If you’ve been looking for a safe, natural form of pain relief, chances are you’ve stumbled across an article or two about cannabidiol, or CBD. This naturally occurring compound can alleviate pain, inflammation, and many other symptoms of so many physical and mental conditions. CBD rub is an excellent choice for anyone looking to calm inflammation or reduce pain.
What is CBD?
CBD is a safe, non-psychoactive, non-addictive substance that can be found in hemp plants and can also be derived in a laboratory setting. Unlike its sister compound, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD will not produce an intoxicating high and is therefore safe for daily use.
The reason CBD seems like it has burst on the scene relatively recently is simple. Although the medical and therapeutic properties of CBD oil for pain management have been known since the Chinese first used it around 2,000 years ago, and western scientists have explored its benefits since the 1940s, the stigma surrounding CBD because of its relation to cannabis was incredibly strong. This changed when Congress passed the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalizes the regulated growth and sale of the hemp plant, from which CBD can be derived.
Now that the growth and sale of hemp have been legalized, many entrepreneurs are capitalizing on their ability to spread the therapeutic properties of CBD across the country.
How does CBD work?
There are three main ways to use CBD hemp oil for pain. The first, oral ingestion, can be accomplished through eating CBD-infused edible products, swallowing a CBD pill, or absorbing drops of CBD oil sublingually (under the tongue). The second method is inhalation, which can be accomplished with vaping devices.
The third method, which is the most user-friendly, is topical CBD cream. These creams are easily available online and in stores, as CBD is federally legal in all 50 states. They can be applied to a specific area of inflammation or discomfort and once rubbed into the skin will act relatively quickly to produce a soothing effect.
CBD itself works by blocking specific pain receptors, which reduces the amount of pain felt. It also works by activating certain other receptors, such as the ones associated with serotonin, which is a feel-good chemical. Put together, CBD can relieve pain associated with a large number of conditions, as well as encouraging relaxation.
How can CBD help me?
CBD is a valuable anti-inflammatory agent due to its chemical makeup. This is what gives CBD its ability to soothe areas of inflammation and to help reduce symptoms of other less obvious conditions that are indirectly caused by this inflammation.
CBD can be used to treat pain caused by both rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, which cause inflamed joints and limit movement. There is also some evidence supporting the idea that hormonal acne could be lessened through the use of topical CBD products. Sunburn, which is not typically thought of as an inflammatory condition, can also be soothed through the application of CBD.
CBD is not just soothing to the body; it can also be soothing to the mind. Research suggests that CBD can have some effectiveness when used to combat insomnia, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), drug addiction, Alzheimer’s disease, and a number of other conditions as well.
CBD has also been used, sometimes in combination with small amounts of THC, to treat patients with epilepsy, nausea, and side effects of chemotherapy. A number of celebrities actively use and endorse CBD products to treat everything from sore feet to fibromyalgia.
Final thoughts
Although there is very little published research available on the benefits of CBD and CBD topical creams, now that the Farm Bill has been passed it will be much easier for regulated forms of CBD to be available to researchers, and scholars are optimistic about future results of studies currently being conducted.
If you are struggling with pain from an inflammatory condition, or feel like your body or mind needs soothing in some way, look no further than a topical CBD cream for whenever you need to relax.
