All of us experience pain from time to time, whether it’s due to a stubbed toe, a sprained ankle, or a stovetop burn. Living with chronic pain is something altogether different, and far more challenging. Unfortunately, chronic pain is a reality for many people, whether due to medical conditions or injuries that never fully heal.
There are a few different options available for pain management, including pharmaceutical interventions. However, as awareness about narcotic addiction spreads, more and more people are looking for holistic remedies to help manage chronic pain conditions. CBD has emerged as one of the top solutions.
Indeed, many people who live with chronic pain swear by the alleviating effects of CBD… but what does the science say? To date, there has been a modest amount of research into CBD’s analgesic (that is, pain-relieving) effects. Further study is needed to provide confirmation, but for the moment, what research we do have is pretty promising. Here’s a quick roundup.
CBD and Chronic Pain
Clinicians define chronic pain as pain that lasts for several months or longer. CBD has shown some initial efficacy as a way to alleviate the effects of chronic pain.
For example, a study from 2003 finds that CBD can be effective in the management of chronic pain as a result of persistent conditions such as multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury. Though this study was fairly small in scope, subsequent research has backed up its findings. For example, clinical trials from 2019 reveal that CBD and THC both show promise in relieving cancer-related pain.
Anecdotally, there are plenty of patients who confirm that taking CBD helps them manage chronic pain. In fact, one poll of CBD users reveals that 60 percent of the people who take CBD do so as a way to deal with persistent pain.
CBD and Joint Pain
More specifically, CBD is often cited as a way to alleviate joint pain, including pain caused by conditions such as arthritis.
This shouldn’t come as a surprise: Not only does CBD boast potential analgesic effects, but it’s also been noted for its anti-inflammatory properties. Arthritis and joint pain are fundamentally the result of chronic inflammation, which CBD may help to regulate.
Preliminary research suggests that CBD might be a promising treatment for certain forms of arthritis. And again, there is also some overwhelming anecdotal evidence: A poll from The Arthritis Foundation finds that CBD is a very common remedy for arthritic pain.
CBD and Cancer Pain
Still another common source of pain is cancer, or more specifically, cancer treatment.
Right now, the research involving CBD and cancer is fairly thin. With that said, there are many cancer patients who have used CBD to mitigate the symptoms of their treatment, claiming that CBD is valuable not only for alleviating pain but also for addressing symptoms such as nausea, insomnia, and anxiety.
We’d love to see more research on this front, but for now, we’re encouraged to think that CBD might one day become a more established option for cancer patients trying to ease their discomfort.
Tips on Using CBD for Pain Relief
If you’re interested in using CBD to alleviate pain, here are a few tips to help you maintain your safety.
- Remember that the method of CBD delivery matters. Oil tinctures can work well, and for joint or muscle soreness you might also try creams. You probably want to steer clear of smoking or vaping, which is less effective for pain relief.
- Start low and go slow! Begin with a smaller dose of CBD and build to something stronger as needed.
- Always be sure you buy from a reputable seller. Make sure the product you buy is backed by third-party testing and is sourced in the USA.
Shop for CBD Products
At Asé Pure Naturals, we are passionate about the value of CBD as a holistic health remedy. We are always happy to chat with you further about using CBD as a potential pain management tool.
We offer a full inventory of natural, holistic, vegan options, cruelty-free, non-GMO CBD products, are made in the USA. Take a moment to explore our inventory, and reach out with any questions.
