In the UK, nearly 28 million people are currently living with chronic pain. That’s over two-fifths of the total population. Chronic pain is defined as a type of pain that carries on longer than 12 weeks. It’s a deeply uncomfortable condition, and in more extreme cases, it can severely disrupt an individual’s quality of life. Traditionally, continuous pain is treated with over-the-counter and prescription medication. But with some pharmacological drugs incurring undesirable side effects, an increasing amount of us are beginning to explore natural alternatives — like CBD. 

For those consumers who are curious about using the herbal compound to alleviate their pain, this article outlines five simple and effective ways to use CBD oil for pain. 

1. The Sublingual Method

The sublingual method simply refers to you popping a couple of drops of hemp oil under your tongue and leaving it for around 60 seconds before swallowing it. The method is named after the sublingual gland found under your tongue, and this mode of delivery is the fastest and most direct way to feel the effects of hemp oil. Sublingual products include oils, lozenges, tinctures and sprays, and it’s one of the most popular methods of consuming hemp oil for pain because of its high rates of bioavailability and fast-hitting effects.

2. Inhalation

Another way to try and soothe your pain with CBD is by inhaling the compound through vaporizers. CBD vaporizers are simply vape products that contain cannabidiol (CBD). Because of the direct route, the vapor travels through the lungs’ capillaries, which makes inhalation one of the fastest and most convenient methods to feel the effects of the cannabinoid. If you are interested in using this method, you can fill any available vape with CBD e-liquid and then inhale it as you would do with any other cartridge. However, it should be noted that while vaping is typically a very well tolerated practice, there have been studies that link vaporizers to lung disorders. So, if you’re interested in using this method, it’s important that you do your research first. 

3. The Nasal Method

If you aren’t that much of a fan of the sublingual method, nasal sprays deliver hemp oil into your system through quite a similar route. To use them, you simply close the nostril that isn’t receiving the product and breathe in deeply as you squeeze the hemp oil into your nose. It’s fast and efficient, and similarly to the sublingual method, you’ll be feeling the results around 6-8 times faster than if you were orally consuming non-water-soluble hemp oil. It works in a similar way because there is so much vascularity in the nose, so the cannabinoids get absorbed right into the bloodstream and take action very promptly. 

4. The Topical Method

The topical application of hemp products refers to you rubbing them on the surface of your skin. This method is considered particularly effective if you are suffering from acute or chronic pain in a specific area of your body. For instance, if you are experiencing arthritic pain in your joints, or acute pain from an injury like a burn, applying hemp oil to the area of need means that the cannabinoids interact with the part of the endocannabinoid system that is closest to the area in pain. This application method also helps to provide faster and more targeted pain reduction than lots of other techniques. Topical CBD products include anything you can rub into our skin, such as creams, balms, lotions, conditioners and salves and most types of oils.

5. The Oral Method 

Another effective way to use CBD for pain is to consume it orally. This involves any method where the product passes through your oral cavity through your digestive tract, including eating or drinking edibles or swallowing capsules. Taking cannabidiol in the form of edibles or drinkables is a fun and versatile way to reap the compound’s potential pain-relieving benefits because you’re able to choose from a wide range of tasty products and the effects of CBD are delivered throughout the whole body. Additionally, CBD hemp oil capsules can also offer people a convenient way to feel the whole-body effects of CBD. And because they all come with a pre-measured amount of the extract, it takes the guesswork out of the process. 

Depending on which product format you decide to use, oral methods typically last for around 6-8 hours. However, due to the route these products take through your digestive system, a lot of CBD’s potential pain-relieving benefits risk being lost in the delivery process.

Final Thoughts

While more research into CBD’s pain-relieving potential needs to take place, there’s clearly a reason people all over the world are turning to the compound to address their chronic pain. If you’re curious about using CBD to soothe any discomfort you may be experiencing, we hope this small guide has helped you to identify which method may be the most suitable for you.