We’ve all experienced some sort of pain at one time or another. And you’ve probably tried “everything under the sun” in order to get rid of it. But did you know that CBD (the main cannabinoid in hemp) is full of potentially pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties?
In fact, CBD has become a very popular remedy for unwanted aches and pains. While Cannabidiol (CBD) is often consumed through CBD oil, CBD companies have recently started exploring new CBD delivery methods.
Enter CBD Gummies.
CBD gummies are perhaps one of the most convenient ways to consume CBD. They’re discreet, flavorful, easy to transport, and effortless to dose (no more droppers to measure how much CBD you need to consume).
But before we dive into our list of the best CBD gummies for pain, let's explore a little more about CBD gummies and what they’re used for.
CBD gummies and the Endocannabinoid System
First, what are CBD gummies? Take the therapeutic properties of CBD and the delicious components of gummy candy, and you get the tasty creation of CBD gummies.
As we know, CBD contains pretty powerful anti-inflammatory properties. In fact, according to scientists, constant chronic inflammation is perhaps the source of most common infectious diseases and body pain. While the common over-the-counter drugs may help alleviate some symptoms of pain, they rarely address the root cause: chronic inflammation. They also contribute to a whole host of unwanted side effects. CBD, on the other hand, addresses chronic inflammation and pain in an entirely different way. But in order to understand how CBD products like CBD gummies address pain, we need to explore The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) ––an endogenous signaling system found in all mammals that’s responsible for regulating and balancing hormones, appetite, behaviors, cardiovascular health, the gastrointestinal tract, reproduction, and immune function.
The ECS is a biological signaling system composed of endocannabinoids, cannabinoid receptor cells, and enzymes that help regulate our body to stay in homeostasis –– stabilizing and balancing our body for its survival. In other words, homeostasis helps the body to maintain its healthy functions. When our ECS is working properly, our body functions normally. But when there’s a disturbance that throws our ECS out of whack, unwanted symptoms like pain, inflammation, lack of sleep, or unexplained stress and panic can take over, causing our body to develop illnesses and health disorders. Improving the health of our ECS is one of the main ways to address these unwanted symptoms, and it’s often considered the root cause of many health issues. One of the ways to improve the health of our ECS is to reduce high levels of inflammation. This is where CBD comes into play.
How do CBD gummies for pain work?
Amazingly, when CBD enters the body, it communicates and influences our Endocannabinoid System (ECS) to promote more of its endogenous cannabinoids (or endocannabinoids). It also preserves Anandamide –– an endogenous cannabinoid known as the “bliss” molecule found in certain areas of the brain that helps balance pain, appetite, mood, memory, and fertility. Unfortunately, those who struggle in these areas may not produce enough anandamide, thus creating an imbalance in the body.
Consuming CBD not only helps preserve anandamide, but it also stimulates endorphins –– the feel-good chemicals that are produced by the body to relieve stress and pain. These chemical compounds found in the body keep us feeling comfortable. Without them we would always feel pain, panic, and stress. When we consume CBD, we naturally boost our internal endorphins — which is the complete opposite of what prescription pain killers do. While it’s true that pain killers are synthetically formulated to reduce pain within the body, they’re actually causing more harm than good. In fact, when we consume narcotics or opioids, we suppress our endogenous endorphins. When we suppress our natural endorphins, our body can’t naturally combat pain on its own. Not only does CBD help regulate and modulate our endogenous cannabinoids and endorphins, it’s also a natural adaptogen –– meaning it counteracts unwanted stress and pain from the body.
This means the CBD found in CBD gummies actually addresses the root cause of pain (which is inflammation) from within, by stimulating and regulating a delicate balance within our Endocannabinoid system.
How to determine which CBD gummies are best for pain
When consuming CBD gummies, all the guessing and worry over dosage, taste, and strength are over. That’s because CBD gummies are safe and accurately pre-dosed. So you don’t have to worry about measuring how much CBD you need with a dropper, or mixing the bitter taste of CBD in water or juice. Additionally, CBD gummies are also very discreet and a convenient way to consume CBD if you happen to be out and about and need relief from unwanted symptoms.
Here are 4 ways to determine which CBD gummies are best for pain:
1. You need to consume CBD gummies on a daily basis
If you’re new to CBD and decide to try CBD gummies, it’s important to know that everyone responds to CBD differently. This means that in order to achieve the best results, you have to regularly consume CBD. For some, CBD gummies may take effect within a couple of hours, but for others, it could take days, weeks, and even months.
CBD is considered a gentle cannabinoid and usually addresses symptoms from within rather than just numbing them. So it may take a while for your body to fully experience the true therapeutic effects of CBD. Just be patient and let it do what it does best.
2. Avoid junk food ingredients in CBD gummies
We’ve already determined that not everyone responds to CBD the same way and therefore, in order to achieve the best results, you need to regularly consume CBD gummies on a daily basis.Now, it’s imperative to choose reputable CBD companies that avoid loading their gummies with junk food ingredients like sugar, hydrogenated oils, or other harmful substances.
The whole purpose of consuming CBD gummies is to relieve inflammation, so if you’re consuming a poorly formulated CBD gummy that’s packed with sugar and harmful ingredients, it completely defeats its therapeutic function. After all, CBD gummies can still be tasty even with clean ingredients. If you're currently consuming a CBD gummy that's packed with questionable ingredients, it may be time to start exploring other CBD gummies for your pain.
3. Determine if you want THC in your CBD gummies
There are three different variations of CBD gummies:
- Full spectrum CBD gummies – These CBD gummies contain all the phytochemicals the hemp plant has to offer such as: terpenes, flavonoids, vitamins, amino acids, phytocannabinoids, and many other therapeutic compounds. This includes trace amounts of THC (0.3% to exact). Now, this is not enough THC to cause a psychoactive effect (the feeling of being “high”). In fact, in order for hemp-derived CBD products to be legal, they must contain no more than 0.3% THC. However, according to scientists, hemp-derived CBD gummies that contain trace amounts of THC (no more than 0.3%) work within our Endocannabinoid System. This allows the therapeutic effects of THC and CBD’s amazing anti-inflammatory properties to target unwanted symptoms like pain. This is called the entourage effect – when all parts of the plant work together to create a more powerful effect than when taken alone.
- Broad spectrum CBD gummies – These contain all parts of the hemp plant minus any trace amounts of THC. Some believe the entourage effect can still be achieved using broad spectrum formulation, as all the phytochemicals are still present minus all THC. Those whose careers and personal views discourage using any amount of THC can still consume broad spectrum CBD gummies and find relief from unwanted symptoms like pain and inflammation.
- CBD isolate – This is the purest form of CBD. It comes in a powder form and can be used to create your own CBD products. Research shows that CBD alone is not as effective as it is when combined with the other properties of the hemp plant. That’s not to say that it doesn’t work, though. Some CBD advocates find tremendous relief with CBD isolate.
If you are new to CBD gummies and you’re unsure of which spectrum will work best for you, the first step you need to take is to find out where your employer stands with CBD consumption. For some, consuming full spectrum CBD is not an issue, but others may be required to take a drug test. If your job requires mandatory drug tests, broad spectrum and CBD isolate may be the best options for you. Nevertheless, CBD alone contains powerful anti-inflammatory properties, so consuming CBD may still help target unwanted symptoms.
4. Consult with your doctor before consuming CBD gummies
This may come as no surprise, but any time you decide to add a new herb, supplement, or medication to your regimen, it takes time for your body to utilize it. This can be problematic if you are currently on prescription medications. This is because some medications interact negatively to certain herbs and supplements. They can even interact negatively with other prescription drugs and certain foods as well.
Take grapefruit for example. This tarty, nutritious fruit is known to interfere with liver enzymes and proteins found in the small intestines that help break down certain prescription drugs. When this fruit is consumed along with medications, it can prevent these medications from breaking down properly, causing them to stay in the system too long. In turn, this could enhance the side effects of these medications. The same can happen when combining CBD with certain medications. Because CBD utilizes the same liver enzymes as most medications, it can either increase or decrease the strength of certain meds. That said, it’s best to consult with your doctor if you are currently on any pharmucetical drugs like blood thinners.
Doctors will more than likely want to monitor you if you choose to add CBD to your regimen. In some cases, if doctors see that CBD is working much better for you, they can safely decrease the prescription medications and increase your CBD intake.
How to purchase high quality CBD gummies for pain relief
Furthermore, if you’re considering CBD gummies for pain relief, but you’re at a loss on which product to choose, it’s important to know that not all CBD gummies are created equal. While we know that CBD companies are popping up left and right, the truth is not all CBD companies have their customers’ best interest at heart. This is why purchasing CBD gummies from reputable companies is so crucial.
How to know if you’re purchasing from a reputable CBD company:
- Reputable CBD companies focus on transparency and high quality ingredients.
- Their CBD products are thoroughly tested by independent third parties, and the results of their lab testing should always be readily available on their website or easily obtainable when requested. This is also known as a COA (Certificate of Analysis).
- They focus on clean extraction methods like CO2 extraction and Nanotechnology.
- Their hemp-derived CBD is sourced from USA-based farmers that utilize good farming practices: No pesticides, herbicides, GMOs, or other harmful toxic contaminants.
- Some companies even offer a money back guarantee within the first 30 days. This is great for those who are seeking products like CBD gummies for specific reasons like pain and inflammation.
Final thoughts
Remember, pain is often a result of something else going on in the body, a symptom if you will. It took time for your body to develop pain, so understand that not everyone will notice immediate relief right off the bat. Don’t let that discourage you; it takes time for CBD to address the underlying causes of pain in the body.
It’s also important to remember that lifestyle and diet changes, along with supplementing with high-quality CBD gummies, can make a huge difference in achieving your pain relieving goals. That said, if you’re interested in trying CBD gummies, be sure to purchase from only highly accredited CBD companies.
