If you’ve been seeking information on CBD’s benefits, chances are you’re also looking for natural alternatives for pain relief. That’s because a majority of CBD users take hemp for the purpose of alleviating their aches and pains (a whopping 64%, in fact).
So whether you’re battling arthritis, achy muscles, or herniated disks, let’s take a look at how CBD may just help you reach your best life.
Inflammation
Let’s start with a quick note on inflammation–because one of the crucial reasons CBD helps in relieving pain is due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
Inflammation creates a swelling and buildup of tissue which presses up against nerve endings. That pressure causes little molecular warning signals to go off, alerting your brain that something isn’t right. At this point, your brain sends that message along to you by triggering the sensation of pain.
We’ll go into CBD’s influence on your body at the molecular level in just a moment, but first, let’s take a look at some specific conditions hemp has been used to treat.
CBD and Arthritis
Did you know that over 54 million Americans are said to suffer from arthritis? With numbers that high, we could certainly use all the solutions we can get!
There are a number of studies that are optimistic about CBD’s benefits in treating arthritis… Though to be fair, most of those studies have been with animals rather than humans at this point in time. For information on that research and its findings, check out this 2016 study and this 2011 one on arthritis as well as this 2017 study and this 2014 one on osteoarthritis. You’ll also find a considerable number of (human) testimonials on behalf of CBD’s helpfulness with this condition.
Keep in mind that there are over 100 types of arthritis so what works for someone’s condition won’t necessarily work for yours. This, however, applies to all kinds of medicine, not just CBD–so it’s still worth giving a try!
CBD and Sore Muscles
It doesn’t matter if you’re a gym rat, an athlete, or the occasional gym goer–everyone experiences muscle soreness from time to time.
When we go that extra mile on the treadmill or add larger weights to our bench press, our muscles experience micro-tears. These actually assist in strengthening us (unless, of course, you totally overdo it), but that doesn’t make that achiness any less fun to experience.
As we mentioned earlier, CBD has been shown to calm inflammation. It can help shorten that post-workout recovery time so you’re ready to jump back on that stair mill or rowing machine in no time.
What Other Kinds of Inflammation/Pain can CBD Help With?
Research is ongoing on CBD’s potential benefits in managing a wide-spectrum of other inflammation and pain-related problems.
One review from 2017 reported that CBD showed promise in treating inflammation in the following conditions:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- multiple sclerosis
- general pain
- inflammatory conditions (including bowel diseases)
- cardiovascular diseases
Another 2017 study also discovered mild benefits when using CBD to relieve neuropathic pain (or pain caused by damage to the nerves). Neuropathic pain is commonly associated with multiple sclerosis and injuries (like herniated disks).
Inflammation On The Molecular Level
Now you’ve heard about the conditions, let’s slip back into our lab coats for a little more about the molecular biology behind CBD and inflammation.
Inflammation is a complex process, but put simply, it’s impacted by signalling pathways on the molecular level. Signalling molecules are called eicosanoids and, among their other abilities, they regulate inflammation. A specific eicosanoid enzyme called COX-2 shows up in inflamed parts of the body.
So what happens when we bring CBD into the equation? One study gave it a try and suggested that CBD actually inhibits COX-2. What’s more, CBD is also said to reduce the effects of another class of molecules that result in inflammation called cytokines.
How to Take CBD for Pain
Tincture: One of the more effective ways to absorb CBD is with a tincture. We recommend that you take your tincture sublingually. This means holding the liquid under your tongue for 60 seconds before swishing and swallowing. This gives the mucous membranes filled with tiny capillaries time to absorb the CBD quickly into your bloodstream.
Edibles/capsules: Though edibles and capsules take your body more time to absorb CBD, they are great for those who don’t enjoy the grassy taste of CBD tinctures. They also offer consistency by making sure that each dose you take remains the same size.
Cream: If tender tissue is the issue, rubbing a CBD pain cream into your achy muscles and watch the soreness melt away. If you want to have fun with your hemp, CBD bath bombs are also an enjoyable topical option.
Written by:
Johanna H18 Mar 2021