CBD for Pain Relief - Can CBD Oil Help Pain Management?

Does CBD help with pain?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a type of cannabinoid, one of many compounds found naturally in cannabis plants. CBD may reduce inflammation or overall discomfort and help with pain relief. Unfortunately, due to the restrictions on cannabis testing, more research is needed to verify the pain-relieving benefits of CBD. Nevertheless, the research on CBD products and pain management has been promising. Crucially, research suggests that CBD could offer an alternative for people who have chronic pain relief needs and rely on medications (such as opioids) that can have habit-forming and dangerous side effects. To learn more why not check out our CBD Knowledge Centre.

CBD and pain

Pain is something that is experienced by everyone at some point in their lives. Chronic pain can be uncomfortable to live with at best or debilitating at worst. Common treatments for pain include opioids, however people all over the world are looking for alternatives as opioids are habit-forming and have serious side effects. Opioid-related deaths are so bad, they’ve been named an epidemic by the US Center for Disease Control (CDC). In 2019 over 70% of drug related deaths in the USA involved an opioid. It is understandable that people are increasingly looking for pain management alternatives.

The research on CBD products and pain management has been promising. Human studies on CBD and pain are lacking, due to restrictions on the use of and research on cannabis, and more research is needed in this area. Nonetheless, the studies we do have show some encouraging results. In the first human experimental pain study on CBD, the research showed that CBD has real pain-relieving properties in humans. Researchers initially thought CBD’s pain-relieving properties were purely placebo. However it was later revealed that CBD had real pharmacological effects resulting in pain relief. Lead researcher Martin De Vita reported: “we found improvements in pain measures caused by the pharmacological effects of CBD (…) it was pretty remarkable and surprising”

CBD and arthritis

It is well known that Cannabinoids are potent anti-inflammatory agents and therefore could provide real benefits to help relieve inflammation, swelling and pain commonly associated with arthritis.

Arthritis.org say: ‘Animal studies have suggested that CBD has pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties, but these effects have not been validated in quality studies in humans. Anecdotally, some people with arthritis who have tried CBD, but not all, report noticeable pain relief, sleep improvement and/or anxiety reduction.’

In 2016 a study on rats showed that both pain and inflammation of arthritis was significantly reduced by CBD and in 2018, this study on the treatment of osteoarthritis in dogs demonstrated that CBD resulted in a significant decrease in pain, and increase in activity in the dogs tested. There are over 30 clinical trials being undertaken in Europe at the moment for a range of conditions, we hope there will be results from research into CBD for arthritis in human patients soon. Check out our article on CBD and Arthritis here to learn more.

CBD and pain and athletes

It is no surprise to hear that exercise puts a lot of stress on our bodies, to both positive and negative effect. Training stress leads to adaptation and increased performance (such as being able to run further or lift heavier weight) but physical trauma and prolonged wear and tear can also lead to injuries and pain. 

If you regularly exercise there has probably been a time that you needed to turn to pain relief, whether due to injury or for another reason. Some over the counter pain relievers known as Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs – NSAIDs (ibuprofen being one example) can actually be dangerous to athletes, (particularly ultra-distance athletes) as there is increased risk of gastric trauma, especially if taken as a prophylactic. This can range from relatively benign dyspepsia, to potentially life-threatening events such as upper GI bleeding.

It is unsurprising that athletes are looking for alternative treatments. We know that Cannabinoids are anti-inflammatory and therefore could provide real benefits to athletes to help relieve inflammation, swelling and pain, especially those recovering from injury.

Why not check out our CBD and Fitness page to learn more?