WHY IS CBD OIL SO EFFECTIVE IN CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT?

February 21, 2021

A surprising number of people from around the world struggle in their day to day lives as they try (and too often, fail) to manage their chronic pain. The sources of chronic pain can vary widely, from improperly healed injuries to Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, to being a secondary issue to diseases like cancer.

The administration of excessive opioids (pain pills) in the quest to treat chronic pain has caused a widespread epidemic of addiction. Too often, opioids are initially or eventually unsuccessful in treating a person's pain and that person requires an ever-increasing dosage to function on a daily basis.

In recent years, there has been a light on the horizon for chronic pain sufferers. The introduction of cannabidiol-based products gave a different option. This option came without the fear of addiction and was said to treat a wide range of issues so that a person with multiple pain sources could use a singular remedy.

But why is it that CBD oil is so effective in chronic pain management? What scientific evidence is available to prove the claims of thousands of individuals that CBD is a "miracle cure" for what ails them?

REASON 1: THE ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM

The Endocannabinoid System, or ECS for short, is a system found in all mammals. In addition to humans, this includes cats, dogs, etc. The ECS has been found to interact with most major systems, including the respiratory, neurological, and immune systems, among others. But it's the way the ECS interacts with them that is truly amazing.

While most neurons found throughout the body only send one-way signals, the ECS is capable of a two-way response. What this means is that the ECS can both send and receive information versus doing only one or the other. This makes it twice as effective in the way it communicates versus other major body systems.

A study by Ethan B. Russo of GW Pharmaceuticals in February of 2008 aimed to see if there was any merit to CBD usage as a way to manage chronic pain. The results conclusively showed that an oral CBD spray helped to manage difficult pain, both with the use of complementary opioid prescriptions and without.

REASON 2: CBD IS A NATURAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

Much of chronic pain is caused by inflammation somewhere in the body. Typically, the inflammation is present in the area where pain is felt, but this can sometimes be relayed to a different part in the body (such as with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome).

Cannabidiol is a natural anti-inflammatory, which means that it can reduce internal swelling. What makes it so effective in reducing inflammation is that two-way response we spoke about in the previous section. Using better communication, CBD is able to better target the inflamed areas.

A study by Li Zhang (Laboratory of Integrative Neuroscience), in conjunction with numerous other health professionals, was carried out in June of 2012. The team conclusively found that cannabinoids suppressed both inflammatory and neuropathic pain.

REASON 3: DIVERSE USAGE

The final reason that CBD oil is so effective in chronic pain management is that it can be used in a great many ways. Individuals seeking to use CBD as part of their overall treatment plan for managing chronic pain can choose to use it orally, as an inhalant, or topically.

Even among these, there are more variations. Oral ingestion can be in the form of capsules, tablets, or liquid. Liquid CBD tinctures are a popular method for ingesting CBD because they can be taken sublingually, in baked goods, cooked foods, and even mixed into beverages. Inhalants are typically used through the nasal passages but may also be in inhaler form. Topical applications include oils, lotions, balms, and more.

While there are many different companies distributing these products on the modern market, you want to choose a company that offers lab testing and hemp-based cannabidiol products. One such company is Johnny Apple.