If you’re one of the 28 million UK residents living with pain, you might have considered buying a product containing CBD. After all, pain can be extremely hard to live with, and traditional painkillers often come with unpleasant side effects.
We take a closer look at this increasingly popular remedy, to find out whether it can really prevent pain.
What is Cannabidiol (CBD)?
The cannabis sativa plant contains over one hundred compounds known as cannabinoids, and CBD is one of them. However, this particular compound isn’t psychoactive, as it contains only minute traces of THC (the psychoactive substance often associated with smoking cannabis). In fact, some CBD contains no THC at all. As a result, cannabidiol supplements are completely legal and you can easily buy them over the counter.
Can CBD alleviate pain?
While more research is required, the evidence we have so far suggests that CBD does provide pain relief. For example, when four hundred New Zealanders who were experiencing pain received a prescription for CBD, they found that their pain and anxiety levels dropped significantly in just three weeks. Taking the supplement also resulted in better sleep and an improved appetite. [2] An equally impressive study was conducted in 2021 by researchers at the University of Michigan. Published in The Journal of Pain, this online study involved 878 patients with fibromyalgia who were already using CBD for pain relief.
Incredibly, the results revealed that 72% of the study’s participants had switched from strong painkillers to CBD supplements, because CBD was proving more effective and causing fewer side effects. [3]
How does CBD provide pain relief?
Here’s a curious fact. Did you know that your body already produces its own cannabinoids? Known as endocannabinoids, these are produced by your endocannabinoid system, which helps to regulate important functions such as sleep, mood, appetite and memory. So far, experts have identified two particularly important endocannabinoids, known as 2-Arachidonoylglycerol and anandamide.[4] When it comes to pain control anandamide plays a key role, and this is where CBD comes in, because it prevents anandamide from breaking down. As a result, CBD supplements can limit your perception of pain.
But there’s more. CBD is also a powerful antioxidant with anti-inflammatory qualities that can help to ease the symptoms of arthritis. Although more research is needed, a 2016 study involving rats showed that applying CBD in the form of a topical gel reduces both joint swelling and pro-inflammatory biomarkers.[5]
How quickly can CBD alleviate pain?
There are a number of ways to take CBD, and the type of product you choose will have an impact on how quickly you experience pain relief. For example, if you take CBD in capsules or with food, it will be absorbed through your digestive tract, which means that you could be waiting one to two hours for the full effect. However, if you opt for a tincture such as Manuka Pharm’s CBD and Manuka Honey Oil, you’ll experience pain relief much more quickly, because holding a few drops under your tongue will ensure that the CBD is absorbed directly into your bloodstream.
How do I start taking CBD for pain relief?
Never tried CBD supplements? Then it’s best to start with a low dose such as 5-10mg twice daily. Manuka Pharm’s low strength CBD & Manuka Honey Oil is the perfect product for beginners, as it comes with a handy 10ml dropper. If you’ve taken the same dose for at least a week but you’re not experiencing enough pain relief, feel free to gradually increase the dose. However, the UK’s Food Standards Agency does recommend that healthy adults shouldn’t take more than 70mg of CBD per day.[6] You should also exercise caution if you’re taking prescription medication, because CBD can interact with the enzymes involved in metabolising some medicines.[7] If this applies to you, we recommend chatting to your doctor before you buy.
Ready to experience the pain-relieving properties of CBD for yourself? Why not explore the full range of Manuka Pharm’s CBD products?
