Pain is a common issue for many people. At several points in our lives, all of us will deal with pain to varying degrees. It can be something minor, like a stubbed toe, to something more serious like a traumatic injury or a chronic pain condition. That’s why there is such a large industry based around treating pain through a myriad of methods, including pills, physical therapy, massages, acupuncture, special diets, yoga, stretching, meditation, and more.

Thankfully, cannabidiol (CBD) can be of assistance here. Ever since hemp and hemp-based products were legalized by the Farm Bill in 2018, CBD has been an increasingly popular health supplement due to its ability to help reduce pain and inflammation. Since it has little to no side effects, and can be combined with almost any other treatment method, it has become invaluable to people who deal with pain on a regular basis. Here are four common sources of pain that CBD can help reduce.

1. Headaches and Migraines
As many as 75% of adults experienced a headache of some type in the past year according to the World Health Organization, with as many as 4% of people dealing with headaches or migraines for 15 or more days in a month on average.

And according to a study published in February of 2021, a large majority of test subjects who deal with chronic migraines found some level of relief when they took CBD. How it helps depends on the underlying causes of your headache or migraine. It both helps reduce the intensity of pain you experience, as well as reducing inflammation in your muscles and organs that can cause or worsen your headache.

2. Period Cramps
Period pain and cramping is common to many adult women, sometimes quite severely. While CBD cannot cure your pain or get rid of all of it, it can help manage your pain. The CBD you take binds with the receptors in your endocannabinoid system, which is responsible for sending and receiving pain signals from your nervous system. It can also reduce inflammation in your organs that can also contribute to your pain and discomfort.

3. Hangovers
Pain is a common issue for people dealing with a hangover after a night of heavier drinking. It comes from headaches, dehydration, and oxidative stress to your muscles and organs. The oxidative stress is caused by the toxic effect of alcohol on our systems. That’s why your inebriation and hangover is more severe the more you drink in one sitting. Taking CBD products like d8 gummies can help you reduce the oxidative stress and pain you feel during your hangover.

4. Exercise Recovery
People who exercise regularly, or are just getting back into it, will be familiar with the pain and discomfort during their recovery period after a workout is over. Your muscles can feel stiff and sore, and maybe more painful depending on how in shape you already are, and how intense your workout was. Taking CBD helps relieve some of the pain and reduce the inflammation in your muscles and joints. It also comes loaded with omega fatty acids, which helps promote the production of new and healthy muscle cells.

In all of these four issues with pain, it is important to remember that CBD is a supplement, not a miracle drug. It can help reduce some of the pain you are feeling, but it will likely not get rid of it completely unless it was mild to begin with. However, because it is natural and safe to use, you can combine CBD with other pain pills or pain relief methods to get the most possible pain relief.