You must have used, read, or heard about CBD gummies for pain at least once in your life. These products are trending everywhere these days, and people are using them to manage their day-to-day anxiety, pain, stress, and even sleep troubles.
The market is full of CBD products for humans, cats, dogs, and even horses. The demand is so high that there are now more than 2000 CBD brands in the US market alone. Chronic pain, cancer pain, or general discomfort: People are using CBD to treat and manage all sorts of pain conditions.
But before you buy a bottle, it’s better not to fall for catchy marketing and go with reliable facts and data instead. Let’s take a look at the latest research on CBD oil for pain management so that you can decide if it’s the right approach for you.
What is CBD? Let’s look at its working mechanism.
CBD is a nonintoxicating compound of the cannabinoid category found in hemp and marijuana plants. There are more than 110+ such cannabinoids in cannabis plants, but CBD is the most widely studied and used one to date.
Unlike other major cannabinoids, THC and CBD don’t create a high or euphoric feeling. CBD’s pain-curbing effects are often associated with its impact on the endocannabinoid system, which is a complex cell-signaling network present in the bodies of many mammals.
As per laws, in most places, CBD products can not have more than 0.3% THC and must be made from industrial hemp plants only. That’s because hemp plants naturally have high CBD levels and very low THC levels.
How does CBD work on the endocannabinoid system?
This ECS is spread throughout the body, expanding from your brain to the nervous system. Its receptors are present in all body parts, skin, etc. The ECS consists of CB1 receptors, which are mainly present in the brain and nerves, and CB2 receptors, which are mainly linked to the body’s immune system. Unlike it, it does not directly bind with them; instead, it indirectly activates them.
It also affects nonendocannabinoid receptors like TRPV1, 5HTP1, and CPR55. These receptors control our pain perception, body temperature, mood hormone levels, and pain tolerance. Coming back to ECS, CBD impacts its receptors without causing any overstimulation.
Hence, there is no intoxicating effect, which makes CBD safe for long-term pain management use. But how good CBD is at controlling pain will differ from one user to another based on their individual body chemistry, medication history, method of administration, severity of pain, and other such crucial factors. Let’s take a look at the latest research material to understand the effectiveness and scope of CBD for pain management.
Let’s see what the latest research says about CBD for pain management.
You can find many studies that indicate CBD’s effectiveness for pain management. Let’s take a look at recently published studies.
● CBD for Chronic Pain
A 2023 Journal of Pain Research study found that CBD reduced inflammation and pain in arthritis patients by 30% over 12 weeks. Another trial showed that CBD gel improved mobility in osteoarthritis patients by targeting joint inflammation.
● Neuropathic Pain
Neuropathic pain mainly happens due to nerve damage, mainly in patients suffering from sclerosis, diabetes, shingles, cancer, and autoimmune disorders. A 2022 study published by the European Journal of Pain reported that CBD oil brought down the intensity of nerve pain in patients suffering from diabetes-induced nerve pain. Another similar trial found CBD effective for multiple sclerosis patients suffering from muscle spasms.
● Post-Surgery Pain
A mini-review published by Frontiers in Pharmacology noted that CBD might improve the effectiveness of traditional painkillers like ibuprofen. However, more human-based clinical trials are required to back this claim. Current data is not enough. Another animal trial showed that CBD can block pain-signaling pathways.
● Cancer Pain
Life for cancer patients gets very difficult due to the nausea and pain they go through during chemotherapy. A 2034 published report found CBD effective in managing this. There’s a catch, though: THC was used along with CBD in these cases to make it effective enough.
That’s the case with many trials, so many studies say that without THC, CBD is not great at curbing pain. It’s good for inflammation, but for pain relief, THC is very important.
● Menstrual Pain
A recent 2024 published trial found that CBD isolate given in oral form to women going through menstrual pain yielded some positive results. However, the placebo group also reported some benefits, so more large-scale human trials are required to make a conclusive decision.
At last, it again boils down to the need for much larger trials. All the studies done to date involve minimal sample sizes and inconsistent results. In some cases, experts don’t think CBD exhibits pain-relieving effects without THC, and in some research, even CBD isolates yield excellent results.
But if you do ask the everyday Joe, you’ll find plenty who find CBD effective enough for their day-to-day pain management.
Is it safe to consume CBD oil every day for pain management?
Yes, daily CBD usage doesn’t cause any major issues for most individuals. It’s well tolerated by the human body, and only a few feel slight side effects like upset stomach, fatigue, and dehydration in the initial days.
The exact dosage can depend on your pain level, but 15-20 mg can be a good starting point. But pregnant and nursing women should avoid it, as there’s not enough data to conclude how it affects a kid’s growth.
Wrapping It All
To sum it up, the latest research data indicates that CBD can be a good, safe, and effective option for pain relief. Especially for those who are suffering from chronic or neuropathic pain. It’s just that more large-scale human trials are required to 100% confirm its effectiveness.
For now, the data is a bit sparse, and the scientific community is very much divided. But yes, for general day-to-day fatigue, aches, and pain, you can try high-quality CBD oil from Colorado Botanical without any worry. Also, always be on the lookout for more research, and the r/science subreddit can be a good place to catch the latest ones.
