CBD oil has attracted enormous attention recently for its ability to work with the body’s endocannabinoid system to reduce inflammation, relieve pain and more.
CBD oil contains no THC, the active ingredient in cannabis which produces the trademark “high”, which means it is safe for people of all ages.
In addition to pain relief the number of CBD oil benefits seems to grow by the day. In order to simplify things for you our experts have brought together 20 of the most important CBD oil for pain benefits.
20 Benefits Of CBD Oil For Pain
CBD oil is not just for pain. Here are 20 of its most important benefits as determined by our panel of experts.
1: CBD oil for pain reduces inflammation.
Inflammation (1) is the hidden source of much of the pain we feel. It is part of the body’s natural immune system response, yet it also has the unfortunate habit of exceeding its immune system mandate. When it does, the result can be a devastating condition like rheumatoid arthritis (2). CBD oil interacts with cannabinoid receptors (3) to reduce inflammation and the associated pain.
2: CBD oil for pain can reduce the number and severity of migraines.
Headaches come in many different forms. There are tension headaches, cluster headache, headaches associated with light sensitivity (4), and more. Migraines are a particularly debilitating type of headache that often defies treatment. But while research is still in its infancy, CBD oil is showing great promise as a potential treatment for migraine headaches (5).
3: CBD oil for pain helps reduce anxiety.
Chronic pain produces a rash of side effects that can be nearly as debilitating as the pain itself. One of them is a deep sense of anxiety. Serotonin (6) is a chemical released in the brain known for its ability to produce feelings of calm and even euphoria. CBD oil does not increase serotonin in the brain, but it can enhance its effectiveness (7), thereby helping to alleviate anxiety.
4: CBD oil for pain relieves arthritis symptoms.
CBD oil is effective at reducing inflammation. This makes it especially appealing to those living with the pain of arthritis, the most widespread inflammatory disease. There have been no large-scale clinical trials involving CBD and arthritis as of this writing. However, the few small trials that have been conducted indicate CBD may have a bright future as a treatment for arthritis pain (8).
5: CBD oil for pain can help those suffering from chronic pain.
Chronic pain (9) is one of the most vexing health conditions that can befall a person. In some cases, it may be linked to a specific disease such as cancer or inflammatory bowel disease (10). In other cases, however, its origins remain a mystery. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, CBD can often help relieve chronic pain.
6: CBD oil for pain is a good choice for athletes.
If you are athletically inclined, you know that pushing the physical envelope comes at a cost: pain. Sometimes it is a matter of soreness the day after a weight session. Sometimes it is dealing with a pulled muscle, torn ligament, or other injuries. The anti-inflammatory properties of CBD oil make it an ideal choice for tackling the pain and soreness that are a part of the athlete’s life.
7: CBD oil for pain is also good for treating psoriasis.
Inflammation is a silent enemy behind a plethora of health conditions, including heart disease, arthritis, stroke, lupus (11), and even psoriasis. Yes, inflammation is a leading cause of chronic skin conditions like psoriasis too. There have not yet been any clinical trials testing CBD oil as a psoriasis treatment. But there is a ton of anecdotal evidence to support the notion that it works (12).
8: CBD oil for pain contains virtually no THC.
People often worry that the CBD oil they use to alleviate their arthritis pain is going to be loaded with THC (13). But whether a CBD product contains THC depends entirely on whether it is derived from hemp, or marijuana. All of the CBD oil products on the above list are derived from hemp. Which means they contain less than 0.3% THC and will not get you high.
9: CBD oil for pain may relieve neuropathic pain.
Neuropathic pain (14) can be disabling. Its origins are complex and may include diabetes, accidents, or the lingering effects of chemotherapy. For decades medical professionals have been stymied when attempting to devise effective treatments for this type of pain. But while the jury is still out, early indications suggest (15) that CBD oil may have a role to play.
10: CBD oil for pain can relieve stress.
It does that by addressing many causes of stress, including chronic pain, arthritis, migraine headaches, and more. In addition, because it is known to enhance the effects of serotonin on the brain, it also produces a more relaxed mood. So CBD is a double-barrel treatment for stress. One that addresses the cause of the stress, while at the same time enhancing your mood.
11: CBD oil for pain can reduce the number and severity of seizures.
The only FDA sanctioned CBD drug on the market today is approved for the treatment of certain types of epileptic seizures (16). It was actually CBDs’ ability to provide effective treatment for a little girl named Charlotte Figi (17) who suffered from a form of epilepsy called Dravet Syndrome (18) that first brought widespread attention to the medicinal qualities of CBD oil.
12: CBD oil for pain can help alleviate the effects of chemo.
Chemotherapy is known for generating several onerous side effects, including intense aches and pains, nausea, and vomiting. Recently, however, researchers discovered that chemo can also cause or aggravate inflammation in chemo patients (19). As a result, a need arose for a way to reduce chemo-related inflammation. CBD oil has answered the call (20).
13: CBD oil for pain can help you sleep better.
Chronic or acute pain often takes a toll on people’s ability to get a good night’s sleep. It may be tempting to ask your doctor to prescribe a sleep aid. But such drugs carry with them a rash of potentially serious side effects (21). CBD oil can help those in pain get a good night’s sleep by reducing the amount of pain they feel, and by enhancing the calmative effects of serotonin.
14: CBD oil for pain may help alleviate symptoms of PTSD.
In one of the clearest indications of the ability of CBD to produce beneficial effects, a recent study concluded that CBD is effective in treating many of the symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (22). In addition, the same study determined CBD can help reduce the number and severity of nightmares in people dealing with PTSD.
15: CBD oil for pain can boost your immune system.
CBD oil works by leveraging the endocannabinoid system by way of a pair of receptors (23) referred to as CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors regulate CBD interactions with the mind, such as enhancing the effects of serotonin. CB2 receptors regulate the activity of immune cells. By using CBD, you can strengthen your immune system and achieve a higher degree of overall health.
16: CBD oil for pain can reduce the risk of diabetes.
A 2006 animal study (24) concluded that CBD oil is useful in lowering the risk factors for diabetes in mice. And while mice are not people, such results are typically a precursor of similar results found in human trials. The reduced risk of diabetes was believed to be the result of a complex combination of CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties, as well as its ability to bolster certain immune system activities.
17: CBD oil for pain may reduce high blood pressure.
A 2017 study (25) concluded that CBD can reduce resting blood pressure and increase heart rate. Therefore it may have an important role to play in preventing cardiovascular disease. The study results do not indicate that CBD oil is a cure for high blood pressure. But it does suggest that it might become a valuable tool in the fight against the condition going forward.
18: CBD oil for pain helps reduce oxidative stress.
CBD oil is not just a potent anti-inflammatory. It is also a potent antioxidant. Oxidative stress (26) caused by free radicals is behind almost as many health problems as inflammation. These include cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, neurological diseases, chronic skin conditions, and much more. The only natural enemy of the free radical is the antioxidant. And CBD oil is rich in antioxidants.
19: CBD oil for pain may help schizophrenia patients.
That is a controversial assertion, and one that will need much more rigorous study to back it up. But there is evidence to suggest that CBD oil may be able to reduce psychotic episodes in schizophrenic patients (27). Several studies have been conducted using CBD on patients who had previously resisted more mainstream treatments, and results were either inconclusive or encouraging.
20: CBD oil for pain may help with some Alzheimer’s symptoms.
Effective treatments for Alzheimer’s have so far been elusive. But CBD has shown some promise in animal studies in relieving some Alzheimer’s symptoms such as social recognition (28). Large scale human trials would be required to verify that thesis, and some will no doubt be forthcoming in the not-too-distant future. For now, though, the results are encouraging.
Conclusion
Whether you suffer from chronic or acute pain, are beset by bouts of anxiety, experience debilitating arthritis symptoms or are looking for a way to bolster your cognitive abilities CBD oil for pain may help.