Many people emphatically sing the praises of CBD for pain. But is CBD pain relief a real thing? What does the research say about this non-traditional (though increasingly mainstream) method of pain management?
And, most importantly – Is CBD pain relief the best path for you?
Today, we’re sharing with you how CBD works in your body and what you can expect in terms of relief from your daily discomforts. Plus, we’ll introduce the new cbdMD MAX for pain as part of your pain management strategy, and a few other CBD products you might consider – so you can choose the best CBD for pain and discomfort relief that really works for your needs.
Does CBD Help with Pain?
To begin, this is a very simple question with a complicated answer. The truth is, without the FDA signing off on CBD for pain as provable for pain management, CBD companies are limited as to what claims they can make about their products. Though research is ongoing, we’re still learning exactly what CBD can do for your body, including for pain management applications.
Understanding CBD Legalities and Claims
For CBD to be stated as a substance that can be used for pain there must be medical and research studies that show proven results. And not just any studies – the FDA requires a specific clinical-trial process that meets their standards of proof. At this time, though many (many!) people are using CBD for pain on a regular basis and reporting their overwhelming support, and many promising studies from universities and other independent facilities are emerging, we still do not have the stamp of approval from the FDA because we don’t have the precise type of evidence they need.
While we wait for the research to catch up, the FDA regulates that CBD companies, manufacturers, sales staff, and writers like myself aren’t allowed to make medical claims. This is to protect you, the consumer. As a leading CBD company, we stay well within those legal boundaries.
*The one exception is for FDA approved ones like Epidolex for seizures.
Does This Mean CBD Doesn’t Work for Pain?
No. It simply means we can’t say what we can’t prove (yet). We do know that CBD helps your body with other things that do help with pain – like improved sleep and a better state of calm (more on this later), so we focus on those. Instead, we focus on the more well-understood CBD benefits, how CBD works in the body, and what’s been proven, thus far, as our “selling points.” We hope that more people will try CBD for themselves and find it improves their lives.
In the meantime, while we wait for research studies to be funded, carried out, and concluded, talk with your doctor about using CBD for pain. Read through product reviews. Try CBD products for yourself. There’s no better proof than your own direct experience with CBD.
How CBD Helps Your Body
Until we have a clearer understanding of the exact neurological pathways and how cannabinoids physically work in our bodies, like we said, we rely on what we do know about CBD. So what, exactly, is known about how CBD works? Well, it’s kind of a delightful mystery, in a sense.
CBD and the Endocannabinoid System
To understand how CBD for pain is even a concept, consider the mysterious workings of your endocannabinoid system, a biological construct within your body. Imagine endocannabinoids as tiny little workers that assist this system, helping to support the body’s many systems. Then, as your body metabolizes the tiny molecules, they are done with their “work day.”
The endocannabinoid system works kind of like a biological train system, collecting the “workers” and delivering them to terminals and work stations throughout the body – to things like various body systems, the skin, muscles, tissues, organs and even the brain. The result is homeostasis, or a continuous balance within your body even under pressure from stresses, including things that cause pain.
CBD is a phytocannabinoid, which means that it’s a plant substance that interacts with your body in a similar way as your own natural endocannabinoids. So it stands to reason that the reason CBD helps people feel so much better is that it supports the endocannabinoid system’s work.
CBD Orally – How Does That Work?
Thanks to the endocannabinoid system, we know we can take oral CBD, like CBD tinctures or CBD softgels, to flush our bodies with these supportive worker molecules. Some of the most popular reasons people take CBD include:
- CBD for calm
- CBD for pain
- CBD for muscle recovery and workout support
- And, often, CBD for sleep
While you don’t have to be in pain to enjoy CBD benefits, actually all of those can help pain management indirectly. Read on to see why.
CBD for Sleep
One clear way that CBD may help pain is by helping to improve your sleep. Research supports a direct correlation between poor sleep and increased pain sensitivity, so it makes sense that if you’re sleeping better you’ll be more comfortable during the day.
One 2012 study looked at “mildly sleepy” adults and showed that improved sleep not only reduced pain sensitivity but also improved cognitive response time. A win-win for those of us who are chronically poor sleepers.
Another analysis, published in 2020 in the Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, discussed the need for restorative sleep to reduce hyperalgesia, which is, essentially, a heightened sensitivity to pain.
Improving sleep has a profound impact on how our bodies perceive pain, and this has been well-documented and researched. We know, as well, that CBD helps improve the critical restorative and reparative sleep your body needs to function at its best. Talk with your doctor about using CBD for sleep and how that may alleviate some of your pain and discomfort.
CBD for Calm
Another way CBD may help with pain is by what CBD does for your overall state of being – meaning, improved mood and sense of calm.
Have you ever noticed that when you are in a state of physical and mental tension, that aches, pains, and general body discomforts seem to be amplified?
It’s relatively simple here – feel more calm, and likely, you’ll feel less pain. It’s an indirect “bonus” of keeping your body feeling better, mentally and physically. Talk with your doctor about using CBD for calm and mood improvement and how that may help you deal with pain.
CBD Topically – How Does that Work?
For localized pains or temporary discomforts (like a sore shoulder after playing golf, for example), topical creams can provide relief right away and right where you need it. Topical CBD products like CBD Freeze and Recover CBD Cream use a secondary topical ingredient that’s FDA-approved for temporary pain relief. Freeze is made with menthol and Recover with histamine dihydrochloride, and both include skin-soothing botanicals.
Carry them in your gym bag or to the office, because these are quick – right now! – solutions for milder aches and pains that need a little relief. Plus, you can target exactly the spot that needs help.
Best CBD for Pain: cbdMD MAX for Pain
High-strength CBD is the way to go if you’re a regular pain sufferer. Even better, include the full suite of cannabinoids from the hemp plant, like CBG, CBN, and THC. When it comes to tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, these amounts are regulated so you get the benefits of that cannabis compound without the “high” feeling that accompanies consuming too much of the substance.
cbdMD MAX for pain is a new product with great potential, offering a full 200 mg of CBD and 4 mg of THC per dose, plus other cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids for a well-rounded cannabis plant profile.
Take a look at some of the features of this product, exciting news for people who really need a high-strength CBD pain relief product.
- High-strength formula: 200 mg of CBD and 4 mg of THC per dose – an impressive amount of support from our full spectrum CBD formula.
- Relief comes within a week of daily use.
- Contains Univestin – a patented formula made by Unigen clinically tested to improve range of motion, reduce joint stiffness, and enhance flexibility and function. Univestin combines ayurvedic powerhouses Chinese skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis) and catechu, which is the extract of the heartwood of the acacia tree.
- Isn’t habit-forming. It won’t make you woozy, dizzy, or feel out of sorts. And you can take it every day.
- Compared to other “high” strength CBD options on the market, cbdMD MAX is very reasonably priced and far more affordable.
Note: If we haven’t made it clear, you should talk with your doctor before taking CBD for pain. Your doctor knows your medical history, current meds or supplements, and whether or not you are a good candidate for a wellness (and relief!) journey with CBD. This article should not take the place of advice from your doctor.
You can see now why so many people are excited about using CBD – both topically and orally (or both) – as a way to get back to living more comfortably and confidently. Thankfully, with the new cbdMD MAX for pain, you’ve got a stronger product for when you need the extra support.
