CBD for chronic pain uses, effects & benefits
CBD oil -called interchangeably hemp oil -has become increasingly popular as a health supplement.
One of the main reasons people are interested in trying CBD oil is because CBD oil is promoted as being helpful when tackling chronic pain. Let’s learn more about hemp products, their benefits, and side effects and moreover about their usage in pain management.
To have oil extracted from a plant as a pain-killer is great as not only it is more natural than conventional pain killers but is non-addictive and less harmful overall.
As a natural supplement, CBD has very few side-effects yet it’s rather effective at pain control.
What is CBD oil?
CBD oil is Cannabidiol oil (CBD oil) is an oil extracted from cannabis. The cannabinoid is a substance found in marijuana plants. It’s completely non-psychoactive and offers a wide range of benefits to the human body. There are three strains of marijuana:
- sativa – dominant strain in the THC cannabinoid
- indica – dominant strain in Cannabidiol (CBD)
- hybrid – the combination of the above
CBD oil is a mix of a CBD extract, with a carrier oil to help dissolve and store the CBD. Usually, CBD oils use carrier oils like MCT oil, or hemp seed oil — which is then combined with either CBD isolate, or full-spectrum hemp extract rich in CBD and other cannabinoids. CBD oils are fat-soluble — that means they dissolve when mixed with oil, but don’t dissolve in water. To measure oil to get your dose of CBD you use a simple dropper that comes standard with most CBD oils.
Does CBD create a ‘high’ effect?
No, even though CBD derives from marijuana plants it does not cause a ‘high’ effect or any form of hype or intoxication typically caused by another strain of marijuana (THC).
What is the difference between CBD oil and CB tincture?
CBD oils are made when infusing cannabis in a carrier oil whereas CBD tincture is made when soaking cannabis in alcohol and water.
How do you choose the best CBD oil for pain relief?
A great question to ask as not all CBD oils work. The actual CBD content is what really matters here as some oils do have too little of it to be able to help resolve any health problem. Others may contain toxic chemicals, heavy metals, pesticides, or unhealthy solvents that may affect negatively one’s nervous system.
The best CBD oils are ideally organic so as pure as possible. They are full-spectrum and the manufacturer is never refusing to share with you the CBD third-party laboratories results to confirm the cannabinoids content and purity.
This is a huge topic, so let’s get started with our list of top-rated CBD oils for pain.
Top 4 Best CBD Oil Brands for Pain Management in 2021
Not sure which CBD oil to buy to help with your pain? Before we get into the details of how CBD works for pain relief and helps when fighting inflammation, here are the top 3 CBD oils I’ve used myself for my neck and back pain, headaches and nerve-related problems including my Costen’s syndrome… Furthermore, I d like to share how to spot trustworthy CBD products even if I do not mention that brand below.
I’ve been using CBD for over 2 years now, furthermore, I researched it in and out for my father when he was fighting cancer;-( I am forever amazed by the gap separating great CBD products from the bad ones…How some don’t contain any cannabinoids yet are called a full-spectrum CBD oil or CBD products stating they are super strong where in reality when you check the label it’s far from a strong oil…
Here are my top 4 CBD oil brands for pain:
1. Provacan Kosher full-spectrum CBD oil (Editor’s Pick)
Details : Total CBD Content 30- 2400 mg Available Flavors: Natural
Why its is My Top Pick:
I like this company for the quality of its CBD products. I also love companies that are passionate about their products. That’s Provacan.
Their CBD oil color and consistency gives away that the oil is strong and quality.
This oil is cheaper than most of the other premium CBD oils I’ve tried and uses some of the best full-spectrum hemp extracts I also checked their potency and the certificate looks good.
After taking the 2400mg full-spectrum CBD oil for over a week, I saw an improvement in my back pain. My back muscles got relaxed and the pain went away. The oil helped me as well with tension, nerve pain (Costen’s ), and when I had a headache.
Furthermore, my overall quality of sleep improved. The quality of sleep seemed to have improved.
At the moment of writing this post, Provacan doesn’t offer any discount codes nor does it have any occasion sales. However, that doesn’t mean they won’t host any in the future. The best thing to do is to keep an eye on the website or on any of your favorite CBD products to see if they go on sale.
If you join the Provacan subscription plan, you can get 15% off selected products on the website.
Pros
- Sourced from EU – grown organic hemp
- Extracted with CO2
- Contains the full spectrum of cannabinoids and boosted terpene profile for an enhanced entourage effect
- Available in 4 different strengths
- Up to 2400mg of CBD per bottle, they also have 2500mg paste
- Lab-tested for potency and purity
- Free shipping within the UK when you spend over £100
- Provacan oils are Kosher certified by the Kashrut Division of the London Beth Din (KLBD)
- The brand has been working with the Hebrew University among other such esteemed research facilities to make the most out of CBD.
Cons
- The flavor may be a bit stingy on your throat if your CBD from Provacan becomes a bit old
- Kosher certification is, for now, available only for Provacan Oils of 600mg & 1200mg
2. Best Organic CBD Oil -Effective not Expensive CBD product – Lazarus Naturals
Details: Total CBD Content 300– 6,000 mg Available Flavors: Citrus, Classic, Mint, Blod Orange, Flavorless, French Vanilla Mocha, Chocolate Mint.
Pros
- Premium Oregon hemp – grown organically (pesticide-free, non-GMO hemp)
- Ethanol extraction + filtering to remove any impurities
- Rigorously tested for heavy metals, pesticides and level of potency
- Contains full-spectrum CBD
- Lazarus Assistance Program – 60% off on Lazarus Naturals products for veterans, people on long-term disability and those with limited means.
- 6 flavors available
- MCT (coconut oil) used as a carrier oil
- Standard or high-strength potency oils
Cons
For some ethanol, extraction may be a problem but having seen their certificates and transparency I am confident it’s a quality product no matter the extraction method
What I Like About Lazarus:
I honestly believe Lazarus makes the best organic CBD products out there. The brand has 120 acres of farmland that earned USDA Organic Certification. They plan to certify all of their products USDA Organic in 2021. Their offer is vast and their oils are great for both newbies or cancer patients looking for high potency CBD products.
I started my journey with Lazarus when testing their 5% broad-spectrum oil and it was enough to tackle my anxiety when I felt it when particularly stressed. I used that brand at the beginning of my CBD journey and must say it’s a great oil to start especially if you need to go for a flavored one.
Considering the quality of these products, they actually come at a bargain price.
3. Charlotte’s Web – the worlds most trusted hemp extract
Details: Total CBD Content 210-18,000 mg Available Flavors: Mint Chocolate, Olive Oil, Orange Blossom and Lemon Twist
What I Like about this oil:
These oils are often discussed by cancer patients in both US and Europe. It’s probably down to its quality and potency. I like the fact that you can find all the third-party lab test results for each batch on the product page — something we’ve come to expect from any high-quality CBD company.
What really makes this company stand out is its 30 days satisfaction guarantee. If you order the product and decide it didn’t work for you, simply send it back for a full refund.
I like the fact that if I want a flavored CBD Charlotte’s Web comes to the rescue 🙂
I wish it was available in more places in Europe.
Pros
- USA grown hemp
- U.S. Hemp Authority Certified
- Extracted with CO2
- High potency
- full-spectrum cbd oil – including phytocannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and essential fatty acids.
- Tested for the cannabinoid content and purity in an independent lab ( you can check your product certificate on their site)
- Subscribe and save 10% program
- 30-day satisfaction policy
Cons
- Thir labeling is confusing as they state potency per 1 ml on the front of the table most of CBD producents states the total of CBD in the bottle
- Not as widely available in Europe as in the US
4. NuLeaf Naturals
Details : Total CBD Content 300 – 6000 mg Available Flavors: None
What I Like About NuLeaf Naturals
Set up in 2014 NuLeaf Naturals is one of America’s top pioneering hemp CBD oil companies. In spite of being the longstanding expert on the market, they sell only one CBD oil :
As shown above there are a few different options, including 2 bottles of oil – but these are all the exact same full-spectrum extract, the only difference is the bottle sizes and one is labeled ‘for pets’.
Pros
- Sourced from organically grown hemp from Colorado
- Extracted using CO2
- Made from a full-spectrum hemp extract
Cons
- Narrow product range
- More expensive than the other brands ranked here
CBD Oil for Pain Control
Now that you know which CBD oil brands offer good broad-spectrum CBD we can focus on how hemp may help with pain relief. We’ll also talk about other most common ways people are using CBD oil for pain relief.
How Does CBD Work?
Cannabis has been used for managing pain and inflammation for thousands of years. However, it’s only recently that scientists begun to understand the mechanisms cannabis uses to achieve its important pain-killing benefits.
Cannabinoids have been increasingly popular since the discovery of the endocannabinoid system in the early 199o’.
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a widespread neuromodulatory system that plays important roles in the central nervous system (CNS) development, synaptic plasticity, and the response to endogenous and environmental insults.
Our bodies produce endocannabinoids (neurotransmitters that bind to cannabinoid receptors in our nervous systems). Multiple studies present that CBD may help reduce pain by activating the ECS system, helping to reduce inflammation, and interacting with neurotransmitters.
Cannabinoids not only boost our endocannabinoid system but also may help with:
- Appetite
- Immune strengthening
- Memory & Mood boosts
- Stress relief
- Sensory and pain perception
- Inflammation
- Reproductive health
- Nerve function
- Sleep
How Can CBD Reduce Pain?
When we experience pain our spinal cord and brain register the sensation.
Over the counter pain medications activate the opioid receptors responsible for pain transmission to the brain.
CBD works in a similar way but through different receptors. These receptors called vanilloid receptors. regulate pain caused by either heat or inflammation. CBD modulates them — which leads to a reduction of the pain signals sent to the brain.
CBD may also:
- reduce inflammation, minimizing the cause of pain in the body
- act as an antioxidant, helping the body resist free radicals and recover from DNA damage
- relax muscles, reducing tension and pain caused by muscle spasms and tightness
Choosing CBD Oil Brand
If a laboratory extracts and purifies CBD from non-organic commercial hemp plants and also extracts and purifies CBD from organic cannabis Sativa plants (that also happen to meet the legal definition of “hemp”), then that would be an equivalent product: pure CBD. I think this is the logic most people get stuck on, where they say “CBD is CBD.” In reality, we do not want pure CBD (just as we do not want pure THC), but rather we want a “full-spectrum” extract containing over 100 other cannabinoids, and various plant terpenes and waxes and other plant compounds. We know, anecdotally, that the compounds work together medicinally, the “entourage effect.”
So, now that we know that we want a complex group of compounds along with a high CBD content, (not just pure, fractionally distilled CBD) now we have to think about our source plants. The commercial hemp plants are bred to be low in THC and are thus low in all cannabinoids, and missing some of the cannabinoids and other cannabis compounds altogether. So it would require a lot of hemp stalks to make a gram of “full-extract CBD oil”, and the full extract CBD oil made would still be missing some of the compounds. Worse, all cannabis plants suck up whatever is in the soil (cannabis can be used for soil remediation!), so the more plant material you have to start from to get a gram of oil, the more unwanted chemicals/toxins will be in the final oil.
We cannot extract what isn’t there, and being forced to use ten times more low-grade plant material means we will also extract unwanted compounds from the plants – so commercial hemp plants are a poor choice to extract full extract medicinal CBD oil – even if they were grown organically.
We don’t want a bunch of chemicals/toxins from the soil in our oil, hence the laboratory third-party testing from a good lab is required. You need to ensure you don’t end up with 100% pure CBD as 100% pure CBD does not have the medicinal properties of full extract CBD oil.
We want to buy a complex full extract oil high in CBD content from a reputable brand and tested by an independent lab.
*(to be legal in 50 US states, the CBD products must be no higher than 0.3% THC. However, handmade/homemade CBD oil could contain more THC than that legal limit, say, even 1% or 2%).
Steps to check the quality of your oil:
1. Check the Hemp Source
Hemp absorbs compounds from the soil and accumulates them in its leaves, stems, and roots. We don’t want any heavy metals, pesticides or anything else from the soil. We also want non-GMO products.
Only buy from company’s that has its own cannabis plant farm or sources hemp from organic farms, they should assess every batch of hemp they get to test its purity and content.
The best hemp sources tend to come from Colorado, Oregon, and countries like Canada or in Europe from Spain & the Scandinavian countries. These places are all known for having high standards for hemp growing.
2. Look for the Extraction Method – be it ideally CO2
Co2 and ethanol extraction are the most popular methods of extracting CBD from the hemp plant. Ethanol or any other method different from Co2 removes the active compounds from the hemp plant and evaporates to deliver a pure CBD-rich resin.
The downside of using ethanol or other solvent is that it can be very hard to remove all traces of these solvents from the final products. Most of these solvents are toxic for our bodies.
Therefore, the best hemp manufacturing companies are using another extraction method – co2 extraction. CO2 extraction keeps all the active ingredients from the cannabis plant from the beginning of this process. The high pressure with CO2 and temperature control move the CO2 into a phase that’s neither liquid nor gas. This special phase is called as being supercritical.
It appears that supercritical CO2 oil extraction leaves behind no harmful chemical residues but superior products!
I d steer clear of a company that uses solvents like butane or propane or arent transparent about their products extraction methods.
3. Third-Party Lab Certificates
Every transparent company not only sends their hemp products to an independent lab or third-party testing but has no problems with sharing the quality certificates with you!
These laboratory tests product purity (contamination levels), specifies cannabinoid profile, each batch potency and purity.
Some companies like Charlotte’s Web will allow you to test your very own bottle.
Third-party testing is now an industry-standard.
Always buy your CBD oil from brands that either disclose their independent lab reports on their website or are willing to email them to you upon request. Provacan did send me their certification.
Using CBD oil for pain:
Various researches about hemp have been trying to understand the interaction between cannabinoids like CBD, CBG, CBN, etc., and the human body. A lot of papers published focuses on CBD and pain management.
1. CBD Oil for back & nerve
The painkilling properties of cannabidiol have been mostly studied in animal models, however, human trials have been increasing since the interest in CBD benefits has been on a raise.
The latest study from 2020 covered 36 trials with 7217 participants. These studies all used various forms of cannabis for treating chronic pain. The analysis reports that many of these studies showed a reduction in chronic pain scores by 30-50% or more (2) — suggesting the cannabis plant could be a potential treatment for prolonged pain.
I rely on high-quality CBD products to manage my Costen’s syndrome and when suffering from tension headaches…
2. CBD oil & cancer
Many studies related to cancer highlights that CBD & THC could bring relief to cancer-induced pain.
Two recent studies from 2019 suggest that using hemp oil may be beneficial while managing pain at pancreatic cancer and glioblastoma (GBM). Although some of those studies were done invitro & invivo.
Its believed that full-spectrum CBD may inhibit cancer tumors and be neuro-protective or and enhance radiosensitivity of GBM. Some patients take relief when using CBD ointments and creams alongside the oils.
It appears that broad-spectrum hemp oils reduce inflammation and therefore bring pain relief. Nonetheless, more studies on humans are still needed to prove the efficacy of hemp oils in treating various ongoing pain alignments.
3. Hemp oil & arthritis
Plenty of studies suggest that CBD may be helpful when managing arthritis pain.
CBD is believed to support osteoarthritis thanks to its effects on enzymes known as 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) and Cyclooxygenase 1 (COX-1).
The hemp oil inhibits this enzyme converting fatty acids into pro-inflammatory compounds and as we know inflammation is the cause of pain in osteoarthritis.
CBD is thought to reduce the level of pain in osteoarthritis over the long-period.
3. CBD oil & multiple sclerosis (MS)
Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of hemp oil make it to be a potent neuroprotective and that is why scientists believe CBD is able to help manage debilitating MS pain.
Currently, there are 20 clinical trials underway or planned within the next 12 months seeking to explore the effects of CBD on MS.
Does CBD Have Any Side Effects?
Usually, cannabinoid-based products are well tolerated as they are non-toxic, non-addictive (less than o.3 % of THC, so pretty much THC free) and have mild side effects compared to some over the counter painkillers.
Even bigger doses such as up to 1,5g shouldn’t cause any serious side effects on one’s health.
The most common side effects of CBD may be:
- Anxiety
- Brain fog
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Drowsiness or fatigue
- Dry mouth
- Mood changes
- Nausea and vomiting
- Reduced appetite
The majority of patients taking cannabinoids orally complain about dry mouth. This can be avoided when you consume the oil alongside a drink ideally flavored one.
It’s important to remember that CBD may cause blood pressure drop which may result in overall weakness and is not to overlook when on for blood pressure-lowering medications.
If you have any existing health condition and are on any medication it’s advised to check with your doctor before you decide to start using CBD oils or other hemp products.
Buying full-spectrum CBD oil for pain
CBD becomes more and more popular as a natural supplement helpful in aiding many health alignments. The number of researches about CBD benefits on human health is also slowly increasing.
Based on the current research CBD may help with
- inhibiting inflammation
- antioxidants properties
- muscle tension relief
- pain management
It appears that cannabis plants and CBD products made of it target the pain by reducing the inflammation rather than just masking the pain symptoms.
Getting relief from a plant is far more appealing than when taking OTC medicines. In my opinion, CBD is one of the best products for pain control. It didn’t take me long to use CBD oil to see its positive effects. Taking CBD for pain was one of the best discoveries of my life.
I hope this guide has helped you to learn more about CBD products and especially oils and their health benefits on pain management, and that you will know how to look for quality oil for yourself.
