Can CBD Help Pain Relief? Top 4 Things to Know

In 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that some 20% of all American adults suffered from chronic pain¹ that interfered with daily activities. And while we’d like to think that aches and pains are just part of growing older, the data showed that this type of soreness affects more than just weekend golf games. For instance, stats from the American Chiropractic Association found that back pain alone accounts for more than 264 million lost workdays in a year².

Read about the latest attempts to cure physical ailments through cannabidiol (CBD) as we recap the top five reasons why Americans are turning to CBD for pain relief.

1) CBD interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system

One of the biggest reasons CBD provides many users with relieving muscle soreness is that the compound influences our endocannabinoid system. Though it was only discovered at the end of the 1990’s, the endocannabinoid system has proven to be one of the body’s most critical systems. Scientists have since learned that it regulates many of our functions, including mood, sleep, appetite and pain. Research has also shown that CBD binds to receptors in the endocannabinoid system called CB1 and CB2 that are expressed in the brain, central nervous system and immune system, among other parts of the body.

2) CBD relieves muscle soreness

According to Dr. Martha Hackett, a member of the Woven Earth Medical Advisory Board, most of the diseases that we accumulate in life stem from inflammatory responses. Inflammation can be incredibly painful—especially when it involves the joints. Pain-riddled Americans have historically sought out various pain relief techniques, from over-the-counter and prescription medications to stretching and yoga. Fortunately, research on the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties of cannabidiol³ revealed that CBD offers therapeutic benefits to reduce inflammation and the associated pain. Further, a 2009 study published in Frontiers in Immunology⁴ indicated that CBD can particularly reduce acute inflammation, which commonly occurs following an injury.

3) CBD doesn’t get you high

Though CBD is derived from the same plant as marijuana, there’s one big difference between the two: CBD doesn’t get you high. That’s because the central component of marijuana is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the compound responsible for eliciting that feeling of euphoria. But you won’t find much THC in CBD products. Even full-spectrum CBD products, a term for those featuring cannabinoids in addition to just CBD, should contain only trace amounts of THC. Research out of the University of Western Ontario⁶ also showed that CBD can minimize the psychoactive side effects of THC when the two compounds are paired together.

4) CBD is safe and non-habit-forming

The reality is that many people rely on prescription pain relievers, sometimes to curb what they’re feeling and to get out of bed each morning. Unfortunately, some of these pain relievers are addicting. But that isn’t a problem with CBD because it’s non-habit-forming. In a 2017 report on CBD, the World Health Organization (WHO) wrote that “evidence from well controlled human experimental research indicates that CBD is not associated with abuse potential.⁷” Research also concluded that high doses and chronic use of CBD are “well tolerated in humans,⁸” while long-term use of prescription anti-inflammatory or pain pills can damage the kidneys and cause stomach ulcers.

If you’ve been experiencing inflammation, joint, tooth, gout or general body pain, Woven Earth may be able to help. In addition to our other high-quality full-spectrum products, we offer an organically grown relief cream made from arnica that targets muscle aches and soreness.

Citations

• ¹ Dahlhamer J, Lucas J, Zelaya, C, et al. Prevalence of Chronic Pain and High-Impact Chronic Pain Among Adults — United States, 2016. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2018;67:1001–1006.

• ² © 2022 American Chiropractic Association | Hands Down Better Back Pain Facts and Statistics.

• ³ Atalay, Sinemyiz et al. Antioxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Cannabidiol. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 9,1 21. 25 Dec. 2019, National Library of Medicine.

• ⁴ Nagarkatti, Prakash et al. Cannabinoids as novel anti-inflammatory drugs. Future medicinal chemistry vol. 1,7 (2009): 1333-49. doi:10.4155/fmc.09.93 National Library of Medicine.

• ⁵ Andre, Christelle M et al. Cannabis sativa: The Plant of the Thousand and One Molecules. Frontiers in plant science vol. 7 19. 4 Feb. 2016, doi:10.3389/fpls.2016.00019 National Library of Medicine.

• ⁶ University of Western Ontario. "Cannabis study reveals how CBD offsets the psychiatric side-effects of THC". ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 30 September 2019.

• ⁷ Expert Committee on Drug Dependence. Cannabidiol (CBD) pre-review report. Agenda item 5.2. Geneva: World Health Organization. Thirty-ninth meeting, Geneva, 6-10 November 2017. © 2018 HRB National Drugs Library WHO.

• ⁸ Bergamaschi, Mateus Machado et al. "Safety and side effects of cannabidiol, a Cannabis sativa constituent". Current drug safety vol. 6,4 (2011): 237-49. National Library of Medicine.