St Patrick’s Day Oil
Sunday we went to see the St Patrick’s Day parade. The weather was wonderful. The bag pipers were great.
One of the vendors at the festival was selling CBD oil. I have been reading about it, since a neurologist I trust recommended it, but I had not used any. Being able to talk to the vendor was an opportunity to learn more. I bought a sample pack of the THC-free oil. Later that evening, I tried 3 drops (sublingual) of the 500mg solution. That is half the recommended dose. The peppermint flavoring was just noticeable. I felt a mild reduction in soreness and stiffness. I felt a mild light headedness. The effect lasted about two hours. It seemed equivalent to 200 mg of ibuprofen. Interesting.
The sample pack was reasonably priced with several different types of preparations. I am not sure how many drops are in a regular size bottle, but at $70 to $100 per bottle it costs a lot more than ibuprofen. I wonder then, is it more effective than ibuprofen and does it have less side effects (blood thinning, GERD, kidney damage)? Assuming a bottle lasts a month and that I could reduce my GERD and bruising, along with osteoarthritis pain, it would be worth it. Given the widespread belief that stiffer laws are needed to control prescription pain relievers and the current difficulty in getting prescriptions filled when we are traveling around the country in our RV, it would be good to have an alternative.
CBD (cannabidiol) is legal in all 50 states. It is derived from hemp and has 0 to 0.3% THC. (Marijuana has 20% to 30% THC.) Like any plant, where and how it is grown determines how healthy it is. Consumers need to know their source, it’s farming practices, and whether it is independently tested and labeled. The CBD oil I purchased is from hemp grown organically in Kentucky and is independently tested and authenticated.
There are several decades of research on CBD and THC preparations. In general, the research provides support for their efficacy in reducing inflammation and pain. Because laws are changing and some preparations have been FDA approved, there is a whole host of clinical trials in progress now, at NIH, major universities, and even the VA. There are several recent reports reviewing the science of using CBD. Here are the references for three written by premier medical science organizations.
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| St Patrick's Day Parade 2019 |
The sample pack was reasonably priced with several different types of preparations. I am not sure how many drops are in a regular size bottle, but at $70 to $100 per bottle it costs a lot more than ibuprofen. I wonder then, is it more effective than ibuprofen and does it have less side effects (blood thinning, GERD, kidney damage)? Assuming a bottle lasts a month and that I could reduce my GERD and bruising, along with osteoarthritis pain, it would be worth it. Given the widespread belief that stiffer laws are needed to control prescription pain relievers and the current difficulty in getting prescriptions filled when we are traveling around the country in our RV, it would be good to have an alternative.
CBD (cannabidiol) is legal in all 50 states. It is derived from hemp and has 0 to 0.3% THC. (Marijuana has 20% to 30% THC.) Like any plant, where and how it is grown determines how healthy it is. Consumers need to know their source, it’s farming practices, and whether it is independently tested and labeled. The CBD oil I purchased is from hemp grown organically in Kentucky and is independently tested and authenticated.
There are several decades of research on CBD and THC preparations. In general, the research provides support for their efficacy in reducing inflammation and pain. Because laws are changing and some preparations have been FDA approved, there is a whole host of clinical trials in progress now, at NIH, major universities, and even the VA. There are several recent reports reviewing the science of using CBD. Here are the references for three written by premier medical science organizations.
- The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids: The Current State of Evidence and Recommendations for Research. (2017). Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/24625.
- Journal of the American Medical Association (2015). 313(24):2474-2483. doi:10.1001/jama.2015.6199
- Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2017). 175:133–150. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pharmthera.2017.02.041
UPDATE: I used the oil daily for 2 weeks. It provided minimal pain relief even in larger doses and it made me nauseaous most of the day. It was simply not a good experience. Conclusion: Not for me.
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