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Arthritis can cause debilitating joint pain, swelling, and reduced range of motion. It’s a common and frequently debilitating disorder that’s estimated to affect around 20% of the U.S. population. And those who wish to avoid surgery or painkillers are often at a loss for how to manage their pain with the limited alternative treatment options that are available.
However, studies are beginning to show that cannabidiol (CBD) may be able to relieve pain and inflammation from with arthritis, without any of the damaging side effects that are usually associated with pharmaceutical pain relief. In this article, we’ll explore how to use this all-natural hemp-extracted supplement for pain relief and what types of CBD are best for arthritis.
What Is CBD?
CBD is a cannabis-extracted compound belonging to a family of 100+ similar compounds known as cannabinoids. Another well-known cannabinoid is THC, but unlike THC, CBD has no psychoactive properties and won’t get you high. For legal reasons, most CBD products available online are made from hemp, which is why no prescription is required (unlike medical marijuana).
The reason cannabinoids like CBD and THC provide so many health benefits is because of what’s called the endocannabinoid system. This refers to a series of receptors all over the body which are involved in many different physiological processes, including digestion, mood, and pain relief.
How CBD Helps Arthritis
CBD is known to have anti-inflammatory benefits, which is great news for anyone with arthritis or other inflammatory conditions. A 2017 study found CBD effective in reducing osteoarthritis-related inflammation, and it also prevented pain and nerve damage from developing. A similar 2016 study used topical CBD to relieve arthritis symptoms.
Other studies have found that CBD suppresses localized T-cell function and activity. T-cells, a type of white blood cell, are involved in the body’s immune system. One form of arthritis, called rheumatoid arthritis, is an autoimmune disease, meaning that the immune system attacks healthy tissues. By suppressing T-cells, CBD may be able to help relieve the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, but this has yet to be studied.
More research needs to be done on CBD’s effectiveness in treating arthritis – especially on human subjects rather than rats – but the findings so far are promising. In the meantime, many people with arthritis are successfully using CBD for relief.
What To Look For When Buying CBD For Arthritis
Since CBD is currently an unregulated market, it’s important to be cautious when buying CBD products, whether online or in a brick and mortar store. There are unfortunately some unscrupulous sellers out there who would take advantage of people in pain and sell products that don’t contain the advertised amount of CBD, if any at all – or worse, contain harmful chemicals.
Luckily, there are ways to ensure you get a high-quality product. Quality CBD vendors are transparent about their manufacturing process, including how they source and extract their CBD. Hemp is very good at absorbing toxins from the soil it’s grown in, which is great for the planet – but not so good for your health if you’re consuming products made from poor-quality hemp.
Lower-quality vendors may use cheaper extraction methods such as butane or petroleum to extract CBD, which leaves behind toxic residue that you definitely don’t want in your body. Look for vendors who use CO2 or ethanol extraction, and 3rd party testing to support their quality and potency claims.
Selecting The Best CBD Product For Arthritis
Besides quality, the other factor to keep in mind when shopping for CBD is what type of product you’d like to use for your arthritis. You may have already noticed there is a wide variety of products available. This can be overwhelming if you’re new to CBD, but don’t worry; it’s mostly a matter of preference.
Many people like to use CBD oil tinctures for pain relief, at least in the beginning, because tinctures are highly concentrated and allow for easy dose adjustments. There aren’t official dosage guidelines for CBD yet, so adjustments are usually necessary before you find the amount that works for you.
When taken sublingually (under the tongue), tinctures bypass the digestive system and absorb quickly into the bloodstream. Vaping CBD also provides fast relief, but there is less control over your dose with this method. Edibles such as gummies and capsules are also popular and convenient options. However, unlike vaping and tinctures, these are less customizable and take longer to start working.
Alternately, you can also use topical CBD treatments, such as creams or balms, to soothe sore muscles and joints. It’s possible to add CBD oil to a topical product instead, like your favorite lotion, for the same effect.
Try CBD For Arthritis Today
The evidence suggests that CBD can be an effective way to manage chronic pain and inflammation from arthritis. It’s also great for stress and anxiety reduction, regulating sleep, and numerous other benefits, all of which can help when you’re dealing with a chronic pain condition.
If you’re interested in trying CBD for your arthritis symptoms, Every Day Optimal offers a variety of CBD products for sale, including tinctures, edibles, and capsules, all made using high-quality industrial hemp and CO2 extraction. All of our products are tested by a 3rd party to verify their potency and quality, and our products are free of heavy metals, pesticides, and other toxic chemicals.
Your web site has been very helpful to this first time user. I have chronic migraines (constant for four and a half years now) and have tried every other option possible offered by my headache specialist. I also have osteoarthritis with several joints being replaced. I choose the 600mg tincture to start. Any suggestions would be most helpful. Thanks