CBD Oil for Pain Relief

What is CBD?

There are two main active ingredients in cannabis (marijuana), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). THC is the primary active ingredient in cannabis and has psychoactive properties.

CBD is the second most prevalent chemical compound and active ingredient
in cannabis. CBD, unlike THC, does not have psychoactive properties; it interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system. It activates the endocannabinoid system, which stimulates the production of endocannabinoids. They are neurotransmitters that bind to cannabinoid receptors (specifically CB1 and CB2) in your nervous system, which creates a signal in your brain. The exact response of this system on your body is not fully known, but CBD seems to prevent the breakdown of a chemical in the brain that affects pain.

Acute Pain

CBD oil can be a very effective treatment for pain. There is a high concentration of CBD receptors in the skin which increases the absorption of CBD oil. You may find use for the oils in acute injury pain relief. As tissues heal from an injury, pain should subside and not need the continued use of pain medications or CBD oils. If pain lingers past tissue healing, there may be an underlying physical dysfunction created by the injury that may need to be addressed by rehab or other interventions.

Chronic Pain

For chronic pain related to conditions such as arthritis and cancer, CBD oil may be a good treatment to manage pain for the long term. These oils have minimal side effects and adverse drug interactions. Please check with your medical provider to address possible drug interactions with other treatments you may be taking.

CBD oil is a safe and effective treatment for pain relief. Use it as an adjunct, because other treatment alternatives may bring better results for managing your condition.

By Dr. Laurel Mines

See the article in the magazine directly here