The marijuana legalization campaign is not ending any time soon. Different lobby groups continue to pressure their countries to legalize cannabis. There is no doubt that this is a magical plant thanks to scientific research. The cannabis plant has many chemical compounds called cannabinoids. Key among them are THC and CBD.
Scientists continue to place more emphasis on the two compounds. THC and CBD play different roles when introduced into the body. THC makes you feel high, while CBD can treat anxiety and relieve chronic pain. This happens because THC and CBD do not affect the same receptors.
Your body has an endocannabinoid system (ECS). This system plays a crucial role in receiving and translating signals from different stimuli. Your body produces its cannabinoids as well; these are called endocannabinoids. ECS regulates body functions such as sleep, pain, and immune system responses.
When THC enters your body, it causes a “high” feeling since it affects the brain’s endocannabinoid receptors. This, in turn, activates the brain reward system that leads to the production of pleasure chemicals such as dopamine. Unlike THC, CBD is legal for medicinal purposes.
What is CBD Oil?
In simple terms, CBD oil is a highly concentrated liquid that uses CBD as the key ingredient. Cannabis plants have different levels of CBD.
However, it is worth noting that how you breed the cannabis plant eventually determines the level of CBD content. Industrial hemp has high CBD content compared to marijuana. Companies that specialize in CBD extraction adopt different methods of getting the compound from the plant. After the extraction process, the extract is added to carrier oil hence the name CBD oil.
Does CBD Oil Help in Arthritis?
If you have arthritis, CBD oil could be a great option as a pain reliever. Animal studies carried out so far concerning this subject continue to show promising results. To support this claim, researchers embarked on a number of studies.
In 2016, researchers carried out a study on rats to understand the medical efficacy of CBD oil in dealing with arthritis. The researchers applied different doses of CBD gel four days in a row. These doses ranged from 0.6, 3.1, 6.2, to 62.3 milligrams (mg) per day. Following the application of the CBD gel, the researchers noted reduced inflammation and pain in the rats’ affected joints. Also, the researchers found out that the dose amount played a role in how long it took for the rats to recover.
Rats that received low doses of 0.6 and 3.1 never improved their pain scores. Those rats that received 6.2 milligrams per day showed a significant improvement in reducing the pain and swelling.
There was no significant difference in outcomes between the rats that received 6.2 and 62.3 milligrams dosage of CBD gel. The anti-inflammatory properties of CBD gel confirm that CBD oil can help people with arthritis. More research needs to be carried out around this subject.
CBD Oil and Cancer
CBD oil can deal with the side effects that come with chemotherapy. According to the National Cancer Institute, here are some of the side effects that CBD oil helps to relieve:
- lack of appetite
- pain
- vomiting
Research on mice found that CBD can cause the shrinking of cancer cells. But a good number of research studies in humans concentrate on the role of CBD in managing pain for cancer patients.
CBD Oil and Chronic Pain Relief
The CBD tends to interact with the core part of the endocannabinoid system (ECS)- the endocannabinoid receptors found in your brain and immune system. Receptors receive signals from different stimuli and help the cells to respond.
In the process of cell response, there is the creation of anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties that aid in pain management. This helps in dealing with chronic pain, such as back pain.
Using CBD Oil for Pain
There are several ways in which you can use CBD oil for pain.
- Orally
You can add CBD oil to your food or beverages. However, it may take longer for you to feel the effects. The CBD oil follows the usual digestion process; hence, it might take time before it gets to the bloodstream.
- Sublingually
You can add a few drops of CBD oil under your tongue. This is one of the quickest ways of introducing the CBD oil to the bloodstream. The compound directly absorbed into the bloodstream, thus the fast-action.
- Topically
You can infuse lotion with CBD oil and apply it directly around the affected area. Topical application can take longer before you feel the impact of the dose.
Side effects
You don’t have to worry about negative side effects following CBD oil intake. However, there are possible mild side effects that you may experience. They include:
- Fatigue
- Diarrhea
- Changes in appetite
- Changes in weight.
Dosage
You should get more information on the CBD oil dosage from your doctor. This is because, just like other drugs and supplements, high doses of CBD can increase liver toxicity.
Therefore, it is important to follow your doctor’s guideline to ensure you get it right. However, you can start off with small doses and increase gradually. There is no optimal dose recommended for everyone. You can use this tip to manage your pain at home. But seek advice on the response of your body after consumption of cannabis compounds.
So far, there is no conclusive data to say that CBD oil can reduce pain entirely. However, we cannot assume the fact that CBD oil has great potential in managing pain. More research should be carried out to understand the effectiveness of CBD oil treatment. It is crucial to understand what actually happens when the compound gets into the body.
This does not annul the fact that CBD oil remains a versatile therapeutic and pain-relieving drug. Most of the clinical trials are performed on adults. Experts do not recommend the use of CBD oil on children. There is no research on the effect of CBD oil on the developing brain of children.
