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Is CBD an Effective Treatment for Arthritis?

Did you know that 23% of American adults – 54 million – have arthritis? The condition costs the US $140 billion in medical expenses. Although millions of people suffer from this chronic disease, it has no cure. Subsequently, the available treatments only help in relieving the symptoms of the condition.

CBD may be the next big thing in the health and wellness world. Indeed, the compound derived from a cannabis plant shows numerous considerable potential benefits. People around the globe use CBD for many purposes ranging from improving sleep to reducing stress and anxiety and rejuvenating the skin. CBD’s ability to relieve pain and reduce inflammation has made it a promising treatment for people who have arthritis.

What Is Arthritis?

This condition affects joints and adjacent tissue—with the term arthritis synonymously used to mean joint inflammation. Although there are more than 100 types of arthritis, the common types are osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Arthritis is prominent among the elderly, but equally, people of all ages can get the disease. Often, a person with arthritis will experience pain, stiffness, inflammation, fatigue, and fever. As such, the condition affects a person’s quality of life significantly. Research shows that arthritis is the number one cause of disability among adults in the US. An estimated 41% of people with arthritis have limited mobility because of the condition.

Arthritis has negative emotional, physical, and financial implications for individuals and families. Consequently, these ill-effects necessitate researchers to look for different treatment options to improve patients’ quality of life.

Research on CBD for Inflammation and Pain

CBD can be an effective treatment for arthritis because it lessens two main symptoms of the condition -pain and inflammation. When CBD gets into your body, it appends itself to certain receptors in your brain and immune system.

Among the receptors it attaches to is the CB2 receptor that has a role in managing pain and inflammation. Researchers perceive CBD as influencing the way receptors respond to signals of pain and inflammation and hence reducing pain and swelling for a patient.

Several scientific studies support the use of CBD for pain relief and reducing inflammation. In a 2008 review of research carried out between 1980 and 2007, the findings indicated that CBD is effective in pain management with no adverse side effects. CBD also proved to be useful in addressing insomnia associated with chronic pain.

A 2010 review assessed different studies conducted on CBD’s effects on inflammation. This study concluded that CBD and other cannabinoids have the potential to be utilized as anti-inflammatory agents.

Research on CBD and Arthritis

In addition to research determining the effect Of CBD on relieving pain and reducing inflammation, some studies have been conducted to prove the efficacy of CBD in treating arthritis. Although further studies may be needed to determine that CBD is an effective treatment for arthritis conclusively, most of this research is encouraging. Here are a few examples:

  • A 2006 survey discovered that Sativex, a cannabis-derived mouth spray, helps to ease arthritis pain. However, in this case, the cannabis plant used to make the drug contained both CBD and THC. THC is the psychoactive element in cannabis responsible for the ‘high effect.’
  • In 2011, a study in rats revealed CBD’s purported capacity to lessen inflammatory pain. It does this by affecting how pain receptors respond to stimuli.
  • Research conducted in 2014 reviewed the existing research on CBD as a treatment for osteoarthritis. The findings indicated that CBD might be a potential treatment for osteoarthritis.
  • A 2016 research revealed that the topical application of CBD could reduce pain and inflammation that comes with arthritis.
  • In 2017, another study found that CBD can be a useful treatment for osteoarthritis joint pain.

CBD as a Natural Alternative to Other Arthritis Treatments

Current arthritis management regimens include Acetaminophen, Opioids, NSAIDs, Corticosteroids, and DMARDs. Nevertheless, most of these treatments have adverse side effects. Corticosteroids, for instance, is great for relieving pain and inflammation but can have unpleasant side effects like glaucoma, fluid retention, cataracts, and high sugar levels.

CBD is an excellent alternative for existing arthritis treatments because it’s natural and rarely causes side effects. Where you may find CBD side effects, they are negligible and less life-threatening compared to conventional treatments.

Using CBD to Manage Arthritis

CBD is available in various forms. Either as a cream or gel that you can use to apply to the skin on the areas affected by arthritis. You can also take the product in the form of capsules, oral spray, tinctures, edibles, and CBD oil.

Ultimately, it’s promising to know that CBD as a natural remedy can potentially alleviate the pain and inflammation associated with the condition. You can shop our complete line of premium CBD products at our store in La Crosse, Wisconsin or online at CannaBiz Depot.

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