cannabidiol · CBD for pain · Endocannabinoid System ·

Using CBD For Pain Management

man holding CBD pillow

Many people are increasingly using cannabidiol (CBD) to relieve pain. By gaining an understanding of CBD, it can help underscore its benefits.

CBD Basics

First, CBD is only one of the many compounds (over 100) found in cannabis. These compounds are referred to as cannabinoids, and many plants contain them. However, they're mostly associated with the cannabis plant.

Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and other cannabinoids, CBD doesn't cause an euphoric (high) effect, since it doesn't impact the same receptors as THC does.

Your body has what's called an endocannabinoid system (ECS). This system receives and communicates signals from cannabinoids. It also creates its own cannabinoids known as endocannabinoids. This system helps with regulating functions like:

  • Immune system responses
  • Sleep
  • Pain

The most common use of medicinal cannabis is to treat chronic pain, according to a research article published in The Journal of Headache and Pain. If you're experiencing a chronic pain condition, and standard treatments haven't successfully managed it (or you're wanting to avoid the negative effects of medicines), you might want to consider trying CBD for pain relief.

What to Look for When Using CBD for Pain Management

It's essential you select CBD-infused products on criteria indicating transparency and good safety quality. Products ideally should:

  • Come from companies that offer third-party testing proof
  • Contain 0.3% or less THC, according to the COA (certificate of analysis)
  • Contain U.S. grown hemp
  • Pass safety checks for molds, heavy metals, and pesticides, according to COA

You should also take into consideration things like:

  • Product potency
  • Manufacturing processes and company certifications
  • Customer reviews
  • Overall ingredients
  • Whether the companies have been subject to a FDA warning letter
  • Whether the companies are making unsupported health claims

Also important is third-party lab testing. Because the CBD industry is presently not regulated, there's the risk of unethical manufacturers of CBD products to be dishonest about their products' cannabinoid content. This is where third-party testing will come in. It's essential because:

  • It verifies the CBD products' quality
  • The FDA doesn't regulate CBD products
  • It offers an unbiased, neutral source of information

CBD Side Effects

While CBD doesn't really pose any substantial risks to individuals using it, there could still be some side effects you should be aware of, including:

  • Diarrhea
  • Fatigue
  • Changes in weight
  • Changes in appetite

Like with any medication, you also want to be aware of any interactions. CBD might interact with certain:

  • Prescription medications
  • Over-the-counter drugs
  • Dietary supplements

So, you'll always want to check with your doctor before beginning CBD use. Also, be cautious if you're taking any supplements or medicines that have a "grapefruit warning" on them. CBD and grapefruit both interfere with enzymes that are critical to drug metabolism.

Which CBD Product Should You Consider?

You can take CBD products orally, inhale them, or apply them to your skin topically. You can even sleep on a pillow infused with CBD.

  1. Orally

When you take CBD orally, whether it's by food, liquid, or capsules, it's absorbed through your digestive tract. It's a slow absorption process, and it can be a little tricky to get the proper dosing because of the delayed onset of its effects (can take a couple hours), recent meals, stomach acids, and other factors.

  1. Inhaled

You can inhale CBD through a vape or vaporizing pen. But, inhaling vapor oils and any types of chemical byproducts come with unknown risks, especially for individuals with inflammatory arthritis. Because of this, the CDC is in the process of investigating vaping associated with deaths and widespread hospitalizations from severe pulmonary disease. Therefore, vaping isn't really recommended..

  1. Topically

You apply lotions, balms, and other topical CBD products to your skin over the painful areas. These topical products might also contain other ingredients you find OTC such as capsaicin, menthol or camphor, which makes it harder to determine if it's actually CBD providing the positive effect or another ingredient.

Try a CBD Pillow for Pain Management

CBD pillows by CBDPillow.com are made for microdosing of CBD over extended periods of time. When you take CBD orally like with CBD oil or gummies, the effects begin wearing off within a couple hours. However, when you're microdosing CBD during the night, it helps sustain CBD's effects, making them last throughout the night.

Our manufacturers put a lot of resources and time into making and patenting the ideal method of delivery for your ECS, so you're benefited the most while you're asleep. We formulate our proprietary CBD-infused fabric with certain ingredients that work by enhancing cellular level transdermal penetration. Your body gently absorbs the CBD on a slow release timer, which allows for deep cannabinoid penetration into your tissue throughout your sleep cycle.

Order your CBD pillow today, so you can start experiencing its pain management potential. Because we're based in California, and are the manufacturer, we generally fulfill your order on the same day you place it. We ship all orders via FedEx from our Southern California factory.

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