Arthritis isn’t life-threatening, but there’s no doubt suffering from the condition will negatively impact your quality of life. There are different types of arthritis and treatment can vary depending and the underlying cause. A new breakthrough in arthritis treatment is using CBD oil as a treatment for pain and inflammation caused by the condition.
What is CBD Oil?
CBD oil is a natural plant extract that’s obtained by isolating a substance called cannabidiol (or CBD for short) from industrial hemp plants. Specifically, cannabidiol belongs to a group of substances called cannabinoids.
Not all cannabinoids are good for human consumption. These substances are very similar in structure to chemicals that naturally occur in the human body. Some cannabinoids bond with cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 in the human body, and can lead to euphoric effects and dependency. Cannabidiol, however, isn’t known to bond with the body’s cannabinoid receptors, and is believed to boost body function in less direct ways.
Since the discovery of the endocannabinoid system in the human body, many studies have been done to test the effectiveness of CBD oil for treating various conditions. Many of the results have shown that CBD can be effective for assisting in the treatment of a wide variety health conditions – arthritis are among the conditions that can benefit from CBD treatment.
While CBD oil is one of the most common cannabidiol supplements available on the market, other products containing this cannabinoid also exist.
What is Arthritis?
Arthritis is a health condition that is characterized by inflammation and pain in the joint. The condition can affect only one joint but more often, multiple joints are affected.
Types of Arthritis
More than 100 different types of arthritis and arthritis-related conditions exist. The cause of the condition is often an important distinguishing factor between the different types. Two of the main types of arthritis include rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis is the most common type, it’s often associated with age. It’s caused by the thin layer of cartilage between joint bones wearing down. This layer of cartilage is important to cushion the joint and allow for comfortable mobility. Once the cartilage wears out entirely, joint bones grind against one another. This leads to pain, inflammation and reduced mobility.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease where the body attacks its own joint tissues. The specific part of the joint affected by this form of arthritis is called the synovial membrane. In earlier stages of the condition, the synovial membrane will become inflamed, but later this can lead to cartilage being destroyed. Once this happens, rheumatoid arthritis will be the same as osteoarthritis.
One more common form of arthritis worth mentioning is gout. Gout is caused by an excess of uric acid being present in the body. This uric acid crystalizes and is deposited in joints, which leads to the pain and inflammation gout sufferers experience.
Arthritis Risk Factors
There are some risk factors that make certain people more susceptible to arthritis. Some common risk factors include:
- Age: Older people are more likely to suffer from the condition
- Joint injury: An old joint injury has a high risk of developing arthritis sooner than other joints
- Obesity: Obesity increases a person’s risk of developing multiple health problems, arthritis is no exception. The excess weight carried by the body can take its toll on joints
A family history can also influence your chance of developing arthritis. In many cases, however, a healthy lifestyle and nutritious diet can delay the onset of age-related arthritis.
Arthritis Prevention
As with any health complication, it’s always better to prevent arthritis than to treat it, especially since there isn’t a cure for conditions such as osteoarthritis. There’s no sure way to prevent arthritis, but there are things you can do to significantly reduce your risk:
- Maintain a healthy weight to prevent excess pressure on joints
- Eating a healthy diet can help a lot, as this will prevent the buildup of uric acid in the body. Limiting sugar, alcohol, processed meats and organ meats is a good start
- Don’t smoke, as smoking can cause increased inflammation in the body and lead to rheumatoid arthritis.
Living a healthy lifestyle is the best way to reduce your chances of developing arthritis, but isn’t guaranteed. Regardless, a healthy lifestyle is beneficial in reducing your risk for various other medical conditions as well, improving your overall health and quality of life.
Natural Arthritis Pain Control
There are some easy natural treatments for controlling arthritis pain, these include:
- Hot and cold therapy: Simple treatments involving heat or coldness can help a lot to control arthritis pain. Taking a long, hot bath or shower, or placing a heated microwave bag on a cold joint can help loosen it up, while an ice pack can reduce pain and swelling.
- Cook with turmeric: Turmeric is a popular ingredient in many natural arthritis supplements. An ingredient in turmeric call curcumin is thought to help control arthritis pain.
- Try a massage: Massaging sore joints can help to manage pain caused by arthritis. You can massage your sore joints at home or visit a massage therapist for help.
These natural remedies can help to improve the pain you experience. However, don’t leave any medications prescribed by your doctor without consulting a trustworthy healthcare provider first. These remedies may be effective, but they’re effects won’t be long-lasting.
Benefits of CBD Oil for Treating Arthritis
Various studies regarding the use of CBD oil for treating arthritis pain have been conducted. While some studies specifically focused on the use of CBD as an anti-inflammatory, studies specifically focused on arthritis also demonstrated positive outcomes.
CBD can help to treat arthritis pain in more than one way. As mentioned, CBD oil has the ability to work an anti-inflammatory, meaning it’s effective at reducing redness and swelling in affected joints. Another way in which CBD oil can benefit arthritis symptoms is by reducing pain.
The method in which CBD works to produce these anti-inflammatory, pain relieving effects is not yet fully understood. Some scientists believe it that CBD improves the function of the endocannabinoid system, which is a system that is largely responsible for pain control in the human body.
How to Use CBD Oil to Treat Arthritis Symptoms?
CBD oil can be applied to the affected joint topically. It can also be ingested as a supplement treatment.
To use CBD oil as a supplement, you can dilute the oil using water or fruit juice, but this might not be effective for you. Another method to take CBD oil is by simply placing a few drops of oil under your tongue, leave the oil there for about 60 seconds to allow for absorption by the small blood vessels under the tongue. This method may be more effective for a lot of patients.
Th exact CBD dosage you’ll need in order to see any benefits can vary from one person to another. To start out, read the dosage instructions as indicted of the product label. If you find this dosage is ineffective for you, slowly increase your daily dosage until you start seeing results.
Keep in mind that lower doses of CBD oil is believed to be more effective for pain relief, so increasing your dose may not produce a better result.
Currently, there is no amount of CBD oil that is known to cause an overdose, or adverse effects, but it’s still better to stay on the safe side and consult your doctor before increasing your dose too much.
Additional CBD Benefits
You may start using CBD to control your arthritis pain, only to be pleasantly surprised by its additional health benefits. Some common health benefits of CBD include its ability to control pain, reduce anxiety and stress and improve sleep.
Once you start using CBD oil, be sure to keep track of your health. While you’re likely to see a lot of improvements in many areas, it’s also important to keep an eye on possible side effects. Some side effects that have been reported with CBD use include changes in appetite, light diarrhea and a dry mouth.
By taking CBD oil on a daily basis, you might find that you are able to control your arthritis pain with great success. As a natural arthritis treatment, CBD is a convenient supplement that isn’t likely to result in any adverse symptoms. By combining CBD treatment with your conventional arthritis medication, you may experience improved pain control and relief from inflammation.
