvenate Skin
As it is an anti-inflammatory, you may find CBD skin-care products helpful when applied topically.
Some research even points to CBD being effective as an acne treatment, since it may limit inflammation in the sebum-producing glands that can lead to breakouts. If you’re not having luck with traditional acne-fighting treatments, it may be worth giving CBD a shot.
Application of the oil topically on skin could help combat acne due to its antimicrobial properties. CBD also regulates sebum production which prevents acne.
As for anti-aging beauty products, there are anti-aging CBD products such as creams and cleansers. Owing to its numerous nutrients and vitamins, CBD promotes healthy beautiful skin and hair growth.
