CBD for Inflammation: What the Science Says

Studies show that by 2020, the global CBD market is set to grow by an amazing 700%. Part of the reason the industry is seeing so much growth is many people claiming CBD’s effective use as a treatment for numerous medical conditions, from anxiety and depression to physical pain.

With all of the uses of this wonderful new product, many people are wondering about CBD dosage for inflammation.

Can CBD be used as a way to treat inflammation? There are no guarantees, but research and patient reviews show that it may indeed be effective for this purpose.

But before diving too deeply into what the science and studies show, let’s get a quick overview of what CBD is and how it may help inflammation.

What is CBD?

CBD is an acronym that stands for cannabidiol, the name for a compound extracted from the hemp plant. People often confuse CBD with THC. But there is a key difference in the way that the core compounds of CBD and marijuana interact with the body.

The main difference is that CBD does not have any psychoactive compounds the way that THC does. This is why dosing with CBD does not get you “high” the way you would be if you consumed marijuana or similar THC extracts through vaping or smoking.

What Can CBD Be Used to Treat?

Because of current FDA guidelines around cannabis and CBD products, we cannot claim that CBD will be effective in treating any type of ailments. And while it’s true that many people have found success using CBD to treat all sorts of issues, more research is needed to truly show how effective CBD can be used for medical purposes.

But even with a lack of research available, there is a reason to be hopeful. People who have used the extract have found CBD helpful for treating a range of conditions. Anxiety, depression, muscle pain, Epilepsy, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are just a few of the conditions that people have found relief from using CBD.

There is even some evidence that CBD could be effective in treating serious mental conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s. But as mentioned, more research is required to determine whether or not CBD can be proven to be a cure for any of these conditions.

Inflammation is another area where CBD may be effective. Why is this the case? To understand, let’s look at what causes inflammation in the body.

Why the Body Becomes Inflamed

Inflammation is one of the body’s most common and important defense mechanisms. Any time your body detects that there is a problem, such as a cut or infection, it sends blood cells to the area to help treat the issue. The way these cells interact with other cells in the area is what causes inflammation.

Most people associate inflammation with the acute type, in which the body surrounds a damaged area with white blood cells. However, chronic inflammation can occur as a result of long-term exposure to pollutants or an injury that was never treated properly. Other possible causes of chronic inflammation are smoking cigarettes or an autoimmune disorder that confuses the elements of your body that fight infection.

Whatever the cause, inflammation is never a pleasant experience. Some of the common symptoms of inflammation are:

• Fever
• Rashes
• Redness of the skin
• Pain and stiffness in the joints

For those who suffer from long-term inflammation, the condition can make it difficult to even get through daily life. Many people try to treat their inflammation with traditional forms of medication that come over the counter or prescribed by their doctor. However, these methods are not always effective.

If you are someone who is looking into the treatment of inflammation with CBD, there are many reasons to be optimistic.

How CBD Could Help Treat Inflammation

There are several cases of CBD being a valuable way to treat inflammation. A 2013 study by the Institute of Digestive Disease in China showed that mice injected with CBD experienced anti-inflammatory effects. A separate study done by the University of Naples in Italy showed that CBD could reduce intestinal inflammation as well.

Separately, many different reviews have showed that CBD oil can help people treat their inflammation. People of all ages have found success in dealing with their inflammation using CBD. Again, while nothing is set in stone or officially recommended by the FDA, there is plenty of reason to be excited about how CBD can possibly solve inflammation.

But to truly understand how it works, you should learn about CBD dosage and how to apply guidelines surrounding it to inflammation.

Guidelines for CBD Dosage for Inflammation

How much CBD should you take for your inflammation? It depends on a few factors. The first thing to consider is your tolerance level for cannabinoids. If you have used marijuana or hemp CBD products in the past, you might have a higher tolerance than others.

The same goes if you are a larger person. People who weigh more typically tend to have a higher tolerance for CBD and THC products – however, this is not always the case. Your best bet is to start off small with a lower dosage, then test out how that works and adjust from there.

You also have to decide how you want to dose yourself with CBD. A few of the most popular ways are through edible products like gummies, vaporizer oil, or oils found in a tincture. Any of these can be effective, depending on your preferences, but tinctures and vape oils are among the most effective ways to immediately take in CBD.

Another important factor in determining how much CBD you should use is to identify which condition you want to use it for.  Some of the more common painful conditions that people use CBD for which are usually associated with some type of inflammation are arthritis, chemotherapy, chronic pain or fibromyalgia, menstrual pain and simple “over-use” pain like an achey back.  For ongoing conditions like chronic pain and fibromyalgia, one might prefer a moderate-range amount, continually received such as morning and evening on a daily basis.  For one-off events like “over-use”, one might prefer a heavier amount of a single serving to “target and attack” the single event pain and inflammation.  And, for conditions that tend to come and go over time like arthritis and chemotherapy pain, one might prefer heavier amounts at peak pain times and mild amounts during the “off-times” of pain.

There are no established guidelines provided by the medical community on how much CBD you should take.  However, here is a simple CBD usage calculator to help you get a general amount to begin with.

IMPORTANT:  Everyone is different.  Everyone’s health is different.  Everyone will metabolize and process CBD differently and at different rates.  It is important to start with a particular amount and monitor your results.  After trying one particular amount, decide if you feel you should take more or less – or more or less frequently.  Some people know after one serving if they need more or less and/or more or less frequently.  Adjust however you feel you need to in order to achieve greatest effectiveness.  To best help relieve your inflammation with CBD, start with a dose in the morning and see how you feel for a few hours. It’s always better to start off small than to overdo it on your first dosage.

Is CBD Safe?

While CBD is generally considered safe with no side effects for most, there is the occasional side effect reported by some very infrequently.  Effects like dry mouth, lowered blood pressure, light-headedness and drowsiness have been reported in some.  (As reported on WebMD webpage)  And, while most people report no side effects from CBD, it is always advisable to discuss the use of CBD with your doctor prior to using it.

It is important to note that CBD can be extracted from hemp or from marijuana.  Hemp plants naturally maintain a THC level below 0.3% and thus cause no psychoactive effect on people.  So, when CBD is extracted from hemp, there is no psychoactive effect experienced.  However, when CBD is extracted from marijuana it may be accompanied with levels of THC that are high enough to cause a psychoactive effect (a feeling of “being high”).  So, one needs to be aware of the source of the CBD being used.  (All Highland Pharms’ CBD products are from hemp)

Is CBD Legal?

As of the 2018 U.S. Farm Bill, hemp products (including CBD from hemp) are legal throughout all of the United States.  However, it is important to note that since marijuana is still on the Federal list of controlled substances, any CBD extracted from marijuana plants is still considered illegal on a Federal level.

Hemp CBD products are legal in all U.S. states and throughout 40 countries around the world.  And, as long as the CBD products are from hemp, they are considered safe to travel with in the U.S. and is okay to fly with through airports and checked bags.

What Type of CBD Should I Consider?

As a culmination of all of the above information on CBD for inflammation and pain, it is the recommendation of Highland Pharms to consider only using CBD products from hemp.  Not only are they generally considered safe, they are legal.  Additionally, initial studies are indicating that CBD is effective in controlling or reducing pain and inflammation.

Beyond just accepting any CBD from hemp as being “good”, there are a 3 general types of these products you may wish to consider:

1.  Full Spectrum Hemp CBD – these are products made from hemp extract that include ALL the naturally occurring plant compounds found in the hemp plants.  These are generally considered the best types of products when it comes to overall effectiveness as each of the compounds generally enhance the effectiveness of the other compounds present in the plants.  A type of synergy exists between the compounds and is considered an “entourage effect”.
2. Broad Spectrum Hemp CBD – these are products made from hemp extract that include ALL the naturally occurring plant compounds found in the hemp plants EXCEPT THC.  The THC is removed from the extract prior to it being added to the individual products.  Some people are concerned about having THC in their system because of their employment or other life situations.  These types of products are generally considered good, but most people agree that some level of THC helps in the synergistic entourage effect of the full range of compounds.
3. CBD Isolate – these are products made from CBD isolated out of the hemp extract; there are no other types of naturally occurring hemp plant compounds found in these products.  While these are generally effective for some people, some people notice great differences in effectiveness from these types of products.  These types of products are also generally cheaper to manufacture.

Finally, because growing methods vary all around the world, ensure you are buying cbd products made from extract from hemp plants grown only in the United States.  Much hemp is grown in Asia and Eastern Europe and it is difficult to ensure how “clean” the growing methods are in plants coming from other countries.  A great CBD Hemp Product will be made using extract from hemp plants grown organically in the United States.

Final Thoughts on CBD and Inflammation

CBD could be the future of organic treatments, which is why major companies like Coca-Cola are considering adding it to their beverages.

If you are looking to determine your ideal CBD dosage for inflammation, you first need to find the right products.

Check out our selection of top-caliber CBD tinctures and other products to get started seeing if your inflammation can be treated with this powerful new compound.