Best CBD oil for pain: The complete guide to finding the right product

The best CBD oil for pain really depends on your condition. Whether you have an injured back or chronic migraines, let us help you find what you need.

If you have never experienced chronic pain, it is difficult to imagine how much a sensation can impact your life. Pain has a way of making itself known in every occasion, taking the limelight in the middle of the night and forcing your attention during quality time with friends and loved ones. This intrusive feeling is the single most common reason people use medical cannabis. Yet, accessing the herb is still difficult around the globe. Fortunately, patients now have another natural option that can help them feel their best: CBD oil for pain.

CBD for Pain: How It Works

Along with emotion, temperature, and pleasure, pain is one of the few ways that the human body communicates with the brain. While there are many different types of pain, the uncomfortable sensation, first and foremost, acts as a signal for tissue damage. When cells in a particular area experience damage, they release chemical compounds that trigger inflammation and sound the alarm to the nervous system that something is wrong.

If everything goes according to plan, pain signals stop when tissue damage stops. However, it doesn’t always pan out that way. Chronic pain occurs when nerves continue to send distress signals to the brain and spinal chord, even if the painful stimuli or tissue damage has stopped.

Here’s where CBD for pain comes into play. Short for cannabidiol, CBD is a non-intoxicating compound found in the cannabis plant. Over the past decade, a growing body of evidence has found that the cannabis compound may act as a strong anti-inflammatory, reducing triggers for pain at the site of injury. However, that’s not the only superpower behind CBD for pain. The molecule may also trigger the release of feel-good neurotransmitters, which not only improve mood but may counteract negative pain signals to the brain.

An employee inspects a sample of marijuana oil extract at the PharmaCielo Ltd. facility in Rionegro, Colombia, on Thursday, April 26, 2018.

How to Find the Best CBD Hemp Oil for Pain

There are many reasons to experiment before deciding you’ve found the best CBD oil for pain. The natural compound is generally thought to be safe, even in high doses, and it comes with few side effects. However, finding a reliable CBD online can be tricky. When searching for products, there are a few things to keep in mind.

1. Consider a variety of CBD products

First and foremost, it’s not uncommon for consumers to opt for multiple different products to help manage their pain. For example, most CBD oils are intended for use under the tongue. While this is a fairly fast-acting method, those hoping to better manage chronic pain may also benefit from adding CBD oil capsules and CBD vape oils into their routine.

In addition to sublingual application, oral capsules provide prolonged relief more slowly throughout the day. Inhaled vape oils are often used by cannabis patients to manage breakthrough pain as needed. However, it is always important to chat with your doctor before experimenting with new pain management techniques, especially if you are thinking about taking CBD instead of prescription or over-the-counter pain medications.

2. Read CBD lab results

Secondly, when looking for the best CBD oil for pain, quality ingredients are key. When shopping around, opt for brands that publish third-party laboratory testing results to ensure that what is being marketed is actually what is in the bottle. Checking for lab results can also help you avoid accidentally consuming THC, which is the primary psychoactive in the cannabis plant.

3. Check out the ingredients

Avoiding products that contain obscure additives and thinning agents like propylene glycol (PG) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) is also a good idea. Early research has shown that some of these additives may release carcinogens when they are heated, which is important to know if you decide that you’d like to use your CBD oil in a vaporizer.

How to use CBD for Pain

If you’ve just injured yourself and are experiencing acute pain, CBD may not be the best painkiller option. However, animal research suggests that the compound may be helpful for pathological pain, which is pain caused by damage to tissues and the nervous system. Back pain, nerve pain, headaches, and joint pain all fall under this category. Here are the best CBD oils for each condition.

Best CBD Oil for Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is persistent and difficult to manage. For those looking for long-term relief, a CBD oil capsule may be your best bet. Unlike sublingual or inhaled CBD, oral capsules are active for up to six hours. However, it’s important to keep in mind that oral CBD takes longer to kick in, which means that some consumers may also want to supplement with a sublingual or inhaled CBD while waiting for the capsule to take effect.

Charlotte’s Web 35mg Hemp Plus Capsules are excellent products for all-day relief. When consuming CBD orally, higher doses are recommended. At 35 milligrams, these capsules provide a moderate dose of CBD oil that is slightly greater than the standard dose recommended for consumers hoping to take CBD as a tool for wellness. Containing laboratory-tested and broad-spectrum hemp oil, Charlotte’s Web CBD has a reputation for providing some of the highest quality products on the market.

Best CBD Oil for Back Pain

Whether back pain is caused by muscle tension or nerve damage, CBD may be able to reduce the inflammation and take the edge off. For those seeking a serious product that can address chronic concerns, Green Roads 550mg CBD Oil is a good choice. Easy to dose, this CBD hemp oil offers a moderate 37 milligrams of CBD per milliliter serving. This is a substantial dose for a sublingual product and is generally a good place to start for those needing more than just a little relief.

If CBD oil alone doesn’t make the cut, a topical product or a product that contains an equal dosage of CBD and THC may be worth a try. Unfortunately, however, pain-fighting products that contain THC are still off-limits in most locations.

Green Roads also offers a variety of other CBD products, including a topical, that may be worth testing, all of which have been formulated by a licensed compounding pharmacist and are third-party lab tested to ensure quality.

Best CBD Oil for Nerve Pain

For those experiencing the debilitating effects of nerve pain, whether it is a chronic burning sensation or bouts of acute pain, finding a fast-acting and effective product is a must. As with any supplement, however, it is impossible for the body to absorb all of the CBD you consume at once. For the most part, when you take the cannabis compound, only a small amount of it is actually utilized by the body. What is not used by the body is detoxified by the liver and eventually pushed out through stool and urine.

While most supplements fail to take this detox process into account, there is one CBD oil for pain designed differently. Elixinol’s 300mg Hemp Oil Liposomes combine a healthy mixture of nature and technological ingenuity. Unlike traditional hemp oils, Elixinol’s Hemp Oil Liposomes contain CBD that has been emulsified by fat membranes called liposomes. Acting almost like soap bubbles, CBD is encircled by a fat layer. Since the CBD is trapped inside a bubble, it is easier for the body to absorb and put to use.  You can put it into your beverage, like your morning coffee, or simply hold it under your tongue for fast absorption.

Best CBD Oil for Arthritis Pain

Arthritis is among the most common reasons medical cannabis consumers gravitate toward CBD for pain. Morning stiffness and aching joints can make even the most mundane tasks difficult. Yet, over-the-counter pain medicines come with their own set of risks. A potent anti-inflammatory, the cannabis compound has already proven to be effective in animal tests, relieving pain, strengthening joints, and reducing inflammation in rats with experimental arthritis.

The best part? CBD for arthritis is not associated with stomach ulcer or internal bleeding, which are two side effects associated with common anti-inflammatory medicines. It’s worth trying a general product like Charlotte’s Web Hemp Plus as an adjunct supplement or replacement for over-the-counter drugs.

Charlotte’s Web Hemp Plus contains a moderate 25 milligrams of CBD per milliliter serving. But, that’s not all. This product is made with broad-spectrum hemp oil, meaning that it contains not only CBD but also includes synergistic phytochemicals found naturally in the hemp plant. As it turns out, the presence of these supplementary phytonutrients may actually enhance the beneficial effects of CBD.

Best CBD Oil for Joint Pain

Similar to those seeking relief from arthritis, individuals struggling with joint pain may appreciate both topical and sublingual CBD. Topical CBD oil works directly on location, easing pain and inflammation in tissues close to the surface of the skin. However, doubling up with a sublingual oil like Charlotte’s Web Hemp Plus may be helpful for easing pain from the inside out.

For those interested in taking the topical route, BioCBD+ Muscle and Joint Relief Topical Oil holds promise. BioCBD+ topical oil is not only infused with CBD, but the product also contains anti-inflammatory turmeric and pain-fighting white willow bark. Interestingly enough, white willow bark contains compounds that were used to synthesize aspirin, the common over-the-counter painkiller.

Best CBD Oil for Pain and Anxiety

As if chronic pain weren’t devastating enough on its own, pain conditions can wreak havoc on mental health. Anxiety is one of the most common side effects that accompanies pain, making it difficult to enjoy daily activities and time with others. Fortunately, Select CBD has formulated an excellent product that contains both pain-fighting and stress-relieving botanicals, making it one of the best CBD oils for helping anxiety.

Select CBD Lavender Drops contain lavender essential oil as well as CBD, passion fruit and chamomile extracts. While all of these plants have calming reputations, emerging clinical research offers some science to back these claims. Believe it or not, lavender oil was found to be as effective as a common prescription anti-anxiety drug in a multi-center trial. Similarly, some of the aroma compounds found in the chamomile plant may enhance the calming nature of CBD. If you’re searching for a natural remedy for both pain and anxiety, it’s hard to find something better than this 33 milligram CBD supplement.