Does CBD Vape Oil Help Provide Pain Relief?
(4/1) People face more physical and mental conditions because of super busy schedules, stressful working days, and party-like lifestyles. It seems like mental peace is getting compromised, and chronic pain has become a part of daily life. But there is no escape from this. For this reason, people have started preferring organic ways to treat their mental and emotional traumas.
When we are talking about this subject, the use of cannabidiol (CBD) is worth mentioning here. CBD is a natural chemical found in cannabis family (marijuana and hemp) plants. While cannabis is famous for its' getting high' reputation, another type of cannabinoid, namely tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is responsible for that in reality. On the contrary topical CBD products, especially CBD oil, are gaining popularity as a cure to chronic pain.
Although the research on CBD products and pain relief is limited, the results are promising. In this piece, we will find whether CBD Vape Oil helps in pain relief or not. Let's understand the connection between CBD and pain relief further.
CBD And Pain Relief
The National Centers for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) have some evidence showing that cannabis or CBD is fruitful in killing chronic pain.
However, because of limited research or condition-specific studies, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved CBD as a chronic pain ailment.
Therefore, more evidence is still required to prove the therapeutic impacts of CBD on chronic pain. However, based on a few studies, the following are the potential CBD chronic pain relief benefits:
Arthritis Pain Relief
According to a 2016 animal model study, CBD gel showed pain-relieving effects on rats. The researchers applied CBD gel to rats for four days and observed a significant drop in the overall pain and inflammation in the rats with no significant side effects. In this study, the researchers also concluded that 6.2 mg of CBD dosage is enough to relieve pain in the joints of rats. The rats who received 62.3 mg/day showed the same results as those who got 6.2 mg/pay of CBD. The anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving powers of CBD can help people with arthritis. However, substantial human studies are still needed.
Migraine Pain Relief
Studies on CBD's pain-relieving effects on migraine are limited. Moreover, the existing studies also prove that it benefits when only combined with THC and not when consumed alone.
In another study, the participants consumed two compound combinations:
- First, with 9% CBD and almost no THC in it.
Second, with 19% THC in it.
This two-phase study shows the following results:
- The first compound showed no results on pain when the dose was kept at 100 mg. However, with doses of 200 mg, the acute pain dropped by 55%.
The second compound (CBD & THC) showed a fall of 40.4% migraine pain in the participants with a daily dose of 200 mg.
Neuropathic Pain Relief
The pain caused due to damage to the nerves is called neuropathic pain. Such type of pain commonly occurs in conditions like multiple sclerosis, herniated discs, and shingles. In 2017, a review of 1,219 patients in 11 controlled random trials concluded that CBD helps in chronic neuropathic pain in humans. On the other hand, a 2018 report stated that its potential harms themselves might overcome the benefits of CBD over pain. Much research is needed to see CBD's effects on neuropathic pain, its benefits, risks, and ideal dosages.
Cancer Pain Relief
Surprisingly, cannabis has shown promising impacts in treating cancer effects, too. A study on mice affirms that CBD intake can lead to the shrinking of cancer tumors. However, studies on human subjects show that CBD helps manage the pain caused by cancer and cancer treatments. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), CBD has the power to reduce the ill-effects of chemotherapy like:
Appetite loss
Also, in a 2010 study, patients with intolerable cancer-related pain received oral sprays of THC and CBD extracts combined with opioids. The study concluded that opioids when combined with THC-CBD extracts, work wonders on pain than acting alone.
Chronic Pain Relief
All humans have a cell signaling system called the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The endocannabinoid receptors are the core component of the brain and immune system, and a few researchers believe that CBD interacts with them. These receptors are nothing but proteins attached to your cells, helping them respond better. The response produces anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects, which means CBD oil has a powerful impact on chronic pain like back pain. A review from 1975 to 2018 looked after studies proving signs of pain-relieving on widespread chronic pain. Based on this review, researchers concluded that CBD helps overall pain management, causing no adverse side effects.
Side Effects of Using CBD Oil
Most people can handle CBD oil well, but some of its drawbacks are too. As per a 2017 study review, the significant possible side effects of cannabis or CBD are:
- Fatigue
- Diarrhea
- Appetite Alterations
Weight Gain or Weight Loss
It includes special precautions when it comes to grapefruit and CBD consumption altogether. Some substances don't mix with grapefruit well, resulting in enzyme interference (cytochrome P450 complex) and substance metabolism. Besides this, CBD might interact with certain over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, prescribed medications, and dietary supplements and might tamper with their effects.
Like many other substances, CBD might also hold liver toxicity risk in the body. A study on mice concluded that consumption of CBD-enriched extracts exposed them to liver toxicity.
The Bottom Line
CBD oil has proven promising benefits over chronic pain because of its no substance intoxication and dependence abilities. While a few studies indicate CBD is worthy of curing chronic pain relief, more long-term studies with human subjects are necessary to confirm the researchers' beliefs. If you are already convinced to use CBD oil to relieve your chronic pain, it is best to consult your doctor beforehand. They might help you simultaneously determine the initial dosage considering your other medications and health conditions.
