CBD patches for pain, what are they?
Although personal preferences play a crucial role when choosing the best way of CBD use, CBD patches may be a more suitable option for certain conditions, such as pain treatment. Please keep reading if you wish to learn more about CBD patches, including how they work, potential use, and risks and side effects.
How do CBD patches work?
CBD patches are patches containing CBD and other ingredients that people apply to the skin. They work in a similar way to nicotine patches, delivering CBD directly into the bloodstream.
This so-called transdermal method quickly delivers CBD to the area around the patch. It works its way into the bloodstream from there. When people take CBD orally, for example, the compound must first pass through the digestive system in the form of oil or sweets. The body may then use it, break it down, or even excrete it as waste. Therefore, a large part of the CBD dose given orally may be lost due to the digestive system.
On the other hand, a transdermal patch applies CBD directly to the skin, absorbing it and now entering the bloodstream. Such administration enables CBD to bypass the digestive system and increases bioavailability.
CBD patches also provide a more consistent solution than other external administration methods, such as CBD creams and massage oils. Once the skin absorbs creams, their effect decreases. Therefore, people who use creams for relief would have to apply them several times a day. On the other hand, patches remain on the skin, supplying CBD for an extended time and potentially providing constant relief from the symptoms.
However, transdermal administration is relatively slow, and not all the CBD passes through the skin. Thus, CBD patches usually contain penetration-enhancing substances that increase skin permeability and allow more CBD to pass through.
CBD patches and pain
Although there is research on the effects of CBD on pain in the early stages, with many studies on animals, the first findings suggest that CBD may be an effective painkiller in people with various conditions, including arthritis and multiple sclerosis (MS). CBD has a long history of use for pain control, both through patient experience and traditional treatments.
Open legislation has enabled much more formal research in recent years. These studies have helped to shed light on the potential of cannabis use for pain relief.
Cannabinoids, such as CBD, act against pain in two different ways.
Firstly, they act on the endocannabinoid system in the body to block the receptors for various kinds of pain, even the ones that are difficult to treat, such as nerve pain. Secondly, they have an anti-inflammatory effect on the body, helping reduce pain from inflammation sources. These effects combined with the transdermal administration system can make CBD patches the ideal fight against inflammation, nerve pain, and localized pain.
Some research highlights the benefits of patches over other methods in this regard, including:
- permanent, long-term supply of CBD
- minimal adverse effects
- localized anti-inflammatory activities
- localized pain relief
These benefits mean that CBD patches can be effective in situations where a person has localized inflammatory or nerve pain, such as arthritic pain in the knee, inflammation and nerve pain in the back, or pain caused by a skin condition.
Another study has found that locally supplied CBD helps control myofascial pain. The study specifically looks at the muscles surrounding the head and jaw in people with temporomandibular disorder (TMJ). Scientists have concluded that CBD has the potential to treat people with this disorder.
A study in postgraduate medicine has examined the effect of CBD on people with chronic pain who used opioids to suppress the pain. Of the 97 participants, 94% reported improved quality of life when taking a CBD product. More than half of the people who added CBD to their treatment regimens reduced or discontinued the opioid use after eight weeks. More extensive studies could help investigate these results, but they suggest that CBD may reduce some of the risks posed by other pain management methods.
How to use CBD patches
Thanks to the transdermal application, CBD patches work best when they directly contact as much area of the skin as possible. To maximize the patch's effectiveness, the person should apply it to the skin's soft spot, where it gets as much contact with it as possible, not on bony or irregular areas of the skin. It must also be as close as possible to the affected area.
Common areas for the use of CBD patches include:
- Inside of the wrist
- back of the neck
- lower back
- lower thigh, below the knee
- inner part of the bicep
- shoulder
- inner part of the ankle
Risks and side effects
When choosing a CBD patch, several possible risks and side effects should be considered, including reactions to both CBD and the patch itself.
Side effects of CBD
CBD is a natural compound, yet it can cause several side effects.
Common side effects include:
- sleepiness or fatigue
- too much sleep
- diarrhea
- lethargy
- changes in appetite
- weight loss or weight gain
People sensitive to these effects should not drive a vehicle or use heavy machinery while taking CBD. It may also interact with some medications. Therefore, people should discuss taking CBD products with healthcare professionals to check for potential drug interactions.
Liver damage
Some research suggests that there may be a link between CBD and liver damage, although the doses in the study were significantly higher than those people usually take.
People with liver damage or liver failure should talk to their physician before using CBD products. However, the transdermal administration of CBD means that the substance bypasses the liver, so patches may have a lower risk than other administration methods.
Contamination
Although CBD can be helpful, potential contaminants in the manufacturing process, including heavy metals, pesticides, and other harmful chemicals, can pose a risk of humans' reactions.
The product must come from a reputable manufacturer. Also, look for laboratory tests from an independent party to confirm its high quality.
Reactions
There may be a reaction to the patch in some individuals, which may be caused by locking sweat under the patch, irritating the skin. In other cases, the skin may also react to the glue, which is part of the patch.
Other ingredients in the transdermal patch may cause similar symptoms. If such symptoms appear, the person should stop using the patch and talk to a dermatologist to identify potential allergens.
Summary
For many people, CBD patches provide an alternative way of delivering CBD into the body, allowing for faster and longer-term pain relief. CBD patches may be best for localized pain, such as pain in the knee or lower back. They can also work alongside other pain relief methods.
While the use of CBD patches can relieve many symptoms, including pain, anyone with chronic pain should work closely with their physician to help solve the pain's underlying cause.