CBD Lotion for Pain: Does it Work?

If you’ve walked down a local drugstore recently or stopped by to check some products, there’s one compound that appears regularly on the label: CBD. 

A non-psychoactive compound that has the potential to treat skin conditions, pain, inflammation, and many other health problems. 

And the best part is that you don’t require special permission to buy a CBD lotion for pain. They are readily available over the counter products. All thanks to the Farm Bill and CBDs’ (0.3% THC) legal status on the federal level. 

However, you have to keep in mind that CBD is still in its infancy stage. We do not have enough research to clearly establish its efficacy. Despite the compound’s fame and availability, and effectiveness in treating pain, it has always been surrounded by complexities. 

One of them being, its potential to treat pain. So, can CBD actually help relieve pain? Let’s find out. 

Here’s What Science Says About CBD Lotions for Pain

To be honest, the answer to how CBD works for pain is not simple. You have to first understand the connection between CBD and the endocannabinoid system – A group of neuromodulatory lipids widely spread across the human body.      

This system regulates a wide range of functions inside our body through an interactive session between the CB receptors and phytocannabinoids. In this case, the cannabinoids (CBD, THC) are cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol. 

When we talk about THC, the interaction with the receptor, largely CB1, leads to psychoactive effects. But an opposite reaction takes place when CBD is in question. You will experience nothing intoxicating, only relaxing effects.

So, the entire mystery of how CBD works and what causes people to feel the relaxing effects lies behind a relationship we just established through scientific evidence. 

Moving on, let us now look at some studies that will help you understand whether CBD lotions for pain are the real deal or not. 

CBD Lotion for Pain and Inflammation

The beauty of CBD lotions for pain is that they can address a specific area of your body. You can apply it to your joints and muscles, and the products will not even enter your bloodstream. 

Isn’t that great? Well, yes, to an extent. But when we talk about severe chronic pain, topical such as lotions will most likely prove ineffective. Because in order for a medicine to work properly, it needs to address the systemic issues first. 

If not, the pain will emerge soon after the initial effect wears out. So, this means that CBD lotions can work best for pain and inflammatory areas that are close to the skin. For instance, if you apply a pea-sized amount of CBD lotion to the affected area, it will successfully mask pain and inflammation as all other over-the-counter lotions do.   

In addition to this, you also have to keep in mind that CBD lotions work for a certain span of time. After the effects start disappearing, the initial symptoms will most likely come back. This is because our skin carries a large no. of cannabinoid receptors. 

What’s More? 

According to research conducted by the Mediterra CBD and Halpert, CBD can help reduce the inflammatory markers in conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. Thus, showcasing CBD’s potential to treat severe conditions. 

Another study published in 2017, revealed that CBD has the potential to reduce pain caused by osteoarthritis. The authors of the study further went on to say that prophylactic treatment with CBD stops the development of osteoarthritis. Even though the study was conducted on rats, the results of the study were in favor of CBD. 

But you have to keep in mind that these studies were lab experiments on rodents, which makes it impossible for doctors to start prescribing CBD lotions as a medicine for pain. 

In fact, another detailed clinical study suggested that CBD products containing no or very little THC are less effective than the ones containing a balanced amount of tetrahydrocannabinol. And the sad part for CBD users is that this study was a clinical report with actual human subjects. 

The only exception, in this case, is that we have a lot of studies out there. Some speak in favor of CBD, while others require in-depth analysis. Yet, overall, people have somehow managed to use CBD lotions for pain management. 

To say the least, we think it’s also safe to say that CBD may hang by a thread. But anecdotal evidence, plus a large group of people using CBD for several conditions is a big deal. We cannot ignore its effectiveness when America is going through an opioid crisis. 

Are CBD Lotions Effective?

Yes, CBD lotions are effective in the management of pain as long as you take it under medical supervision. Or else, you use it for skin normal to mild conditions. For us, the application of CBD lotions will not work in the case of severe chronic pain. You have to take another form of CBD to see the full effects. 

As for CBD lotions for pain, you can also use them for dry skin conditions, and as a moisturizer to reduce your skin’s inflammatory response. We think CBD lotions will work wonders for your skin while protecting it from external factors. Rest assured, you can use CBD lotions for pain because they do not have severe side effects. 

The Final Verdict

Overall, more research is required to fully understand the nature and characteristics of CBD. Until then, you can use CBD, experiment with the different lotions available in the market, and determine whether it works for you or not. 

Additionally, CBD is still not regulated by the FDA. So, you have to tread carefully and understand your state rules before using CBD for your health. After all, a trivial mistake such as traveling with a product containing high levels of THC along with CBD can definitely get you in trouble.