Here we discuss how CBD oil can benefit chronic pain.
Chronic pain is categorized as long-standing pain lasting longer than 3 months. Chronic pain can be caused by several things such as disease, illness, muscle overuse, and injury. CBD oil can provide short and long-term relief to painful conditions regardless of origin.
Let’s jump right in!
Decreased Inflammation
Pain and inflammation have a two-way relationship where in some cases, pain causes inflammation, and in others, inflammation causes pain.
Pain causes inflammation in various ways. One example would be when an injury occurs. When our tissues are damaged, localized inflammation occurs to help protect the injury and begin the repair process.
Inflammation can cause pain in various ways as well. Inflammation triggers the release of “healing chemicals” such as cytokines and prostaglandins, and although these chemicals are highly beneficial to the healing process, they sensitize nerve endings, causing us to have a heightened sense of pain.
Reducing inflammation is a good preventative measure for avoiding pain and vice versa, and CBD oil can help. CBD oil decreases inflammation by interacting with the body’s natural endocannabinoid system, which is primarily responsible for homeostasis. When CBD is introduced to the endocannabinoid system, it positively influences the CB1 and CB2 receptors. CB2 receptors are found in immune cells, and once they have been influenced, our immune system progresses, ultimately decreasing inflammation.
CBD oil also reduces and inhibits the release of prostaglandins and cytokines which stops the inflammation from occurring.
Improved Sleep
When we are deep asleep, there is a lower demand on our heart, our blood pressure drops, and our mind gets to relax. During this rest period, other vital organs and functions take the lead and begin repairing any damage that may be present.
Therefore, having adequate sleep is a crucial component of relieving pain.
CBD oil is known for helping individuals relax and get uninterrupted sleep. CBD oil does so in many ways. It reduces anxiety that may be keeping you up at night. It modulates inflammation and pain (making it easier to fall asleep), and research suggests that it increases the time we are in REM sleep.
Reduced Anxiety
Many people are unaware that stress, anxiety, and other mental health conditions can directly cause physical pain. Stress and anxiety send our body into fight or flight mode, a mode that serves the sole purpose of keeping us protected when we instinctively sense a threat. When a perceivably stressful event occurs, our brain releases various chemicals to aid in our protection. Like all chemicals, they become toxic after prolonged exposure, causing damage throughout the body.
One of the chemicals released during a stressful situation is Cortisol. Cortisol prepares the body for a fight by improving blood flow, boosting stamina, and slowing functions that are not vital to the confrontation. Excess cortisol secretion is commonly associated with muscle weakness, immunodeficiency, kidney damage, diabetes, and weight gain.
Another chemical released when in fight or flight mode is adrenaline. Adrenaline helps the body prepare for a fight by increasing responsiveness and boosting energy. Excess adrenaline is associated with heart damage, muscle pain, digestive issues, and irregular sleep.
CBD oil has anxiolytic properties, meaning it behaves the same as an anti-anxiety medication. CBD triggers the release of serotonin, a neurotransmitter responsible for controlling your mood and feeling happy.
Decreased Pain Perception
CBD oil also can decrease the body’s perception of pain. This means that the painful issue may still be present when taking CBD oil, but how intensely you feel the pain is significantly decreased.
Anandamide is a chemical compound responsible for regulating pain, and when increased the body perceives the pain as less extreme. CBD oil increases anandamide.
Consumption and Application Methods
CBD comes in many forms. There are edibles, beverages, capsules, topicals, and oil.
All CBD products perform similarly; however their onset times may differ.
Edibles– Edibles are the most popular CBD consumption method as they can be made at home (visit Veriheal for instructions). Everyone’s digestive processes are different, so when it comes to eating edibles, the onset could be anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours, and the offset is 4-6 hours.
Capsules– Because capsules need time to break down in the digestive system, their onset is between 1-2 hours with an offset of 4-6 hours.
Topicals– Topicals have a rapid onset of 15-45 minutes, and the effects may be felt for 2-4 hours.
Oil/tinctures– When taken sublingually, the onset is typically fast, ranging from 15-an hour. The effects may last 4-6 hours.
These products can be purchased at dispensaries, gas stations, pharmacies, and big box stores.
