Best CBD Oil for Pain: How It Works, Benefits, and When to Use

Written by

CBD Oil

By clicking on the product links in this article, we may receive a commission fee at no cost to you, the reader. Sponsorships and affiliate commissions help support our research so we can help you find the best products. Read our full affiliate disclosure here.


The cannabis plant is rich in natural chemicals known as cannabinoids. One of these chemicals is cannabidiol (CBD), and it's gaining popularity in the wellness world today as a remedy for common ailments. It's also tagged as one of the best fat burners you can incorporate into your daily workouts. Although CBD is a product of cannabis, it doesn't have the psychoactive effect associated with the plant like tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the chemical that gives the high sensation.

After extraction, CBD is diluted with carrier oils like coconut or olive to produce different products like dietary supplements, drinks, and food. The best CBD oil for pain management is an excellent alternative to some pharmaceutical drugs like opioids because it has fewer side effects.

The Best CBD Oil for Pain - Our Top Picks

The agony that comes with ailments or injuries can cause discomfort even after trying the best ice baths to numb your pain. Therefore, you can opt for CBD as it might be a game-changer in managing the pain. However, before replacing any prescriptions, you must consult your doctor for professional advice. You also must note that despite the vast accessibility of CBD products, they aren't regulated like other medications. With that in mind, let's explore the best CBD oils for pain available for you.

Why Trust Us?

The health and safety of ACTIVE’s readers is of the utmost importance to us. To ensure your well-being when consuming dietary supplements, the ACTIVE.com editorial team prioritizes products that are independently tested by a third party. We’ve consulted with a team of nutritionists and dieticians to ensure the products we feature are of the highest standard. This helps us create the most accurate, authentic review content for our readers.

Disclaimer: Exercise caution when ingesting supplements. Always make sure to consult with your doctor before ingesting a new supplement or pill. Supplements are not a substitute for a balanced diet and regular exercise. Any supplements taken should be used in accordance with a healthy lifestyle.

Best Overall CBD Oil for Pain - Pure Hemp Botanicals Pure Balance Tincture

Pure Hemp Botanicals Pure Balance Tincture

SPECS

  • Flavor options: Unflavored
  • Serving size: 1ml
  • Ingredients: Hemp seed oil, hemp extract
CHECK PRICESome people prefer CBD oil that isn't mixed with a carrier oil and is instead purely hemp-based, such as Pure Hemp Botanicals Pure Balance 3,000mg Formulation. Since working out can wear out your body, this formulation is ideal for addressing complex issues like chronic pain while maximizing your wellbeing.

Use it daily to give your body balance and lasting outcome from the potent dose of natural hemp cannabinoids in each drop. Place it under your tongue or add it to a beverage or meal for maximum absorption at any time of the day.

What We Like

  • Lab tested
  • 100% vegan
  • Gluten-free
  • Satisfaction guarantee
  • A potent formulation for complex issues

What We Don't Like

  • Expensive
  • No flavor variations

BUY: Pure Hemp Botanicals Pure Balance Tincture

Best Organic CBD Oil for Pain - FOCL Premium CBD Drops

FOCL Premium CBD Drops

SPECS

  • Flavor options: Mint, orange cream, cherry, strawberry lemonade, and natural
  • Serving size: 1ml
  • Ingredients: Organic hemp-derived CBD extract, organic MCT oil (flavored varieties include organic flavors and organic stevia)

CHECK PRICEIf you're seeking an organic way to relax, recover from pain, or calm the mind, this blend of organic MCT oil and premium organic hemp CBD is what you need. It comes in a broad-spectrum or a full-spectrum variety, using hemp grown in the USA using organic farming practices.

FOCL's Premium CBD Drops are vegan, cruelty-free, and non-GMO, as well as being made from all organic ingredients and third-party tested.

What We Like

  • Doctor formulated
  • Made of organic ingredients
  • 100% plant based
  • Subject to third-party testing
  • Processed in a food grade facility

What We Don't Like

  • The flavored options include stevia

BUY: FOCL Premium CBD Drops

Best Pure CBD Oil for Pain - Pure Hemp Botanicals Pure Balance Tincture

Pure Hemp Botanicals Pure Balance Tincture

SPECS

  • Flavor options: Unflavored
  • Serving size: 1ml
  • Ingredients: Hemp seed oil, hemp extract
CHECK PRICEPure Hemp Botanicals Pure Balance Tincture has made our list twice.  We picked pure hemp as best overall and best pure for several reasons.  Crafted in Colorado it's lab tested for quality and purity.  As a tincture, it's easily absorbed so you can maximize the wellness benefits more easily.  

Purity can be easy to hide in capsules or other forms of cbd.  But as a tincture, it's important to have the purest extracts possible because you can taste, and feel any impurities.  If purity is your standard, then pure-hemp botanicals lives up. 

What We Like

  • Lab tested
  • 100% vegan
  • Gluten-free
  • Satisfaction guarantee
  • A potent formulation for complex issues

What We Don't Like

  • Expensive
  • No flavor variations

BUY: Pure Hemp Botanicals Pure Balance Tincture

Best Full-Spectrum CBD Oil for Pain - FiveCBD Full Spectrum CBD Tincture

FiveCBD Full Spectrum CBD Tincture

SPECS

  • Flavor options: Citrus, Mint chocolate
  • Serving size: 1ml
  • Ingredients: Full-spectrum hemp extract, MCT oil, natural flavoring
CHECK OUT PURE HEMP BOTANICALSThis product is a robust blend of minor cannabinoids and terpenes in the full spectrum tincture, and is one of the originals in the CBD movement. The FiveCBD full spectrum CBD tincture combines hemp extracts and organic MCT oil. The two flavors, citrus and mint chocolate, are also natural extracts that give each tincture a better taste.

For new users, take one full dropper (1ml) during meals for best absorption. However, those who need further pain relief can take up to three servings per day. The cannabinoids are indicated in the recent Certificate of Analysis (COA), and it's also vital to note that this CBD oil features other cannabinoid compounds such as THC and terpenes.

What We Like

  • Original and potent
  • Comes in multiple flavors
  • Made in the USA

What We Don't Like

  • A bit expensive
  • Contains THC

Best CBD Oil for Pets - Medterra CBD Pet Oil

Medterra CBD Pet Oil

SPECS

  • Flavor options: Beef, chicken, unflavored
  • Serving size: 1ml
  • Ingredients: CBD from hemp extract, MCT oil

CHECK OUT PURE HEMP BOTANICALSLike you, your furry friend will love CBD oil as an everyday treat. CBD pet oil supports an active lifestyle and your pup's wellbeing. Serve it daily in recommended doses to provide body balance and relief from unseen issues. You may also want to consult your vet before administering CBD oil to your pet and check the back label for weight guidelines.

This Medterra CBD Pet Oil is formulated with love for your four-legged friend using organic ingredients and premium human-grade CBD. It's available in two flavors: chicken and beef. However, if you have a picky eater, the unflavored option might be the right choice for them as you can easily add it to any food. The bottle has a dropper applicator to allow flexible serving amounts in food or straight to your pet's mouth.

What We Like

  • It comes in different flavors
  • Includes a dropper for exact serving
  • It's affordable
  • Unflavored option for picky eaters
  • Pure CBD

What We Don't Like

  • Not recommended on an empty stomach
  • Only suitable for pets over 12 weeks old
  • Only the beef flavor is lab tested

What to Look for When Shopping for CBD Oil for Pain

Before purchasing any CBD product, research its quality and authenticity to ensure you're consuming excellent products. Be sure to look for a product's Certificate of Analysis (COA) to confirm it has the amount of CBD and THC present. A third-party lab issues the COA as an accurate confirmation of the information on a product's label.

Be on the lookout for unrealistic promises by a company while bearing in mind that outcomes differ and what works for another person might not bring the same results for you. If a product doesn't serve your needs, consider trying a different one with variance in the amount of CBD and ingredients.

Before deciding to purchase a specific CBD oil for pain, these are the pointers to look out for to make the best, beneficial choice.

Potency

If you're a novice or somewhat inexperienced CBD user, consider buying CBD oil with a lower potency until you get a better sense of how it works for you. If you've been regularly taking CBD products for a while, you may consider a higher potency for pain. And ensure that you read the label to know the serving size and content, as it can differ from one brand to another.

CBD Type

  • Isolate: Pure CBD without THC or other cannabinoids
  • Broad-spectrum: Comprises all cannabinoids except for THC
  • Full-spectrum: Contains all cannabinoids in the cannabis plant

If you intend to steer clear of the psychoactive effects of cannabis, isolating CBD oil for pain might be your preferred choice. They're purified to separate CBD from the hundreds of cannabis compounds. However, the downside is that they might be less effective than the other two groups because they aren't blended with other plant compounds.

All CBDs differ in the effects they produce. According to some studies, combining CBD with THC brings the entourage effect, meaning better outcomes. Therefore, going for a product with both cannabinoids guarantees more effective results. In a nutshell, CBD products in the full-spectrum category will more effectively ease the pain than the other two for most people.

Third-Party Testing

Over the counter (OTC) CBD products, including oils, aren't regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), meaning whatever you consume is at your own risk. This means you as the buyer must do your due diligence to find their authenticity. This is why it's best to look for CBD products that are third-party tested.

Ingredients

Many CBD oils also include a carrier oil like MCT oil or olive oil. Since MCT oil is derived from coconut, people with allergies will need to pay attention to the ingredients list when looking for CBD oil. Some CBD oils also contain flavors or sweeteners, so keep that in mind when shopping if those are considerations that are important to you.

Benefits of Choosing CBD Oil for Pain

Cannabis is a natural plant with over 100 chemicals and has been used for centuries worldwide in different forms. One benefit of using CBD oil for pain is that it is easy to use for most people and has few side effects, unlike many other popular pain remedies.

Although most CBD oils for pain on the market are of high potency, there are also less powerful choices, making it easy for you to find what works best for you. Since CBD has few side effects, it may help relieve your pain more safely than other options, but it's still a good idea to consult your doctor before using it for any purpose.

FAQs About CBD Oil for Pain


Can CBD oil be used as a pain reliever?

CBD oil, alongside THC, is more effective as a pain reliever in several chronic conditions since they cause the entourage effect. Therefore you may want to consider using full- or broad-spectrum CBD oil for pain to get the best results, though some people report pain relief from other CBD products, as well.

What is the best CBD oil for pain?

The best CBD oil for pain will depend on several things, such as what is causing the pain. It's also important to note that what works best for one person might not work for someone else. Most popular for pain relief is edible CBD products, such as oils or gummies. However, topical CBD may also be a good option for some people, depending on what they're using it for.

How is CBD oil used for pain?

CBD oil for pain is used orally to help it circulate through the entire body. It helps alleviate pain by affecting the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) receptors in your body which then send a calming signal to your brain.

How long does it take for CBD oil to relieve pain?

It will take 15 to 45 minutes for CBD oil to take effect. However, it's unclear if topical CBD products like gels, lotions, and creams simultaneously deliver the same impact below the skin. Also, topical CBD relieves the application site, not the entire body.

Does CBD oil help arthritis pain?

Yes, many people report that CBD oil is helpful to use with joint pain related to arthritis.

Athlete Pain and Injuries | Muscle Recovery Techniques for Athletes | Infrared Sauna Benefits | Best Muscle Recovery Supplements | Best Mattress for Hip Pain | Best CBD Oil for Sleep | Best CBD Oil for Pain | Best Massage Gun | Best Knee Brace | Best Ankle Brace

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.