CBD For Arthritis. Can CBD Oil Help With the Pain?

Arthritis is a debilitating condition that involves pain, inflammation, and impaired movement in the joints. Arthritis is among the leading causes of disability in the U.S., which often leads to unemployment and a severely diminished quality of life. Standard treatments for arthritis do exist, but they are typically very expensive, can have negative side effects, and are only successful at a moderate rate. The inadequacy of current methods has highlighted a need for improved and/or alternative routes of treatment for arthritis.

Fortunately, researchers have identified CBD as a prime candidate for treating arthritis in a safe, effective manner. CBD (cannabidiol) is a non-psychoactive constituent of the cannabis plant, and has received a lot of attention in the medical field due to the many therapeutic benefits it provides.

Research on CBD as a treatment for arthritis is still in its early stages, but these preliminary results are extremely promising. In this article, we’re going to thoroughly discuss CBD as it relates to arthritis, including important advice and precautions one should know before thinking about using CBD as a way to deal with this debilitating condition.

What is CBD?

CBD is one of the major chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant known as cannabinoids, behind only THC in overall concentration. Both THC and CBD interact with the endocannabinoid system, which has been identified as having a significant influence over many important bodily functions, including osteoarthritis pain. Unlike THC, however, CBD is not psychoactive, meaning that its use will not lead to the intoxication characteristic of marijuana use. This fact has made CBD the more viable cannabinoid to use in treatment strategies for various conditions.

In particular, CBD has been noted for its ability to effectively treat physiological symptoms such as pain and inflammation, as well as psychological afflictions such as anxiety, insomnia, and stress. CBD’s broad areas of effect make it a promising compound for treating a variety of disorders, and especially in people with comorbidities (two or more existing medical conditions).

CBD is available in many different forms, all of which vary in their potency and unique benefits. These forms include oils, edibles, tinctures, and topical creams and ointments. This variety of options allows medical professionals to easily plan treatments for specific diseases, and also lets individuals choose the form that’s most comfortable for them to consume.

Facts About Arthritis

Arthritis can be a very painful condition characterized by inflammation or structure degradation in the joints. It is estimated that around 50 million Americans suffer from arthritis, with that number expected to rise to 67 million by 2030. While arthritis is most common among the elderly, it can still affect a noticeable percentage of the younger population.

There are over 100 different kinds of arthritis, but the most common variants are osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease, which entails a weakening of the bone, a loss of cartilage, and possibly a change in joint shape.

On the other hand, rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the joints. Researchers believe that rheumatoid arthritis is caused by a persistent autoimmune response that leads to inflammation that centralizes in the joints.

Both of these conditions exhibit almost identical symptoms, but the different ways in which they arise will sometimes necessitate unique treatment strategies. Traditional drugs and topical applications are commonly used with both conditions, but a more targeted method such as immunosuppressive therapy is used specifically to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

However, many of these traditional methods come with serious side effects. In particular, immunosuppressive therapy can significantly increase the risk of infection due to weakened immune function, and can also cause heart failure.

Using CBD for Arthritis Treatment

Researchers believe that CBD for arthritis could be a powerful anti-arthritic compound because it has both anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties. Although there have not been many studies examining the effects of CBD treatment on human arthritic patients, the results of multiple studies conducted using animal models suggest that CBD can effectively combat arthritis in ways that could potentially be replicated in humans.

In one study, researchers found that treating arthritic rats with transdermal CBD significantly reduced pain and inflammation in the joints. Another study conducted on mice found that the use of oral CBD effectively halted the progression of rheumatoid arthritis, most likely due to CBD’s ability to suppress inflammation and the immune response.

Even though these studies outline the promise of CBD in the treatment of arthritis, more research needs to be done on humans to conclusively say that CBD is a viable treatment option. However, although most studies to date have used animal models, the underlying biological processes are largely the same between species, which encourages the possibility that similar benefits will be seen in humans.

How to Take CBD for Arthritis

Since CBD is available in several formats, it can be used to manage arthritis in many of the same ways that standard treatments employ, which is a convenience to those who are already familiar with them. For example, arthritic patients commonly use pain creams or ointments to deliver pain-relieving medication directly to an affected area, and the same can be done with a CBD pain cream.

CBD oil can also be taken orally using a tincture or capsules in order to treat pain receptors from the inside. CBD’s effects are felt more quickly when using creams, while it takes longer to kick in if ingested orally. Since there is no standard procedure to treat arthritis using CBD, the manner of consumption ultimately comes down to preference.

If you’re interested in trying CBD for the first time, read our Beginner’s Guide to CBD.

As for CBD dosage, it is recommended to start with lower doses and then gradually work your way up in order to achieve the desired effect. CBD has been deemed to be safe and well-tolerated by humans even at extremely large doses by the World Health Organization, but smaller doses will often suffice. Starting small will also help you preserve your product for longer and avoid the negative side effects that are often associated with larger doses.

Use our free CBD Dosage Calculator to get a good starting point.

Precautions with Using CBD for Arthritis

As with taking any other substance, there are general precautions that must be heeded in order to ensure you minimize any risks and get the most out of your CBD product. For instance, CBD does have mild side effects which vary depending on dosage and route of administration.

Among these side effects are nausea, drowsiness, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. Furthermore, CBD could potentially interact with various prescription or over-the-counter medications, some of which are commonly taken by people with arthritis. If you’re currently on any type of medication, it’s extremely important to seek counsel from your doctor before taking CBD.

Lastly, it is essential to ensure that your CBD product is high-quality. Since CBD products are not regulated by the FDA, there is no guarantee that everyone you come across will be effective, let alone safe to use.

There have been countless documented cases of CBD products containing harmful additives and inaccurately labeled concentrations of THC. To avoid this, make sure that your CBD product is made from all-natural hemp produced by a reputable supplier, check that the labeling is consistent and accurate, and confirm that the contents were lab-tested by an independent third party.

We at Tessera Naturals are committed to providing the very best quality CBD products on the market.  All of our products contain broad spectrum THC free CBD oil, made from organically grown USA hemp, and are 3rd party tested for potency and safety.

Visit OUR ONLINE SHOP today to learn more.