Every year between 2013 and 2015, over 54 million American adults received the news that they had some form of arthritis annually. Worse still, it is estimated that arthritis is the single biggest cause of disability among elderly Americans in recent times.
For many of those who are diagnosed, theirs could be anything from osteoarthritis to rheumatoid arthritis to lupus. Whatever your situation, the one thing many arthritic sufferers want to know is how can they reduce the pain so it doesn’t affect a big part of their lives?
Arthritis can be pretty debilitating, and any relief that patients can get is very welcome. Ever since the government legalized cannabis and marijuana in certain states, there’s been a surge in the demand for an extract of marijuana called Cannabidiol (CBD).
This compound is thought to have excellent pain relief properties, but without the intoxication that comes from actually ingesting weed.
Arthritic sufferers looking for non-prescription pain relief options are also beginning to look into it as a possible source of pain relief. If you’re reading this, chances are you’d like to know if it can help.
Well, that’s what we intend to show you in this article. We’ll also be looking at any possible side effects as well as extra benefits that may come from the usage of CBD oil in providing pain relief.
Scientists have recently started looking into CBD oil as a possible means of pain relief for those suffering arthritis. Extracted from hemp, CBD oil is highly sought after by those who don’t particularly care about the highs that another psychoactive compound like THC –more commonly found in marijuana- and just want all its benefits.
Therefore, if you’re looking to get high whilst still managing your pain, you might be better off looking for THC oils and extracts.
A quick search for CBD oil online and in various legal cannabis stores, shows a wide array of options available, as well as their percentages. This goes to show that not all CBD oils are equal. Some have higher content, others lower. The choice for your pain management primarily depends on the severity of your needs.
The Role Of CBD Oil For Arthritic Pain Relief
Most of those who suffer from arthritis, tend to have either osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. These are both different in their causes, but the end result is usually the same –pain in the joints, swollen joints, stiff joints and inflammation.
Each and every one of these symptoms can cause severe and excruciating pain for the sufferers. CBD oil can help manage their pain and improving their comfort by altering how pain receptors, identify and handle pain –some studies carried out rats have proven this to be possible.
Also, people suffering from osteoarthritis can also add this to their pain management and treatment regimen, seeing as studies have shown that it actually does help relieve their pains and symptoms.
The topical application of CBD oil may help ease your joint and muscle pains associated with arthritis as seen in a recently published 2016 paper. Products like Sativex, which actually contains both THC and CBD oils have been known to help provide relief. The reality however, is that many of these studies aren’t very conclusive.
If you’re looking for scientific papers involving the use of humans during the experiment, you may not find much as these studies and few and far in between. And those currently being carried out are not yet concluded.
The summary therefore, is that scientists and researchers need to do a lot more research to determine the proven efficacy of these substances in the treatment of these conditions. With this information, arthritis patients can actually work with the right dosages to get the relief they so badly crave.
How Does CBD Oil Provide Relief?
Understanding how this opioid works can go a long way in helping you decide if you want to explore it as a possible treatment option.
It helps with pain relief by simply getting attached to a receptor called the CB2. Located in the brain, this receptor plays a key role in the function and relief of pain. So, when you take the oil either orally or topically, the cannabinoids go on to locate these receptors and attach themselves.
They may also trigger the production of natural cannabinoids, depending on their composition and mode of pain relief delivery. Once this happens, these receptors supposedly become less sensitive to pain, making the pain sensation of pain almost non-existent or manageable at the very least.
Even better, it does this without the addictive effects your regular prescription painkillers.
CBD Oil’s Most Effective Form
You’ll often find this in powder, oil, spray, or capsule form. In the case of powder and oil, they can either be used just like that or added to creams or gels, making up the better part of their constitution.
Once they are available in this form, arthritic patients can easily apply them topically to the aching body parts for relief. As for the spray and capsule forms, both of these are usually ingested orally. It is important that you stick to the recommended dosages so that you don’t take too much.
If you intend to start using this as a part of or to replace your treatment protocol, please speak with your doctor or pain management specialist first. This is to ensure that there are no drug interactions if you’re combining it with other drugs.
CBD Oil Side Effects
Most people are able to take this without any side effects whatsoever. However, there’s a small part of the population that reacts somewhat negatively to it. So, if you’ll be using CCBD oil, you may experience some of the following side effects:
- Slight lethargy
- Difficulty falling asleep
- Slight anxiety and irritability
- Nausea
This is why we recommend that you start small and build up to the required dosage. This way, you can effectively determine what your tolerance levels and watch for possible drug reactions.
As with all new and alternative treatment forms, there’s little or regulation. And these oils are definitely not approved by the FDA. So, take with caution, and watch out for any adverse reactions.
