We’re probably stating the obvious here, but the pain is a drag! Whether it’s chronic (no pun intended) or acute, pain can make your life unbearable. Up until recently, the solution for a pain that just won’t go away has been powerful opioids.
These drugs often cause more problems than they’re worth. Thankfully, a new, non-addictive treatment for pain is taking the medical community by storm: CBD cream.
But, as with most new medical developments, a lot of questions surround this topical pain reliever:
- What exactly is CBD?
- What is CBD cream?
- How is CBD cream different from CBD oil?
- Will CBD cream get you high?
- Are there any side effects of CBD cream?
The experts at Honest Marijuana will answer all those questions and more. We’ll even reveal the benefits of CBD cream and show you how to make your very own batch for pain relief. Before we do that, we’ll start at the beginning with the building blocks of CBD cream.
What Is CBD?
CBD is the shortened form of the word cannabidiol. Thank goodness for abbreviations, right? Cannabidiol is one of a group of naturally-occurring chemical compounds called cannabinoids. No abbreviation for that one. Sorry.
THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is probably the best-known cannabinoid, but others of note are:
- CBG (cannabigerol)
- CBT (cannabicitran)
- CBL (cannabicyclol)
- CBC (cannabichromene)
- CBDV (cannabidivarin)
All in all, scientists have isolated 113 different cannabinoids from the cannabis plant. We’re going to focus on CBD and how it can be used for pain relief. First, though, let’s discuss CBD creams specifically.
What Is CBD Cream?
Hang on to your hats for this one: CBD cream is just a cream (duh!) with CBD extract mixed in. Big Pharma makes creams and lotions with lots of additives and preservatives, but the best CBD creams contain ingredients you can find in your kitchen—nothing more.
In fact, later on, we’ll show you how you can make your own CBD cream.
How Is CBD Cream Different from CBD Oil?
The main difference between CBD cream and CBD oil is how you take it. Here’s the breakdown:
- CBD cream is only meant to be applied to the skin (topically).
- CBD oil is only meant to be administered under the tongue (sublingually).
If you have a hard time keeping things out of your mouth, CBD cream might not be the best choice for you. It certainly doesn’t help that CBD cream often looks like and smells like a delicious pudding. Trust us, it’s not and it doesn’t.
So, sit on your hands or put a blunt or joint in your mouth but don’t eat the CBD cream! Sure, it won’t kill you, but it might cause substantial stomach pain. And pain is what we’re trying to avoid.
So, we’ll say it again: Don’t eat the CBD cream!
Will CBD Cream Get You High?
CBD cream will not get you high. The only way a CBD product (e.g., cream, oil, tincture, dissolvable strip, edible) could get you high would be if it contained substantial amounts of THC. CBD cream does not contain THC, at least not in any percentage that would make your world go psychedelic.
So, you can rest easy that the CBD cream you apply before leaving the house won’t have you tasting colors during your drive to work.
Are There Any Side Effects of CBD Cream?
There are no inherent side effects of CBD cream. That said, if you have very sensitive skin, you may be allergic to some of the ingredients, like olive oil, beeswax, or vitamin E oil. But, honestly, those ingredients are good for your skin, so it’s unlikely that you’ll have any problems.
The only way you might experience any side effects is if you ate the cream (don’t do it!). CBD ingested into your body (either eaten, smoked, or administered sublingually) can cause:
- Dry mouth (although some don’t even really consider this a side effect)
- A reduction in your liver’s ability to process other pharmaceuticals
That second one is a major concern. If you’re taking heart medication, for example, adding CBD to the mix will completely negate any of the benefits the heart medication has to offer. Be sure to consult your doctor before ingesting any CBD product.
But you’re not going to eat the CBD cream, right? You’re just going to rub it on your skin. In that case, you have nothing to worry about. You won’t feel any side effects from the CBD cream.
Precision Pain Care and Rehabilitation has two convenient locations in Richmond Hill – Queens and New Hyde Park – Long Island. Call the Richmond Hill office at (718) 215-1888, or (516) 419-4480 for the Long Island office, to arrange an appointment with our Interventional Pain Management Specialist, Dr. Jeffrey Chacko.
