Relieving Arthritis with CBD: Exploring the Potential Benefits and Risks

You’ve probably already heard of the word “Arthritis.” This is no surprise; after all, arthritis is a common joint disorder affecting millions worldwide. Arthritis is characterized by inflammation, pain, and stiffness in the joints, which can be so severe that they seriously impact the quality of life of affected persons.

While traditional treatments for arthritis have been available for decades, the fact remains that there are lots of people who haven’t been able to enjoy significant relief from their symptoms. Because of this, many people are turning to alternative therapies, such as cannabidiol (CBD), for relief. This article will explore the use of CBD for arthritis, including its potential benefits and risks.

What Is Arthritis?

Here’s a little interesting fact for you. Did you know that arthritis literally means “Joint inflammation?” Well, now you do! That said, describing what arthritis is isn’t so simple. This is because the term “Arthritis” is something of a blanket term that describes over 100 different conditions that cause damage to the joints and their surrounding tissues^1,2. Arthritis can be excruciating and challenging to deal with, and those who suffer from this condition are usually in serious pain most of the time.

Prevalence Of Arthritis

According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 58 million U.S. adults are suffering from arthritis. However, you should know this condition isn’t limited to adults because children can also develop arthrits³.

Types Of Arthritis

As mentioned earlier, arthritis is a blanket term featuring several different disease conditions. As such, there are different types of arthritis. Some of these different types include the following:

Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis is a common joint disorder that results from the breakdown of cartilage in the joints. It typically occurs in older adults but can also develop in younger people who have suffered joint injuries or have a family history of the condition. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis⁴.
Rheumatoid Arthritis: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation in the joints and other body parts⁴.
Psoriatic Arthritis: Psoriatic arthritis is a type of inflammatory arthritis that affects some people with psoriasis, a skin condition characterized by red, scaly skin patches. It can affect different body parts such as skin, joints, fingernails, and toenails⁴.
Gout: Gout is a type of arthritis caused by the buildup of uric acid crystals in the joints. Usually, it’s the big toe that’s majorly affected⁴.
Lupus: Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disorder that can affect multiple organs and tissues in the body, including the skin, joints, kidneys, and brain⁴.

Symptoms Of Arthritis

The particular symptom of arthritis an affected individual experiences depends significantly on the type of arthritis it is in the first place. That said, some symptoms of arthritis are common to almost all types of arthritis. These symptoms include the following:

Pain: Arthritis pain is a common symptom of arthritis and can range from mild to severe. The place you’ll feel pain depends on the type of arthritis you have. For some, pain is restricted to the joint area. For others, it could extend to other parts of the body.
Inflammation: Symptoms of inflammation such as redness, swelling, and warmth may occur over the affected joint in some types of arthritis.
Stiffness: Another typical symptom of arthritis is stiffness. This particular symptom can become quite aggravated after long periods of inactivity or significant physical exertion.
Restricted Motion: All of the above symptoms combine to yield the most characteristic symptom of arthritis, restricted motion or mobility².

What is CBD, and How Does it Work?

CBD, short for cannabidiol, is a major compound found in the Cannabis sativa plant. Unlike THC, another compound in Cannabis, CBD is not psychoactive and does not produce a “high.”

Instead, CBD works by interacting with the body’sendocannabinoid system (ECS), a complex cell-signaling system involved in regulating various physiological processes like pain, mood, appetite, and immune function. By binding to and activating cannabinoid receptors in the ECS, CBD can modulate various physiological processes, including reducing inflammation, pain, and anxiety, as well as promoting relaxation and sleep.

CBD can enhance the production of natural endocannabinoids in the body, such as anandamide, which can help regulate mood, appetite, and immune function. Despite these promising effects, the exact mechanisms by which CBD produces its therapeutic benefits are still being studied. Therefore, more research is necessary to fully understand the potential therapeutic applications of CBD.⁵

CBD For Arthritis

While there’s still a lot of research that needs to be carried out on the potential applications of CBD, one area currently being explored is the use of CBD for arthritis treatment. While the use of CBD as an official treatment of arthritis isn’t validated yet, there are some very promising developments in this area.

CBD For Arthritis Evidences

Scientific studies have indicated that CBD has the potential to alleviate symptoms of arthritis and joint pain. In fact, a medical study published in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research discovered that 36% of respondents who used CBD to treat medical conditions, including arthritis and joint pain, reported it as being very effective⁶.

According to the Arthritis Foundation, some animal studies have also shown that CBD is effective for arthritis. Some of these include:

In 2017, a study concluded that CBD could be a safe and beneficial treatment option for joint pain related to osteoarthritis.
Similarly, a 2016 study found that topical CBD application had the ability to alleviate pain and inflammation linked with arthritis.
That’s not all, a 2014 review of animal research stated that CBD could effectively treat osteoarthritis.
Another 2011 study observed that CBD helped decrease inflammatory pain in rats by influencing how pain receptors respond to stimuli⁷.

The Potential Risks of Using CBD for Arthritis

Current research suggest that the risks of using CBD for arthritis are very minimal. This is primarily because CBD is well tolerated in majority of people⁸. That said there are some possible side effects that may occur. Some of these include the following:

Dry mouth
Fatigue
Appetite changes
Diarrhea

CBD products may also interact with some medications so it’s important you see your doctor before you switch to using CBD for arthritis.