Top 10 Ways to Maximize CBD for Pain Relief

Top 10 Ways to Maximize CBD for Pain Relief 

Conditions that can cause constant suffering in the form of chronic pain is one of the most common reasons people use CBD based products. If you are in pain, we want to help! 

CBD is a powerful, safe, and effective tool for many types of pain (both chronic and acute) that stems from different sources like nerves, muscles, joints, and various other parts of our bodies. 

Fortunately, CBD is very gentle on the body unlike many pain based medications, over the counter NSAIDs and pain relievers. 

There are certain activities we do and dietary habits we have in our everyday lives that can either support or hinder the benefits of CBD. These physiological processes of what CBD does to help with pain-based conditions differ depending on your lifestyle. If you are interested in taking CBD to help with pain, there are natural approaches you can take including ways to help maximize CBD for pain relief. 

1. Cook conscientiously. Choose oils wisely. 

There are some oils and fats in their natural and raw state that are very healing to the body and the brain. Unfortunately, when they are heated to a high temperature, they oxidize, change structures, and toxic compounds form. (1)

Certain fatty acid structures are more fragile and more volatile than others. Almost all types of fats become more harmful than beneficial when cooked on relatively high heat for 5-10 minutes or more. Don't leave the oil cooking on the stovetop for too long before you place a t-bone steak or a veggie medley on it! The oxidized, damaged fats form peroxides, aldehydes, free radicals, and many other byproducts that contribute to pain, inflammation, and can harden the incredibly important cell membranes. 

How does this affect your health? 

This causes stiffness and harm to our bodies after years of consuming a large number of heated oils on a regular basis. Oils such as corn, sunflower, safflower, and many other vegetable oils are the most detrimental when it comes to producing toxic byproducts. 

What are the best oils to use? 

Grassfed, cultured ghee and organic coconut oil are your best bets to help minimize byproducts from heat. Olive oil is one of the better oils as well at resisting the formation of toxic compounds from high heat. However, try to use olive oil towards the end of cooking rather than at the beginning if you enjoy the flavor, it will oxidize and lose most of the benefits after 5-10 minutes of cooking on medium to high heat. Be cautious! Studies have shown that many olive oils on the market are tainted and diluted. Choose pure, extra virgin, organic olive oil that has some form of testing to verify that it is genuine. Cooking on the lowest heat possible and using the least amount of oil will help to decrease the constant ingestion of these toxic byproducts. (4)

2. Take your CBD with ghee and aloe. Use topically if needed.

CBD is a powerful compound, even at the relatively low bioavailability and overall cellular absorption it has. Research shows absorption rates are approximately 6-25% for oral delivery depending on the medium that CBD is consumed with. (2,3)

How will ghee increase CBD absorption? 

Ghee is a purified form of butter that is free of any lactose, casein, and other undesirable compounds. Studies show that ghee may have the most efficient and complete absorption of all plant and animal-based oils. It contains vitamins A, D, E, and K, CLA, butyric acid, a near-ideal ratio of omega 3 to 6 fatty acids (with cultured, pasture-raised ghee), and several other fatty acids and beneficial compounds. Basically, skip the Land-o-Lakes and opt for ghee. 

Why take Ghee with CBD for pain? 

Ghee acts as a potent catalyst and carrier. This allows nutrients and different substances to penetrate multiple layers of our cells more readily and efficiently. It is also said to help improve eyesight, reduce inflammation, strengthen weakness, improve memory, enhance digestion, lubricate joints, soften hardened, damaged tissues over time, increase killer T cells, help excrete fat-soluble toxins and nourish the body. Cultured, pasture-raised ghee is far superior in regards to nutrient content and healing potential. 

What type of Ghee should I buy? 

Look for a cultured and pasture-raised product. 

Why take aloe with CBD for pain?

Aloe can also enhance the bioavailability and absorption rate of nutrients as well. 

How should I take CBD with ghee and aloe for pain? 

For maximum benefit, drink an organic aloe beverage 15 minutes before CBD consumption. Then combine your CBD dose with 1.5-2 teaspoons of ghee to improve bioavailability when taken orally. These can both be used topically as well with your CBD to help relieve localized pain.   

3. Utilize herbs for synergy

Why take other herbs and supplements with CBD for pain? 

There are many herbs and supplements which can have a powerful effect on different types of pain and help calm inflammation, especially when combined with CBD. The synergy helps to boost the analgesic, healing and inflammatory balancing effects of CBD.  Fortunately, CBD is finally readily available to the public! 

Which herbs and supplements are best to take with CBD for pain? 

Some of the best herbs and supplements for different types of pain include boswellia, turmeric, noni, devils claw, cat's claw, chuchuhuasi and high molecular weight hyaluronic acid /sodium hyaluronate. Additional herbs and supplements include holy basil extract, ginger, white willow bark, bromelain and more. Incorporating some of these supplements along with CBD will add synergy and power to any protocol for pain. For neuropathic or nerve based pain, allithiamine or benfotiamine (forms of thiamine), lipoic acid and acetyl-l-carnitine may also be helpful. (5)

4. Increase consumption of omega 3 fats

Why are omega 3 fats important to my health? 

The types of fats we consume plays a crucial role in overall health and the inflammatory response in our body. Studies show that the majority of people consume around a 20:1 ratio of omega 6, omega 9, and others to omega 3 fats. This is very far from ideal for the body, which is around a 4:1- 5:1 ratio. The result of this imbalance is a perpetual cycle of the body overproducing pro-inflammatory based compounds like specific cytokines and interleukins.

How do I increase my consumption of omega 3 fats? 

Consuming a high amount of foods such as wild salmon, mackerel, sardines, herring, grass-fed beef (contains 3-4 times the amount of omega 3 fats than most beef, which is grain-fed), sprouted walnuts, fresh basil (use at the end of cooking), sprouted chia and hemp seeds YUM! will go a long way to help maximize your CBD for pain relief. Supplementing with a well-tested and pure omega 3 DHA/EPA product can be helpful as well.  

5. Probiotics 

What are probiotics and how do they help? 

A plethora of research over the past 20 years has shown the incredible importance of the gut microbiome. The amount of healthy, beneficial bacteria we have plays a paramount role in the immune system and protecting the body from illness. Certain strains of healing bacteria helps to engulf and detoxify toxic compounds, crowd out toxic pathogens, and can even play a large role in the level of pain and inflammation in the body. Certain forms of arthritis and pain have even been tied to bacteria balance in the gut. Wow! Who would have thought?! 

What types of probiotics should I take with CBD? 

Strains such as bacillus coagulans, bifidobacterium longum, bifidobacterium infantis, lactobacillus casei, lactobacillus reuteri, and lactobacillus rhamnosus have shown promise in research thus far. (6,7,8) Probiotic quality varies tremendously from company to company. 

6. Avoid trans fats

What are trans fats and why should I avoid them? 

Trans fats are a harmful class of hydrogenated fats that are known to trigger systemic inflammation and contribute to pain throughout the body. Trans fats also damage the lining of blood vessels and arteries. 

What specific foods should I avoid? 

Foods such as chips, crackers, cakes, biscuits, breakfast sandwiches, popcorn, baked goods, frozen pizzas, snacks, foods that use vegetable shortening, fried foods, certain vegetable oils, and others may contain some trans fats. All the quick and easy snacks when watching the game or your favorite Netflix show may have to go! But, there is hope. Not all foods in these classes contain them. Companies differ in the ingredients they use for the same types of food available.

Here is a reference list of foods that may contain trans fats:  https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/trans-fat-foods#section8 

7. Limit consumption of nightshades 

What are nightshades? 

Nightshades are a class of vegetables and fruits that contain certain alkaloids that can cause issues. The most commonly consumed nightshades are tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, peppers, and a few others. Fun fact: belladonna is a nightshade. The juice of belladonna was used in Italy to dilate pupils to attract members of the opposite sex. However, this was a risky practice because in large amounts it could actually poison the person consuming it. Nightshades may be enticing but they could be detrimental in large amounts.  

Why should I limit my consumption of nightshades? 

A small amount of nightshade consumption is usually okay, but we often consume very large amounts which contributes to intestinal permeability, autoimmune conditions, and systemic, chronic inflammation. (10) Many people with pain-based conditions have seen some improvements when cutting out nightshades. Purple potatoes are preferable to white, if you can find them. Opt for purple rice and black beans as healthy alternatives for side dishes. Other great substitutions include artichokes, hearts of palm, and several other vegetables. 

8. Minimize grains, gluten, wheat, and pasteurized A1 dairy as much as possible 

Why should I minimize grains? 

Grains are still somewhat of a controversial topic in the health world, but most of them are very difficult to digest and have changed a lot over the years. Gluten has tons of negative research and gluten-free grains are still loaded with anti-nutrients such as prolamins and agglutinins, as well as other compounds that are far from ideal for the body. A small amount of sprouted grains is unharmful if desired, but many people benefit from minimizing or cutting grains out entirely. Modern wheat should really be eliminated if possible. It is often drenched in roundup (glyphosate) and other toxic compounds in wheat fields before it hits the market. When you combine modern wheat with several toxic chemicals, it creates a pro-inflammatory, toxic 1-2 punch. 

Why should I minimize dairy? 

Dairy is an interesting topic with much controversy and differing views surrounding it. Raw, pasture-raised, non A1 casein dairy is actually very healing to the body, but typical pasteurized A1, non-pasture-raised dairy in stores is quite toxic. Even pasture-raised dairy in stores is usually A1 protein from holstein cows. All the negativity around dairy is because of what is done to milk and the modern, bred cows that produce A1 protein. For thousands of years, dairy was considered a very healthy, potent and healing substance. Holstein cows were bred and used as the most common dairy-producing cows at one point in time. Additionally, many were treated cruelly and not even fed their natural diet. New Jersey cows and certain other breeds, along with sheep, goat, and other types of milk are typically A2 protein. A2 protein is much healthier and more compatible with the human body. Ideally, fresh, pure, non pasteurized, raw A2 dairy from a local pasture farm works best with CBD.  

9. Minimize Oxalate consumption

What are oxalates? 

Oxalates are compounds that are ubiquitous in the food supply and are fairly harmless in miniscule amounts. That harmlessness can quickly turn on you and cause the body harm by increasing pain levels under the right conditions. 

Why should I minimize oxalate consumption? 

Oxalates can form jagged, rough oxalate crystals that can contribute to inflammation in the muscles and gut. It can cause stiffness, fibromyalgia, poor kidney function, kidney stones, joint problems and arthritis. It can even affect the heart and eyes. Oxalates really start causing issues when gut damage occurs and an imbalance and shortage of healing gut bacteria occurs. 

How can I minimize oxalate consumption? 

Candida overgrowth also contributes to oxalate buildup in the body. Healing candida overgrowth is extremely important because of the number of toxic byproducts it produces in its pathogenic form. Steaming and draining the water helps lower oxalate levels within vegetables. Additionally, sprouting and soaking beans, seeds, and nuts helps lower oxalate levels.

Here are good reference guides for oxalate levels in foods:  http://www.pkdiet.com/pdf/LowOxalateDiet.pdf  https://www.stjoes.ca/patients-visitors/patient-education/patient-education-k-o/pd-9447-oxalate-in-food.pdf   

Limit intake of these foods or follow the steps necessary to lower oxalate levels, if you want to maximize CBD for pain. 

10. Steer clear of artificial preservatives and additives

What is an artificial preservative or additive and what should I look for? 

Learning to take a little time to read labels can be a valuable thing when it comes to your health. With thousands of toxins and compounds allowed on the market, it comes as no surprise that some form of disease has become nearly inevitable. Doing your best to stay away from compounds such as MSG, sodium nitrite, artificial food colorings, high fructose corn syrup, corn starch, potassium bromate (found in breads, sodium benzoate, propyl gallate, artificial sweeteners and others) will go a long way to lower the chances of disease. 

Why should I avoid artificial preservatives and additives? 

These compounds wreak havoc in the body, burden the liver, harm the immune system, cause DNA mutations, decrease the body's production of anti-inflammatory compounds, disrupt hormone and mitochondrial functioning, decrease our innate cellular healing power and more. 

Here is a reference to know additional common toxic compounds that are approved for use. Yes, they are still approved for use, despite having known toxic effects on the body. This list does not cover them all: 

https://mphprogramslist.com/50-jawdroppingly-toxic-food-additives-to-avoid/

Chronic and acute pain is a burden no person should have to live with. CBD is a natural way to help treat pain and provide relief in your daily life. If we are in pain, we want to find every possible way to feel good. What better way to decrease pain than to know how to increase your chances of maximizing your CBD products pain relief potential? We hope this helps lead you to a happier and healthier life!  

Want to learn more? 

Connect with our nutritionist for more answers on maximizing CBD for pain relief. 

References

1. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/11981884/Cooking-with-vegetable-oils-releases-toxic-cancer-causing-chemicals-say-experts.html
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6275223/
3. https://www.who.int/medicines/access/controlled-substances/CannabidiolCriticalReview.pdf
4. https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/evoo-most-stable-cooking-oil
5. https://www.naturalmedicinejournal.com/journal/2010-08/therapeutic-effects-acetyl-l-carnitine-peripheral-neuropathy-review-literature
6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20067641
7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3539551/
8. https://www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/arthritis-diet/healthy-eating/guide-to-probiotics.php
9. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/nightshade-vegetables#section4
10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3710657/