Whether you suffer due to a recent injury or you have long endured chronic pain, you might consider turning to CBD to mitigate your discomfort. CBD, or cannabidiol, is a compound unique to cannabis that engages the human endocannabinoid system (ECS), a natural system in your body that, among other things, regulates the sensation of pain. Though the exact interaction between CBD and the ECS is not yet well completely understood, researchers believe that CBD encourages the release of neurotransmitters that interrupt messages of pain in various ways.
In most states, even Oklahoma, medical marijuana dispensaries sell high-quality CBD products that can help you address an overcome your pain. However, you need to know how to use CBD properly for pain management to ensure you get the most out of the products you purchase. Here’s a guide to using CBD specifically for pain
Understand Different Products
You might be most accustomed to seeing CBD in a small vial with a dropper. This is CBD oil, and while it is easily the most common form of CBD, it is far from the only one. In fact, CBD products come in many shapes and sizes, which help sufferers of different kinds of pain find the solution that fits their circumstances best. Here are a few of the most accessible CBD products available today:
CBD Oil
As mentioned above, CBD oil is common, even popular. In an oil form, CBD can be mixed into food and drink at home or administered orally and even sublingually, or under the tongue. By allowing CBD to sink into the tissue beneath the tongue, you are ensuring fast and reliable absorption of the compound. CBD oils come in different dosages, and it is important to look at the type of CBD oil you purchase — full-spectrum CBD oil often has trace amounts of THC, while pure CBD oil does not.
CBD Topicals
It is possible to mix CBD into topical products like lotions, salves, and balms, which are applied externally, to the skin. When used this way, CBD does not enter the bloodstream or provide whole-body effects; instead, it sinks into the surrounding tissues to provide more targeted pain relief and relaxation.
CBD Pills and Capsules
CBD is available in pill and capsule form, which are swallowed like vitamins. In this form, CBD is absorbed through the digestive system, which takes longer and is less reliable than other absorption methods. On the other hand, pills and capsules feel more like medication and tend to be more discreet.
CBD Edibles
CBD edibles are premade food items infused with CBD. Most popular are CBD gummies, but there are also CBD chocolates, baked goods, drink mixes, and more. Like pills and capsules, edibles must pass through the digestive system before the CBD can be absorbed, and dosages tend to be unpredictable. However, edibles are a fun way to treat chronic pain.
Understand Dosage
Whenever cannabis is used as a medical treatment, some tinkering with dosage is required. Your endocannabinoid system is unique, and it will respond to cannabinoids in a unique way. Some people have naturally high tolerances to THC and CBD and thus require high doses of the compounds to feel any effects; in contrast, some people are remarkably sensitive to THC and CBD. Though overdoses of CBD seem impossible, (again, more research is warranted) you should take your dosing slow to start to avoid overstimulating your ECS and risking the effectiveness of the compound. You should also talk to your doctor to ascertain that it is safe for you to experiment with CBD and particularly that you are not on any medications that might be negatively affected by CBD. 
Understand State Laws
Most states allow the sale of CBD — only in Iowa, Idaho and South Dakota is the compound completely illegal. Still, most states do have regulations governing what types of CBD products can be sold, where the CBD can be sourced from, who can purchase CBD and what CBD products can look like. It would benefit you to be familiar with your state’s laws regarding CBD before you depart on your CBD journey, so you can avoid missteps. For example, many states prohibit the sale of CBD edibles, so you might not ever have access to this kind of product. You might also get a sense of how much CBD products cost, so you can factor this expense into your budget.
Pain is not something you should be forced to live with. If you have an opportunity to mitigate or eliminate your pain, you should take it — and that means exploring the possibility of using CBD.
