A popular, natural remedy, CBD is becoming increasingly popular in mainstream society and can be found across various pharmacies and eCommerce stores around the world in different forms, including tablets, creams, and oils. A type of cannabinoid, the natural chemical found in cannabis plants – more people are using CBD for pain relief, inflammation, and anxiety for managing their symptoms. Research on CBD has been promising, but there is still much to be done. However, this remedy has been proven to offer an effective alternative for those suffering from chronic pain without the adverse and often addictive side effects. Want to find out more? Here are six ways CBD helps with natural pain relief.
CBD can mimic the effects of pain relief medication
Marijuana has been used as a natural pain relief remedy for thousands of years – and for a good reason. Scientists have discovered that CBD helps reduce chronic pain by impacting the endocannabinoid system, which is accountable for various functions, including appetite, pain, sleep, and immune system responses. CBD affects the endocannabinoid receptor’s activity, reducing inflammation and chronic pain interacting with the receptors. One study on rats even found that CBD treatment reduced sciatic nerve pain and inflammation significantly.
Cannabis works by activating the receptors in your brain, sending the message that the pain is gone, just like prescription pain relief medicines. However, unlike pain relief medications that simply mask pain, CBD works to address the symptoms directly at the source, thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, helping the body repair itself.
2. CBD reduces joint inflammation
Many health problems result from high levels of inflammation within the body, leading to severe conditions and illnesses, including cancer. Research suggests that CBD helps decrease inflammation within the joints and is especially effective on those suffering from osteoarthritis.
The study also found that CBD can help prevent nerve damage, reduce pain, and stop the condition from worsening when administered via an injection. A 2020 study further discovered that CBD helped improve pain, nerve damage, and inflammation markers, while further human studies proved that a combination of CBD with THC is successful when treating arthritis-related pain.
3. CBD has antibacterial properties
Already shown to have pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties, CBD also has antibacterial properties and is even being studied as a new antibiotic to tackle superbugs. When applied directly to affected areas such as wounds or blisters, CBD can help fend off infections and speed up the recovery process, ensuring that nutrients are distributed where needed while creating a protective barrier around the injury.
4. CBD can treat mental health disorders
Not only does CBD help with physical pain, but it is also well known to help with pain related to mental health disorders, alleviating both anxiety and depression, which can have a devastating impact on health. These are typically treated with pharmaceutical prescription medications, which can cause side effects including insomnia, weight gain, a lower libido, and drowsiness.
On the other hand, CBD has proven to be a promising and natural treatment without any adverse side effects and has resulted in more people looking towards CBD to deal with their anxiety and depression naturally. CBD has also been used to treat anxiety in children with PTSD and insomnia. Various animal studies show that CBD has antidepressant effects, acting on the brain’s receptors and serotonin, the neurotransmitter that regulates your mood.
5. CBD alleviates cancer-related symptoms
CBD has the potential to decrease symptoms related to both cancer and cancer treatment, including chemotherapy. While more research is still needed before a conclusion can be drawn, it is thought to potentially have cancer-fighting properties, with one promising study showing that CBD stopped the spread of aggressive breast cancer cells in mice. Another discovered that concentrated amounts of CBD induced cell death in human breast cancer cells. Other studies have looked at CBD’s ability to reduce side effects and common symptoms of chemotherapy and treatments such as pain, nausea, and vomiting. Study participants experienced a notable reduction in pain compared to those who only received a THC extract.
6. CBD provides pain relief from migraines
Studies on the effects of CBD on headaches and migraines are currently limited. Still, some studies show that, when paired with THC, it can effectively treat migraines, alleviating intense pain. Little research is available due to current regulations on CBD and cannabis legalization. However, researchers have suggested that as CBD oil can help with various types of pain – including chronic and acute, it could also be a promising migraine treatment.
Wrapping up
Now that CBD is increasing in popularity with those looking for natural pain relief treatments, many forms of CBD are available to manage pain in combination with different purchasing options, including online, from medical offices, and pharmacies. A natural choice, CBD offers many of the benefits of prescription pain medications without the adverse side effects and can be used to treat chronic pain, joint inflammation, alleviate cancer-related symptoms, and provide an effective treatment for mental health disorders.