For most people suffering from physical pain, the right type of treatment and dosage matters a lot. Pain can vary depending on its cause, thus managing it can be complicated or straightforward.
The goal of pain management is to ease the physical suffering of the patient and improve their quality of life. Fortunately, in addition to over-the-counter and prescription painkillers, there are also non-medicine treatments and therapies to manage physical aches.
There are different approaches to managing pain, but one type of plan will rarely benefit both mind and body. Prescription painkillers and over-the-counter medications have side effects that can lead to health conditions with prolonged use. Yoga and meditation may help reduce pain levels and improve the ability to cope with pain, but some people may not be comfortable or capable of doing such activities.
CBD for Managing Pain
In recent years, CBD (cannabidiol) has gained the attention of everyone since it’s a safe and natural health supplement that offers a variety of benefits for different individuals. The continuous rise in the popularity of CBD-related products is mainly because of its anxiety-relieving properties. But, is CBD effective in treating and managing physical pain?
The appeal of CBD as a natural pain reliever comes from the fact that it can be taken orally or applied directly over the affected area. There are also no adverse side effects reported in consuming CBD as a health supplement. Whether full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, or isolate CBD, there are no psychoactive effects to worry about.
Some studies suggest that CBD oil may help alleviate arthritis pain, further solidifying the notion that CBD contains effective anti-inflammatory properties. First-time CBD users may wonder how long does CBD last in the body? Research suggests that cannabidiol may stay in a person’s system for at least two days up to five days or more.
The factors that can influence how long CBD stay in your body are:
- The person’s metabolism: The effects of CBD will vary from person to person. Your metabolism plays a vital role in how long CBD will stay in your body.
- The type of CBD extract: Whether you choose CBD isolates, broad-spectrum CBD, or full-spectrum CBD, the type of extract will influence the effects of cannabidiol on your mind and body.
- The method of consumption: There are various ways to consume CBD, which is another reason it has become popular these days. Aside from vaping, you can take CBD through pills/capsules, oils/tinctures, and edibles. You’ll also find a variety of lotions, creams, and CBD-infused products in the market.
- The frequency of use: How often you use CBD influences how long its effects will last. Your body will develop a pattern depending on how many times you use CBD in a day.
- The CBD dosage: Ideally, one should start taking CBD in small doses. The amount of CBD intake may also depend on the severity of the pain one is experiencing.
CBD Pain Management: Finding the Right Dose
Depending on what causes it, pain has various severities. For example, arthritis and a cluster headache are prompted by different pain receptors. If you recently underwent surgery, you may be coping with another kind of ache, as the first two mentioned. Therefore, it’s crucial to learn how to find the right CBD dose suited to you.
Calculating the CBD Dosage
Since every person will have a unique reaction to CBD, finding the right dosage can be challenging. Further, because CBD is not yet regulated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), it’s vital to look at the recommendation of the CBD product manufacturer for the right dose information.
Here are the ways to find out what dosage is suitable for every individual:
- Review the product packaging: The first thing that you should look at is the product packaging, which should include pertinent information about the concentration of the CBD. For example, a 50 ml bottle of CBD oil with a 1,000mg strength contains 20mg of CBD for every 1ml of oil.
- The dosage depends on several factors: The amount of CBD that a person must take is based on the concentration of CBD in the product, their body weight, the type of pain or ailment being treated, and the individual response to CBD.
- Seek recommendation from your doctors: Medical practitioners understand that patients are looking for alternative ways to manage pain. Before starting CBD pain management, speak to a trusted physician so that they can make recommendations and monitor your body’s response to CBD. Based on their observations from the initial dosage prescribed, your doctor may recommend the proper dosage going forward.
- Self-medication: If your doctor is not comfortable prescribing you with CBD for pain, it’s best to start with a small dosage first. The minimum dosage per person is 20mg – you can start with that dose once or twice a day.
After your body adjusts to the dosage for a week, increase the dose by 5mg. You can increase the dosage gradually until you’ve reached a treatment that effectively manages your aches and pains.
- The severity of pain: For severe aches and pains, a starting dose of 40mg is suitable. It can be gradually increased to 45mg the following week and 50mg for the next week.
For reference, make it a point to jot down the amount of CBD on paper or through a smartphone app.
- Listen to your body’s reaction: As mentioned earlier, different people will have different responses to CBD. Do not assume that the CBD dosage that someone else is taking is the right dose for you.
Stop consuming CBD if you feel unwell, or you can try lowering the dosage until your body adjusts to it.
Conclusion
Finding the right CBD dose is crucial because an inadequate dosage may not provide the relief that you’re seeking. Also, keep in mind that high doses of CBD may show up when you need to undergo drug testing. If possible, ask the recommendation of your physician before starting any pain management treatment using CBD.
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