CBD for Chronic Pain: Does it Work and What are the Benefits
Is natural chronic pain management possible with CBD? The word on the street is a resounding, ‘Yes’ and current research seems to be confirming it! The recent increase of research into CBD has stepped up due, in part, to the severe opioid addiction experienced by millions of people trying to manage chronic pain with prescription medications. CBD has helped many thousands of people to find short and long-term relief from pain without the side effects of addiction and dysfunction. If that sounds too good to be true, let’s look at how and why CBD is a natural alternative for chronic pain management.
What exactly is CBD?
To understand why CBD can work for your chronic pain management, it helps to know the basics of what CBD is and how it activates in the body. I promise this won’t be a major science rant, just a basic overview, stick with me here.
Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a type of cannabinoid or natural chemical found in both cannabis and hemp plants. Unlike the cannabidoid THC, found in cannabis, CBD is non-psychoactive, meaning you will not feel ‘high’ or intoxicated. This is an important factor because it allows you to dose regularly for pain management without becoming dysfunctional in your daily life. Many CBD products available today have 0% THC.
How does CBD work in the body?
CBD s main effect is created by interacting with specific receptors on cells in the brain and throughout the body. The activity of CBD with these receptors provides the anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety and analgesic (Pain relief) properties of CBD within the body. What we know about CBD is that it acts on the 5-HT1A receptors in the Dopamine, Serotonin and Opioid Systems of the brain. In the Opioid System of the brain, CBD acts as a modulator on your opioid receptors to reduce pain and chronic inflammation. The reduction of inflammation in the body is a big factor in pain relief and in bringing your body to balance (homeostasis).
Because the 5-HT1A receptor is located in diverse areas of the brain, CBD is able to exert a strong range of effects. This is a major factor in the treatment of chronic pain because so many of your basic functions are affected when you are in constant pain.
Living with chronic pain can take a toll on so many aspects of your daily life. Let’s look at the ways CBD can address those challenges.
What are the top benefits of CBD for Chronic pain?
1. Anti-Inflammatory
Short-term inflammation in the body that occurs with injuries and wound healing is the body’s positive natural healing response. However, when inflammation is chronic it becomes a source of many disorders. The chronic inflammation disorders then become a source of chronic pain. Long-term uses of prescription and over the counter painkillers have side effects on the liver, kidneys, bowels and stomach.
CBD to the rescue! CBD is a powerful natural anti–inflammatory that reduces inflammation and the pain associated with it. The side effects are almost negligible, with proper dosing. Dosing simply requires you to find the proper amount for your body and condition by starting slow and finding your point of balance. We will discuss dosing further in the section on CBD delivery methods.
2. Muscles Relax
One of the most difficult challenges in chronic pain management is movement and exercise. To help reduce pain the body needs to move to increase circulation and stimulate hormonal and neural balance. The thing is, when you are in pain you tend to not want to move because stretching and movement means feeling more pain.
CBD is a natural pain reliever AND relaxant. This allows you to take that walk or do your yoga without pain. You are then able to have the benefits of establishing an exercise regimen for a long-term solution to your chronic pain management.
3. Sweet Healing Sleep
It is known that we heal in our sleep, however, when you are in constant pain, deep sleep is difficult, at best. Pharmaceutical medications may allow you to sleep but they come with the cost of side effects that compromise your health and daily well-being even further.
Without proper sleep your nervous system takes a beating and anxiety and tension become a part of your chronic pain syndrome.
One of the most powerful benefits of CBD is that because it has anti-anxiety and pain relief properties, it allows you to have a deep, relaxed sleep. This is one of the most beloved benefits reported by thousands of people who use CBD for chronic pain and other conditions. Give it a try! Sweet Dreams!
4. Anxiety, Depression and PTSD From Chronic Pain
Living with chronic pain can be the cause of experiencing anxiety, depression and PTSD. Depending on the severity of your pain, you may be experiencing one or more of these disorders. CBD has been shown, in studies, to be successful in the treatment of anxiety, PTSD and depression.
CBD is quickly becoming the most sought after natural remedy for all three of these disorders that can be experienced due to living in constant pain.
5. CBD; Easy Delivery Methods and Dosing
There are several ways that you can dose CBD. Proper dosing depends on your condition and your own body and sensitivities. As mentioned above, the best dosing advice is to start slow, with low doses and slowly increase, if needed, to reach optimum relief.
Then comes the fun part, deciding what CBD products work best for you!
CBD is available as CBD Oil tinctures, edibles, like yummy gummies, CBD Oil capsules or oils for vaping.
CBD oil tinctures can be an easy way to start. You can start with a few drops under your tongue, and slowly increase your dosage until you find what works best for you. Of course, you can do that with any CBD products, however for the uninitiated, the sublingual tincture approach seems to be popular.
CBD is fast becoming the go to for so many physical and emotional disorders and the list keeps growing. It seems that once you introduce CBD into your daily routine you experience, over time, increased over all well-being and optimal health. Yes,it works!
Have you tried CBD for Chronic Pain?
If so, please share your experience in the comment section below!
After all, we are all in this together and your shared experience can help others!
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