Arthritis is nothing but an inflammation happening especially in the joints. This medical condition causes pain and stiffness of joints that may worsen with age. Recent studies have shown cannabidiol oil can play a crucial role in treating arthritis pain. Here we have tried to examine the effectiveness of CBD oil in treating arthritis pain and analyze different aspects of the treatment.
What Is CBD?
CBD is short for cannabidiol. It is one of many active compounds found in the marijuana plant Cannabis sativa. It is also commonly known as cannabis oil. Though it can cause drowsiness, it is not intoxicating. The cannabidiol in most products is extracted from hemp that is a variety of cannabis. However, it has only traces of THC (0.03%), which is known to cause high after the use of marijuana.
Is CBD Effective in Treating Arthritis Pain?
Several studies on animals show positive results. In these animal studies, CBD helped reduce inflammatory pain by affecting how pain receptors respond to stimuli. A 2016 study has shown that the topical application of CBD can reduce inflammation and pain related to arthritis. Some people who have tried cannabis oil have reported noticeable pain relief, anxiety reduction, and sleep improvement.
Is CBD Safe to Consume?
Research assessing the safety of CBD is underway. According to medical experts, there are no serious safety concerns associated with moderate doses of cannabidiol products. However, cannabis is known to interact with some medicines. Hence, it is always advised to consult your doctor before using CBD oil.
Should You Try CBD?
Without clinical studies, it is hard for doctors to tell whether you might benefit from the use of CBD. It is also difficult to tell the right dose, type of cannabidiol, and who need to avoid CBD. However, there is an agreement on several points regarding CBD use for arthritis treatment.
- It is not a substitute for treating inflammatory arthritis.
- Arthritis patients who want to use cannabidiol products to treat pain need to talk to their doctor. Together they need to review a few things like:
- What has worked in the past?
- What has not worked in the past?
- Are there any other options to try first?
- How to do a trial run?
- What to watch for?
- When to return for a follow-up to evaluate results?
Quality cannabis products are expensive. To avoid wasting money, you need to be entirely sure it is having positive effects on the symptoms.
What Products Can You Consider?
CBD based products are available in various forms- they can be applied on the skin, taken orally, or inhaled. Each type of CBD product has pros and cons.
- Taken Orally (mouth)
CBD tablets, capsules, or liquid can be taken orally for absorption through the digestive tract. The absorption of CBD through the digestive tract is slow. Also, the dosing is tricky due to delayed onset. Recent meals, stomach acid, and other factors need to be considered.
- Applied on the Skin
You can apply CBD ointments directly to painful joints. How these products deliver CBD under the skin is not precisely known. Hence, it isn’t easy to assert the effectiveness of the product.
- Inhaled
CBD can be inhaled via an inhaler pen. Inhalation of chemical byproducts and vapor oils carry unknown risks. Hence, people with arthritis are advised not to inhale CBD vapors.
How Much CBD You Should Use?
- If you are taking CBD in liquid form, you need to use carrier oil. In that case, you need to consider both measures- the amount of liquid product to take as dose and CBD amount in each dose.
- You need to go low and slow with CBD use in any form. Start with a few milligrams of CBD when taking in a sublingual form (below the tongue). You can increase the dose if the relief is inadequate. It will help if you increase the dose in small increments over several weeks. If you find comfort, continue taking the same dose twice daily.
- If only CBD does not work for you, consult your doctor to take CBD with a low dose THC product. Try THC containing products at home first. Take the dose at night so you can sleep off with any unwanted effects.
The findings of many studies have been encouraging. CBD shows promise in the treatment of arthritis pain. According to researchers, cannabidiol affects brain receptors in a way that reduces pain and inflammation. However, more research needs to be studied and tested to establish these theories.
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