No matter how tough you may be, a painful back spasm can bring you to your knees and leave you searching for relief. And it might just make you curious about cannabidiol (CBD).
CBD is a chemical compound found in the cannabis plant. While it’s a close cousin to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), it doesn’t produce the same mind-altering effects. But it may have important pain-relieving qualities and help with different forms of chronic pain, including back spasms.
The bad news? There are a lot of CBD companies out there. And many of them are peddling inferior quality products. But when you’re dealing with back spasms, you probably don’t want to waste time wading through tons of subpar product options. That’s why we’ve created this guide to help make your CBD shopping experience a little easier.
StudiesTrusted Source suggest that CBD can help with pain and inflammation.
When it comes to back pain specifically, one review from 2018 suggests that CBD may be beneficial for people with fibromyalgia and nerve-related pain. If either condition is the cause of your back spasms, CBD may help provide pain relief.
According to one estimate, about 14 percentTrusted Source of people with insurance who sought help for back pain ended up being prescribed opioids. But these drugs are potentially addictive. A 2019 study found that CBD helped participants reduce their opioid use for chronic pain.
ResearchTrusted Source involving people using topical CBD and THC in palliative care found that CBD helped reduce chronic pain levels. Although the study wasn’t specifically about back pain, it suggests that CBD shows promise in treating pain in general.
When choosing CBD products, we keep the same general criteria in mind. Each product featured:
is made by a company that provides proof of third-party testing by an ISO 17025-compliant lab
is made with U.S.-grown hemp
contains no more than 0.3 percent THC, according to the certificate of analysis (COA)
passes tests for pesticides, molds, and heavy metals, according to the COA
When making our selections, we also consider:
company certification and manufacturing processes
product potency
overall ingredients, including additional ingredients that may help with pain relief
indicators of user trust and brand reputation, such as:
customer reviews
whether the company has been subject to a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warning letterTrusted Source
whether the company makes any unsupported health claims
Keep in mind that there isn’t a CBD product out there that will magically cause your back spasms to stop completely. The focus should be on choosing a high-quality product in general.
Topicals applied directly to the painful area are ideal for specific forms of pain, so we focused on creams and the like rather than gummies or capsules, which provide full-body effects.
Pricing guide
$ = under $20
$$ = $20–$35
$$$ = over $35
Price: $$
CBD type: full-spectrum
CBD potency: 200 mg per 3.38-oz bottle
COA: available by request
Combine the benefits of massage and CBD with this CBD-infused massage oil. In addition to CBD, the oil also contains camphor and menthol, active ingredients well known for their role in relieving muscle pain. The travel-friendly bottle of CBD massage oil also contains moisturizing ingredients so you can soothe muscles and nourish the skin at the same time.
Reviews for this oil are generally positive. Some people even say that applying the oil helped them sleep better. However, a few reviewers note that the formula is a bit greasy.
Price: $$
CBD type: isolate
CBD potency: 500 mg per 2.5-oz stick
COA: available on product page
This CBD stick delivers a cooling sensation that may help with painful muscle spasms. It’s small enough that you can toss it into your purse or bag and use it anywhere you go. The formula also contains arnica and pleasant-smelling peppermint oil.
CBDistillery offers a 60-day money-back guarantee, which gives you plenty of time to try out the balm and see if it works for you. There are currently only four customer reviews of the product, but all of them are positive.
Price: $$
CBD type: broad-spectrum
CBD potency: 250 mg per 0.5-oz stick
COA: available online
This Joy Organics salve is easy to toss into your bag and apply directly to the area that’s paining you. The product is unscented, and in addition to the CBD, it contains a host of skin-soothing ingredients, including shea butter, organic jojoba oil, and organic sunflower seed oil.
There are only a handful of customer reviews for this CBD stick, but all of them are highly positive. Reviewers mention that they not only love the travel-ready salve, but they also received excellent customer service.
Joy Organics offers free carbon-neutral shipping and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Price: $$$
CBD type: full-spectrum
CBD potency: 515 mg per 22-oz jar
COA: available via product page
This potent jar of CBD balm contains non-GMO and USDA Organic ingredients. Plant People recommends rubbing it into problem areas for targeted relief. Aside from CBD, the balm also contains arnica, California poppy, and Indian peppermint.
Customers are happy with the balm’s effectiveness and say it even helps soften the skin. People also say it smells great.
However, a few reviewers complain that the formula has changed since their last purchase, and the balm is now more difficult to spread.
Price: $$$
CBD type: full-spectrum
CBD potency: 835 mg per 1.67-oz stick
COA: available online
Known for its muscle-kneading massager, Theragun has now entered the world of CBD with a line of muscle-soothing balms and lotions.
This body balm comes in an easy-to-use stick format. It contains a mix of USDA Certified Organic ingredients, including turmeric, shea butter, and menthol.
It’s a relatively new product, so it only has a few reviews, but people seem to only have good things to say. One person did mention, though, that the balm leaves a greasy residue after application.
Price: $–$$
CBD type: isolate
CBD potency: 20, 60, or 100 mg per patch
COA: available online
If you don’t like the feel of creams and lotions, try this CBD-infused patch from Social CBD. You can apply it right to the spot where you’re experiencing back spasms. The patch slowly releases CBD over 24 hours to provide long-lasting relief. It’s also sweat- and water-resistant.
Reviewers like the patches but complain that they’re pretty expensive, since each one only offers a single-use application. Some people also say they had issues with the patches falling off before 24 hours had elapsed.
Source: Healthline
