Powerful Ally for Your Body: How to Use Cannabis Oil for Pain?

 In recent years, cannabis oil went from being a voguish alternative for potheads to a mainstream health supplement promoted for everything from tempering anxiety to fixing your sex life.  It has gained enough traction to grow into a multi-billion industry and attract the interest of Hollywood, with a growing number of celebrities investing in and promoting the green medical elixir. It’s basically the new avocado toast. CBD, the key ingredient of cannabis oil, is touted for various health issues, some of which are backed up not only by anecdotal evidence but also by scientific proof, including its effectiveness in treating some of the meanest child epilepsy syndromes, as well as easing chronic pain.

What is cannabis oil or CBD oil?

CBD or formally known as Cannabidiol is the non-intoxicating active ingredient found in cannabis, one of the plant’s more than 100 cannabinoids. CBD oil usually comes from hemp, a cannabis plant with a higher amount of CBD, and a minimal amount of THC (0.3 percent or less). 

How to use cannabis oil for treating chronic pain?

CBD oil has proven as an effective organic alternative for patients with chronic pain who rely on opioid medications. A number of clinical studies have demonstrated that there is substantial evidence that CBD oil can have an important role in the treatment of chronic pain in adults. Humans have an endocannabinoid system (ECS) that receives and translates signals from cannabinoids and also produces some of its own called endocannabinoids. The ECS  is essential in assisting functions such as the immune system and regulating pain. While there are numerous ways to use cannabis oil, the route of administering matters when you want to treat pains and aches. One option is to apply CBD-infused topicals like lotions and creams directly on the skin where you feel pain. Another option is using oral tinctures, rich with CBD, the effects of which are felt faster than with topicals. The same goes for bottles of cannabis oil, which is best to administer sublingually. While tinctures are usually applied on the tongue, you want to use a dropper and apply oil under the tongue. Both ways enable CBD to enter the bloodstream via the membranes of the tongue and mouth; its presence in the body kicks in about half an hour.  A third option is to use cannabis oil as an edible, making it a supplement to your food and drinks, whether as an oil, capsule, or powder. However, when you administer cannabis oil via the gastrointestinal tract, the cannabinoids, including CBD, are metabolized by the stomach and liver; thus, its healing effect might not be optimal as it would through a mouth and tongue route. If you are treating pains and aches, smokable cannabis is not advisable as it can harm the lungs. 

CBD oil and Arthritis pain

An animal study from the European Journal of Pain showed that CBD applied on the skin could help lower pain and inflammation caused by arthritis.  The study conducted on rats with arthritis discovered a significant decrease in inflammation and signs of pain, shortly after the researchers applied topical CBD gel for four days. Their researchers note a significant drop in inflammation and signs of pain, without additional side effects. However, more research in humans is needed to substantiate the claims of CBD proponents about pain control.

CBD oil and Multiple sclerosis

According to one report, short-term use of CBD oil can reduce muscle spasm, which is usually the most common and painful symptom of Multiple sclerosis (MS). 

Can CBD oil get you high?

Unlike THC, which is the plant’s psychoactive compound, CBD does not give you the common ‘high’ effect, as it affects different receptors. CBD oil will not change your state of mind, but it will instruct your body to utilize its own endocannabinoids more constructively. Therefore CBD oil will most likely give you the ‘body high’ or the sensation of extreme relaxation. The feeling from CBD oil is often compared to that feeling you have after intense yoga class or meditation. So, yes, CBD will help you ease chronic pain without making you stoned. 

Are there side effects from using CBD?

While pure CBD oil is unlikely to have harmful side effects, and most users tolerate the concoction well, there can be some side effects such as drowsiness, diarrhea, weight loss, or weight gain and oscillations in appetite. According to a study published in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, CBD oil can interfere with other medications if the user is taking any, making them less or more effective. Therefore, before using CBD, consult your doctor as it may interact with certain over-the-counter dietary supplements and medications.  Another research found that CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties may excessively reduce inflammation too much, which can decrease the lungs’ defense system, increasing the risk of infection.

Dosage for cannabis oil

Figuring out the correct dosage for CBD can be tricky, as it’s not currently regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as a result, official safe dosages are nonexistent. However, the FDA has approved a purified form of CBD for some types of epilepsy, with the brand name Epidiolex.  According to a 2017 study, CBD oil treatment is relatively safe, and there is not one universal recommended dosage that users should take, as animal and human studies have shown that everyone responds differently to different dosages of CBD. Most of the human studies use dosages anywhere between 20 and 1,500 milligrams (mg) per day. It’s advisable to consult with your doctor before using CBD oil for pain and ask about the dosage. Nevertheless, if there is one simple rule to follow when it comes to dosages, it's to start slowly, increase doses gradually, and observe the effects the medicine is having on your body. Don't anticipate that you'll immediately feel releif of pain or other symptoms. Observe how you feel and if cannabis oil is working to alleviate pain in your case. Always check back with your doctor.