Best CBD Oil for Pain: Guide & Top Brands for 2022

When it comes to healing pain symptoms, doctors, parents, and the general public alike are hesitant to reach for Tylenol or Ibuprofen. While conventional painkillers may help alleviate symptoms for a few hours, they’re bad for your body in the long term. Many health-conscious people have been turning to natural alternatives that can get the job done without the side effects or long-term consequences of over-the-counter painkillers. One of the most popular natural oils that help with pain is CBD oil or cannabidiol. This non-psychoactive hemp extract is perfectly safe and legal for adults and even animals and can help with arthritis, anxiety, muscle pain, and inflammation, mood disorders, sleep problems, and more than research has just begun to explore.

Top 10 CBD Oil Brands for Pain

• FAB CBD – Best Overall and Editor’s Pick
• Chief Botanicals – Best Value
• Green Roads – Best Formulators
• Nuleaf Naturals  – Most Potent
• CBDistillery – Most Popular
• PlusCBD – Best Full Spectrum 
• Lazarus Naturals – Best Flavors
• Joy Organics – Best Broad Spectrum
• MedTerra – Most Powerful
• cbdMD – Best Tincture

Things We Considered While Selecting the Best CBD Oils for Pain 

Hemp Source: Hemp source is more important than a lot of CBD critics give it credit for– and it’s more than just about optimal agricultural conditions. Ordering from an unknown brand may cause you to purchase illegal CBD. This means you might get a product that has more THC than the legal limit, 0.03%. Also, you simply don’t want a low-quality product– so it’s important to make sure you’re getting a product made with high-quality hemp. The brands below all contain hemp sourced in the USA.

Extract Types: The extraction type can directly affect the quality of the cannabidiol going into your product, as well as how well it’s been filtered. There are multiple types of extraction processes that can be used to extract cannabidiol. All the brands on this list use CO2 extraction to avoid contamination and help protect the environment.

Lab Results: Lab testing by a third party ensures that your product doesn’t have any illegal substances, pesticides, or other chemicals and heavy metals. Also, testing makes sure that your oil actually contains the amount of CBD mentioned on the label. All the brands on the list below contain published lab testing reports that are available to the public to read.

Taste: CBD oils are offered by some companies in a variety of flavors and scents. You tell us– would you be more eager to take your daily dose of CBD oil if it tasted like your average cooking oil product, or if it tasted like berries, citrus, or mint, with natural and healthy essential oils? You may not have put so much thought into it, but the taste can be a large factor in motivating you to take your CBD dose and help you enjoy and personalize your product even more.

Strength: Typically, you can pick from a variety of different CBD concentrations/potencies when ordering your CBD oil from the product page of your choice. Some brands may offer as low as 150mg of CBD and as high as 2400mg of CBD per bottle. The higher the strength, the pricier it can be. If you have severe or relatively high pain symptoms, or simply want the most potent effect, a higher CBD concentration of CBD oil will benefit you. This generally means that it simply has more CBD% in the product and less of the base oil or any other oils added.

Ingredients: Don’t worry– we won’t let any sneaky added ingredients make their way into your bottle of pure CBD oil if they’re going to undermine the effect of the product. In the list mentioned below, only brands that use natural and cruelty-free organic ingredients were added. Artificial ingredients, harmful chemicals and unhealthy preservatives can significantly lower the efficiency of the final product and can also be very dangerous to consume, whether it’s taken sublingually or applied topically on the surface skin. You can rest assured by knowing that the brands listed below contain only the healthy ingredients that will do you nothing but good.

Brand Reputation: We checked Yelp, Google, and Trustpilot, as well as a number of general forums, for any trends in customer complaints. If the brand seemed untrustworthy, we didn’t include it on the list.

Transparency: It’s not just about what a company has to show– it’s also about what a company has not to show. We made sure that we could easily locate the information required to prove that the companies below have safe and legal products. If we noticed any company that was hiding or missing important info, we didn’t include it on this list.

Website Experience: If you begin taking CBD and find the oil brand you like, chances are you’ll become a regular customer so that you can get new bottles when you’re done, just like with any medicine. We want to make sure the experience you have on these companies’ websites is easy, user-friendly, and accessible for all to use so that re-ordering doesn’t become a hassle and your first purchase goes through smoothly.

Customer Service: Rude customer service doesn’t just exist in-person– it also can exist online!

We are personally experienced with the brands on the list below and we looked into other customer’s testimonials to make sure that you won’t have to worry about dealing with rude or incompetent customer service that can’t process your requests in a timely manner.

Shipping, Return & Refund Policies: We found brands with more than just fast and easy shipping. These brands also all come with special shipping benefits like free shipping or subscription services that work with auto-ship. As for returns, these brands all offer money-back guarantees so that you can always get a refund request if you find that the product isn’t working for you (maybe you’ll try out another one!)

10 Best CBD Oil Brands for Proper Pain Management

#1 FAB CBD Oil: Best Overall and Editor’s Pick

About Product

FAB grows their organic hemp in Wisconsin, using no pesticides or chemicals. They were founded in 2017 and have since grown their wide selection of nutritional, health, and skincare products, as well as pet products, that all contain CBD. Part of FAB’s profit is donated towards the Make-A-Wish foundation. All of their products specialize in relief for exercise recovery, mood stabilization, soreness, pain, and everyday stress. Their CBD cream also helps with arthritis pain and can be applied topically. For anxiety and mood, their oils can also help in addition to their pain-relieving properties.

Their ‘Pure CBD Oil’ can be customized, using flavor and concentration selections personalized to your preferences. The oils are all full-spectrum and sell at $39 (300mg) at the lowest, up to $129 for the 2400mg oil. The oil specializes in healing insomnia, mood disorders, arthritis symptoms, and inflammation. You can even purchase a FAB CBD oil for your dog (a separate product) that can help with canine-related symptoms of arthritis and mobility problems.

Flavors: You can pick from 5 flavors to personalize your order of FAB CBD oil, which are all formulated using natural ingredients like essential oils:

• Natural
• Citrus
• Mint
• Vanilla
• Berry

Strength: This oil arrives in four potency options for each flavor:

• 300mg
• 600mg
• 1200mg
• 2400mg

Ingredients:  Full Spectrum Cannabinoid blend, Organically Grown Hemp Extract, flavoring from natural sources, Medium Chain Triglycerides (May contain low amounts of hemp-derived THC <0.3%), and Terpenes.

Prices:

• 300mg: $39
• 600mg: $69
• 1200mg: $99
• 2400: $129

Shipping, Return & Refund Policy: If you aren’t satisfied with your product, you can get a 30-day money back guarantee from FAB, no matter what it is. Returns are only accepted with RMA or return merchandise authorization. Processing for returns takes 4-7 days, while Return shipping time takes 3-9 days. Shipping is free within USA for orders over 99 dollars. Note that FAB only ships to the USA– all 50 states.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Free shipping on orders over $89
• Third-party lab tested, with reports available online
• The company offers a reward program for customers

Cons

• No options for auto-shipping or subscription memberships for regular
• Only ships to the United States

#2 Cheef Botanicals CBD Oil: Best Value

About Product

Cheef Botanical’s mission is to provide natural and holistic approaches to medicine to create awareness and advocate for its abilities. The company was founded by a generous group of workers that joined farms in Colorado to grow CBD for their products. These workers spent 25 previous years in the health industry and know the importance of providing only vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and GMO-free products.

Cheef offers 4 CBD oil options. The size of the product changes with its potency. The smallest, 300 milligrams, is half an ounce while the largest is 2 ounces (3000 milligrams). No flavors are offered to retain the natural properties of the product, and they are all full-spectrum.

Flavors

• Cheef Botanicals only offers unflavored CBD oil

Strength

• 300mg
• 600mg
• 1200mg
• 3000mg

Ingredients:  Hempseed oil, CBD oil

Prices

• 300mg ($25, 0.5 fl oz)
• 600mg ($36, 0.5 fl oz)
• 1200mg ($67, 1 fl oz)
• 3000mg ($123, 2 fl oz)

Shipping and Returns Policy: If you are unsatisfied, Cheef offers a 30-day money-back guarantee (return requests should be made 30-45 days after receiving the product). Orders take about 1-2 days to process, and shipping is free on all orders. You can sign up for auto-shipping if you want to receive products regularly as a subscription. Chief Botanicals only ships to the USA.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Auto-ship service available
• Wide variety of CBD concentrations
• Third-party lab-tested

Cons

• No international shipping
• No options for broad-spectrum oil
• No flavor variety

#3 Green Roads CBD Oil: Best Formulators

About Product 

Green Roads products were created by Laura Fuentes, a licensed pharmacist, who formed the company based on natural healing. Fuentes refers to her Green Roads clients as patients and offers them CBD spa items, coffee, chocolates, and regular oils and creams. In addition to providing natural medication, she also is on a mission to educate the public on the wonders of cannabidiol. You can visit Green Roads’ CBD University website page to browse through their CBD educational articles.

The oils offered by this brand include both full and broad-spectrum options as well as a sweet sleep option for sleeping. The full-spectrum oils are unflavored and arrive in three potency options while you can pick from mint, apple kiwi, and unflavored from their broad-spectrum oils.

Flavors

Broad-spectrum

• Apple kiwi
• Mint breeze
• Unflavored

Full-spectrum

• Unflavored

Strength: 

Broad Spectrum

• 300mg
• 750mg
• 1500mg

Full-spectrum

• 300mg
• 750mg
• 1500mg

Ingredients: Hemp-Derived Full Spectrum Cannabinoid Extract. Other Ingredients: MCT oil, Sunflower Lecithin, Glycerin, Hemp Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Broad spectrum oil: Hemp-Derived Broad Spectrum CBD Extract. Other Ingredients: Glycerin, Sunflower Lecithin, MCT oil, Natural Flavor, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Hemp Seed oil

Prices

Broad Spectrum

• 300mg: $45
• 750mg: $90
• 1500mg: $150

Full Spectrum

• 300mg: $45
• 750mg: $90
• 1500mg: $150

Shipping and Returns Policy:  Green Roads ships internationally, but only to certain countries. You can purchase wholesale orders from them as well, and also internationally. You can very easily contact their customer service team for refund requests, and all of their products have a good 30-day money-back guarantee.

Pros and Cons

Pros 

• Choose between broad and full spectrum oil
• Hemp Grown in Colorado
• Pharmacist-founded

Cons 

• No flavor options for full-spectrum oil
• Not all ingredients specified on labels
• Difficult to access lab reports

#4 Nuleaf Naturals CBD Oil: Most Potent

About Product 

Nuleaf Naturals uses a CO2 extraction method with all of their products to adhere truly to their name– natural! CO2 extraction is safe for both humans and animals and comes from the natural compound found in the open air all around us as well as in some foods and drinks. Nuleaf offers products including oil, soft gels, and CBG oil which is a separate cannabinoid found in hemp. You can check our review of their products for more in-depth details.

Their pure CBD oil is infused with terpenes and cannabinoids to create a full-spectrum product that manages pain, arthritis, sleep disorder, mood instability, and soreness symptoms. One 300mg CBD bottle containing 30mL of oil sells at $38.50. The 900mg one sells at $99. The 1800,3000, and 6000mg options are also available at a good price; see the potency section below for prices.

Flavors

• Nuleaf Naturals only offers unflavored CBD oil

Strength

• 300mg
• 900mg
• 1800mg
• 3000mg
• 6000mg

Ingredients: Full Spectrum Hemp-Extract, Organic Virgin Hemp Seed Oil

Prices 

• 300mg ($38.50)
• 900mg ($99)
• 1800mg ($180)
• 3000mg ($240)
• 6000mg ($440)

Shipping and Returns Policy: If you live in the USA, you can get Nuleaf products shipped for free within 2-3 days after processing. Nuleaf uses USPS and offers a thirty-day refund policy for unopened products. If you want an exchange for a damaged or defective product, you can get that for free, but you must pay return shipping costs.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Free shipping for orders above $75
• Third-party lab tested
• Both anytime and nighttime gummy options

Cons

• Expensive
• No shipping outside of the USA
• Difficult and limited returns/cancellations

#5 CBDistillery CBD Oil: Most Popular

About Product

CBDistillery is the creator of the #CBDMOVEMENT, which has a mission to pull awareness to CBD as a holistic approach to medicine. The company was founded by Chase Teriliger in 2016, and they grow their hemp in Colorado farms. The website contains a CBD user guide that has been downloaded and read by 1000s of curious customers and learners. CBDistillery as a company is US Hemp Authority certified, and they offer topical products, gummies, powders, oil, and softgels.

Their tinctures are full-spectrum, giving you the entourage effect, and are unflavored. However, their 1000mg option comes in a mango flavor if desired. There are three potency options starting at 500mg.

Flavors

• 500mg: Unflavored only
• 1000mg: Mango or unflavored
• 2500mg: Unflavored only

Strength

• 500mg
• 1000mg
• 2500mg
• Bottles are 1 fl oz

Ingredients: CBD, Fractionated coconut oil (MCT), full-spectrum hemp extract, natural terpenes, natural flavors.

Prices

• 500mg: $45
• 1000mg: $70
• 2500mg: $155

Shipping and Returns Policy: 

CBDistillery has a 7-day return window after delivery if you aren’t satisfied with the product. However, it must be unopened. You must email their customer service to cancel an order, which is not guaranteed. Returns must also be planned through email. Products take 2 days to ship on average, and CBDistillery doesn’t offer international shipping. However, if your order is above 75 dollars, shipping is free.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Free shipping for orders above $75
• Third-party lab tested
• Rewards program available

Cons

• No shipping outside of the USA
• Difficult and limited returns/cancellations
• Low flavor variety

#6 Plus CBD: Best Full Spectrum 

About Product

PlusCBD is run by a group of experts in dietary supplements. They contain an advisory board, a management team, and educators. The company was founded in 2012 and they use human clinical testing, as well as DNA tests, on all of their products to ensure safety. They sell sprays, gummies, balms, and oils infused with cannabidiol.

Plus CBD’s CBD drops, or oils, have 3 potencies containing CBD from 250 to 1500mg. The product is full-spectrum and contains a pump top instead of a dropper to avoid spills. The company wants customers to use their drops twice a day and they claim it will help with sleep, focus, and mood regulation. The oils arrive in three personalized flavors, peppermint, unflavored, and goji berry that you can customize along with the potency.

Flavors

• 250mg: Available in Goji Blueberry, Peppermint, and Unflavored
• 500mg: Available in Unflavored.
• 750mg: Available in Unflavored and Peppermint.

Strength

• 250mg: 1oz
• 500mg: 1.86 oz
• 750mg: 1.86 oz

Ingredients: CBD oil blend with extra virgin olive oil and natural flavoring

Prices

• 250mg: 1oz, $32.
• 500mg: 1.86 oz, $55.
• 750mg: 1.86 oz, $60

Shipping and Returns Policy: PlusCBD ships internationally (to most countries). Processing takes about 1-2 days before the product is shipped out after purchase. You get a 30 day return policy and you do not need to pay return shipping costs. You can also claim a damaged product if you make the claim within 3 days after the product is delivered.

Pros and Cons

Pros 

• Flavor options
• International shipping available (excluding some countries)
• Full-spectrum

Cons

• Low variety
• No free shipping
• Non-USA grown hemp

#7 Lazarus Naturals CBD Oil: Best Flavors

About Product 

Lazarus Naturals grows their hemp in Central Oregon on land that is certified by the USDA. The head of the company runs an assistance program to help their mission of making CBD accessible to everyone. Veterans, people in need, and those with disabilities can take advantage of this program. The owner, Sequoia Price-Lazarus, continues on his mission to make CBD accessible since the brand was founded in 2014.

Lazarus Naturals is known for its untypical flavors, including yuzu, chocolate mint, french vanilla mocha, unflavored, orange, and wintermint. The tinctures are full-spectrum and broad-spectrum if desired (THC free). Each tincture can also be personalized with a high or standard potency, and sizes range from 15 to 120ml.

Flavors

• French vanilla mocha
• Yuzu
• Classic
• Mint
• Orange
• Wintermint
• Chocolate Mint

Strength

• 15 ml with 750mg of CBD
• 30ml with 1500mg of CBD
• 60ml with 3000mg of CBD
• 120ml with 6000mg of CBD

Ingredients: Organic Coconut MCT Oil, Organic Natural Flavors, Organic Full Spectrum Hemp Extract. CONTAINS: Tree Nuts (Coconut).

Prices

• 15 ml with 750mg of CBD: $24
• 30ml with 1500mg of CBD: $40
• 60ml with 3000mg of CBD: $70
• 120ml with 6000mg of CBD: $120

Shipping and Returns Policy: All Lazarus orders over 25 dollars ship free. If you want to make a return ticket, you must contact customer service– you can return a product for any valid reason as long as it is within the 90-day window since delivery. You can view the list of countries that Lazarus Naturals ships to on their FAQ page, which lists the international locations that this company ships to as well.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Third-party lab tested
• Free shipping on orders over $25
• Oregon grown hemp

Cons

• No broad-spectrum oil
• Limited international shipping
• Added ingredients

#8 Joy Organics CBD Oil: Best Broad Spectrum

About Product

Joy Smith, the owner of Joy organics, is a proud mother and grandmother that has devoted her life towards the care and keeping of the environment. The company, founded in 2018, is entirely family-operated. She strives for environmental action through carbon-neutral shipping, regenerative farming practices, and natural ingredients. In fact, her mission was created when she herself was looking for the best CBD products out there. When she discovered that they didn’t have the effect she desired, she wanted to try and make a good product herself. All of the Joy Organics products are certified USDA organic, are recyclable, and are cruelty-free.

Most of Joy Organics’s CBD tinctures are broad-spectrum (4 out of 5). Their only full-spectrum tincture is brand new and is fresh lime flavored. Their broad-spectrum oils can be picked from flavors of summer lemon, orange bliss, tranquil mint, and unflavored. Bottles are 1 fl oz and if you buy broad-spectrum, contain 0.0% THC (full-spectrum contains below 0.03% THC, the legal maximum.)

Flavors

• Summer lemon
• Unflavored
• Orange Bliss
• Tranquil Mind
• Fresh Lime: Only full-spectrum

Strength 

• 450mg
• 900mg
• 1350mg
• 2250mg

Ingredients: Organic Extra-Virgin Olive Oil, Organic Phytocannabinoid-Rich Hemp Extract, Organic Essential Oil (type of oil varies by flavor)

Prices

• 450mg – $45
• 900mg – $70
• 1350mg – $90
• 2250mg – $130
• Each arrives in a 1 fl oz bottle

Shipping and Returns Policy: All Joy Organics products ship entirely for free. If you want to make a return request, you also have a 30 day money back guarantee. Unfortunately, Joy Organics doesn’t ship internationally– but you can purchase a product from any of the fifty states.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Free shipping
• Carbon neutral shipping
• Lab-tested with reports available online

Cons

• Low full-spectrum variety
• No international shipping
• Expensive

#9 Medterra CBD Oil: Most Powerful

About Product

Medterra, a company based in Irvine, California, grows its hemp in Kentucky through strictly regulated procedures that adhere to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. All of the company’s products are made in the United States and use CBD isolate to bottle their oils. The hemp complies with Section 7606 of the 2014 Farm Bill- this means that federally, Medterra products are completely legal. Just like many of the other brands on this list, they also sell creams and gummies, and they even offer CBD pet products. Their items can help with anxiety, pain, stress, and more.

The most prominent Medterra product is the CBD tincture, which comes in three potency options. The 500mg option is $30, 1000mg is $56, and 3000mg is $133. All of the potencies are in a 1 fl oz glass bottle. The product is a tincture because it also contains natural coconut (MCT) oil, and contains CBD isolate, but you can purchase broad-spectrum options on their site as well.

Flavors 

• Medterra doesn’t offer flavored CBD oil options

Strength 

• 500mg
• 1000mg
• 3000mg

Ingredients: Medium-Chain Triglyceride MCT Oil (Coconut derived)*, Cannabidiol (CBD). *Organic Ingredient

Prices

• 500mg ($35)
• 1000mg ($56)
• 3000mg ($133)

Shipping and Returns Policy: You can purchase your first (or second, or third…) Medterra CBD oil with free shipping– the company offers free shipping on all their products, always. You can buy it legally in all 50 states and in Europe. Although return shipping fees are not paid for by the company, you have 30 days since delivery to return it if you are unsatisfied.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Third-party lab tested
• Free shipping
• 30-day money-back guarantee
• Ships to all 50 states and internationally

Cons

• Smaller product size with fewer servings
• Shipping cost not covered for returns
• No flavor options

#10 CBDMD: Best Tincture

About Product

cbdMD is notable for its unconventional assortment of CBD products. The company, which is privately owned and United States-based, sells beyond what you’d expect– you can find pet products, bath bombs, and botanicals on their site in addition to the CBD oils and creams. All of their products are tested by 3rd party lab and made in the USA. cbdMD also has associations with athletes that use cbdMD products for sports-related injuries such as inflammation and pain symptoms.

cbdMD’s CBD tincture is available in four flavors: berry, orange, unflavored, and mint. However, their brand new MCT coconut oil flavor is available for a limited time only. All of the oils are broad-spectrum, which has added terpenes, phytonutrients, and cannabinoids. You can view the prices and potency options for their tinctures below.

Flavors

• Coconut (limited time)
• Berry
• Natural
• Orange
• Mint

Strength

• 300mg (30mL)
• 750mg (30mL)
• 1000mg (60mL)
• 1500mg (30 or 60 mL)
• 3000mg (30mL)
• 5000mg (30mL)
• 7500mg (30mL)

Ingredients:  Cannabigerol, Cannabinol), MCT Oil, Hemp Extract (Cannabidiol,and Natural Flavor.

Prices

• 300mg (30mL): $30
• 750mg (30mL): $60
• 1000mg (60mL): $70
• 1500mg (30 or 60 mL): $90
• 3000mg (30mL): $130
• 5000mg (30mL): $180
• 7500mg (30mL): $210

Shipping and Returns: If you want to purchase a cbdMD product, you don’t need to worry about shipping– it’s free if you live in the United States where shipping is limited to at the moment. cbdMD uses FedEx to ship their products as quickly and efficiently as possible, having them arrive within 2-3 days. Returns have a 60-day window since delivery and return shipping costs are covered with a 60-day money-back guarantee.

Pros and Cons:

Pros

• Made in the United States
• 2 to 3-day free shipping on all orders over $79.95
• Free shipping within the USA

Cons

• No full-spectrum oil
• No international shipping
• Difficult to access lab reports

CBD Oil for Pain Management: A Complete Guide for Beginners

Whether you’re on prescribed pain medication or you are simply looking for an easy fix to normal pain, arthritis-related symptoms, or inflammation, you’ve come to the right place. As with any potential cure, it’s important to examine every aspect of the product before making your first purchase.

What is CBD Oil?

You hear about it a lot, but what is it actually? CBD oil is an oil product extracted from the hemp plant. Contrary to a popular belief, hemp is not the same as cannabis– they have different regulations to earn their label. Hemp is entirely, completely legal, and unlike cannabis products, hemp products can’t make you euphoric or high because they lack psychoactive properties.

CBD oil is grown typically in places such as Colorado or Oregon and is most safe when grown in the United States due to US regulations on it. The actual oil is made of pure cannabidiol, which is a compound found in the hemp plant that has many healing properties. It is approved by the FDA in one form for seizure medication (CBD oil can help with seizures), and because it is a newer phenomenon, scientists are trying to get CBD oil FDA approved for a number of other medications.

How Does CBD Work?

CBD works in the endocannabinoid system in your body, which is present in both animals and humans (which is why CBD works on pets too!) The endocannabinoid system is a part of your nervous system containing endocannabinoid neurotransmitters and cannabinoid receptors. This system has newly been discovered by scientists, which is why there hasn’t been a lot of studies conducted on CBD in humans.

The endocannabinoid system actually affects many aspects of your health; it plays a role in cell communication, immune response, appetite and metabolism, and memory[1]. These known endocannabinoid neurotransmitters bind to the cannabinoid receptors on your brain and immune system.

CB1 and CBD2 are the two main types of cannabinoid receptors. CBD binds to these, just like neurotransmitters in the nervous system. A lack of endocannabinoids in the body or a deficiency can lead to all sorts of health imbalances like depression and anxiety, psoriasis, fibromyalgia, and other symptoms related to pain. [2] By using products with CBD, we are allowing more CBD into our endocannabinoid system to bind to receptors and relieve these painful symptoms.

Understanding The Different Types of CBD Oil

You might have noticed that CBD oils are referred to as either full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, or even isolate. But what does this mean, and how does it affect the quality of the oil (and your results)?

Full-spectrum oil is the best form of CBD oil. It is created using cannabidiol and other flavonoids, phytonutrients, and terpenes from the hemp plant to give you a product that has not only the benefits of CBD but also the benefits of the other rich nutrients in hemp. This oil typically has stronger effects because the mixture of cannabinoids in the product creates an entourage effect.

Broad-spectrum oil is in the middle. It has certain benefits but at a cost. Broad-spectrum CBD oil contains some terpenes and flavonoids but not as much as full-spectrum. It is more heavily filtered, but proof that is that broad-spectrum oil contains 0.0% THC, while full-spectrum oil may contain up to 0.03% (which is a legal amount). However, your results may not be as potent. If you’re worried about THC though, broad-spectrum oil may be the choice for you.

Isolate is the least preferable type of CBD oil. That’s what it is– isolate. It doesn’t contain anything other than pure cannabidiol. This prevents any sort of entourage effect, but if you were specifically looking for a product that only contains cannabidiol, then you may want to look at isolate CBD products.

What Research Says About Using CBD Oil for Pain Relief

If you’re worried about credibility, we’ve pulled research from many major accredited national studies to show the true effects that CBD has on different types of pain.

CBD Oil for Chronic Back & Nerve Pain

A study performed on rats found that CBD can help with nerve-related pain through its anti-inflammatory rats. In the experiment, scientists found that the CBD relieved brain inflammation, an example of one of its neuroprotective properties.[3] According to Spine-Health, CBD can also help lower inflammation in the back, which is a common cause of chronic back pain.

CBD Oil for Arthritis

According to the Arthritis Association, 55% of adults with arthritis use a hemp product like CBD, every day to help symptoms.[5] If you are specifically looking to treat arthritis, a topical option such as a soothing CBD topical cream or CBD salve can also help relieve symptoms, and these are popular choices for those with arthritis.

CBD and Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Pain

A study conducted in 2009 found that Multiple Sclerosis patients who were treated with CBD had reduced muscle spasms in relation to the disease.[6] A second study conducted later found that Sativex, a medicine with cannabidiol, reduced Multiple Sclerosis symptoms in many Italian MS patients while taken regularly.[7]

CBD Oil in Sports: Injuries & Muscle Endurance

A national study conducted on the effects of CBD on sports performance found that CBD could reduce gastrointestinal damage as a result of inflammation from skeletal injuries that commonly take place in sports. It also helps to calm anxiety in stressful situations to help players stay more focused. CBD used to be prohibited from all sports; however, in 2018, CBD was removed from the prohibited list and now many athletes swear by it to help their performance in games or when working out. [8]

5 Things to Consider When Buying CBD Oil for Pain

Hemp Source & Ingredients

Brands that don’t give you clear info on the source of their hemp may mean that you are getting a product made with low-quality hemp, and potentially illegal CBD (it may contain above the legal maximum of THC– 0.03%). To be safe, we made sure the brands we included on this list grow their hemp in the United States. Additionally, the added ingredients can sneakily play a large part in the effect of your product. All the products on our list do not have any unnatural or chemical added ingredients, only a small amount of essential oils for flavor and scent (however, you can always order unflavored ones if you prefer).

Extraction Method

The list of brands that we provided only uses CO2 extraction. This is certainly not the cheapest method; but according to our review of several extraction processes, it is by far the best and clean process to follow. This process is also environmentally sustainable, and safe. Other methods may result in cross-contamination or an illegal product. CO2 extraction only uses carbon dioxide, which is a gas present in the air we breathe and items we handle daily. The method sucks in the needed substances from the hemp plant and leaves out all the unwanted parts so that you only get good cannabinoids and terpenes.

Third-Party Lab Reports

It is very important to get CBD products that are lab tested by third parties and have CBD Certificate of analysis (COAs) available for public view. By purchasing a lab-tested product, you are ensuring that you are consuming a legal and safe product. Lab testing checks for illegal amounts of THC, actual amounts of CBD, heavy metals, chemicals, and other harmful pesticides and ingredients. All the brands on the list in this article post their lab certificates online for public reference so that you can give them a read anytime.

Type, Flavor, and Potency

If it weren’t for type, flavor, and potency, every CBD oil would be the same! Your CBD oil should be personalized to your flavor and type preferences so you can try out different oils and discover what works best for you. The oils on this list all have different CBD concentrations to choose from, and many also have choices between full-spectrum or broad-spectrum. You can also pick your favorite flavor, and all the oils on our list are flavored using only natural essential oils.

Brand Reputation

Brand reputation is important before purchasing in any case. We looked at customer ratings on the brand websites, as well as on Google and other legitimate review websites such as Trustpilot. If we noticed any fishy trends among the reviews, we left that brand out of the list.

How to Use CBD Oil for Pain?

Take the dropper and fill it to the mark you want, and then place the oil beneath your tongue and hold for 30-60 seconds. This is the sublingual method, the most common and effective method to take CBD oil. If you want to get creative, you can add the oil to your smoothies or salads or rub it directly on your skin on any area where feel pain. However, these methods may produce a less effective result.

CBD Oil Dosage to Manage Pain

There are many factors to take into consideration before choosing your daily dosage. Each person needs a different dosage amount depending on the weight and the condition they are treating. It’s best to discuss the matter with a health practitioner, doctor, or holistic doctor/medicines to determine your optimal dose.

You can also determine the dosage on your own by starting off with a small concentration and working your way up gradually til you get the feel of getting the desired effects. You might be tempted to start big and see what happens; but in reality, your body needs time to adjust to the new introduction of CBD to its ECS or endocannabinoid system, so it’s best to start small and slowly move your way up.

According to our basic CBD dosage guide start with 20-40 mg per day and it is ideal to increase your dose by 5mg after a week. Keep repeating this 5mg increase schedule per week until you have achieved your desired results. However, you can really take as much as you feel that you need. Take a look at your individual product’s pages to see what the specific brand recommends as a normal daily dose. Some brand recommends that you take the CBD oil dose twice a day, once in the morning & once before going to bed, while other companies recommend it once a day. But You can always play with the recommended dose to create your own custom dosage schedule.

How Long Does It Take for CBD Oil to Work for Pain?

When taken sublingually, CBD oil’s effects on pain can be felt as soon as 15-45 minutes after consumption! This is according to the American Arthritis Foundation, in terms of arthritis or other pain-related symptoms. When starting out, you may find that your results are taking longer to show up as your body needs to get used to having the CBD in your system. For optimal results, take your CBD dosage daily.

How Does Taking CBD Oil Make You Feel?

In addition to pain relief, you may notice or be curious about certain mood differences that occur as a result of CBD. CBD is known for its sedative properties, which are not to be confused with the ‘high’ feeling you might get from THC. CBD’s sedative properties can cause a calmer, more balanced mood that can also reduce anxiety symptoms. It does this by connecting with serotonin receptors in the brain and endocannabinoid system that regulate mood, mimicking the effects of an anti-anxiety medication but in a natural way. If you find that these mood-stabilizing feelings are too much, you can lower your dosage, but most likely you don’t need to worry about its sedative properties as a side effect. You may also find that CBD can help promote better sleep and leave you feeling well-rested on days when you may typically feel tired.

Other Benefits of CBD Oil

Although it’s a tried and true method for pain relief and inflammation sworn on by athletes and arthritis experts, CBD has a multitude of other benefits in relation to mood, sleep, and more.

• CBD Oil for Anxiety– By working together with serotonin receptors to stabilize mood and create a calming, sedative effect.
• CBD Oil for Sleep– CBD increases sleep quality by scientifically decreasing cortisol to promote rest and calm. It helps patients with narcolepsy, sleep apnea, insomnia, and other sleep disorders.
• CBD for Dogs’ Pain Relief + Arthritis– Many companies offer CBD Dog Treats that your dog can enjoy to eat as well as take for arthritis and mobility issues, as well as general pain.

CBD Oil Side Effects

Every medicine may have some sort of risk for side effects. However, CBD is way on the safer side when it comes to that. When CBD does pose any side effects, they are typically very mild. Children, teens under 18, and pregnant or nursing women should talk to a doctor before starting CBD oil.

The US National Library of Medicine (NLM) has conducted a survey on those experiencing side effects, generating a document which are the most prevalent.[8]

• 22% feeling high
• 30% dry mouth
• 19% fatigue
• 20% change in appetite
• Some also experienced gastrointestinal symptoms

However, scientists aren’t sure if these side effects are actually caused by cannabidiol. They may be a result of small amounts of THC in the product, which you can potentially avoid by going for a broad-spectrum product or isolate.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

Is CBD Oil Right For Me?

When it comes to CBD, it’s likely that you don’t even have to ask this question– almost all CBD companies offer money-back guarantees if you aren’t satisfied with the product so you can return it, even if opened, and get a full refund. Therefore, it doesn’t hurt to try! However, if you are under 18, or pregnant or nursing, you should avoid CBD or consult a doctor before buying any– not enough research has been done on these age or maternity groups to determine the safety of CBD on them yet.

Is CBD Oil Safe? 

CBD has been proven to be safe, and has even been approved by the FDA in the form of medicine to treat seizures! More CBD products are currently on their way to approval. CBD has also been proven to be safe for adults so it can be consumed without the fear of any side effects. It has not been tested on children. Unlike THC, you can consume CBD oil without the fear of becoming “high”, if that is what is making you question CBD’s safety. If you feel any side effects, you can always stop using the product immediately and try a more well-reputed brand or switch to another method of natural healing.

Is CBD Oil Legal?

According to federal law, CBD is legal in all fifty states as per the 2018 farm bill. However, each state may have its own set of regulations about CBD, so you should check on your state’s own laws if you are curious about purchasing a CBD product. CBD is generally 100% legal in all 50 states except Iowa, Idaho, and South Dakota. In these states, CBD may be allowed, but regulated more strictly– you must be sure that your CBD oil doesn’t contain more than a certain amount of THC.

Can CBD Oil Get You High?

Cannabidiol itself is not a psychoactive compound, so you are unable to feel high from consuming it. However, if you buy or purchase a CBD product from a non-lab tested brand, you are risking purchasing a product with illegal and unregulated levels of THC that could potentially make you high. This is why it’s important to stick to products that have been lab tested with their certificates online so you know for a fact that there is less than 0.03% of THC in the product (the legal limit).

Can CBD Show up in Drug Test?

CBD does not contain THC, so it is not a drug. However, there have been some reports of CBD showing up on drug tests due to THC levels.[9]  The risk increases when you use CBD from an unreliable source, especially if it is not lab tested. Lab testing ensures that the THC levels in the CBD product are not above the legal limit, which is 0.03%. All in all, it is best to abstain from using CBD if you know that you are going to take a drug test. At the end of the day, trusted CBD brands should not cause any problems. If you want to know more about CBD & a positive drug test be sure to take a peek at this article.

Final Thoughts on Buying CBD Oil for Pain

At the end of the day, who doesn’t love natural alternatives to potentially harmful conventional medicine that actually have a noticeable effect? When it comes to pain, most likely no one. CBD can be the perfect addition to your regimen of pain-relief practices and medicines that can also help regulate your mood through serotonin mediation and decreasing cortisol levels for better sleep. CBD can help with inflammation related to multiple sclerosis and arthritis, sports injuries, and can lessen the effects of an injury on the body. CBD is completely legal, non-psychoactive, and safe as long as it’s purchased from a reliable source, just like the 10 lab-tested, legal, and effective brands that were able to make it onto our list. Most of them also offer full money back guarantees…so what is there to lose?

References: 

[1] The Role of the Endocannabinoid System in the Human Body – https://curepharmaceutical.com/blog/the-role-of-the-endocannabinoid-system-in-the-human-body/

[2]How CBD Affects the Endocannabinoid System – Elite Learning – https://www.elitecme.com/resource-center/rehabilitation-therapy/how-cbd-affects-the-endocannabinoid-system

[3] https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/can.2018.0073

[4] Understanding CBD (Cannabidiol) for Back Pain – https://www.spine-health.com/treatment/alternative-care/understanding-cbd-cannabidiol-back-pain#vh_footnotes

[5] CBD Topical Pain Cream vs. Oil Tinctures: What Is Right For Me – https://redeemrx.com/blogs/news/cbd-pain-cream-vs-cbd-tinctures-which-is-best-for-you

[6] Whole plant cannabis extracts in the treatment of spasticity in multiple sclerosis: a systematic review – BMC Neurology – https://bmcneurol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2377-9-59

[7] Efficacy and safety of cannabinoid oromucosal spray for multiple sclerosis spasticity – https://jnnp.bmj.com/content/87/9/944

[8] Are adverse effects of cannabidiol (CBD) products caused by tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) contamination? – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7029751.3/

[9] CBD or THC? Common Drug Test Can’t Tell the Difference (Published 2019) – https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/15/science/cbd-thc-cannabis-cannabidiol.html