I’ve had chronic pain almost all my life””the result of a long-term medical condition. I’ve recently arrived at college and I’m enjoying the experience a lot. It gives me more freedom and I have a lot of friends. But I’m also living away from home, and that is a different experience than I’m used to. I’ve had a couple of flare-ups this year that have been pretty bad. I need to get better at managing my pain. I’m especially on the lookout for holistic treatments, so what can I do to manage my chronic pain during college, better than I have so far?
It can be especially tough to go through college with a medical condition. Your schedule is likely crazy, you’re living on your own, and you are probably a lot more stressed than you were in high school. The American Psychological Association notes that in 2013, almost a third of college students reported having very high levels of stress. Stress, as I’m sure you are aware, has a tendency to make chronic pain worse. The same with sleep deprivation and unusual schedules, an unhealthy diet, and alcohol consumption””basically every part of the “college lifestyle.” In order to get the most benefit you can out of a hypothetical holistic treatment, you have to make sure you are caring for yourself by getting enough sleep and eating right. But beyond that, what type of treatment should you seek out?
In recent years, cannabidiol (CBD) has been recognized as an effective treatment for chronic pain, and we think it will be well-suited for your needs. Cannabidiol is produced from the hemp or cannabis plant, but it is non-psychoactive. In other words, it won’t get you high. Despite that, there are still some questions to be answered about its legality. In recent years, the substance has gone from being a Schedule 1 drug, equivalent to cocaine and heroin, to being available by prescription in all 50 states. The 2018 Farm Bill looks like it will further decriminalize CBD, making it officially available by prescription at the federal level. With your condition, it is very likely that you can get a prescription for it, so talk to your doctor about it.
As an analgesic, CBD has several proven health benefits. The Journal of Experimental Medicine published an article that found that “significantly suppress chronic inflammatory and neuropathic pain without causing apparent analgesic tolerance.” In other words, it helped for both pain and inflammation. Additionally, the study showed that subjects were not likely to build up a tolerance to the effects of CBD. While other drugs, especially narcotics, create a dangerous tolerance in patients, CBD does not need to be increased in dose over a long period of time. There have been numerous studies, in fact, showing CBD to be a treatment that is both safe and effective.
CBD comes in several forms. You can get CBD cookies, CBD-infused drinks, CBD lollipops and so much more. The most common, however, is CBD oil, an extract of CBD from the hemp plant. If you want to be informed about your health, you should read CBD oil reviews so that you know exactly what you will be putting in to your body. For example, there are several different extraction methods, all of which produce a different product, and all of which have different pros and cons. Knowing the method of extraction of the oil that you buy will save you both money and time. You may also have the choice between organic and non-organic oils.
The final decision is ultimately up to you, but the more you know, the easier it will be to find the product that is right for you and your needs.