Do CBD Gummies Help With Pain?
Do CBD gummies work for pain? Approximately 60% of adults in the U.S. say they use CBD products to help them relieve pain. Though CBD tinctures are popular, CBD gummies are now surpassing them in sales per the CBD market research company Brightfield Group. One reason is the increasing research demonstrating that taking CBD gummies for pain relief may work to ease many types of acute or chronic pain. CBD has been shown to relieve people with muscle pain, neuropathic pain and other types of pain. CBD gummies are convenient, available in different potencies and made with different flavors.
TLDR:
Millions of people are taking CBD gummies for pain relief. Though more research is needed, controlled studies have found that CBD may modulate pain signaling and reduce conditions that cause pain. CBD gummies for pain are formulated with additional phytocannabinoids, like CBG and CBN, botanicals, natural flavorings and sweeteners.
What Are CBD Gummies?
CBD gummies look and taste like candy but contain CBD (cannabidiol). CBD is extracted from the industrial hemp plant and may help manage pain and stress or promote general wellness. Various CBD gummy brands may include:
- Additional cannabinoids besides CBD, like CBG and CBN
- Different spectrums like full spectrum, broad spectrum or isolate CBD gummies
- THC-free and CBD+THC gummies
- Flavonoids and terpenes
- Pectin derived from fruit for vegans or gelatin obtained from animals
- A variety of natural flavors
- Sweeteners like tapioca syrup or corn syrup
- Botanicals like ashwagandha, ginger and turmeric
You will find many CBD product options in gummy form.
How Do CBD Gummies Work For Pain?
CBD interacts with receptors found in the endocannabinoid system, influencing cell signaling. Researchers have found that CBD may increase anandamide, a messenger molecule that plays a role in pain, memory, depression and more. It is an endogenous ligand (cannabinoid) of CB1 receptors and is associated with the effects of THC. When the body experiences pain, anandamides are naturally produced and bind to the CB1 receptors in the endocannabinoid system, reducing the pain experienced by blocking the neurons signaling pain.
So, CBD gummies for pain management work primarily by increasing the endocannabinoids in the body that manage pain. CBD is thought to have significant analgesic activities without producing a high. CBD may regulate pain perception also by affecting other non-cannabinoid GPCRs. These are membrane proteins that manage cellular responses to neurotransmitters and hormones.
This is a brief description of the complex activity that CBD originates in the body. Research to date has found that THC may reduce the perception of pain, and CBD may reduce the feeling of pain. THC is a partial agonist of the two primary endocannabinoid receptors: CB1 and CB2. THC inhibits the release of certain acids and hormones, affecting pain pathways. CBD modulates the CB1 receptors and acts on other receptors like serotonin. As a negative allosteric modulator, CBD weakens pain signals.
CBD may reduce feelings of pain, but the influence on cells is changed when THC is added. Project CBD reports that CBD and THC work together differently than alone. This is commonly called the entourage effect. CBD+THC gummies for pain may deliver more of a unique mix of benefits for chronic pain sufferers. They are made with full spectrum CBD, which contains CBD and THC.
The Time Required to See Results
Each person is different because their systems process nutrients at different rates. However, many people begin to feel the effects of CBD in about 30 minutes. For others, it may take longer, like more than an hour. CBD taken orally typically has a half-life of 1-2 days, which can also be longer. So many factors influence the results of CBD. They include your body composition, the amount of food in the stomach, the CBD potency and how often you take CBD.
How Long Does It Take CBD to Start Working?
How To Use CBD Gummies For Pain?
Through comments made by regular CBD consumers, an excellent way to begin using CBD gummies for pain is to start with no more than 20 or 25 mg of CBD gummies. CBD gummies are made in various potencies, so starting with a low to medium dose is recommended. Since gummies are edible and go through the first-pass metabolism process, you can take CBD gummies as needed. Some CBD does not make it to the bloodstream when taken in edibles because it is metabolized by enzymes in the digestive system, giving CBD edibles a low bioavailability.
You can increase CBD absorption and bioavailability by eating your CBD gummy with a high-fat snack like nuts, avocado or omega-3-rich fish. Also, some people take CBD gummies in the morning to help with pain management. Another option is to eat CBD gummies for sleep at night because it helps people get a better night’s sleep by reducing feelings of pain and promoting relaxation. Studies on chronic pain have found that even when CBD did not significantly reduce pain feelings, patients reported consistent improvement in their quality of life and sleep.
FAQ About CBD Gummies for Pain
- How Many CBD Gummies for Pain Should I Take?
CBD products have recommended dosages. For example, a bottle of 25 mg CBD gummies for pain may recommend taking two daily gummies. You can start by taking low-potency CBD gummies as directed on the label. From there, you can experiment. For example, take one in the morning and one at night. Some people then add one in the middle of the day. You could take both CBD gummies in the morning and decide if you need another one as the day progresses. After you make sure the CBD gummies help reduce feelings of pain, you can choose to decrease, increase or keep taking the same potency to meet your needs.
- When Is the Best Time to Take CBD Gummies for Pain?
The reason you are consuming CBD gummies for pain influences the best time to take them. For example, you could take them 30-60 minutes before exercising to address the potential pain related to muscle soreness. If living with chronic pain, you may find it best to take two gummies in the morning and two more in the evening. Some people take two CBD gummies to sleep an hour before bedtime because relaxing is important to their pain management.
- How Long Do the Effects of CBD Gummies on Pain Last?
The effects of CBD gummies will last for approximately 4-6 hours. As mentioned, many factors influence the length of time, like body weight, metabolic rate, the amount of food eaten and CBD potency. The longer you take CBD, the more likely it will build up in your fatty tissues because it is fat-soluble. In fact, a 2020 study found that CBD was detectable in urine for 4-5 days after ingestion.
- Do You Need To Take CBD Gummies Every Day?
Many people consume CBD daily because they believe it will help them reduce feelings of stress, improve sleep quality or experience pain-relieving effects. CBD remains in the system for only 1-2 days. For some people, it remains for less than a day due to factors like a person’s metabolic rate. The implication is that maintaining the effects means you would want to take CBD gummies each day. The key is to start with a low dosage, increase it until the desired effects are achieved, and follow the producer’s recommendations for daily dosage amounts and frequency.
Summary
There is now science-backed evidence that CBD may help reduce feelings of pain. This is coupled with an enormous amount of anecdotal evidence given by people regularly taking CBD for pain management. CBD gummies for pain relief are formulated to deliver CBD and other phytocannabinoids and botanicals in a flavorful and convenient way. You can choose the CBD potency, spectrum and flavor and discover if CBD can help you better manage pain.
Sources
- https://www.singlecare.com/blog/cbd-survey/
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- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6460372/
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- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3967846
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- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7700528/
- https://projectcbd.org/health/natural-high-cbd-augments-anandamide/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4189631
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