Does CBD Help with Arthritis?

It is not a time to become disappointed: while there are no cures for arthritis pain, CBD demonstrates promising opportunities in relieving arthritis-related symptoms.

The fame of CBD grows on a yearly basis. It happens primarily because of its unique ability to relieve and mitigate many health problems starting from situational issues and ending with severe health conditions. CBD works equally well in both cases, and this makes it not only popular but also interesting for science. Currently, we have a lack of evidence confirming that CBD is a medicine while more and more progressively thinking patients claim that it works better than medicine. Especially remarkable is CBD’s effectiveness with hard-treated health problems like Dravet syndrome, anxiety, cancer, and autoimmune diseases, including arthritis. There are some tests and research confirming this effect, yet scientists keep exploring CBD to understand why it is so effective and if could be there any unexpected nuances.

Some secrets of CBD’s effectiveness are already known and here they are

The principles of remedy’s action are based on close interaction with the human nervous system – the endocannabinoid system if spoken more precisely. The endocannabinoid system is responsible for body reactions that occur thanks to the links between receptors. Just from the name, even an inexperienced reader, can see that cannabinoids are central elements that play a crucial role in the healthy functioning of the endocannabinoid system. Indeed, cannabinoids are substance (elements) that joins the cannabinoid receptors of the body and brain. They are unrenewable substances, and the lack of cannabinoids causes breaking inter-receptors links violation of natural responses of the nervous system.

The most interesting thing is in that human-body-identical cannabinoids occurs in cannabis plants only. Here is the magic. CBD or cannabidiol is an extract of cannabis and a source of exogenous (that are out of the human body) cannabinoids. As soon as they happen to be in the human body, they start acting as their endogenous counterparts as if repairing inter-receptors links and renewing the nervous system’s natural functioning.

What is arthritis?

Even those who have superficial knowledge about the disease know that arthritis is related to painful feelings. Indeed, acute or chronic pain is a constant companion of arthritis which, in fact, is the inflammation of joints. Arthritis is a kind of generic name while there are around 100 diverse types of disease depending on roots, reasons, and preconditions that have caused it and the degree of damage. Among others, one could hear the following diagnoses: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriatic arthritis.

The first one, osteoarthritis (OA), is the most common form of the disease. It develops over time and intensifies with age. Osteoarthritis affects the entire joint, including the bones, ligaments, cartilage, fat, and the tissues that lining the joint. This form of arthritis is preconditioned by age (happens in people over 50 years old), gender (women are at higher risk), overuse of the same joints, genetics, former injuries, and suffering from obesity.

Rheumatoid arthritis is one more widespread form of arthritis. Yet, this form is rooted in genetics and related to the autoimmune area. For some unknown reasons, the immune system attacks healthy cells which usually results in one of several joints being attacked. Scientists are looking for these reasons and suppose that they are hidden in the genes.

Except for the pain that usually accompanies all the forms of arthritis, one can observe such symptoms as a low-grade fever, fatigue, and joint stiffness.

How can CBD help?

CBD reduces inflammation and contributes to fighting a core reason for the disease;

CBD interacts with serotonin receptors and promotes increasing the level of serotonin. This creates feelings of relaxation in our brain and body, which can help reduce the intensity of pain.

Cannabinoids can also block certain receptors that, in its turn, block the inflammation process and pain within the body.

Is this a confirmed effect?

Since CBD is a kind of innovative way to treat arthritis its effect is not fully researched. Yet, preliminary tests and research demonstrate promising perspectives. Recently, CBD spray and CBD gel were applied to test the effect on reducing arthritis problems in both people and rats. In both cases, CBD demonstrated rather good results and contributed to relieving pain, reducing joint swelling, and reducing pro-inflammatory biomarkers.

What is the best way to take CBD with arthritis?

CBD works best with arthritis when ingested or used topically. The latter option, which implies using CBD-based substances like cream or gels, is good in cases of injuries, or other situations when arthritis has more environmental (outside) reasons. Thus, CBD mitigates pain by reducing the mechanosensitivity of joint nociceptors and slowing inflammatory changes while your joints are renewing after injury, for example.

Yet, if arthritis goes from inner troubles, like a violation of the autoimmune process, it is better to take CBD ingested. This way can allow active substances to cause deeper influence and reduce inflammation which is an initial reason for arthritis. Ingestible have a whole-body systemic effect. Although they take longer than topicals to cause relieving effect, this effect lasts longer as well.

There are variations of CBD ingestible.Capsules are a pill form that needs to be ingested to start acting. Oral Sprays and tinctures are taken sublingually and happen to be in the bloodstream faster than capsules since they bypass the digestive process.

CBD is a good preventative mean

We mentioned above that arthritis can have autoimmune roots and it could appear without any pre-warning. You might ask how it is possible to speak about prevention in this situation. Indeed, no one condition, insignificant health problem, or severe disease does not appear from anything – there are always certain preconditions. These could be genes, stress, unhealthy eating, or wrong sleeping habits. Sure, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the first preventive option but there are many situations behind a person’s control, like prolonged stress.

Knowing that a member of your family experienced illness and you have a genetic predisposition to arthritis, you should be more attentive to environmental factors that can activate a “sleeping” autoimmune drawback. CBD is a good way to mitigate many factors by regulating the endocannabinoid system. It works gently with stress, sleeping and eating disorders – core factors that usually shake the nervous system and can promote health emergence of problems or activation of latent illnesses.

What is the right dosage of CBD for arthritis?

CBD is a plant extract and like any natural element, it could be tolerated differently by different people. That is why it is highly important not to identify dosage by yourself, especially in the case of autoimmune reasons for your illness. Take consultation with your doctor to be sure you have no allergies, no warnings against plant-related components, or something like this. It will take your time, but it also protects you from making harm to yourself and being disappointed with the CBD effect.

Anyhow, start taking CBD from the smallest dose prescribed and then keep increasing it if needed.

What are side effects of CBD?

CBD is well-tolerated by people. No significant side effects were found. Yet, there are cases of individual intolerance that could be preconditioned by sensitivity to the cannabis plant’s elements. In such a situation you can try CBD isolate – CBD filtered, and maximum purified from additional organic substances.

What is the distance between treatment and addiction?

We could not ignore this aspect since you have thought of this in any case. Unfortunately, the fame of CBD is not only good, but it is also a little threatening and ambiguous. The composition of cannabis extract includes a few kinds of cannabinoids – some of them are with clear reputation and some are with bad marks. THC, better known for its psychotropic effect, is among the substances that overshadow a promising perspective of CBD with suspicious properties. Every sober-minded person, who knows about marijuana and THC as an active psychotropic element, questions whether CBD can cause high effects and whether regularly taking CBD can cause addiction.

Yet, it is unlikely to be true. CBD includes the smallest possible concentration of THC. This concentration allows preserve curing effect that is based on the close interplay between CBD and THC but excludes the possibility of psychotropic influence. To ensure that you are going to take the right CBD product just check the concentration of THC. It should be no more than 0.3%

If you are afraid of becoming addicted, try to use CBD isolate. This form of CBD is the only, which contains no suspicious elements or THC at all. However, its treatment properties can vary from the THC containing both elements.

Although CBD is well-tolerated and safe product, be a cautious buyer!

CBD products are an unregulated option in many countries, including the USA.

Choose the companies that follow high-standard manufacturing practices established by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for pharmaceuticals or dietary supplements in the U.S. or any other appropriate standards-setting body in your country. Pay attention to whether the manufacturer provides quality certificates or certificates on testing products from an independent laboratory.