By Kristi Pahr
This could be the delicious anti-inflammatory treat you've been looking for.
Cannabis and Pain
For more than 20 percent of Americans, chronic pain is part of daily life. Many aren't getting the relief they need.
Pain treatments have been typically limited to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and opioid medications, which carry the risk of addiction. Both have risks of side effects. With opioids frequently in the headlines, many people with chronic pain can't get access to the medication they depend on to get through the day without intense pain.
As a possible alternative to long-term opioid use for chronic pain, many people are turning to cannabis. Cannabis has a long history of medical use and is especially effective in the treatment of pain.
Cannabidiol (CBD) has gained mainstream attention for its effectiveness in treating a number of conditions including pain, both acute and chronic.
Combining CBD and THC
In states where medical marijuana is legal, a combination of CBD and THC can be used for pain to great effect, and is more potent than when CBD is used alone. The complementary nature of the compounds is known as the entourage effect.
Best 3 Recommended CBD Oils
If medical marijuana isn't available legally in your state, you might still be able to find relief from chronic or acute pain by using hemp-derived CBD.
CBD extracts are available in multiple forms, but the most popular is an oil base. CBD oils can be mixed into many different recipes for ingestion or added to lotions, massage oils, or balms at different concentrations to match your need.
Below are CBD oils recommended by Green Flower Media and CannaInsider:
CBD Mango Smoothie Recipe for Pain Relief
Author and cannabis advocate Sandra Hinchcliffe shares a favorite smoothie recipe from her forthcoming book "CBD Every Day."
CBD oil is mixed with mango and orange juice for a refreshing drink to ease your aches and pains.
Research has shown that mango can heighten the effects of cannabinoids because they share a compound called myrcene which is a terpene found in both cannabis and mango.
The result? A more effective, longer-lasting experience.
Citrus fruits also contain a large quantity of antioxidants, giving them anti-inflammatory properties. That makes this smoothie the perfect vehicle for your pain-relieving CBD oil dose.
Sandra's Mango Canna-Booster Smoothie
Serves: 2 smoothies (8 oz each)
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh-squeezed blood orange juice, room temperature (you can substitute any fresh-squeezed orange juice)
- ⅓ cup fresh coconut milk
- Preferred or specific dose of CBD oil
- 2 large or 3 medium mangoes, sliced and partially frozen
- ½ cup ice
Directions
- To a blender, add the orange juice, coconut milk, and CBD oil. Blend until creamy.
- Add the frozen mango and ice into the blender. Blend until icy and creamy.
- Serve immediately. Enjoy!
Even if marijuana is legal in your state, it continues to be illegal under federal law. While there are some claims that CBD derived from hemp (rather than a cannabis plant) is legal in all 50 states, other reports point out legality isn't so straightforward. We suggest checking your state's laws regarding CBD oil.
Kristi is a freelance writer and mother who spends most of her time caring for people other than herself. She's frequently exhausted and compensates with an intense caffeine addiction. Find her on Twitter.
Reposted with permission from our media associate Healthline.
