Cannabidiol (CBD) oil has become a popular remedy for many medical complaints, including pain. Despite having no clinically proven benefit, research shows that more people take CBD oil for pain than other health issues.
Over the years, I’ve found hemp-based CBD products effective for pain, and I continue using them regularly. In this post, I’ll explore why CBD oil may ease pain, discuss the types of tinctures available, and teach you how to maximize them.
Let’s begin by checking out the top five pain-relieving CBD oils that money can buy.
CBD Genesis – CBD Tincture Oil
CBD Genesis is one of the hemp industry’s most familiar brands and manufactures a selection of CBD oils to help ease discomfort. Each 30ml tincture contains a blend of premium full-spectrum hemp extract and coconut-based MCT oil.
The medium-chained triglyceride (MCT) carrier oil enhances CBD’s effects by boosting its naturally low absorption rate. CBD Genesis tinctures also have traces of cannabigerol (CBG) and cannabinol (CBN), drawing out the entourage effect.
These CBD oils have an authentic hemp flavor, come in three strengths, and have less than 0.3% THC. Third-party tested for Farm Bill compliance by Hammer Enterprises.
Strengths: 550mg (18.3mg/ml), 1000mg (33.3mg/ml), 2000mg (66.6mg/ml)
Active CBD Oil – CBD/MCT Tincture
Made with 100% activated hemp extract, Active CBD Oil’s tincture provides efficient and fast-acting CBD relief. This clean and pure tincture consists of non-GMO industrial hemp and MCT oil but no solvents, additives, or preservatives.
Active CBD Oil uses a THC-free hemp extract, ensuring you won’t have any issues with drug tests. The unflavored and odorless tincture is discreet, with no marijuana aromas that come with full-spectrum hemp products.
Based in Colorado, Active CBD Oil only uses US ingredients in its tinctures. Available in three potencies and third-party tested by Agriscience Laboratories.
Strengths: 300mg (10mg/ml), 1250mg (20.8mg/ml), 2500mg (41.7mg/ml)
CBD For The People – CBD Dark Tincture
CBD For The People takes pride in producing some of the industry’s finest CBD products, focusing on using uncut and unrefined hemp extract. Their CBD Dark Tinctures are magnificent and come in several strains and strengths.
The whole-plant hemp extracts used by For the People are rich in CBD, minor cannabinoids, flavonoids, terpenes, and other hemp nutrients. They blend the extract with MCT oil but never include vegetable glycerin or artificial chemicals.
All For The People products contain supercritical CO2-extracted hemp and are manufactured in GMP-certified facilities. Third-party tested by Pixis Labs.
Strengths: 600mg (60mg/ml), 1200mg (80mg/ml), 2500mg (83.3mg/ml), 4800mg (160mg/ml), 9600mg (160mg/ml), 14400mg (240mg/ml)
Flavors: Raw Lemon, Raw Natural (Unflavored), Raw Orange, Raw Peppermint, Blue Dream (Sativa), Super Lemon Haze (Hybrid), Blue Cheddar (Indica)
CBDfx – CBD + Delta 9 THC Drops
Hemp-derived compliant delta-9 is on the rise and put to good use in these CBD Drops from CBDfx. Companies can make CBD products with a psychoactive twist by adding as much delta-9 (i.e., THC) as the Farm Bill allows.
In this case, the CBD and delta-9 combine in a relaxing tincture oil with additional pain-relieving properties than typical CBD oil. Delta-9 has shown pain-killing potential in trials, and when taken with CBD, both cannabinoids are more effective.
CBDfx’s Ultimate Chill Blend consists of organic, non-GMO, full-spectrum hemp, and coconut-based MCT oil. It’s vegan-friendly and has a gorgeous blueberry flavor. The Drops undergo regular third-party analysis by CC Testing Labs.
Strengths: 1500mg, 3000mg, 6000mg
CBD American Shaman – Water Soluble Full-Spectrum Hemp Oil
Amplify your CBD relief with an ultra-concentrated water-soluble tincture from CBD American Shaman. These guys wisely counteract CBD’s low absorption rate by utilizing nanotechnology to reduce molecule size and improve bioavailability.
Per CBD American Shaman, its water-soluble CBD is up to 10 times more effective than standard hemp extract, hence why you need less of it. You can mix the tincture with a beverage or take it sublingually.
CBD American Shaman makes its water-soluble oils with all-American ingredients. With 300mg hemp extract per 30ml tincture, each full dropper provides 10mg of CBD. The Green Scientific Labs third-party report shows zero detectable THC.
Flavors: Cherry Limeade, Grape, Lemon, Natural (Unflavored), Piña Colada, Hot Cocoa (Limited Edition), Peppermint (Limited Edition)
What is CBD?
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a cannabis component popular in the natural wellness scene.
Renowned for its supplemental and therapeutic benefits, CBD is non-psychotropic and shines a new light on cannabis, which is notorious for its intoxicating effects.
CBD is a cannabinoid compound found in hemp and marijuana that mainly acts in the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS). But CBD unusually affects the ECS, regulating it without binding with the system’s cannabinoid receptors.
CBD has been federally legal since 2018, although products must be made with hemp extract and have less than 0.3% THC. Products exceeding this THC limit are classed as marijuana, even if they don’t get you high.
What is CBD Oil?
A CBD oil, or tincture, is a hemp-based product intended for sublingual absorption or oral ingestion. While they may look like vape juices, you should never vape tinctures – they could damage your vaporizer or, worse, your health.
Most companies keep their CBD oils simple, making them with CBD extract, a carrier oil, and little else. But you may find tinctures with natural terpenes, artificial flavorings, or even adaptogens – these are herbs or mushrooms with health benefits.
CBD oil is a healthy alternative to products intended for smoking and vaping. Taking a tincture sublingually gets the CBD into your bloodstream almost as rapidly.
Is CBD Oil Effective for Pain?
More research than ever is being conducted on CBD, thanks to its newfound popularity and legal status. But in relative terms, cannabinoid science is a long way behind other areas of medicine.
CBD may help with several health issues, although the jury is still out on its benefits for most medical conditions. However, there’s a lot of optimism that CBD oil could alleviate various types of pain.
In theory, CBD may reduce pain levels by regulating activity at the CB1 receptor, which modulates pain sensitivity. The cannabinoid may have this effect by preventing the reuptake of anandamide, an endocannabinoid and CB1 receptor agonist.
Scientific proof and clinical evidence are lacking, but the data tells us plenty. A survey published in 2018 found that chronic pain is the most common reason for self-medicating with CBD, closely followed by arthritis and joint pain.
Even more remarkably, nearly two-thirds of survey respondents said that CBD works moderately well for their condition without additional treatment.
How to use CBD oil for pain
If you plan on taking CBD tinctures for pain, I recommend starting with a small dose. Follow any guidelines provided by the manufacturer and err on the side of caution. CBD won’t intoxicate you, but it may cause side effects, which we will discuss later.
The type of pain you are experiencing should determine whether you take CBD oil sublingually or orally. For sudden pain (i.e., nerve pain), choose fast-acting sublingual absorption and apply the oil under your tongue.
But if your pain is chronic and persistent, the long-lasting relief offered by oral ingestion may be more effective and economical. Swallow the oil directly or add it to a strong-flavored beverage to mask the earthy hemp.
Side effects of CBD oil
Drowsiness, sleepiness, and fatigue are CBD oil’s most common side effects and are most likely to occur with high dosages. Suppressed appetite, diarrhea, and dry mouth are other side effects to keep in mind.
CBD can also adversely interact with several classes of medication by inhibiting enzymes in the CYP450 system. In doing this, CBD reduces the body’s ability to metabolize certain drugs, meaning they stay in your system for longer than usual.
Avoid mixing CBD oil with the following medications: antidepressants, antihistamines, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, beta-blockers, opioids, and stimulants.
Types of CBD Oil for Pain
Not all CBD oil is the same; hemp extracts have some critical differences. Before deciding on what type of CBD oil you need, make sure you know what CBD extract a company uses and what you can expect from it.
CBD-isolate oil
This is the most basic and affordable type of CBD. Extraction involves separating CBD from all other hemp constituents in order to create a pure CBD tincture.
As CBD-isolate oil does not feature any other cannabinoids, it cannot generate the synergistic entourage effect. However, a genuine CBD-isolate tincture with zero THC does guarantee a clean drug test.
Full-spectrum CBD oil
Quite literally, at the other end of the spectrum, this extract incorporates CBD and every other hemp component. You’ll get the benefit of terpenes, flavonoids, and minor cannabinoids, including cannabigerol (CBG).
CBD oil made with full-spectrum extract does give you the advantages of the entourage effect. But as a whole plant extract, there will inevitably be a little THC present as well. As far as drug tests go, full-spectrum CBD represents a risk.
Broad-spectrum CBD oil
An ideal middle-ground, broad-spectrum hemp extract is THC-free but preserves hemp’s other cannabinoids and constituents. The lack of THC slightly reduces the benefits, but broad-spectrum hemp has more therapeutic potential than CBD isolate.
With a broad-spectrum CBD oil, you can relax knowing there’s no chance of returning a positive drug test. If you always have the looming threat of a drug test at your workplace, I recommend broad-spectrum extract over the other two.
What to Look for When Purchasing CBD Oil for Pain
Shopping for CBD oil involves ensuring your product is genuine and effective and that it has the ideal characteristics for your circumstances.
I have some suggestions on what to look for. And if you’re still unsure, why not start your CBD journey with one of the tinctures in my top-five list?
Independent lab reports
Third-party testing is essential – I cannot stress this enough! The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t regulate commercially available CBD products, which means there are no official, agreed-upon quality standards.
But independent lab testing at least confirms the potency of a CBD oil and if it has less than the 0.3% THC permitted by the Farm Bill. I also look for lab reports that test for solvents, mycotoxins, and other nasty stuff.
Third-party certificates of analysis (COA) should be easily accessible on the vendor’s website. Transparency is the whole point. If a company makes this information difficult to find, there’s probably something they don’t want you to see.
CBD potency
Calculate the potency of a CBD tincture by dividing the number of milligrams by the number of milliliters. For example, a 30ml tincture with 300mg CBD would have a 10mg/ml potency. Thankfully, many brands give this figure in the product description!
The amount of CBD you’ll require depends on the severity of your pain. I always suggest starting small and gradually building your dose. The financial cost of taking more than you need quickly adds up.
How to Store CBD Oil for Pain
Keep CBD oil fresh for a year or more by storing it in a cool, dry, dark place, out of direct sunlight. The sun’s ultraviolet rays can degrade CBD cannabinoids and oxygen if you don’t firmly secure the bottle cap after use.
How Long Does CBD Oil for Pain Last?
On average, CBD oil taken sublingually works for up to four hours, while orally ingested CBD can last for twice as long. Your speed of metabolism will affect how quickly or slowly the CBD wears off.
Purchasing CBD Oil for Pain Online vs. Shops Near Me
I recommend purchasing CBD oil from online hemp vendors that have been active in the industry for at least five years. Such longevity suggests a commitment to stocking high-quality CBD products and providing excellent customer service.
Local brick-and-mortar shops are unpredictable if they don’t specialize in hemp. Never buy from a local physical shop without third-party reports for the products they stock.
