CBD Oil: Considerations if You Plan to Try it for Chronic Pain

As a chronic pain sufferer myself, the recent hype about CBD as a treatment for pain, anxiety and insomnia have gotten my attention.

CBD short for cannabidiol, is derived from cannabis or marijuana. The interesting thing about CBD is that it contains no THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which is the component that is psychoactive. So use of CBD promises to be a valuable aid in medicinal therepaies without getting you “high”.

While investigating the effectiveness of its use for these symptoms, I came across some recommendations from the University of Michigan:

• Don’t smoke or vape. Bottom line is smoking anything harms the lungs. Vaping has been associated with a recent epidemic of lung disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.
• Purchase from reputable sources. Like vitamins and other supplements, CBD products aren’t regulated or FDA approved to treat disease, so buyer beware. Look for products that have been tested by an independent third party lab “so you don’t end up with a product that has THC in it or a product contaminated with heavy metals or pesticides,” says Boehnke.
• Route of administration matters. CBD is best taken in pill or capsule form for slow extended release or as an oral tincture (infused oil that contains CBD) for faster effect onset.
• Start low, go slow. Take a small amount and slowly increase your dosage until you start to get symptom relief over a matter of weeks. Track your symptoms to get a sense of whether or not CBD is a helpful part of your treatment plan.
• Check your state laws. While medical marijuana is legal in many states, it’s still illegal at the Federal level, putting CBD in a legal gray zone in many areas.

There still isn’t a lot of scientific evidence of the effectiveness of CBD, mostly because of politics. But with more and more states legalizing medicinal marijuana, it’s a sure bet that more study will be done. I will report on it here as I find it.

In the following podcast, Pharmacist Shawna Kraft discusses medical marijuana for cancer patients. She gives an understanding what it is, how to use it and how best to request it.

Be sure to check out the full description of the Cannabis plant and its medicinal uses.

Resource Links

Brief Commentary: Cannabinoid Dosing for Chronic Pain Management

University of Michigan: Should You Take CBD for Pain?

Podcast: Medical Marijuana for Cancer Patients