Cannabis has been used as an alternative treatment for chronic aches and pains for hundreds of years. This is still true today, but now we have an extensive range of cannabis products to choose from. These are growing in popularity over medical prescriptions especially for back pain.
Chronic back pain is a daily struggle for millions across the globe. Unfortunately, knowing which cannabis product you should use to help ease the symptoms can be a minefield. Just looking online will give you a whole variety of products which can be overwhelming and confusing.
For those enduring chronic back pain, CBD oil and topical balm, both of which are high in CBD, are viable natural product choices.
But which is best? In this piece, we examine CBD oils vs CBD topicals as the best treatment for back pain.
Back Pain explained
Back Pain can affect people at any age. There are many reasons that people suffer from back issues, from injury and bad posture to underlying health conditions. Numerous circumstances could lead to back pain, some of which are listed below:
- Sprained ligaments
- Strained muscles
- Ruptured discs
- Inflammed joints
- Muscle damage
- Obesity
- Arthritis
- Blood clots
- Kidney infections or stones
- Neuropathic pain
- Spinal strains
While many cases of back pain are temporary, there are many situations where back disorders get progressively more serious, and this can be debilitating.
According to NHS England, “back pain is the largest single cause of disability in the UK, with lower back pain alone accounting for 11% of the total disability of the UK population.” This shows how serious back problems can be and how important it is to find relief.
Cannabis for Back Pain
It seems no surprise that more of us are opting for the quick-acting results linked with cannabis. There has been a change to non-psychoactive alternatives of cannabis called CBD rather than smoking a joint. Smoking cannabis can leave you unable to function correctly and carry out day to day tasks, plus it is an illegal drug in most countries. But CBD has all the effective benefits of cannabis without the “high.” and is legal. It has been approved as a competent treatment for many ailments.
There are still clinical research trials ongoing as to how suitable CBD is to alleviate pain so any evidence at the moment is anecdotal. With continuing research examining its possibilities of CBD as an alternative to medication for pain management. we will have to await the results.
CBD Oil or CBD Topicals for treatments of Back Pain?
What is CBD Oil?
Cannabidiol or CBD is the non-psychoactive part located in the marijuana plant that has gained in reputation over the years. Although it is now more sought after than THC, studies have shown CBD to have some potential in managing an assortment of diseases from anxiety and mental health issues to skincare and hair care.
CBD oil is formulated by a carrier oil that includes a concentration of cannabidiol extract. Oils range in potency, and you can use them in numerous ways. But what makes this commodity so successful – and more importantly, can it be a remedy for back pain?
Investigations have disclosed that CBD interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), essential for controlling several of our bodily functions. This ranges from temperature to the way we perceive pain, hunger, emotions, etc.
When you use it, CBD interacts with cannabinoid receptors in the body to fight anything that may be progressing on that shouldn’t be. So in the occurrence of back pain, using CBD might be able to support our bodies against the signs of distress (including inflammation) much more efficiently.
How to Use CBD Oil for Back Pain
There are many methods to using CBD effectively, and it is a personal choice as to what suits you. In many cases, people do not like how CBD oil tastes. Alternative ways to take the oil is mixing it into your food or drinks to disguise the flavour.
For those needing a fast alleviation, applying a couple of drops under the tongue looks to be the speediest way of benefiting. This provides virtually instant absorption straight into the bloodstream without having to go through the digestive system.
CBD Topicals or CBD Oil for Back Pain?
What are CBD Topicals?
How are they used for back pain? CBD topicals have grown in popularity over recent years.
A topical CBD product is a cannabis-infused ointment, cream, balm, or lotion that is applied externally on the skin for localised alleviation.
CBD topicals have been great in helping skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema etc., but this is not their exclusive purpose.
Can CBD Balm get you high? The short answer is no. Topicals absorb into the skin, potentially giving the anti-inflammatory traits linked to cannabis; however, they do not enter the bloodstream but merely enter the CB2 receptors in the troubled area. Plus, most CBD topicals, including Caligold full-spectrum organic CBD balm, do not contain THC, so in the unlikely event of it reaching the bloodstream, you could never get high.
For those enduring back discomfort, topicals produce a more “comfortable” means of therapy. The majority of CBD balms contain other essential oils and soothing ingredients which enhance the experience. They can also be delivered straight to the afflicted and irritating part. Which is suitable for specific pain. Caligold CBD balm contains virgin coconut oil, lavender, eucalyptus and tea tree which all have their own medicinal strengths.
How to Use CBD Balm for Back Pain
CBD Balm can offer unique benefits as it can be applied to the area it is needed, whereas oils ingested take time to help the whole system. CBS oils are a longer-term strategy for managing and helping back pain, but topicals like CBD balm get to the issue faster, which many people need.
CBD Oil or CBD Balm for Back Pain – Which is Best?
When we examine the way both topicals and CBD oil treat the body, it will stand to reason that CBD oil may be more beneficial if you are looking for overall support. Rather than targeting one particular area, CBD oil can give its assistance across the whole body, not only possibly treating the pain but also possibly offering other comprehensive benefits.
However, as we have discussed – plenty of people favour treating affected areas as and when required, in which case CBD topicals would seem like the obvious answer.
Regarding variety, it is clear that CBD Balm offers the broadest range of choices for sufferers with back pain. You can opt for CBD-rich products with very high potency that contains everything you require to help ease severe pain, plus bonuses! CBD is completely legal and there is no restriction on amounts you should use as you can not overdose on it. This means you can use it as often ad you like.
CBD oil is the most famous cannabis product for a reason – it can be super powerful and impacts very quickly, given that you are administering it directly into the bloodstream.
Final Thoughts
Due to the lack of published medical investigations, we are still not 100% sure but there are thousands of happy customers leaving positive reviews for CBD Balm and its ability to soothe and ease back pain among other issues. We will need to wait for further study but the results so far suggests that CBD has the properties as a viable alternative to medicines without the side effects so many types of prescription drugs have. But until these claims are backed up with science CBD is considered a homoeopathic remedy for pain.
If you are interested in incorporating balm into your pain management check out our other interesting articles. We as a company want to educate every person about the wonderful possibilities CBD can bring to everyday lives. Relieving discomfort is just one of the amazing qualities CBD is used for.
