Disclaimer: The following statements are meant to be educational and not diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. These statements are not approved by the FDA. Always consult with your doctor before making any changes to your medication.

For many adults over the age of 55, pain relievers are an inevitable fact of life. In a National Institutes of Health study, 53% of older adults reported bothersome pain in the last month, which is often paired with decreased physical capacity. Even if you stay active with hobbies like walking, exercising, or gardening, life may throw the occasional ache and pain your way. Or if you have chronic pain and headaches, you may find that taking over-the-counter pain meds are a necessary way of getting through the day.

Yet NSAIDS, OTC pain meds and opiates often come with unwanted side effects and can increase your risk of heart disease, stroke, and damage your kidneys and liver.

If you’re looking to avoid the harmful side effects of painkillers while addressing the root cause of your chronic pain or headaches, CBD could be a great solution.

What are NSAIDS?

NSAIDS (pronounced en-saids) are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and are a certain group of pain relievers that are commonly used to treat conditions like arthritis. They can either be prescription or over-the-counter medicines, but prescription strength versions come with a higher risk of side effects.

What are OTC pain meds?

The most common kinds of OTCs (over-the-counter) pain meds include acetaminophen (Advil) or other NSAIDs like

• Advil
• Aleve
• Aspirin
• Tylenol (Ibuprofen)
  

What are opioids?

Opioids are a class of drugs found naturally in the opium poppy plant, that work in the brain to produce a variety of effects, including pain relief.

Opioids include illegal drugs like heroin, as well as prescription drugs like oxycodone, morphine, codeine, and others. Regular use of opioids can increase your dependence and possibly lead to addiction and opioid use disorder. There are also several potentially dangerous side effects, such as the risk of respiratory depression.

Data from 2018 shows that every day, 128 Americans die of an opioid overdose.

What is CBD?

CBD (cannabidiol) is a non-intoxicating compound found in the cannabis plant. There is a need for more research, but some studies show CBD could be a promising treatment for arthritis, as well as chronic inflammatory and neuropathic pain.

Studies also show that a single dose of CBD can help reduce blood pressure, while NSAIDs and OTC pain meds could possibly increase blood pressure.

There have been no fatal overdoses of CBD. If you take more CBD than the recommended dose, you may become sleepy, but there would likely be no serious health consequences.

A 2017 study from the World Health Organization showed that CBD is a safe, well-tolerated substance with no potential for abuse.

Our CBD capsules begin as USDA certified organic hemp, which is grown ethically and sustainably on our farm in Cortland, New York.

NSAIDs work to reduce inflammation and fever by inhibiting a certain enzyme in your body. That enzyme is known as cyclooxygenase, or COX, and it has two different versions with different functions in the body. COX-1 is an enzyme that protects the stomach from harsh acids and digestive chemicals, while also helping our kidneys to function. COX-2 is created when joints are inflamed or injured.

While NSAIDs inhibit the COX-2 enzyme that leads to inflammation and arthritis, they can negatively impact digestive health, because they also inhibit the function of COX-1, which can lead to a wide range of long-term health problems.

CBD works differently from NSAIDs, and emerging research is helping us understand how it can be used as a pain management tool. CBD interacts directly with our endocannabinoid system, which is a regulatory system in our body that keeps balance between all the other systems. When you take CBD in the form of a tincture, topical, or soft gel, the CBD works to inhibit the breakdown of our own endocannabinoids, like anandamide, which is known as the “bliss molecule.”

Anandamide is responsible for the regulation of inflammation and neural messaging.

So CBD could possibly help address the root imbalances in the body which lead to pain and inflammation.

In our private Facebook community, our customers have shared how they apply our CBD topicals to their temples and neck when experiencing a tension headache for fast-acting and targeted relief.

CBD, like any supplement and medication, can have possible side effects. It can also interact with other medications you might be taking, like blood thinners. The most commonly reported side effects are dry mouth, nausea, fatigue, and irritability.

But generally, CBD is believed to be well-tolerated by most patients. Most experts say the main safety concern when taking CBD is the quality of the products. Since the FDA doesn’t effectively regulate supplements, there are lots of low-grade products on the market that could have unlisted ingredients, impurities, or not enough CBD to be beneficial.

At Head & Heal, we’re committed to transparency in everything we do. That’s why our CBD is grown on our own USDA certified organic farm and why we share the lab results for every product we sell.

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This testimony comes from a long-time customer. Audrey was able to replace the NSAIDs she was taking and find relief from pain with our CBD oil.

“I was in intractable back pain, with muscle spasms that would not be relieved with NSAIDS. I saw a back specialist and he gave me no options, only to continue medication that is not working for me and risking side effects. Friends recommended CBD, but no one named a brand. I was looking at all the products at Wegmans and I kept going back to your product. After reading it was organic and grown in NY, I bought it. I took two droppers throughout the day and my back pain diminished! Finally I felt relief! My anxiety had been skyrocketing due to the pain. The CBD oil gave me a peacefulness and calm and feeling back to my regular self.”

Many thanks! Audrey H.

If you want to learn more about how people are using our CBD to treat pain, headaches, and more, come join our private Facebook community to ask any questions you have and see what our customers are saying!