Chronic pain is characterized as pain lasting for 12 or more weeks resulting from illness or injury. For millions of Americans, dealing with chronic pain is an everyday occurrence. This condition often puts sufferers into an endless cycle of:
Quality of life can become severely challenging to maintain for those affected by chronic pain.
Controlling pain with prescription opioids can also become a problem. Currently, over 2,000,000 Americans suffer from addiction to prescription painkillers. It’s no wonder people are looking for better solutions. Enter CBD oil.
CBD oil is becoming increasingly popular as an alternative and natural treatment for pain relief. Patients all over the world are attesting to the benefits they’re experiencing.
Unfortunately, there has not been enough study or trials conducted on the use of CBD oil for pain relief yet. However, the studies that have been done show promise:
It has not yet been concluded definitively how CBD can assist in pain relief; however, these and other tests show a lot of promise.
While research is still underway, it’s thought that CBD interacts directly with your brain’s receptors and immune system. The brain’s receptors are proteins that help your brain respond when stimulated. This interaction is thought to help with inflammation reduction and painkilling - which is why it’s estimated that CBD may help in the process.
There are many positive reports from CBD users who are experiencing pain relief with its use. While CBD and its applications are still being confirmed, studied, and tested, it’s been reported to help in the following areas of pain management:
As with anything, there is a potential to experience unwanted side effects from CBD use. Some users have reported nausea, irritability, and trouble sleeping. These symptoms appear to be rare with CBD use and occur less than with users treating pain with opioid medication.
Given all this information, the decision to begin a CBD regiment to combat pain symptoms is one you should make with your doctor; this is especially important if you are currently taking prescription medications. Do not stop taking any of your current medications without consulting with your physician first.
Due to users responding differently to CBD, and because the pain being treated varies, there is no set standard for how much to take. It is recommended that you start your treatment with the lowest dose, between 5-10 mg, and work your way up from there as needed. Some users have reported taking about 50-100 mg per day, depending on the severity of pain.
While rare, there is a possibility you can experience certain side effects from taking CBD, such as:
If you’re planning on adding CBD into your pain treatment regiment, please involve your physician in your decision. Do not stop taking any prescribed medications without discussing it with your physician.