Is CBD The Future Of Pain Relief?

CBD gets a bad rap, with many people, including doctors, outright rejecting it based solely on its controversial origins. Derived from hemp or marijuana plants, CBD has a singular look of illegality to it at first glance, but just beyond the surface, we see how much more there is to it, especially as a means to manage chronic pain.

CBD, short for cannabidiol is a chemical derivative of marijuana plants. Separated away from THC, the chemical in marijuana that makes a user feel high, CBD has no such psychoactive effects and in fact its interaction with our body, though more subtle, could be an incredibly powerful force for healing. Among those who have tried CBD, most continue using it and incorporate it into their daily medication regimen.

• 57% use CDB alongside their regular prescriptions
• 42% use CBD in place of their regular medication, finding the healing and treatment properties more effective and with fewer side effects
• -compared to NSAIDs and other prescription painkillers, CBD effectively relieves pain and inflammation with fewer side effects and doesn’t cause users to build up a tolerance to its effects

In a 2016 study, topical CBD gel was applied to rats with inflamed knee joints on four consecutive days, following this treatment the rats showed reduced inflammation, improved mobility, and eventually normal activity level and behavior. For chronic pain in particular, mounting evidence shows CBD as a viable and powerful option for managing painful conditions, tackling pain and inflammation alike with minimal to no side effects. While not to be considered a cure for any condition or another, growing evidence shows its reliability in reducing pain and inflammation covering a wide array of human diseases and conditions. Current users of CBD use it to treat

• 54% joint pain and inflammation
• 38% migraines
• 32% severe chronic pain
• 28% arthritis

So how does CBD work to manage all these kinds of conditions without distinction? Operating much differently from prescription pharmaceuticals, CBD isn’t created to fight just one condition and works to treat a myriad of conditions instead by interacting with receptors in the body itself. In fact, cannabinoids are naturally occurring in our bodies within the endocannabinoid systems. Research suggests that endocannabinoid deficiencies could be responsible for chronic migraines, fibromyalgia, and even irritable bowel syndrome. Because of this, CBD can play a huge role in treating these conditions, as the plant-based cannabinoids interact with the endocannibiol receptors in the body, triggering healing effects. Cannabinoid 1 receptor, or CB1R, found primarily in the brain and regulates

• Learning, cognition, and memory
• Mood, anxiety, depression
• Appetite, reward, and addiction
• Sleep and motor control

Today, one in five Americans suffer from chronic pain and traditional prescriptions just aren’t cutting it anymore. As the safety and reliability of NSAIDs, the most popular form of chronic pain treatment prescriptions, many people and especially older adults begin seeking safer alternatives. From scientific studies to countless individual accounts, CBD is shaping up to be a big player in the future of healthcare – is it right for you? Take a look at this infographic for more on the state of CBD treatments, how it stacks up against traditional prescriptions, and what it could mean for the future of pain management.