How Do CBD Gummies Help with Pain?
Approximately 60% of adults in the U.S. say they use CBD products to help them relieve pain. Though CBD tinctures are popular, CBD gummies are now surpassing them in sales, per the CBD market research company Brightfield Group.
One reason is the increasing research demonstrating that taking CBD gummies for pain relief may work to ease many types of acute or chronic pain. CBD has been shown to provide relief for people with arthritis, muscle pain, joint pain, neuropathic pain, and other types of pain. CBD gummies are convenient to take, available in different potencies, and made with different flavors.
What Are CBD Gummies?
CBD gummies look and taste like candy gummies but contain CBD (cannabidiol). CBD is extracted from the industrial hemp plant and may help manage conditions like stress or promote general wellness. Various CBD gummy brands may include:
- Additional cannabinoids besides CBD, like CBG and CBN
- CBD full spectrum, CBD broad-spectrum, or CBD isolate
- THC if broad spectrum CBD gummies
- Flavonoids and terpenes
- Pectin derived from fruit for vegans or gelatin obtained from animals
- A variety of natural flavors
- Sweeteners like tapioca syrup or corn syrup
- Botanicals like ashwagandha, ginger and turmeric
You will find many CBD product options in gummy form.
How Do CBD Gummies Work for Pain?
What do CBD gummies do for pain? It interacts with receptors found in the endocannabinoid system, influencing cell signaling. Researchers have found that CBD may increase anandamide, a messenger molecule that plays a role in pain, memory, depression, and more.
It is an endogenous ligand (cannabinoid) of CB1 receptors and is associated with the effects of THC. When the body experiences pain, anandamides are naturally produced and bind to the CB1 receptors in the endocannabinoid system, reducing the pain experienced by blocking the neurons signaling pain.
So, CBD gummies for pain management work primarily by increasing the endocannabinoids in the body that manage pain. CBD is thought to have analgesic activities without producing a high. CBD may regulate pain perception also by affecting other non-cannabinoid GPCRs.
This is a brief description of the complex activity that CBD originates in the body. Research to date has found that THC may reduce the perception of pain, and CBD may reduce the feeling of pain. THC is a partial agonist of the two primary endocannabinoid receptors: CB1 and CB2. THC inhibits the release of certain acids and hormones, so it affects pain pathways. CBD modulates the CB1 receptors and acts on other receptors like serotonin. As a negative allosteric modulator, CBD weakens pain signals.
The Time Required to See Results
Each person is different because their systems process nutrients at different rates. However, many people begin to feel the effects of CBD in about 30 minutes. For others, it may take longer, like more than an hour. CBD taken orally typically has a half-life of 1-2 days, which can also be longer. So many factors influence the results of CBD. They include your body composition, the amount of food in the stomach, the CBD potency, and how often you take CBD.
How To Use CBD Gummies for Pain?
According to comments made by regular CBD consumers, an excellent way to begin using CBD gummies for pain is to start with no more than 20 or 25 mg of CBD gummies for pain. CBD gummies are made in various potencies, so starting with a low to medium dose is recommended. Since gummies are edible and go through the first-pass metabolism process, you can take the CBD gummies as needed. Some CBD does not make it to the bloodstream when taken in edibles because it is metabolized by enzymes in the digestive system, giving CBD edibles a low bioavailability.
You can increase absorption and bioavailability by eating your CBD gummy with a high-fat snack like nuts, avocado, or omega-3-rich fish. Also, some people take them in the morning to help with pain management. Another option is to take CBD gummies for sleep at night because it helps people get a better night’s sleep by reducing feelings of pain and promoting relaxation. In fact, studies on chronic pain have found that even when CBD did not significantly reduce pain feelings, patients reported consistent improvement in their quality of life and sleep.
Summary
There is now science-backed evidence that CBD may help reduce feelings of pain. This is coupled with an enormous amount of anecdotal evidence given by people regularly taking CBD for pain and inflammation management. CBD gummies for pain relief are formulated to deliver CBD and other phytocannabinoids and botanicals in a flavorful and convenient way. You can choose the potency, spectrum, and flavor and discover if this can help you better manage pain.
