The Farm Bill passed in 2018, endorsing the cultivation and consumption of hemp-derived products in 50 states. This is because hemp contains the highest CBD level for therapeutic purposes and low THC levels of 0.3%, insufficient to give you the famous ‘buzz’.
CBD is extracted from the hemp plant as CBD oil then infused into tinctures, oils, edibles, vape juices, lotions, and creams. It’s even packaged and sold in different skincare products, and now you can even take a bath in CBD.
Are you experiencing muscle soreness or pain that doesn’t seem to go away even after prescriptions? You can use CBD cream for pain. Being one of the most outstanding CBD benefits, you will now find out how it helps relieve pain.
What is CBD Cream?
The cream is made by mixing oils or butter with CBD oil. Reports claim that CBD could help with stubborn pain, inflammation, arthritis, fibromyalgia, and back pain.
How Does CBD Cream Work?
Research on CBD topical creams is still inconclusive, and this is because the compound interacts with a lot of systems in the body.
The endocannabinoid system is responsible for maintaining homeostasis, regulating sleep-wake cycles, blood glucose levels, pain perception, mood, appetite, immune system regulation, etc. CBD works through the system by preventing the breakdown of the natural endocannabinoid called anandamide. Anandamide has a similar structure to the cannabinoids found in cannabis.
Although inflammation can help offset recovery to tissue injury, it leads to uncomfortable pain and swelling if uncontrolled. CBD works by preventing the collateral damage caused by inflammation. Because of this, athletes use CBD topical cream to help them recover quickly from their training sessions.
CBD also works through the adenosine receptors associated with stress response, sleep, and anxiety. Interaction with serotonin receptors is concerned with your mood and overall well-being, leading to depression and decreased pain tolerance.
Application of CBD could lead to an interaction with GABA receptors, whose inhibitory function on the brain’s electrical signals could help with pain perception. Working with all these systems, CBD might, therefore, exert its effects.
CBD topical cream is also infused with other ingredients such as menthol, camphor, capsaicin, or caffeine. These compounds have been used for centuries all over the world to help relieve pain. Combined with massaging the painful area with the cream, which promotes blood flow and tension release, the effects of compounds could contribute to pain relief.
CBD Cream Dosage
You might be wondering how much CBD topical cream you need? Well, there are no absolute doses because research is yet to reveal more on the subject. Moreover, there are no methods to know how much CBD is getting through to your pain area.
Response to pain by CBD creams depends on various factors. These include the level of pain tolerance, the thickness of your skin and fatty layers, blood circulation on the pain area, CBD concentration in the cream, the extra pain relief compounds added, and how it has been manufactured.
CBD cream combined with other healthy habits like meditation, yoga, exercise, cold exposure, a good diet, and quality sleep can increase your pain relief chances. You might be on the way to recovery sooner than you think.
Side Effects of CBD Cream
There are no side effects to CBD cream use, but you should exercise caution if you have nut allergies. A lack of side effects is mainly because CBD cream doesn’t get into your bloodstream when applied locally. CBD is lipophilic, meaning that it only adheres to the outermost part of your skin.
CBD cream can, however, be mixed with enhancers that promote CBD passage through the skin, providing relief for pain within the body. Such CBD circulation can cause side effects such as sluggishness, diarrhea, nausea, and mood changes when taken in high doses.
What to Know Before Purchasing CBD Cream
The FDA does not regulate CBD, but Epidiolex, a drug used in the management of seizures, is the only FDA-approved CBD product. This makes the market vulnerable to contaminated and adulterated products. There are also many cases where some products don’t contain the advertised concentrations of CBD.
Look beyond the marketing ploys by checking the CBD concentrations on the product by verifying third-party laboratory test results. They should also test toxins such as heavy metals that could be harmful to your health. Finally, look at reviews and ratings from verified customers.
Conclusion
CBD creams should not be a substitute for prescribed medications. It’s worth consulting a doctor before applying the topical cream if you plan on using it for severe pain.
In most cases, users might combine CBD cream with pain drugs, which may cause counteractions. This is why you have to listen to your doctor’s advice. Also, consistency of use for extended periods can help hasten the relief.
References
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/cbd-skin-cream