back pain · cbd for pain · does cbd help with back pain · natural pain relief · pain and recovery · pain management · Jul 28, 2026

Can CBD Help With Back Pain?

If you're one of the tens of millions of Americans experiencing back pain every year, you might want to consider CBD. We break down the science behind CBD and pain to help you decide whether it's worth trying, and if so, what kind of CBD product to use.

Key Takeaways

Back pain is very common, and most people will experience it at some point.
Many people use CBD for pain.
Some studies suggest that CBD has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.
Other studies have found that CBD may have muscle-relaxing properties, too.

See More: How Long Do THC Edibles Stay in Your System?

CBD and Pain Relief

Meredith Farrow, founder of Clean Remedies, says:

"Pain is one of the most common reasons people use CBD. That includes back pain."

Having issues with your back? You're not alone.

Back pain is one of the most common and costly conditions in the US. Roughly 16 million adults have chronic back pain, and some 65 million have experienced back pain recently.¹

All told, research suggests up to 80% of people will experience back pain at some point in their lives.²

If you're among the many, many people dealing with back pain, you know how frustrating it can be. Unlike some other forms of pain, back pain can seriously undermine your quality of life.

Fortunately, there are many things you can do about it. Common recommendations include exercise, sleep, posture, ice, heat, and massages.³

Many people also use CBD for back pain. In fact, pain relief is one of the most common reasons people use CBD at all. According to some surveys, nearly two-thirds of people who take CBD do so for pain.⁴

And in one 2021 study on people with back pain specifically, two-thirds of participants used CBD for its potential pain-relieving properties.⁵

If you're considering using CBD for the same reason, it's important to know exactly how it works. We'll break down the science behind CBD and cover what the research says about it and pain, to help you determine whether it's worth trying.

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Understanding CBD

CBD, or cannabidiol, is one of more than 100 cannabinoid compounds naturally produced by the cannabis plant and hemp plant.

It's structurally very similar to THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol. However, unlike THC, CBD is not psychoactive. It does not get you high.

CBD's Legality

Also, unlike THC, CBD is federally legal. Under federal law, hemp is legal, as long as it contains less than 0.3% THC.

Therefore, CBD products derived from this legal hemp are also considered federally legal. These products contain negligible amounts of THC.

The presence of THC might be helpful. THC is thought to make CBD more effective, in a process called the entourage effect.

However, even tiny amounts of THC can trigger a positive drug test. Therefore, some CBD products use broad-spectrum CBD, which contains the various other potentially helpful compounds produced by the hemp plant, but zero THC. Others use CBD isolate, which contains nothing but CBD.

How CBD Works

CBD works in large part by interacting with the endocannabinoid system. That's an extensive network of cannabinoid receptors spread throughout your body. It's connected to many important bodily systems, including mood and pain.

CBD can interact with these receptors. It may also help preserve natural endocannabinoids, which your body produces specifically to interact with its cannabinoid receptors.

CBD is also believed to interact with the nervous system. This system is responsible for detecting and processing pain.⁶

Bonus: Will Delta-8 THC Show Up on a Drug Test?

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CBD Use and Chronic Pain

As we discussed, many people use CBD for pain, including back pain. Plenty of people find CBD helpful.

There haven't been that many high-quality human studies into using CBD for back pain specifically. More research needs to be done. However, some studies do suggest that CBD can provide potential benefits.

For example, in the 2021 study on CBD and back pain that we mentioned above, the majority of patients reported benefits from using CBD. The most common reported benefit was pain relief, then improved sleep, then reduced anxiety. Nearly two-thirds of participants said they'd "recommend CBD to a friend for pain relief."⁷

One important thing to note about CBD is that it is thought to potentially help with pain in a number of different ways.

First, and perhaps foremost, is the fact that CBD is believed to have analgesic properties. Analgesic means pain-relieving.

For example, one 2024 review of more than a dozen studies concluded that CBD may provide pain reduction of 42-66%.⁸

That review specifically looked at chronic pain, or long-term pain. In the US, roughly 20% of adults live with chronic pain, including chronic back pain.

Chronic back pain is sometimes caused by inflammation. It's sometimes called inflammatory back pain, to distinguish it from other forms of back pain.⁹

Research suggests that CBD has anti-inflammatory properties. One 2024 review of 40 studies concluded that CBD may help with "reducing pain due to its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties."¹⁰

Back issues are also sometimes associated with muscle spasms. Some studies suggest that CBD can have muscle-relaxing properties.¹¹

CBD is generally considered safe for most individuals. However, health organizations like the FDA generally advise against taking it during pregnancy. CBD can also interact with certain medications, so make sure to check with a medical professional before taking it.

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Where to Get High-Quality CBD Products

If you want to try CBD for pain, it's important to use a high-quality product.

That's because CBD products in the US are often unregulated. Studies have found that some products contain less CBD than advertised.¹² Others have found products contaminated with potentially harmful substances.¹³

One way you can check the quality of a product before buying is by confirming the manufacturer tested the product. Clean Remedies tests all of its CBD products with an independent, third-party laboratory. You can check the results of these tests by scanning the QR code included with your product.

Another thing to consider is the kind of CBD product you use. There are plenty of options, including topicals, oils, tinctures, and edibles, each with specific advantages.

In that 2021 study we discussed earlier, the most popular form of CBD product was CBD oil. That was followed by topical creams, then edibles. About a third of participants used multiple forms.¹⁴

Some CBD products, like edibles, are taken orally. They're easy to take and can provide plenty of body-wide potential benefits. Clean Remedies' Relax & Calm CBD Gummies, for example, are a delicious way to unwind. They're crafted to provide a gentle sense of restoration and balance.

You can also take CBD oil orally. If you want the effects to kick in faster, you can also take oils or tinctures sublingually. That means placing the oil or tincture under your tongue, where it is absorbed directly into your bloodstream.

Clean Remedies has various CBD oils. If you want the potential benefits of the entourage effect, try a Full-Spectrum CBD Tincture. For a zero-THC option, consider a Broad-Spectrum CBD Oil Tincture.

Topical CBD products, like topical creams, gels, and roll-ons, are applied directly to the skin. That means you can apply them specifically to the area that needs relief. It also means that any THC that may be included is less likely to be absorbed into your bloodstream.

Clean Remedies' Roll-On CBD Gel delivers high-quality full-spectrum CBD in a portable, mess-free roller-ball applicator. It's designed to provide precise, targeted support right where the body needs it most. The CBD is combined with menthol and capsicum, which provide alternating cooling and warming sensations to ease tension and restore comfort.

If you prefer to massage your topical product into your skin, try a muscle and joint cream with CBD. It's a fast-absorbing, multi-ingredient formula designed to restore tired muscles and ease overworked joints back into balance. Hemp extract is combined with menthol, arnica, and MSM to deliver layered, purposeful relief.

This cream "is a great way to help tired and sore overworked muscles," notes Clean Remedies founder Meredith Farrow. "It has a very light scent and absorbs very quickly. People can use this in a massage, they can use it in isolated areas, or sometimes people just use it for the properties of relaxation."

Conclusion

Many people use CBD for pain relief, including for back pain. Some studies suggest CBD has pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties, which may make it useful for back pain. Topical products can be applied to the specific area experiencing problems.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Form of CBD Is Best for Back Pain?

That depends on what you want. For general relief, an oral CBD, like CBD oil or edibles, may be best. If you want to target specific parts of your back, a topical cream or roll-on might be more useful.

What Kind of Pain Does CBD Help With?

People use CBD for all kinds of pain, including back pain, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and even nerve pain.

Is CBD a Muscle Relaxer?

Some people use CBD as a muscle relaxer. Research suggests CBD may have muscle-relaxing properties.

Keep Reading: Can I Use CBD As a Muscle Relaxant?

Sources

Clean Remedies is a woman-owned, independent family business that uses clean and natural hemp extract to create products that are free from harmful chemicals, cruelty-free, and made in the USA, meant to benefit your well-being and meet our own high standards of efficacy. For CBD facts, product discounts, and more, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.

Can CBD Help With Back Pain?

Key Takeaways

CBD and Pain Relief