One of the best studies we have available on the topic is a meta-analysis published in 2017. This CBD gummies analysis looked at 24 different clinical trials involving 1,334 patients over several years and demographics. These studies all used different forms of cannabis for treating chronic pain. The analysis reports that many of these studies showed a reduction in chronic pain scores by 50% or more — suggesting the cannabis plant to be a potential treatment for chronic pain. Now that we’ve covered a few CBD oil options that are going to provide the best value for your money, let’s discuss how CBD is suggested to support chronic pain in the first place.

In other words, efforts by universities and pharmaceutical companies to extract marijuana’s active ingredients and package them in pill form may be ill-fated. There are many traditional options to manage pain, from prescription drugs to occupational therapy. Now, one formerly alternative option for controlling chronic pain is becoming mainstream. As of April 2011, medical marijuana — often referred to as cannabis, the actual herb from which marijuana is made — is legal in Washington, DC, and a growing list of states.

Instead of measuring out micrograms of CBD crystals or hemp resin, all you need to do is measure oil to get your dose of CBD. This can be done using a simple dropper that comes standard with most CBD oils. CBD oil is a combination of a CBD extract, with a carrier oil to help dissolve and store the CBD. Most CBD oils use carrier oils like MCT oil, or hemp seed oil — which is then combined with CBD isolate, or full-spectrum hemp extract rich in CBD and other similar cannabinoids.

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a chemical compound derived from cannabinoids, which naturally occur in the cannabis plant. CBD won’t make you high (that’s all THC) but it has been anecdotally shown to help treat a variety of ailments, including pain. Worth a whirl, I surmised, and started sampling an array of products from company called Medix. That’s why this type of CBD is often referred to as “whole plant” oil as, with full spectrum CBD products, the extract is derived from compounds taken from the entire hemp plant. In fact, one 2018 study published in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research found that the top three medical conditions that caused people to use CBD were pain, anxiety, and depression.

CBD cream is used to tackle the tough pain that comes from multiple sclerosis, arthritis, osteoarthritis, chronic migraine headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, epilepsy, and many others. Even though CBD is commonly used to help alleviate the pain that stems from a host of medical conditions, it’s important to note that it is not taken with the express intention to cure any of those medical conditions. CBD creams are an easy, fast, and effective way to decrease pain and reduce and relieve inflammation. Studies show that CBD is highly effective at relieving inflammation because it interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system to calm down overactive pain receptors.