How CBD Can Help Sciatic Pain & Recommended Products

From numbness or pins-and-needles sensations to severe back and buttock discomfort, when pain and inflammation from your sciatic nerve flare up, life can feel miserable. The sciatic nerve is the largest and longest nerve in the body, so when things get “out of whack”, a wide variety of symptoms can occur. Those who suffer from sciatica know that this type of pain rarely stays in one place. Aggravation of the sciatic nerve can cause severe symptoms in the hips, legs, buttocks, and back. 

There is no quick, easy fix for sciatic pain. While invasive surgery may be the best solution for some, others may not have that option or prefer to keep the pain in check through lifestyle and plant-based aids like CBD. Although CBD won't cure sciatic pain, adding CBD oil or cream to your daily life can drastically alter your pain management and prevention strategies. As with any health treatment plan, it is important to consult with your doctor before starting any new protocol.  

Ways to Incorporate CBD Into Your Sciatic Pain Management

CBD as a Pain-Relieving Alternative to Over-the-Counter Medication

As a chronic issue impacting everyday life, people suffering from sciatica have limited options. Painkillers are only so effective, causing many people to seek out alternative treatments like CBD oils and creams to treat their sciatic pain. While sometimes useful for short-term relief, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Ibuprofen, Aspirin, or Aleve, can cause severe long-term health issues. As a holistic alternative to traditional painkillers, CBD has become the go-to natural option for managing sciatic nerve pain. 

The human body has an endocannabinoid system that receives and translates signals from cannabinoids. As the master regulator, the endocannabinoid system controls physiological processes associated with pain perception, brain cell production, and immune function which control inflammation. When CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system, your body naturally experiences positive musculoskeletal and neuropathic effects. Trading in your over-the-counter meds for CBD oil or cream may be the missing link in achieving the pain relief and decrease in inflammation you have been waiting for without the negative side effects that NSAIDs can cause. 

CBD for Pre-Workout and Post-Workout Recovery

Exercise is key to keeping sciatic pain at bay, but existing pain can make working out all the more tricky, creating a Catch-22. Thankfully, due to its anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties, CBD is very effective when added to your pre-and post-workout routine. 

Used before working out, CBD can loosen muscles, promote mobility, and reduce overall stress. In addition to these benefits, your post-workout recovery can also be elevated by CBD. During recovery, CBD can reduce joint inflammation, alleviate soreness, and decrease pain. Studies have shown that CBD can boost recovery between workout sessions, improve focus, ease exercise-related pain, and aid in sleep, assisting your body in repairing and restoring itself.

CBD-Infused Massages

Incorporating CBD with therapeutic massage can provide additional relief for sore, tense areas, and sciatic pain. CBD oil or cream is ideal for massage therapy due to its natural anti-inflammatory effects, which can help calm sore muscles and joints. Other natural healing ingredients such as menthol, arnica, or lidocaine combined with CBD can propel your massage experience to new heights allowing you to forget about your pain and achieve ultimate relaxation. 

Using CBD to limit stress that exacerbate sciatic pain

Stress is a prominent issue in everyone’s life, but luckily CBD provides a natural aid to alleviate symptoms of chronic stress and anxiety. Over 50% of adults in the U.S. use CBD to help alleviate anxiety and provide mood-improving health benefits. CBD can reduce the amount and level of stress in your mind and body. So what does this have to do with sciatic pain? Stress can worsen sciatic pain symptoms by leading to tense muscles and inflammation, as well as poor posture. Therefore, using CBD as a stress-management aid can help prevent sciatic pain from worsening. 

What to Look for in CBD for Sciatic Pain Management

Full-spectrum CBD

Full-spectrum CBD contains all of the potent cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant, including CBD and up to 0.3% THC (not enough to cause any mind-altering effects). This type of CBD is the most effective for pain management due to the entourage effect, where the cannabinoids and compounds in the plant work together with CBD to enhance its beneficial effects. This results in overall pain relief and decreased inflammation, while avoiding an intoxicating or "high" feeling.

Organically grown and third-party lab tested

By choosing CBD products that contain safe and high-quality organic ingredients, you can rest assured that your CBD pain cream was grown without the use of synthetic chemicals, pesticides, and fertilizers. When CBD is grown in this natural way, you can trust that it was cultivated, harvested, and processed without exposure to toxic agents or additives. All reputable CBD companies will include clearly labeled ingredients that are third-party lab tested including clearly stated CBD dosage and THC content.

Supportive Pain-Relieving Ingredients 

Plant-based ingredients like arnica, lidocaine, and menthol combined with full-spectrum CBD create instant, cooling pain relief for sore muscles, joints, and nerve pain without irritating your sensitive skin. 

Menthol helps promote circulation and has anti-inflammatory properties that provide a cooling sensation when applied to the skin while also promoting circulation. The healing properties of arnica have been used for centuries to naturally relieve pain and decrease bruising. Combined with CBD, this homeopathic blend of ingredients is a great asset in achieving comfort and relief. Finally, lidocaine is a topical anesthetic that prevents and relieves pain by blocking the signals at the nerve endings. Each of these ingredients can be used to ward off sciatic pain, but combined create an army of pain-fighting soldiers to help you conquer physical setbacks. 

High Quality CBD Products: Botanika Life

Your best option when choosing CBD pain-relieving products is to focus on trusted, high-quality full-spectrum CBD combined with other naturally sourced ingredients. Botanika Life offers a platform of pain-relieving CBD products including clean ingredients like arnica, lidocaine, and menthol to penetrate and alleviate the root of your pain at the source. 

Sciatic Pain Management Tips

Cold therapy can help reduce swelling, pain, and inflammation from sciatic pain. The Cryo Massage Roller from Botanika Life is designed to prevent and treat pain, soothing your nerves and inflamed muscles to provide the ultimate cooling relief your body has been desiring. 

By Emily Wegener

With a unique background as an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, Masters Degree in Teaching and experience in Psychology, Emily spends much of her time researching and trying out new holistic healing modalities.