It’s exciting to find CBD for pain management–especially the use of CBD for chronic pain–is such an effective remedy. Inspired by the great results with a CBD oil tincture to reduce my client’s use of Opioid medication by half in just four weeks, I’m raising the flag of hope for other pain sufferers.
Pain affects nearly 80% of Americans at some point, therefore, CBD for pain management has the potential for being a tremendous non-prescription choice. CBD is non-addictive, natural, and safe.
How Does CBD for Pain Management Work?
Chronic pain effects over 10 percent of Americans. While cure is elusive, the most common medical treatments for pain management are usually nerve blocks, steroids and narcotics (opioids). As we know, these prescription drugs can have serious, adverse effects. Using over-the-counter drugs, like aspirin and ibuprofen, causes approximately 15,000 deaths each year due to internal bleeding. Using CBD for pain management offers a unique solution.
Our body produces nerve signaling chemicals, similar to CBD, called endocannabinoids. These chemicals help to regulate the nervous system, immune system, sleep and the body’s organs. Our bodies produce sufficient cannabinoids when we are healthy. However, chronic pain is triggered when there is an insufficient amount of cannabinoids in your system because of poor lifestyle choices, illness or injury. Adding CBD for pain management, either topically and/or internally, can improve your body’s response to stress. An improved response to stress can mean better healing and a decrease in pain.
You can use CBD to treat specific types of pain. Read more about How and Why to Use CBD for Fibromyalgia Pain
CBD is Created by an Extraction Method
CBD oil is a phytochemical extracted from the cannabis plant. It is very different from the cannabis extract THC. THC is psychoactive and can cause euphoria or that “high” feeling. CBD is not psychoative because it is extracted from natural hemp or cannibis. Most CBD comes from industrial hemp, which is naturally higher in CBD.
After extraction, CBD is added to an oil. The oil acts as a carrier so it can be used in many delivery systems and in different strengths. This means you have choices when it comes to taking CBD. Tinctures, salves, vaping, or edibles are some of your choices.
Of course, it is always best to discuss CBD oil with your doctor before using it. I recommend only purchasing lab-tested CBD products. Before buying CBDs, be sure they are tested for quality and ingredient concentration.
How to use CBD for Chronic Pain Management
When you are considering CBD for chronic pain, it is important to understand that using CBD regularly can give you the best results. By maintaining a steady dose, the body will have a baseline level. Once you have built a consistent level, you can add more CBD to help manage acute pain flare ups.
I recommend an organic CBD oil tincture. I find it is better to ingest CBD than smoke it. Even though it may take up to 90 minutes to feel full relief, there is no lung irritation from vaping. Tinctures may be the best way to experience pain relief for hours.
I also recommend using a topical CBD salve for superficial pain. My clients use CBD salve for skin, muscle, ligaments, tendons or myofascial tissue pain. Topical salves penetrate deep beneath the skin layer to reduce inflammation and pain. You can usually feel relief within 15 minutes and it can last several hours.
Ask your Doctor about Using CBD to Manage Pain
As with all medications, discontinue use if you experience unpleasant or adverse effects. Because many health professionals are now familiar with CBD benefits, I’m hoping you will feel encouraged to ask your doctor about using CBD for pain management.
If you have further questions, please reach out to me and I’ll be happy to answer your questions. We want you to feel confident about the choices you’re making for your family!
~Dr. Erich Parks
Resource Articles: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20942863 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22585736 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18035205 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25160710 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3371734/#
