CBD oil vs CBD Cream: Which is Better for Pain?

CBD products — it’s in the news, it’s in digital ads, and it may even be in your mom’s medicine cabinet.

Yes, it’s gotten so popular to where even your mother uses it. This may also be the reason you’re now interested in learning more. Or maybe it’s because of all the benefits people claim it offers for their ailments. One being for pain.

If you’re dealing with inflammation, arthritis, or other types of aches, then you’ll find CBD products being mentioned as great supplements. But during your research, you’ll see two particular products promoted — CBD oil and CBD cream. So which is better?

That’s what we’re going to explore next.

The Case for CBD and Pain

All around the world, people are suffering from painful conditions, such as back pain, neck pain, joint pain, and osteoarthritis. These conditions are widespread and are leading to an abundance of prescriptions for pain medications.

The problem with this is that most of these drugs come with an assortment of side effects. Some of which are far worse than the pain itself.

Not to mention, they’re also addictive, which can lead to a life long battle of weaning off a drug you may no longer need.

This is why we find more and more people making the shift towards natural alternatives. Cannabis is known for its relaxation effects.

It’s found to ease pain symptoms in a way that’s safe and non-psychoactive. For instance, in a study done in 2017, the adult volunteers found CBD to help their pain systems.

Then another study using CBD cream found that those suffering from arthritis and other joint pain witnessed terrific effects. In a study using rats with arthritis, it showed impressive results within four days.

The amount of inflammation decreased, which indicates pain relief.

Excited yet?

Let’s take a look at what CBD oil and creams are and which you should choose.

Top-Rated CBD Brands

CBD Oil: What is it?

You hear about it all the time these days, but what is CBD oil? CBD, or Cannabidiol, is a non-psychoactive compound found in the marijuana plant.

This means it doesn’t get you high, like with the traditional marijuana plant we know of as weed. It

The oil form of CBD is an extract of cannabidiol. So any carrier oil that contains concentrated amounts of CBD is considered CBD oil.

You can find CBD oil with different strengths, and you can use it a variety of ways.

When it comes to back pain and similar conditions, there’s proof that CBD can help. It works by interacting with your body’s ECS (endocannabinoid system). This is the system that helps regulate a lot of your body’s functions.

For example, it manages hunger, emotions, feelings of pain, and more. When you consume CBD, it reacts with your cannabinoid receptors throughout your body.

So if you’re dealing with back pain, it works to remove inflammation and other issues that shouldn’t be present in the area of pain.

And it does this for your entire body, so you may feel complete relaxation and notice aches go away that you didn’t realize you had.

How Can You Use CBD Oil for Pain?

If you’re interested in consuming CBD, then you can experiment with the various potencies. For instance, for severe pain, you may want to opt for a high-potency CBD oil.

Now, it’s essential to note that CBD does have a distinct taste and smell. Some people don’t like it, but most can withstand it.

Today, there are CBD oil products with different flavors to choose from, such as mint, tropical fruits, and more.

It’s advised that you place the liquid beneath your tongue and hold it there for 30 to 90 seconds. This will allow the CBD oil to assimilate into your bloodstream faster, so you feel the effects sooner.

This works because beneath your tongue there are capillaries (tiny blood vessels), which act as a highway for the CBD oil to travel into your bloodstream.

If you swallow it normally, then it will have to go through the digestive process, which takes longer. And then by the time it gets to your blood stream, there’s significantly less to distribute.

This is because your body can only digest certain amounts of any vitamin or mineral. The rest is broken down and excreted when you use the restroom.

What About Topical CBD Creams for Pain?

Alright, so let’s move on to CBD creams. These are growing in popularity, especially in recent years. This is likely because it’s convenient, private, and it works.

You’ll find many people using it for different skin conditions, such as psoriasis and eczema. But it’s also recommended for pain.

CBD creams are ointments, creams, lotions, or balm that’s infused with CBD. You just rub it on your skin to get localized relief.

One way to think of it is like Icy Hot, which you rub onto sore muscles for pain relief. The product absorbs into your skin and helps to reduce inflammation.

The difference between CBD oil and cream is that the cream doesn’t enter your bloodstream. Instead, it penetrates your CB2 receptors, which are in the affected area only.

It’s common for CBD topics to consist of hemp, which contains no THC.

Now, if you’re looking for something a little stronger, you can opt for transdermal patches, which allow cannabinoids to enter your bloodstream.

If you’re dealing with muscle and joint aches, then you’ll find the topical cream to be a great addition to a massage.

You can apply CBD cream to any area of the body that has pain. Just massage it in. You can find creams with different scents as well.

Which is Better for Body Pain?

So which reigns supreme in fighting against aches and pains? Given how CBD oil works — by entering into your bloodstream — we’d have to say this is the winner.

This is the best choice if you’re looking for something that’s strong and works quickly. When you take CBD oil subliminally (under your tongue), you can expect the effects to kick in within 30 minutes to two hours.

Topical CBD, on the other hand, is ideal for smaller pains, such as a tweak in a muscle you got while working out. For long-term and chronic pain, it’s better to go with CBD oil.

That isn’t to say you can’t combine the two to get maximum results. Take your CBD oil and then enjoy a nice CBD cream rub down. This can help give you ultimate relaxation and pain relief (without using prescription drugs).

Plus, CBD oil will help to alleviate any other problems in your body — not just the pain.

Are There Any Side Effects with CBD Products?

Maybe you’re wondering if there’s any chance you could get high off of CBD oil and cream. And you have the right to questions this!

After all, you don’t want to end up behind bars because you forgot to read the fine print. Fortunately, there’s nothing to worry about when it comes to getting high.

When you buy from a reputable company, you’re getting CBD products that are free of THC or too low to cause any psychoactive effects.

Now, there are other symptoms you may witness when taking these products. For example, when you take CBD oil, you may get cotton mouth (dry mouth).

All you have to do in this case is drink plenty of water.

If you’re using CBD cream and notice you’re getting rashes or other symptoms, then you may be having an allergic reaction. It’s possible that the oil, vitamin E, beeswax, or other ingredients are causing this.

This is quite rare, especially since these ingredients are great for the skin.

It’s also not a good idea to take CBD at the same time as you take certain pharmaceuticals because it can reduce your liver’s ability to process it.

In other words, you won’t get the full effect of your medication. It’s advised you take this an hour before you take your CBD oil.

It’s also essential to speak with your physician before taking CBD products to ensure there won’t be any adverse effects.

Alleviate Your Pain with CBD!

Whatever product you decide to use, you’re bound to get results. Both CBD cream and oil are useful supplements for combatting pain.

Just remember that if you want quicker and more wide-ranging results, then CBD oil is your best bet. This goes straight to your bloodstream and will help your body in several ways (besides pain relief).

Your next step now is finding a CBD product seller that’s legit. Make sure their products state the THC amounts and whether it’s 100% CBD. You don’t want to end up with a diluted product mixed with other oils.

Once you get your hands on CBD, come back and let us know how it works for your pain relief!