What is pain? Pain comes in many forms; mental, emotional, and physical. While Hemp oil and CBD can be beneficial to relieving all three types of pain in this blog, we will focus on the physical pain associated inflammatory conditions such as: Arthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

What is Hemp Seed Oil?

As simple as it sounds, hemp seed oil is an oil that is made from hemp seeds. In the same way olives make olive oil, hemp seeds are cold pressed and the oil contained within the seed is extracted.

Although the hemp and cannabis plant belong to the same plant family, they are two different plants and have different compositions. The most important difference is the amount of THC – (Tetrahydrocannabinol) present in each plant. This is where much public confusion lies. The cannabis plant has THC levels (up to 28%) depending upon the strain of plant. The concentration of THC never exceeds 0.3% in the hemp plant. Products made from hemp are highly unlikely to create the “high” associated with cannabis or become addictive in any way. For its myriad of benefits, hemp has been commonly used for medicinal purposes for hundreds of years.

The Magic of Hemp Seed Oil – The health Benefits

The health benefits of hemp seed oil come from the high amounts of three polyunsaturated fatty acids: linoleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, and gamma-linolenic acid found in the plant. The ratio of omega-6 (linoleic acid) to omega-3 (alpha-linolenic acid) fatty acids is 3:1, which experts agree is the ideal ratio for optimal health in humans. While hemp seed oil has been proven by researchers and the medical community to improve skin, lower blood pressure and promote heart health, we are going to focus on its pain relieving and anti-inflammatory abilities.

Pain Relief & Inflammation Reduction

Hemp seed oil’s anti-inflammatory properties help to reduce pain. The combination of amino acids with gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) are a powerful anti-inflammatory. Gamma-linoleic acid (GLA) been scientifically proven to reduce inflammation. A review of multiple studies states that natural herbs rich in GLA such as hemp seed oil are effective in relieving symptoms from conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and multiple sclerosis (MS).

The amount of hemp seed oil you take depends on the from in which you take it. Researchers estimate that three tablespoons of hemp seed oil per day can provide the amount of 3:1 fatty acid ratio needed for a healthy diet.

You can apply hemp seed oil directly to the painful area for natural pain relief in the form of a lotion, cream or body oil. Hemp seed oil is excellent as a carrier oil for an essential oil mixture.

To gain the benefit of hemp oil for pain, you can take it orally (up to 1 to 2 teaspoons daily). The pure oil has a delicious nutty flavor. If you’d rather incorporate it into your food, you can use hemp seed oil like you would any oil in a salad dressing for as an oil dip for bread. You can also take in capsule form.

Hemp seed oil should not be confused with full-spectrum hemp oil which is made from the actual cannabis plant (the flowers, leaves, and stalks). Full-spectrum hemp oil contains additional compounds such as CBD (cannabidiol) that have been shown to have stronger effects assisting with pain. This leads us to our next topic – CBD and pain relief.

CBD Oil & Pain Relief

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a cannabinoid that is naturally found in cannabis and hemp plants. CBD doesn’t cause the “high” feeling people associate with cannabis. CBD oil interacts with two receptors in our body called CB1 and CB2, to reduce pain and the effects of inflammation. Check out our Blog Cannabinoids + Terpenes = Better Health to learn all about your body’s amazing endocannabinoid system.

Scientists and medical researchers are studying the promising advantages of CBD for people suffering from chronic pain. Thus far, the results on CBD products are very promising. CBD been shown to reduce pain, inflammation and overall discomfort.

An article published by Frontiers in Pharmacology in 2018 documented how CBD works to relieve chronic pain. This in-depth study was conducted between 1975 to 2018 and examined pain caused by several conditions including, cancer, neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia. Based on over 30 years of study researchers concluded that CBD was effective in overall pain management. CBD can be an alternative for people who traditionally have to rely on medications, such as opioids, that can be habit-forming and cause serious side effects. The patients did not have any negative side effects from the use of CBD.

Studies show that CBD may provide relief for pain, inflammation and may help with conditions that include: arthritis-related pain, nerve pain, jaw pain, and particularly in palliative care to help reduce pain for a myriad of illnesses.

Which CBD is for Me?

In the world of medicinal CBD, you have options to choose from. CBD can come in an isolate, full-spectrum, and broad-spectrum. Isolates are the choice you want to make if you’re looking to avoid THC and other cannabinoids. Broad-spectrum CBD contains most of the cannabis plants cannabinoids but there is still no THC.

Full-spectrum CBD products contain all the terpenes, flavonoids, and cannabinoids from the plant. This category of CBD will have some THC, but it will be less than 0.3%. Some people prefer a full-spectrum product since research has suggested that CBD and THC work better together This is called the entourage effect. Check out our blog “CBD – The Entourage Effect” to learn more about it.

Topical CBD products usually contain around 3 to 8 milligrams (mg) of CBD per recommended application. If you’re new to CBD, it’s suggested to start with a lower potency product. Dosage is personal choice. An amount that works for someone else, may be too much (or too little) for you. When in doubt, start with the smallest dose and work your way up, or contact one of our doctors and ask a professional.

Takeaway

The research has shown that hemp seed oil and CBD have positive effects on your health and may reduce pain and inflammation. There are different varieties of these products to choose from and it’s important you pick the one that’s right for you. There’s no guarantee that hemp seed oil or CBD oil will cure the condition that causes you chronic pain; however, there’s no risk in trying these alternatives. We invite you to check out our Ask the Professionals Page and search our website for the wide range of products we have to offer you on your journey to pain free living.