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Chronic pain affects millions of people, and as anyone with chronic pain knows, it's all about pain management.¹ CBD gummies have become increasingly popular in recent years as a natural and convenient way to incorporate CBD into daily wellness routines. A recent medical survey of 2,000 people found that 64% of current CBD consumers use the cannabinoid specifically for pain relief and inflammation.²
But do CBD gummies actually help with pain? With so few existing studies out there, and mostly anecdotal evidence, it can be challenging to know whether or not CBD gummies are a safe and effective option for managing pain. In this article, we'll dive into the research to explore the relationship between CBD gummies and pain, discuss how CBD works in the body, and examine the potential benefits of using CBD gummies for pain management.
What is CBD, and how does it work?
Cannabidiol, better known as CBD, is a cannabinoid in the hemp plant. It doesn't cause you to feel high like THC, but it still promotes a handful of effects in the mind and body thanks to its interactions with the endocannabinoid system (ECS).³
The ECS is a network of receptors and chemical messengers that work together to regulate your body’s activity. The ECS automates a few natural background processes and influences functions like inflammation, immune response, sleep-wake cycle, mood, appetite, and body temperature.
When you introduce CBD into your system, it interacts with the CB1 and CB2 receptors in your brain, central nervous system, and other areas of your body.⁴ Essentially, CBD helps to modulate the ECS and keep it functioning at its best.
According to research, CBD's interactions with the ECS may offer several potential therapeutic benefits for the mind and body. The relationship between CBD and pain and find out if it might help you, the most important effect of CBD on the ECS is how it may help with inflammation.⁵
CBD, Pain, and Inflammation
Evidence suggests that CBD has anti-inflammatory properties in a few different ways. One study found that CBD inhibits the production of some of the cytokines that cause inflammation in the first place.⁶
However, other studies have found that CBD may be able to quell inflammation after the body's already triggered itself into turning up the heat. A handful of studies have explored the relationship between the cannabinoid, neuropathic pain, and arthritis found that CBD might be a promising therapy for arthritis pain and inflammation in the future.⁷
Further, a recent review suggested that CBD may reduce inflammation in various inflammatory conditions, including multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease.⁸
With that said, you might wonder what that has to do with pain. Pain is an experience caused by physical, psychological, and environmental factors— and it's completely subjective.⁹ One person may feel pain more intensely than another with the same injury. One of the first things your body does when it experiences pain is trigger an immune response and an inflammatory response.
Pain and inflammation are closely related in the body, as inflammation often leads to pain.¹⁰ Inflammation is the body's immune system’s natural response to injury, infection, or tissue damage. It involves releasing chemicals that cause blood vessels to widen and become more permeable, allowing immune cells to enter the affected area.
Increased blood flow, and immune cell activity can cause pain, as the affected area may become swollen, red, and tender. In some cases, inflammation can cause chronic pain as the body continues to produce chemicals that sensitize nerve cells and cause ongoing pain. Managing inflammation is often a key component of pain management, as reducing inflammation can help alleviate pain and promote healing in the impacted area.
So, do CBD gummies help with pain?
In short, it depends. CBD might help with inflammation, an important first step for reducing pain, but there is no evidence to suggest that CBD can help with the sensation of pain and your perceptions of it.
Full-spectrum CBD gummies may help with pain in addition to inflammation because they contain small amounts of THC, the high-inducing cannabinoid. THC also interacts with the ECS, but it binds to some receptors that regulate your response to pain.
Evidence suggests that THC may help reduce pain by inhibiting the release of certain neurotransmitters involved in pain signaling.¹¹ Some studies suggest that THC may reduce chronic neuropathic pain in patients with spinal cord injuries and help people who experience cancer pain or spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis.¹²
While many may think THC is for those seeking a high, it is similar to CBD in the sense that it has exhibited therapeutic benefits that may help with the pain. THC binds to receptors in the brain's reward system, which causes you to feel euphoric or high.¹³ This high can be a significant distraction from pain and allows you to feel more up to the day ahead of you,regardless of your pain level.
Overall, THC may reshape the perception of pain in the body by reducing the intensity of the pain signal and altering the brain's response to pain, making it a potential therapy for managing various types of pain. It's important to note that the effects of THC on pain perception can vary depending on the individual and the type of pain experienced.
Taking CBD gummies for pain
For those with pain seeking new ways to manage it, full spectrum CBD gummies may be able to help. Between the potential benefits of THC and CBD against inflammation and your perceptions of pain, our Passion Fruit CBD + THC Gummies may be just the thing you're looking for. These gummies are infused with our full spectrum CBD and all-natural fruit flavor, with 50mg of high potency CBD and 2mg of THC packed into each gummy.
The benefits from the CBD you know and trust receive a boost thanks to the entourage effect—scientifically shown to be even more effective as the cannabinoids (like THC) and terpenes naturally found within hemp work better together.
With an approachable low dose of THC that causes a mild, invigorating high and 50mg of full-spectrum CBD oil, you may manage your pain experience with ease. Passion Fruit CBD + THC Gummies offer a delicious flavor enhanced with elevated support from functional ingredients. Reach for these to enjoy maximum relief from inflammation and enjoy the THC perception shift to help you manage pain more effectively.
As an added bonus, CBD gummies are easy to access and use for people with mobility issues or sensitivities. Gummies ensure a perfectly measured serving of CBD with a guaranteed 2mg of THC per serving, which makes it easy to enjoy whenever and wherever you need them.
For pain and inflammation management, take one gummy in the evening. If you're new to THC, it helps to cut it in half to see how it affects you and increase your serving as needed. Remember, like all CBD gummies, always wait at least two hours before you take another serving to rule out any possible complications with THC.
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Sources:
²https://www.singlecare.com/blog/cbd-survey/
³ https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-endocannabinoid-system-essential-and-mysterious-202108112569
⁴https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8221009/
⁵https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7023045/
⁶https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2828614/
⁷https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3371734/
⁸https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2022.908198/full
⁹https://aci.health.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/212850/Understanding_Pain_PA.pdf
¹¹https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6277878/
¹²https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8465969/
¹³https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6177269/