The Best CBD Patches for Pain

Cannabidiol, CBD, is one of many beneficial compounds found in the hemp plant. It may help to reduce anxiety, relieve pain, help with depression, treat seizure disorders and certain types of colitis. It may improve acne.

How Does CBD Work?

Full-spectrum CBD contains only trace amounts of THC and cannot cause intoxication. THC, tetrahydrocannabinol, is the substance in marijuana that makes people feel high. CBD and THC each work on different cell receptors in the body, CB1 and CB2. CBD strongly activates only the CB2 receptor, which is not associated with intoxication. These receptors, along with others, are part of the body's endocannabinoid system, or ECS. There are several dozen or so different active compounds found in the marijuana and hemp plants. They all work in the ECS system.

Is Hemp Oil the Same as CBD?

CBD is produced by an extraction process involving the whole plant. Although also a hemp product, hemp oil is obtained by pressing the plant's seeds and is not a whole-plant substance. It contains little to no CBD or THC, but it has important applications in hair and skin care. It's also used in industry in the manufacture of paint, ink, plastic and lubricants. You can read more about hemp oil here >>

What Kinds of CBD are There?

CBD is commercially available in a variety of forms:

• Oils
• Patches
• Edibles
• Lotions and gels
• Flower
• Capsules
• Tinctures

Oils and tinctures are liquids that are supplied in dropper bottles and contain varying amounts of CBD. There is also isolate CBD. This is a highly purified form that is typically a white powder containing as much as 99 percent pure CBD. However, CBD works best when it contains all of its original compounds in the correct ratios. These compounds were intended to work together. This is called the entourage effect.

There are also CBD edibles, usually in the form of candy gummies in fruity flavors. Flower looks like tiny flower buds and can be smoked, vaped, used in baking or cooking and added to homemade beauty products like bath bombs. Flower CBD is inactive unless it is first heated. Capsules are small softgels containing a certain amount of CBD.

CBD Patches

CBD patches are applied to the skin for an extended duration of action. CBD can pass through the skin and enter the bloodstream if it's applied in a transdermal preparation. This transdermal system is formulated to ferry the CBD through the skin and into the bloodstream. Not all topical CBD preparations are necessarily transdermal, because CBD also has local actions in the skin itself. That's because there are CB2 receptors located there. Topical CBD may help to relieve local pain, such as that of arthritis. It has powerful anti-inflammatory effects and may also help to improve acne and other skin conditions.

Transdermal CBD patches allow it to have both local effects on the skin and throughout the ECS system. However, it is possible that the patch may have stronger local effects than systemic ones. As with any medication or herbal remedy, individual response will vary.

Advantages of CBD patches:

Convenience

The patch is applied once as directed. There is no need to take additional doses throughout the day. Many patches are designed to remain on the skin for several days.

Effect

When a substance is taken orally, it must go through the liver first. The liver will try to deactivate the substance because that's its job. It's called the first pass effect. It may reduce effectiveness. CBD taken through a skin patch isn't subject to this. A skin patch will be more likely to maintain steady blood levels than an oral doses will. Transdermal CBD may be especially helpful as a muscle relaxant in those with chronic pain.

How to Choose the Best CBD Patch for Pain

First, look at the label. See if there is a COA there. COA means Certificate of Analysis. A COA is your assurance that the CBD in the patch has been analyzed by a laboratory. A third-party one is best. This analysis will guarantee the potency and purity of the CBD and will also assure you that it contains no contaminants, such as heavy metals, pesticides, bacteria and mold.

Extraction Method

Look for the extraction method. It should say something about CO2. This method uses super-cold carbon dioxide to pull the CBD compounds out of the hemp plant. This produces a highly potent product with no toxic residue concerns. Check to make sure the CBD was made with hemp grown in the United States, where standards for soil testing are likely to be higher than in certain foreign countries.

Look for patches that are guaranteed to remain on the skin, even during showers or if you sweat a lot.

Other CBD Label Information

The label will also tell you how much CBD is in each patch. This will be expressed as a number of total daily milligrams. If it says 20 milligrams, for example, that means that it releases 20 milligrams every 24 hours. In other words, a patch intended to last 3 days would contain 75 milligrams. The CBD is embedded in a kind of matrix on the surface of the patch that releases it in a slow, steady stream throughout the day. Some patches may contain other ingredients, such as herbs. This information will be listed, too. The label will also state its inactive ingredients, such as what's in the adhesive. It's possible to be allergic to one type of adhesive but not another. If one patch causes a rash or skin reaction, you can try another brand.

How Much CBD to Take

When choosing a CBD dose, it's best to consult with your physician first. If they have no suggestion, a dose in the 20 to 40 milligram daily range is a good place to start. CBD patches for pain offer convenience, versatility and effectiveness. You can try them to see if they are a good option for you.

*This is a guest post from our friends at Learning CBD