One of the main reasons patients buy CBD online in Canada is to treat pain. Chronic pain, which is a daily experience, affects up to one in five Canadians. Pain may come from a lingering injury, the symptom of another disease or illness, or most frustratingly from an undiagnosed source. With the problems associated with opioid use, it’s no wonder Canadians are turning to CBD oil for pain in record numbers.
Does CBD Oil Work for Chronic Pain?
In a survey of American patients from 2015, many reported using CBD oil for pain. Almost 20 percent of the people surveyed said they used it for inflammatory conditions (inflammation is often the route cause of pain), and more than 10 percent said they used it for “conditions marked by pain.”
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a compound found in cannabis, with no intoxicating effects. Still, it interacts with the endocannabinoid system in similar ways as THC, and researchers link it to several notable therapeutic benefits. Because it doesn’t create a high, many people prefer it over THC-rich edibles and oils. No intoxicating effects mean no problems going go to work, school, or driving.
But does CBD work for chronic pain? Ask any of the thousands of Canadians who buy CBD online in Canada, and they’ll tell you yes. However, the research is still in the early phases of study. Until well controlled clinical trials wrap up, it’s unwise to make any final conclusions about CBD’s ability to provide pain relief.
To date, there is a lot of work done on THC and pain, but little exploring CBD. In animal studies, some suggest CBD oil can reduce the pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis and arthritis. CBD can help reduce the severity of painful skin irritations, and sore muscles and joints.
Beyond preparations of straight CBD, there is also a suggestion that formulas with THC:CBD are useful for treating pain. With a little THC, patients benefit from something called the Entourage Effect. This effect theorizes that multiple cannabinoids working together are more potent than the sum of their individual parts. Studies exploring THC:CBD products tell us they are useful for treating neuropathic pain (nerve pain).
What are the Benefits of CBD Oil for Pain
Beyond the actual treatment of pain itself, CBD has additional benefits. Number one, many Canadians no longer want to take harsh pharmaceuticals. Perhaps they don’t like the side effects, or maybe they are worried about the risk of addiction. CBD offers a natural alternative that is both safe and non-addictive.
Secondly, it has a better safety profile than many drugs on the market. According to a report by the World Health Organization, “CBD is generally well tolerated with a good safety profile. Reported adverse effects may be as a result of drug-drug interactions between CBD and patients’ existing medications.” Side effects are mild and rare when they do happen. They may include diarrhea, changes in appetite, and sleepiness.
Third, when compared with THC, CBD has no risk of intoxication. No matter how much CBD oil you consume, there is no way you’ll feel high or enter an altered state of mind. Many patients who may have relied on strains high in THC to treat pain in the past, make the switch based on this fact alone.
Fourth, it is safe to use at all ages. Unlike other drugs or even THC-rich marijuana, CBD is well tolerated across all ages and demographics. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US has already approved a CBD drug for epilepsy in children as young as two years old. Again, it doesn’t lead to intoxication, making it useful for a wide variety of pain patients.
How to Dose CBD Oil for Pain
The hardest part of using CBD oil for pain is, surprisingly, not about where to buy CBD oil in Canada. The hardest part is calculating the right dose for your specific condition. Be patient with the process, as it can take a few days or even weeks to find the right dose that effectively treats the pain. Remember, CBD is well tolerated even in higher doses (500mg or more), but you will need to titrate up that amount to avoid the risk of side effects.
- Read the Label. All CBD products will indicate total CBD per package and suggested serving size. This is a good place to start, but you may want to start even lower, depending on your experience and condition.
- Calculate the Dose. If you are lucky, the label will tell you how much CBD equates to a drop of CBD oil, or a dose-dropper full of oil. But if not, you have to do some math to work out how many drops equal the dose you want to take. A standard dose dropper contains roughly 1ml of liquid (30 drops).
- Start Low. Once you know how many milligrams of CBD is in a dropper full, you can start with the lowest dose of 10 mg per day.
- Repeat for Three Days. Repeat this dose for three days and monitor what happens. Probably nothing, but you never know!
- Increase Dose. On day four, increase the dose by 50 percent.
- Repeat Until You Feel Something. Continue to increase the dose every few days until you notice a change. It can take a few weeks to reach the desired results. If you experience any adverse effects, speak with your doctor.
Where to Buy CBD Online in Canada for Pain
If you’ve already searched for CBD oil in Canada, you’ll immediately see how crowded the market place is. Everyone is selling CBD oil these days, and that means there are a lot of disreputable sources. How can you buy CBD online in Canada but ensure you are getting pure, clean products?
The first rule of buying CBD oil online is to stick with all-Canadian sources. Because CBD comes from hemp, these products are difficult to get across international borders. And the second rule? Look for companies you can trust. We at Top BC Cannabis only work with the best producers from across Canada. We don’t carry any products we wouldn’t use ourselves. Everything we sell, we stand behind.
