CBD For Arthritis. Does It Offer Effective Pain Relief?

In this article will discuss how and why CBD has now become the most followed natural remedy to relieve joint pain, inflammation and damage among arthritis patients.

With each passing day, ageing is bringing more health challenges. Arthritis is often associated with old age, but can affect people of all ages. It primarily affects joints, causing inflammation, fatigue, swelling, stiffness and limited mobility.

Fact: Around 50% of arthritic patients are old-aged people over 65.

Perhaps, its debilitating effects are not confined to joints-it also involves ligaments, tendons, bones and muscles. According to John Hopkins Medicine, there are more than 100 types of arthritis, where Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis are the most common ^(1,2).

Fact: Rheumatoid is more common in females ⁽²⁾.

When it comes to the cause- wear and tear of ageing(osteoarthritis), auto-immune disease (rheumatoid arthritis), or accumulation of crystals in the joint cavity(gout) seem common reasons for this painful and inflamed joint condition.

Anti-arthritis medicines mainly focus on reducing inflammation, relieving pain and modulating immune cells to avoid attacking one’s own cells/tissues.

But there is no definite cure for arthritis. Despite medicines, patients cannot achieve pain-free lives, which impacts their routine activities.

CBD for arthritis pain:

CBD (Cannabidiol) is one of the most popular constituents (cannabinoids) of Cannabis Sativa plants, known for relieving various ailments, including arthritis.

According to a study published in Biological Science, CBD does not act on the endocannabinoid system, which regulates pain and inflammation. Instead, it modulates inflammation-inducing proteins and immune cells to reduce pain and further damage to joints ⁽³⁾.

Similar findings suggested by another study published in Antioxidants that CBD reduces inflammation by bringing down pro-inflammatory cytokines (inflammation enhancing proteins) and T cells inflammation provoking cascade⁽⁴⁾.

Does CBD help with arthritis?

Yes, CBD helps reduce the severity of arthritis due to its anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties.

The Arthritis Foundation researched over 2500 arthritic patients in which more than 75% admitted CBD use to manage pain from arthritis ⁽⁵⁾.

If we analyse the effects of CBD VS anti-arthritic drugs, it seems that CBD lowers inflammation, modulates immune function and reduces pain as medicines would.

On top, CBD has few to no side effects. Research revealed that arthritis patients preferred CBD over opioids for pain relief because of nearly no side effects, and more importantly, no addiction ⁽⁵⁾.

Besides, CBD, unlike regular medicines, comes in various formulations such as oils, creams, balms, vapes, nasal spray, candles, tablets and edibles, making it easier to consume at your convenience.

Topicals are more popular- a survey found more than half of the respondents with arthritis preferred liquid forms of CBD for applying to joints ⁽⁵⁾.

CBD oil for arthritis:

CBD oils are best for massaging inflamed, swollen and stiff joints to ease -off pain and inflammation.

However, CBD oils come in various strengths and potencies. Therefore, the best would be to seek advice from your doctor/GP for complete guidance on dosage.

CBD balm for arthritis:

They are preferable for their convenient application. A gentle massage with CBD balm improves blood circulation, reduces swelling, enhances mobility and relieves pain.

Can I stop arthritis medications while using CBD products?

It is important to note that CBD relieves inflammation and pain, however some types of arthritis also require treatment with disease-modifying medicines (such as DMARDS), which prevents further damage to joints ⁽⁶⁾. Therefore, you should not abandon these medications while on CBD.

Balanced use of CBD, arthritis medications, and self-care, seems the best approach for slow disease progression and better pain control.

Caution: Pregnancy and breastfeeding ladies should avoid using CBD products, especially those containing THC.

Also, patients with liver disease and those on multiple medications should seek advice from doctors before consuming CBD products.

Best CBD for arthritis:

The best CBD products are sourced from naturally grown hemp and contain less THC.

For the best possible results, it is advised to buy CBD items from credible companies that get their CBD evaluated for purity, safety and effectiveness by independent labs and hold a certificate of analysis (COA) ⁽⁶⁾.

CBD arthritis products UK:

Here we have created a list of the most credited suppliers of organic CBD for arthritis in the UK as follows:

Conclusion:

Arthritis is a joint inflammatory disorder which mainly affects people in old age. It manifests as painful, swollen and stiff joints, making it hard to move around and perform routine activities.
Various drugs are used as a standard medical treatment to curb inflammation, pain and joint damage. Despite that, good pain control and slow disease progression seem difficult.
CBD, cannabidiol, is one of the popular constituents of the Sativa plant. It carries remarkable anti-inflammatory, immune modulating and pain-relieving properties with fewer side effects, making it worthwhile to use for arthritis.
CBD comes in various forms, but CBD balms, oils and other topicals are more popular for gentle massage therapy to relieve painful joint symptoms.
Finally, the right balance of CBD use, regular medicines and self joint care are recommended for better pain control and disease outcome.

References:

Rheumatoid Arthritis : Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment. (2016). Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center. https://www.hopkinsarthritis.org/arthritis-info/rheumatoid-arthritis/
Arthritis. (n.d.). Www.hopkinsmedicine.org. Retrieved March 3, 2022, from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/arthritis
Malfait, A. M., Gallily, R., Sumariwalla, P. F., Malik, A. S., Andreakos, E., Mechoulam, R., & Feldmann, M. (2000). The nonpsychoactive cannabis constituent cannabidiol is an oral anti-arthritic therapeutic in murine collagen-induced arthritis. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 97(17), 9561–9566. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.160105897
Atalay, S., Jarocka-Karpowicz, I., & Skrzydlewska, E. (2019). Antioxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Cannabidiol. Antioxidants, 9(1), 21. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox9010021
Patients Tell Us About CBD Use. (2019, August 8). News. https://blog.arthritis.org/news/patients-tell-us-cbd-use/?_.
Khaleghi, M. (n.d.). New Arthritis Foundation Guidelines On CBD Use Could Be First Of Many More To Come. ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES, 26(1). Retrieved August 18, 2022, from https://athmjournal.com/beyondcbd/wpcontent/uploads/sites/3/2020/02/Khaleghi.pdf