CBD And Back Pain: Does It Help?
Back pain is one of the most common reasons to head to the doctor and a health condition that affects nearly 65 million Americans of all ages. Whether chronic or acute, back pain can have a major negative impact on your quality of life. It can disrupt your sleep, keep you from doing the things you love, and drain you of your daily energy. This may leave you considering CBD for back pain.
Please Note—Before we dive in, CBD companies cannot provide medical advice and we cannot guarantee that CBD will effectively soothe your mind or body. The data we provide is for informational purposes. Consult with your physician for guidance on all dietary supplements.
What Is CBD?
Let’s first cover the basics and take a quick look at the difference between industrial hemp and marijuana. Where much of the confusion arises is that both industrial hemp and marijuana are from the same species of flowering plants and they both contain CBD.
Think of your favorite flowering plant, maybe a lily. Now, think of how many different types of lilies there are—standard trumpet lilies, tiger lilies, and a growing list of signature hybrids. In all, there are over 90 species of lilies and counting. They all look somewhat similar, but are also uniquely different. The same is true for the cannabis plant, of which there are over 700 strains.
Hemp-derived CBD is farmed and processed to contain .3% or less of THC, the compound that gets you high. This amount is not enough to get you high. From a legal standpoint, marijuana is any product that contains more than .3% of THC. CBD is the active compound responsible for the medicinal benefits of marijuana, and the amount of CBD per product (hemp or marijuana) varies by product.
Is CBD Legal?
Both marijuana and industrial hemp contain CBD, which is short for cannabidiol. CBD with .3% or less of THC has been legal in all 50 states since the Farm Bill of 2018. Marijuana is at varying levels of medicinal and recreational legality in different states.
However, CBD is still not legal on the federal level, so your school, employer, or extracurricular activity may prohibit use, may prohibit having it on-site, and may perform random drug tests. While drug tests only test for THC, and the odds are low, there is no guarantee that CBD won’t show up on a drug test.
Is There Any Research On CBD And Back Pain?
The majority of completed preclinical and clinical trials are for marijuana, not CBD—but many CBD trials are underway. While CBD is the compound that delivers the medicinal benefits of marijuana, more research and trials are required for CBD-only for the scientific community to show more support.
However, a variety of small trials have been conducted for CBD since 2003. These studies focused on pain relief and were randomized, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled. Health conditions included everything from multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, brachial plexus injury, limb amputation, post-surgery recovery, and more. The results showed a significant reduction in pain.
What Are The Side Effects Of CBD Cream?
Wondering what the side effects of CBD cream or topical oil tincture may be? There are currently zero reports of overdosing on CBD, this includes global data. However, anything we consume or apply topically can have a side effect. So, pay attention to any changes internally or externally. While extremely rare, and most often when taken in extremely high doses, side effects of CBD include:
- Dizziness
- Diarrhea
- Dry mouth
- Fatigue
- Low-blood pressure
- Reduced appetite
- Negative interaction with prescription medications
Looking For A Premium CBD For Back Pain?
Not all CBD brands offer the same quality of CBD. For a premium option, we invite you to consider Holmes Organics. Our products are USDA-Certified Organic, third-party lab tested, have zero synthetic fillers, and we clearly label the milligrams per serving. We also have a selection of both oral and topical products. You can browse our CBD now!