First, it’s safe and easy to use, isn’t addictive like so many pharmaceutical remedies and can be used as often as necessary with few, if any, side effects. Second, studies seem to suggest that CBD topicals may help relieve pain from nerve damage, chronic neuropathic pain, and peripheral neuropathic pain.
Nerve pain or neuropathy?
You may be wondering what the difference is between nerve pain and neuropathy. Many people will use the terms interchangeably. But for this blog I want to give you the distinction.
Nerve pain is damage or injury to a nerve that can cause symptoms such as pain, numbness or prickling sensations in areas of the body.
Neuropathy is damage to the nerves in the central nervous system with injury to nerve fibers, disrupting the pain signals the nerves send t
o, and receive from, other parts of the body.
Peripheral neuropathy is a problem with nerves that send messages from the central nervous system, the brain and the spinal cord to the rest of the body.
CBD topicals for nerve pain
For the moment, let’s concentrate on nerve pain. I’ve already noted that CBD topicals are safer than other pain relievers. So, if you’re open to experimenting, CBD topicals may be your next move. Damaged nerves can do two things. One, they may send false signals making you feel pain when there isn’t a reason. Two, you may not feel pain when you do have an injury. Essentially, nerve damage can interfere with numerous daily activities and topical CBD may help restore balance.
Numerous studies show that hemp-infused CBD for nerve pain lowers the intensity safely. Two studies by the National Institutes of Health show its efficacy in pain that hadn’t responded to other more mainstream products, as well as pain associated with multiple sclerosis. When pain is relieved, people with chronic pain have:
- Improved sleep quality
- Less depression and anxiety
Both are important factors in regaining quality of life. Plus, there were no safety concerns for the people using it.
How do CBD topicals work for nerve pain?
CBD, or cannabidiol, is one of many compounds that are extracted from the hemp plant. CBD just happens to have a relationship with the endocannabinoid system (ECS) that everyone has. The ECS has CB receptors (CB1 and CB2) that patrol pain pathways in the skin and central and nervous systems. Other places as well, but I’ll just focus on nerves for now. These receptors tell the brain when there is pain. The ECS is the hub that keeps our bodies in balance, maintaining homeostasis. When the need arises, it sends more receptors to the area to try to restore harmony. But that doesn’t always work, so a little external CBD to the rescue.
CBD is also a known anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, analgesic and antioxidant. As an anti-inflammatory, it can interact with the receptors to help ease pain caused by inflammation. CBD applied topically, activates the CB1 receptor to inhibit the release of inflammatory molecules that express pain.
When CBD is applied topically, it gets to work fast. The reason for that? It doesn’t need to travel through the digestive system to get to the blood stream. In fact, it doesn’t get to the blood stream at all. When it penetrates the layers of skin CBD, interacts with the CB receptors. Instead of attaching to the receptors, it acts like a guide, telling the receptors to use more of their own CBD.
How often can you use CBD topicals?
As often as necessary. In fact, there is even evidence it could also be used as a preventive. Lost Remedy CBD topicals are a combination of CBD and carrier and essential oils that you can apply safely as often as necessary. There have been no reported side effects associated with the products, acting as a preventive when used more often.
Our Nerve Pain Relief, like our other products, combines CBD with essential and carrier oils, all of which are absorbed quickly to deliver healing benefits of all the oils. It acts as a sedative to calm the nerves, easing the sharp pain associated with nerve damage.
Is it ever unsafe to use CBD topicals?
The short answer is, rarely. However, if you have an underlying condition that requires you to take prescription medicine, talk to your doctor. CBD has the potential to affect how your medication works. Learn all you can about the product you want to use and the ingredients in it and discuss with your doctor how it may affect medications you are taking. Usually, a bigger concern for affecting your medications is when CBD is ingested, but it’s better to be safe.
But I would caution you to know what to look for when buying CBD topicals before you rush out to buy them. There are a lot of products available, but not all are what they claim. The best products use full-spectrum hemp oil (FSHO). It contains all the cannabinoids and compounds found in the hemp plant. In addition, it contains many essential vitamins and minerals, fatty acids, proteins, chlorophyll, fiber, flavonoids and terpenes. FSHO contains dozens of cannabinoids. The most abundant is CBD, which makes up 90% of this full-spectrum oil. Other cannabinoids contained in hemp oil are CBD, CBG, CBN and trace levels of THC (under .2%).
So do your research and be sure you buy clean, organic products that don’t contain chemicals or toxins.