Over the past few years, interest in CBD has increased dramatically. One major talking point has been the potential effect of CBD on pain relief. Recently, there have been more studies conducted which could suggest that CBD might help to alleviate pain.

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a natural derivative of the Cannabis sativa plant and has been an area of interest for many people in recent years. Researchers have been particularly interested in CBD due to its potential benefits including helping with sleep, reducing anxiety, and helping with pain relief.

One of the most popular types of Cannabidiol is CBD oil, which is consumed by placing a few drops under the tongue. However, CBD has infused with a variety of different types of products including shampoo, creams, balms, and other skincare products.

How Can CBD Affect Pain Relief?

 According to studies, the natural properties of CBD can help to combat inflammation and pain relief in general. CBD is a natural anti-inflammatory, which is why it has garnered interest from those trying to tackle chronic pain related issues.

The research suggests CBD has been found to have a direct impact on how pain receptors in the central nervous system influence pain. It is thought that CBD can interact with a core component of the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is a cell signalling system in the body. CBD is thought to induce a response from the ECS that creates anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects to help with the management of chronic pain. According to studies, CBD is also thought to work in conjunction with the ECS to function in an antioxidant capacity, which helps to relieve pain whilst also slowing the progression of chronic issues.

CBD has also shown signs of improving mood and helping with sleep, which are issues that often coincide with chronic pain..

Recent Studies on CBD 

It is thought that one of the main three reasons that people consume CBD is to treat chronic pain and more research is now being conducted on the specific medicinal benefits it can have on pain relief.

One particular study has focused on CBD using experimental pain trials, and the results appear to suggest that CBD can have a genuinely positive effect when it comes to treating pain. The study involved 15 healthy adults who were asked to respond to a device that induced controlled levels of heat pain. After initial rounds of testing responses to the device, the participants were then given CBD oil or a placebo before being subjected to more tests. Participants were sometimes told they were receiving CBD but were actually given a placebo, sometimes told the opposite, and sometimes told the truth – this structure ensured the researchers would be able to squash any questions of whether the CBD was actually relieving pain or whether it was just a placebo.

Interestingly, the results showed that participants who consumed CBD reported a reduction in the unpleasantness of pain, even when they were told they were consuming a placebo. According to this study, CBD was able to reduce the unpleasantness of pain, which shows there is scope for CBD to be used for pain alleviation in future.

Whilst this most recent study has indicated that CBD could well be able to alleviate feelings of pain, more research is needed to make conclusive medical claims. At present there are no approved health benefits for CBD but looking the areas being researched can be useful when considering using CBD.