Pain is one of the most common reasons people turn to CBD. Unlike prescription painkillers, which are rife with serious side effects and the potential for dependence and withdrawal, CBD is a safe, natural substance.

Having said that, there isn’t yet enough evidence to substantiate CBD’s pain-relieving effects and most of the findings are restricted to animal studies. For now, research suggests that cannabinoids and cannabis as a whole may help relieve various types of pain. Most notably, a 2015 review that analyzed the findings of 28 separate clinical studies found that “There was moderate-quality evidence to support the use of cannabinoids for the treatment of chronic pain.” As such, more human trials looking specifically at CBD are needed.

The lack of conclusive research evidence hasn’t stopped millions of people from trying CBD products to relieve pain, aches, soreness, inflammation, and other types of physical discomfort.

It’s important to note that all types of CBD products can help with pain and not just formulas with a specific method of application or additional ingredients. However, with thousands of available CBD products, finding the right one to address your pain can be challenging.

For example, a person with severe pain will require a higher-potency formulation to experience relief than someone with minor aches. Similarly, a formulation with additional pain-relieving ingredients, such as menthol, can be more effective than one made with pure CBD.

So, which CBD brands are best for pain relief? We compared the prices, manufacturing process, third-party testing, product variety, formulas, and other criteria. Below are our top picks.

Compare top CBD oil products for pain relief:

Best CBD oil products break down into categories:

• • Editor’s Pick 1 – Receptra
  • Editor’s Pick 2 – Green Roads
  • Editor’s Pick 3 – Charlotte’s Web
  • Best CBD Oil Cream for Pain – CBD Medic
  • Best CBD Gummies for Pain – CBDfx
  • Best CBD Capsules for Pain – PlusCBD Oil
  • Best Value – Lazarus Naturals
  • Best Value – CBDistillery
  • Best Potency – cbdMD
  • Best Potency – Endoca (worldwide shipping)
  • Best Non-THC – CBDistillery
  • Best Non-THC Fourfivecbd (UK only)

Editor’s Pick – Receptra

Receptra is an excellent choice for CBD-based relief because it offers both oil and topical products, different CBD potencies to suit varying levels of physical discomfort, and includes other ingredients that may help alleviate pain, such as turmeric, all at a reasonable price.

Established in 2016, Colorado’s Receptra is a CBD brand catering to athletes and other active individuals. The company offers full-spectrum CBD oils and topicals with various potencies and different formulas, including pet products and THC-free options.

Receptra works together with local Colorado farmers who cultivate organic, non-GMO hemp. The company also uses independent laboratories to provide extensive third-party reports of their products, including potency, heavy metals, microbials, residual solvents, and foreign matter. The results of these tests can be viewed online by entering your product code.

There’s good reason Receptra is our top pick. For starters, it focuses only on CBD oil and topical products: two forms of CBD best suited for helping with inflammation and other types of physical discomfort.

Better yet, the company offers products with low, medium, and high CBD potencies so that everyone can find relief for their discomfort, regardless of severity.

Another notable feature of Receptra’s products is that many of them include additional ingredients that may help with physical discomfort, such as turmeric. This herb has long been used for its anti-inflammatory effects, and there is some research evidence that it may help with arthritis and other conditions linked to inflammation.

Receptra also offers several product bundles with discount prices. The company’s products cost $5.95–$249.95, which works out to about $0.09 per mg of CBD — just around the market average.

Watch our Endoca video review:

• Receptra Review

• Receptra Official Site

Editor’s Pick – Green Roads

A CBD brand known for transparency and quality, Green Roads offers many products that can be used for relieving physical discomfort, including CBD oil, capsules, edibles, and topicals.

The Florida-based company was established in 2012, quickly growing into the largest privately-owned CBD business in the U.S. Green Roads is so popular that its products have thousands of satisfied customer reviews.

The company’s success is not surprising: the company doesn’t cut any corners. Its products are made from organic, non-GMO hemp grown in Colorado and backed by extensive third-party test reports. Better yet, they come in a variety of potencies and flavors.

Green Roads also provides clear information about its founders — one of whom is a licensed pharmacist — showing that it has nothing to hide, unlike many anonymous CBD brands.

The company uses broad-spectrum CBD extract for all products, which means they contain zero THC. This makes it a good option for athletes and people who have to have to pass employment drug tests.

Green Roads also offers several product bundles. Its products range in price from $5 to $342.50, and cost $0.16 per mg of CBD, although a few products can cost as much as $0.86.

Watch our interview with Green Roads CBD:

• Green Roads Review

• Green Roads Official Site

Editor’s Pick – Charlotte’s Web

One of the most recognizable and trusted names in CBD, Charlotte’s Web offers several high-quality products that may help with physical relief.

The company was founded by the Stanley Brothers, who created a special strain of cannabis with low THC and high CBD levels they called Charlotte’s Web in 2011.

This cultivar got its name from Charlotte, a girl who found relief from severe seizures by using the unique cannabis strain. The brothers modified the strain into one made from hemp, creating their CBD company in the process.

Charlotte’s Web is very particular about its hemp plants. It sources hemp from non-GMO, organic farms in Colorado, Oregon, and Kentucky. The company tests the soil, water, and the plants themselves during the growing process to make sure there’s no contamination and to maintain a specific cannabinoid and terpene composition.

Charlotte’s Web also utilizes extensive third-party testing accessible with product batch numbers and has a 98.9% rating under Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) standards. Better yet, it’s one of the only companies certified by the U.S. Hemp Authority, which highlights stringent product standards.

The company also sells several product bundles and bulk packs. Charlotte’s Web products range in price from $14.99 to $327.17.

This translates to $0.12 per mg of CBD, which is on the upper end of the average market price.

• Charlotte Web Review

• Charlotte Web Official Site

Best Cream – CBD Medic Active Sports Pain Relief Ointment

CBD Medic’s pain relief ointment is our top pick for muscle and joint pain and soreness. This ointment has a sizable amount of menthol (10%) and camphor (15%), the two most popular ingredients for topical pain and inflammation relief.

The cool and warming sensations of these natural compounds soothe painful, sore, and tired muscles. Although CBD Medic recommends this product for working out, it can be used for any sort of muscle or joint discomfort.

The 40-gram ointment also contains broad-spectrum CBD (200 mg) and other natural ingredients such as beeswax, cottonseed oil, and other essential oils. The CBD in this third-party tested topical comes from quality hemp cultivated in Colorado and Oregon.

CBDMEDIC also offers stick and oil versions of its ointment, as well as similar products for back & neck and foot & ankle pain. All these products cost $0.20 per mg of CBD, which is considered around average.

Watch our video interview with CBD Medic:

• CBD Medic Review

• CBD Medic Official Site

Best Value – Lazarus Naturals

When it comes to value, Lazarus Naturals is arguably the best choice for CBD. On average, every mg of CBD from Lazarus costs only 4 cents: far below what most companies charge.

One of the most reputable CBD companies in the United States, Lazarus Naturals was founded in 2014. Lazarus is spoken well of by customers and industry insiders alike for its incredibly low prices, quality products, and company ethics.

Lazarus Naturals stands out from the competition in several ways. For starters, its products are third-party tested, and the testing results are easily accessible on each product page.

More importantly, most of the company’s hemp (70%) is sourced from Lazarus’ own Oregon farm. Furthermore, the company is entirely owned by its employees, which goes a long way towards explaining its affordable, high-quality products.

Lazarus also gives a massive 60% discount to veterans, people with disabilities, and low-income families. It’s quite apparent that the company cares about helping people rather than maximizing profits.

Lazarus’ product lineup has much to offer for physical discomfort. For one, most of the products are made with full-spectrum hemp extract, which contains all of the beneficial active ingredients in hemp. These compounds work together in a synergy known as the entourage effect, which means full-spectrum products may be more potent than pure CBD.

The company also offers several bundles with reduced prices. Lazarus Naturals’ products cost $6 to $450 and cost an unheard of $0.04 per mg of CBD. You simply won’t find this kind of value and quality elsewhere.

• Lazarus Naturals CBD Review

• Lazarus Narturals CBD Official Site

Best Value – CBDistillery

CBDistillery is another top-notch CBD company known for its low prices ($0.06 per mg CBD) and exceptional quality. It has a variety of products that can help with physical discomfort, including CBD oil, softgels, creams, and vape products.

Founded in 2016, Colorado’s CBDistillery is one of the best known CBD brands in the U.S. Thanks to its affordable pricing, transparency, and superb products, the company has received thousands of overwhelmingly positive reviews.

CBDistillery checks off all the marks of a quality CBD business: organic, non-GMO Colorado hemp source; carbon dioxide (CO2) and ethanol extraction, the two leading ways to extract CBD; and extensive third-party testing available on its website.

Another notable feature of CBDistillery is its incredibly helpful product labels, which clearly state useful information such as CBD and THC content, ingredients, and recommended dosage. The company is also one of the few to be certified by the U.S. Hemp Authority, which highlights excellent quality standards.

CBDistillery offers multiple products that may help with physical discomfort, including CBD oils, capsules, gummies, isolates, topicals, and even disposable vape pens in a variety of CBD potencies.

The company also sells several product bundles at a reduced price. CBDistillery’s products are priced anywhere from $6 to $2000. This is equivalent to $0.06 per mg of CBD: an incredibly low cost when we consider the company’s quality.

Watch our video review of CBDistillery

• CBDistillery Review

• CBDistillery Official Site

Best Potency – cbdMD

If you’re looking for potent CBD products to deal with significant issues, cbdMD is one of the best options. This brand offers some of the highest CBD concentrations not only for CBD oil but many other product types.

CbdMD is a popular brand known for offering THC-free CBD products at competitive prices. The company uses only organic, non-GMO, American-grown hemp, and provides third-party lab test reports on its website.

CbdMD offers CBD oils, capsules, edibles, topicals, and pet products in multiple potencies, ensuring that everyone has a product that meets their unique dosage requirements.

In particular, the company is known for having some of the most potent CBD products on the market, which is great for people looking for high doses of CBD.

CbdMD’s products are priced between $19.99 and $339.99 and the company also offers CBD bundles with reduced prices. With a cost of $0.11 per mg of CBD ($0.07 for tinctures), it’s one of the more affordable brands on the market.

• CBDmd Review

• CBDmd Official Site

Best Potency – Endoca

With high-strength options for CBD oil, capsules, topicals, and other products, Europe’s Endoca is a superb choice for people in need of potent CBD preparations.

The company was founded by Danish biochemist Henry Vincenty in 2008, who became committed to spreading the health benefits of hemp after seeing the ineffectiveness of pharmaceutical medicine.

Where Endoca truly stands out is its rigorous, scientific approach, going to great lengths to ensure exceptional CBD products.

For starters, Endoca tests its hemp seeds, growing plants, and the resulting hemp extracts to make sure they maintain a high standard of quality and safety.

Also, Endoca makes extensive use of third-party testing, including tests for the terpene profile of their CBD extracts. The company makes all of these test reports easily accessible on their website.

Endoca uses organic, non-GMO hemp grown in Scandinavia, an excellent climate for cultivating the plant, and utilizes supercritical CO2 extraction, the most advanced method of extracting CBD and other beneficial hemp compounds.

Another unique characteristic of Endoca is that the company offers multiple “raw” hemp CBD products. These products undergo minimal processing and contain high levels of CBDA, CBD’s parent molecule which has similar health benefits.

Endoca offers a wide range of high-quality CBD oils, creams, capsules, concentrates, pet formulations, isolates, edibles, and more. Most of the company’s products are made with full-spectrum hemp extract and come with high-strength options, making them ideal for those in need of high-strength CBD.

Endoca’s products range in price from €7 to €255 and include several CBD bundle packs. The cost per mg of CBD comes out to €0.11 (€0.09 for tinctures), which is quite reasonable for such superb quality.

Watch our Endoca video review:

• Endoca Review

• Endoca Official Site

Best Non-THC – CBDistillery

Whether it’s due to being drug tested at work, extreme sensitivity to THC, or another reason, some people prefer to use formulations THC-free formulations.

In that case, CBDistillery is a good choice, highlighted by affordable prices, extensive third-party testing, and multiple potencies.

You can verify that these products contain zero THC by checking the lab results right on the product page. CBDistillery’s THC-free range is priced anywhere from $19 to $2000. This translates to a low price of $0.02–$0.14 per mg of CBD.

• CBDistillery Review

• CBDistillery Official Site

Best Non-THC Fourfivecbd (UK only)

For UK residents in need of THC-free products, Fourfivecbd is a solid choice.

This CBD brand was founded by two British rugby players, Dom Day and George Kruis, who claim to have used CBD throughout their careers to help with injuries, pain, and overall recovery.

Although it’s not as well-known as some other companies on this list, Fourfivecbd has a lot of things going for it. For starters, the company uses European hemp cultivated in Croatia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and the Netherlands. This hemp is then extracted using carbon dioxide (CO2), the gold standard of the CBD industry.

Fourfivecbd’s products also undergo extensive third-party testing to make sure they’re potent and safe, and the results can be viewed on the company’s website.

The company’s claims its products are particularly focused on helping athletes and other active individuals recover and stay in good health. As such, it’s not surprising that many of its products are free of THC, which is a banned substance under sport governing bodies.

Fourfivecbd’s products are even tested by the Banned Substance Control Group (BSCG) to make sure that they’re free of all compounds prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) so that athletes taking them are not wrongfully penalized.

These products cost £34.99 to £74.99, or £0.07–£0.12 per mg of CBD. This price is about average for the UK CBD market.

Can CBD Oil Help Relieve Pain?

Table of contents:

• The Endocannabinoid System
• CB1 and CB2 Receptors
• What Is Pain?
• How Does CBD Reduce Pain?
• Evidence Based Use of CBD for Chronic Pain Relief
• Evidence Based Use of CBD for Arthritis Pain Relief
• Evidence Based Use of CBD for Multiple Sclerosis
• Evidence Based Use of CBD for Inflammation
• Tips for Choosing a CBD Product for Pain
• References Cited

CBD is the acronym for cannabidiol, one of the 108 (at least) phytocannabinoids found in members of the cannabis plant. CBD has several different evidence based effects including anti-nausea, as an anticonvulsant, an anti-anxiety agent, anti-inflammatory agent, an immune modulator and an antioxidant. Importantly, CBD has also been shown to be an effective pain reliever. [1]

It is important to know that the effects of CBD are significantly different than those of THC, another cannabinoid with a similar chemical structure, but with different actions. One of the most important differences is that CBD is not an intoxicant and won’t get you high while THC is intoxicating. As an aside, most times you will hear or read that CBD is not a “psychoactive” agent. While this is true in the way most people think of psychoactive agents, CBD does have anti-anxiety and antidepressant effects and it does affect mood, so the more correct technical term is non-intoxicating).[2]

To understand how CBD relieves pain, let’s start first with the human endocannabinoid system: the ancient regulatory system on which the cannabinoids act.

The Endocannabinoid System

Cannabis is one of the oldest medicinal plants known to humans and the endocannabinoid system is an ancient, evolutionarily conserved system that plays a key role in homeostasis, the process that helps balance the body’s metabolic, immune and hormonal systems. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) plays vital roles in regulation of the stress response, mood, memory, reward systems that control appetite, libido, addictions and metabolic processes like the regulation of blood sugar levels and the balance of energy in the body. The fact that such a wide variety of systems can be regulated by the ECS gives us a clue as to how important it is.

Endocannabinoids are the signaling molecules for the ECS. Structurally, they don’t “look” like cannabinoids, which are phytocannabinoids but the endocannabinoids interact with receptors of the ECS in a way similar to a lock (the receptors) and key (the endocannabinoids or phytocannabinoids) The two main endocannabinoids found in humans are anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG). These substances (the keys) bind to one of two receptors (the locks), either CB1 or CB2.

• AEA binds weakly to both the CB1 and CB2 receptors
• 2-AG binds strongly to both the CB1 and CB2 receptors

CB1 and CB2 Receptors

CB1 and CB2 receptors are found in different areas of the body. CB1 is found mostly in the brain, the spinal cord and on the nerves that run through the body. One current theory is that slight genetic changes in the CB1 receptor may help explain some mood disorders like depression and anxiety.[3]

CB2 receptors are found on cells of the immune, reproductive, digestive, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems.

THC, the intoxicating or psychoactive cannabinoid binds more strongly to CB1. CBD has a different profile;t binds weakly to both CB1 and CB2 receptors. More recent research indicates that THC can affect additional receptors (beyond the CB1 and CB2 receptors) in different ways that can result in various health benefits. Some of these different ways include:

• CBD may bind to serotonin receptors – This may help explain the anti-anxiety effect of CBD. This may also help explain other effects including alterations in pain perception and delivery of pain relief. [4]
• CBD also binds to a type of receptor known as transient receptor potential channels, of the vanilloid subtype usually abbreviated as TRPVs. The TRPVs act as “sensors” for pain, heat and pressure. [5] CBD binds to TRPV1. This receptor is specifically involved in the perception of pain. The endocannabinoid AEA also binds to the TRPV1 receptor as does the substance capsaicin derived from hot chili peppers. Capsaicin is used in several topical agents designed to decrease pain.
• CBD may also act as a natural Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI). The SSRI’s are a class of drug used to treat anxiety and depression.[6]
  • • In addition to acting as an SSRI, CBD may also inhibit the reuptake of AEA. The end result is that AEA hangs around longer and exerts a greater effect.

Overall, the evidence is building that CBD acts as a – get ready for it—an indirect antagonist of cannabinoid agonists. Translation: CBD acts on parts of a number of different receptors to balance out the actions of other cannabinoids like THC. [7]

What Is Pain?

Pain is a subjective response to a sensory stimulus. That stimulus could be heat, pressure or some form of injury. Pain is difficult to measure because it is subjective. It all depends on who is experiencing the pain. We’ve all known people who seem to wince at the smallest pain while others seem to have a great deal of tolerance to pain.

Medically, two main types of pain are recognized:

• Nociceptive: pain that comes from damaged tissues
• Neuropathic: pain that comes from damaged nerves

There is also a third major form of pain recognized by many physicians and researchers. This is the pain that comes from some form of neurologic dysfunction that is not necessarily accompanied by any signs of damage. Fibromyalgia is a good example of this form of pain.

Some researchers, on the other hand, classify pain as nociceptive, neuropathic, inflammatory or due to cancer.

There are other ways to describe pain. It can be acute or chronic, but it can also be described as sharp, dull, achy, pressure, stabbing or in a number of other ways. Again, it is often how the person going through the pain perceives it.

Acute pain is sudden pain that usually signals an injury or sudden damage to tissues. It is meant to immediately notify you that you are in danger! Acute pain is carried by fast-acting “A” type nerve fibers. Chronic pain is pain that lasts longer and it is carried by the slower “C” fibers. The sections of the nervous system that perceive pain evolved to protect us from movement that might make the pain or injury worse. It also seems to encourage us to take it easy, to rest and recover from the injury.

How Does CBD Reduce Pain?

The quick answer is we don’t really know. We are in the early stages of CBD research. This is often difficult research to perform. Why? There are many technical, legal and cultural reasons, but the most complicated reasons may be technical. We are in possession of lots more information then we had, say 5 years ago, and more are being published all the time.

Here is some of the information we have now:

• CBD appears to have both some direct and some indirect effects at CB receptors and at other receptors such as the serotonin and the TRPV1 receptors that help regulate how pain is perceived. CBD may interact with even more receptors involved including nuclear receptors [8],[9],[10]
• CBD may increase the threshold for pain[11]
• CBD acts as an anti-inflammatory agent[12]

The current understanding of the actions of CBD in the context of pain relief is that “cannabinoids, both plant derived and endogenous, act simultaneously on multiple pain targets.”[10] That is part of the reason CBD research is complicated. It looks like CBD can act on multiple receptors and multiple targets at the same time.

Evidence Based Use of CBD for Chronic Pain Relief

While it is clear that much more research needs to be done, currently there is enough evidence to support at least a trial of CBD in several different pain related conditions including: [10], [13],[14],[15]

• Chronic non-cancer pain
• Neuropathic pain
• Abdominal pain
• Rheumatic and joint pain
• Chronic cancer pain
• Neurological pain

Not all the studies looked specifically at CBD. That is another area that needs to be expanded. Several studies examined medical cannabis and synthetic cannabinoids.

The side effects associated with CBD use tend to be mild, short-term, well tolerated and are often related to other uses of CBD;eg. drowsiness, fatigue, changes in appetite and diarrhea.

Overall, CBD research is in its infancy, but it is reasonable to expect that every year there will be a better understanding of how CBD may function to decrease pain levels. Currently, there is sufficient evidence and CBD has a good enough safety profile so that it is definitely worth of trial for most people suffering from chronic pain. It is recommended that you work with a knowledgeable healthcare professional when using CBD.

Evidence Based Use of CBD for Arthritis Pain Relief

Arthritis is common.- In fact, the term arthritis covers over 100 different conditions that all possess the common element of joint pain. Arthritis can take the form of:

• Degenerative arthritis is the most common type of arthritis and due, at least in part, to “wear and tear” of joints. During a lifetime, the cartilage of the joints accumulates damage, eventually often resulting in swelling, inflammation, stiffness and pain.
• Inflammatory arthritis is a somewhat redundant terminology because arthritis IS an inflammatory process. This is a class designation and includes rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis and other autoimmune processes like ankylosing spondylitis and lupus. Gout and Lyme disease can also produce arthritic syndromes. Gout and pseudogout are sometimes considered metabolic forms of arthritis.
• Infectious arthritis is caused by bacterial, viral or fungal infections that affect the joints. Bacterial infections may be due to Salmonella, Shigela, Chlamydia and Neisseria species. Hepatitis C can also cause infectious arthritis.

At this point, you won’t find it too surprising that there have not been many clinical studies using just hemp derived CBD for pain relief, either oral or topical, while managing the various forms of arthritis. However, some case studies were recently published [16] using CBD in various forms. One case involved a 50 year old woman with multiple autoimmune conditions including rheumatoid arthritis who was successfully assisted using 600mg CBD of isolate in MCT oil given by the sublingual (under the tongue) route. The doses were divided and given 3 times a day (200 mg each) and the woman reported significant improvement in her pain levels, quality of life, emotional well being and physical ability to function normally.

In a recent review cleverly titled “Joints for Joints”, one of the Key Points stated that “ CBD is effective in reducing inflammation and pain and might enhance the efficacy of therapeutic drugs. “[17] This finding suggests that oral CBD might reduce pain by reducing inflammation- and that it might be best used in conjunction with current medications. That is a conversation that you would need to have with your physician.

Topically, CBD has been anecdotally widely reported to reduce pain. Topical applications have the advantage of working directly on a painful joint and avoid first pass metabolism. There are no current recommendations regarding the quantity to use.-A reasonable rule of thumb is to fully cover the painful area with as small amount of topical CBD as possible and to repeat the process every 2-4 hours as needed. The temptation is often to go for the most “potent” topical CBD but, depending on the area and the degree of pain, it is often reasonable and cost-effective to start with a low dose and increase as needed.

Other studies have used synthetic cannabinoids or combinations of CBD and THC which make interpretation difficult- but it can be concluded from these studies that CBD alone is worth a try if you have any form of arthritis. A reasonable recommendation would be to start with a topical form of CBD if your arthritis is limited to one, two or three joints. If more joints are involved, oral CBD may represent a better approach. There will be some trial and error involved in finding your dose so be patient.

Evidence Based Use of CBD for Multiple Sclerosis

Most of the studies done on cannabinoids and multiple sclerosis (MS) have used Sativex in a mouth spray. Sativex is a synthetic mixture of THC and CBD in a 1:1 ratio. It has been shown to be safe and effective in controlling pain and muscle spasticity in MS.[18]

The evidence that CBD in oil or tincture form may benefit MS is mostly anecdotal. No clinical studies have been performed so far. The anecdotal information essentially boils down to “It works for some but not for others”. It may be worth a try but work with your physician and don’t try it on your own.

Evidence Based Use of CBD for Inflammation

CBD has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. A 2014 review indicated that in many mouse and rat studies, CBD had significant anti-inflammatory properties. [19]

In rat models of inflammatory arthritis, topical CBD reduced both inflammation and pain related behaviors. [20] In a mouse model of arthritis, CBD also reduced inflammation, but it was not clear how it was able to do this. [21] Other lab studies support this view. [22]

Overall, it is the same story. Anecdotally, CBD is believed to be effective at reducing inflammation. Clinical studies are lagging, but the studies that have been carried out using lab animals indicate that CBD reduces markers of inflammation. It is not yet clear how this happens. Again, the current evidence indicates that CBD can reduce inflammation and the pain often associated with it and is worth a try. The recommendations would include working with your physicians and starting at a low dose and slowly increasing the dose until you feel your goal has been reached.

Tips for Choosing a CBD Product for Pain

Always, always, always start at a low dose and slowly increase that dose until the pain has been effectively relieved. All the data indicates that CBD is safe over a wide range of doses but why buy or use more than you need?

We here at LeafReport are striving to help you make the best choice possible. The most important parameters to consider are:

• Make certain of the purity of the product and that the label gives accurate information. The best way to do this is by ensuring that the company you are looking to buy from has a good, professional reputation AND that they use 3rd party labs to test their product to ensure both purity and accuracy. We have done many different company and product reviews so you don’t have to!
• Human nature seems to want to have the most “potent” product around but you may not need that amount of product. You would be wasting money better spent on other needs. If you follow the adage “Start low and go slow” you will be able to determine your most effective dose. This may be quite different from your friend’s most effective dose so go through your own trial and error process to find it. You may, or may not, need to increase that dose, depending on your particular situation.
• When you are dealing with pain, it can be difficult to be patient and the trial and error process does require some patience! If you are using a topical product for pain, apply it and give it at least 20-30 minutes to be effective and then slowly increase the amount if required. If you find you need to apply a further amount every thirty minutes or so, you can likely go to a more potent product. That may be one that is more highly concentrated or one that contains more total CBD. If you are taking CBD by mouth, you should wait at least 1-2 hours before trying the same dose and a few days before you try increasing the dose. Oral products take longer to show their effectiveness than topical products do but the effects last hours longer.

References Cited

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2. [2] Russo, Ethan B. “Cannabidiol claims and misconceptions.” Trends in pharmacological sciences 38.3 (2017): 198-201.
3. [3] Mechoulam R; Parker LA., The endocannabinoid system and the brain. Annu Rev Psychol. 2013; 64:21-47.
4. [4] de Mello Schier AR, et al, Antidepressant like and anxiolytic like effects of cannabidiol: a chemical compound of Cannabis sativa. CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets. 2014;13(6):953-60.
5. [5] Baylie, R L, and J E Brayden. “TRPV channels and vascular function.” Acta physiologica (Oxford, England) vol. 203,1 (2011)
6. [6] Blessing, Esther M., et al. “Cannabidiol as a potential treatment for anxiety disorders.” Neurotherapeutics 12.4 (2015): 825-836.
7. [7] Meng, Howard, et al. “Selective cannabinoids for chronic neuropathic pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis.” Anesthesia & Analgesia 125.5 (2017): 1638-1652.
8. [8] Kress, Michaela, and R. Kuner. “Mode of action of cannabinoids on nociceptive nerve endings.” Experimental brain research 196.1 (2009): 79-88.
9. [9] O’Brien, Melissa, and Jason J. McDougall. “Cannabis and joints: scientific evidence for the alleviation of osteoarthritis pain by cannabinoids.” Current opinion in pharmacology 40 (2018): 104-109.
10. [10] Vučković, Sonja et al. “Cannabinoids and Pain: New Insights From Old Molecules.” Frontiers in pharmacology vol. 9 1259. 13 Nov. 2018, doi:10.3389/fphar.2018.01259
11. [11] do Nascimento, Glauce Crivelaro, et al. “Cannabidiol increases the nociceptive threshold in a preclinical model of Parkinson’s disease.” Neuropharmacology (2019): 107808.
12. [12] ElSohly MA, Radwan MM, Gul W, Chandra S, Galal A., Phytochemistry of Cannabis sativa L. Prog Chem Org Nat Prod. 2017; 103():1-36.
13. [13] Mücke M, Phillips T, Radbruch L, Petzke F, Häuser W., Cannabis based medicines for chronic neuropathic pain in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018 Mar 7; 3():CD012182.
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