CBD for Chronic Pain Relief in Conjunction with Chiropractic Care

CBD for Chronic Pain Relief in Conjunction with Chiropractic Care

By Tina Richardson (for Health First Chiropractic Clinics)

It’s a known fact that many people in our tech-driven society spend most of their hours stationary; at work, most of the day is spent behind a desk, and the process of getting home is often spent sitting in public transportation or a car. This has contributed to a rise in lower back issues in adults, and the need for regular therapy — whether it be massage, physical therapy or chiropractic care — as well as pain medication.

Chiropractic care is very popular due to its ability to provide many patients with quick and lasting relief. 

Along with anecdotal evidence, numerous recent studies have shown cannabidiol (CBD) to be an effective anti-inflammatory and analgesic (pain relieving) supplement which can help manage more stubborn pain while under chiropractic care. In this post, we’ll explain what exactly CBD is, how it works, and how it can complement chiropractic adjustments.

What is CBD?
CBD is one of the primary active cannabinoids in cannabis plants which has been shown to have a wide range of health-positive properties. Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), it has no psychoactive properties that delay motor response or impair judgment. This is one of the key reasons for its rise in popularity in recent years, and why the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has removed it from its “Prohibited Substances in Sport” list in 2018. This makes it a supplement that can safely be taken in the middle of the day, without risk of affecting your productivity or availability.

How does it work?
The reason for CBD’s range of benefits is that it communicates directly with the body’s endocannabinoid system which affects sleep, mood, appetite, memory, and fertility among other things. This is done via the CB1 and CB2 receptors; these receptors are greatly responsible for helping the body maintain homeostasis. The CB1 receptors primarily affect the brain and central nervous system, while the CB2 receptors are mostly located in the peripheral organs and significantly affect the immune system.

When purchasing any cannabis products, make sure that you buy them from companies that legally provide THC and CBD to ensure product quality. It’s best to do a bit of research into the company beforehand to verify the ethical production, potency and safe formulation of their selection. 

Why CBD Is Being Used In Conjunction With Chiropractic Care.
Chiropractic care is centered around the basic concept of correcting misalignments in the body to restore blood flow and range of motion to the area. This also liberates nerve impingements and releases unnatural joint friction, which are common contributors to chronic pain. The bones realigning and essentially getting maneuvered back into their correct place is what causes the satisfying pops and cracks that have been associated with chiropractic adjustments. 

CBD has been shown to be an effective anti-inflammatory and analgesic over numerous studies: 

Inflammation
Though pain can be caused by a number of factors, sometimes it’s a simple matter of excessive inflammation (swelling) in the affected area. Numerous studies have confirmed CBD's efficacy as an anti-inflammatory drug. According to the British Journal of Pharmacology, its ability to “behave as a CB2 receptor inverse agonist may contribute to its documented anti-inflammatory properties.” 

When the body’s inflammatory response is triggered, it works to cushion the affected area and supply it with an excess of fresh, nutrient-rich blood. Unfortunately, this can sometimes limit range of motion and even cause pain if the additional pressure is significant. This is done to protect the damaged tissue, however some bodies reallocate too much blood flow. CBD can help moderate this response as an effective anti-inflammatory and antioxidant (cell protecting) compound. 

Pain Relief
With concerns about non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) provoking gastrointestinal ulceration and bleeding and possibly increasing incidents of cerebrovascular accidents and myocardial infarctions in some patients, along with evidence of opioids' high risk of addiction, physicians and patients are turning to safer alternatives like CBD. 

As stated earlier, CBD is able to communicate directly with the brain via the endocannabinoid system. This means it's able to affect how the body not only responds to stimuli, but how it perceives it. CBD’s efficacy as a pain reliever is carried out on a pharmacological and psychological level with varying onset times, depending on the form of CBD you choose. 

How CBD Can Help Improve Pain

There are numerous studies that have shown CBD to be effective at moderating chronic, neuropathic, and arthritic pain. With proper supplementation, you and your chiropractor will gradually be more able to make the adjustments needed to make milestone progress during therapy sessions.

Before deciding to supplement with CBD or integrate it into your recovery process, be sure to consult your physician regarding their dose recommendation and to avoid conflicts with medication you might be taking. As with any new health supplement, it’s always safer to begin at lower doses and gradually increase them after observing how your body reacts. 

When purchasing any cannabis products, make sure that you buy them from companies that legally provide THC and CBD to ensure product quality. It’s best to do a bit of research into the company beforehand to verify the ethical production, potency and safe formulation of their selection 

For more information go to:   https://www.crescentcanna.com/

Author

Dr J. Zimmerman, Chiropractor Dr. Zimmerman is a practicing chiropractor from Galloway, NJ with 30 years of chiropractic practice.