CBD for Arthritis

Arthritis is the collective name for over a hundred different types of joint diseases with joint pain and -inflammation as the main symptoms. According to the Arthritis Foundation, it is the most significant cause of disability in the United States.

Many pharmaceuticals for arthritis are ineffective.  In contrast, many anecdotes report CBD as extremely effective.

According to the Arthritis Foundation more than 50 million US adults and 300,000 children have some form of arthritis.

There are two main groups of arthritis:

• Osteoarthritis or degenerative arthritis—the degradation of cartilage with time
• Rheumatoid arthritis or Inflammatory arthritis—an immune system attack on joint tissue

Almost 23% of overweight and 31% of obese US adults are diagnosed with arthritis according to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

Improved quality of life with CBD for arthritis

Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the US. Regular ‘big pharma’ medication proves to be quite ineffective. Nevertheless, there has been disappointingly little research done on CBD’s potential for arthritis. Despite the promising results of a study in 2000 on CBD treatment of rodents with artificially induced arthritis, there is still not enough research to scientifically prove the efficacy of cannabidiol on osteoarthritis.

However, during the last 18 years, several studies have been conducted, all contributing to the increasing evidence that CBD has great potential as a treatment for Arthritis. Even the synthetically produced FDA approved cannabis-based drug Sativex showed substantial improvement in arthritis pain and significantly suppressed disease activity. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that herbal cannabis is much more effective than biochemical forms.

It is worth noting that in very rare cases arthritis can be caused by the Lyme disease, according to CDC.

Laboratory studies

In 2000, a lab study on mice with two forms of collagen-induced-arthritis showed that cannabidiol treatment effectively blocked the progression of the disease, independent of the dosing method (by injection or orally). The study results were very positive and concluded that CBD has a potent anti-arthritic effect due to its immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory properties.

In 2011, a study on rats clearly showed that atypical cannabinoid receptors are involved in joint nociception (spontaneous firing of joint sensory nerves) and that these targets may be advantageous for the treatment of inflammatory pain.

A 2017 lab rat study showed that local CBD treatment reduced acute transient joint inflammation and that prophylactic administration of CBD prevented the development of joint pain at later time points.

For over a decade, Dr. Jason McDougall, BSc, Ph.D., and chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Arthritis Society, has researched the role of cannabinoids in the treatment of arthritis.

Dr. McDougall proved that the endocannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 are both present in our joints. Further research showed that the increased firing of electrical impulses during painful joint movement was significantly reduced to the level of regular joint movements with cannabis.

The natural endocannabinoids that our body uses to mitigate pain are only produced in our bodies when we have pain or inflammation. These endocannabinoids should accumulate in the painful joint and relieve the pain. Still, in arthritis patients, they do not get a chance to do that because of enzymes that are produced to attack the endocannabinoids.

Dr. McDougall discovered that by using an enzyme blocker, the natural pain mitigation work of the endocannabinoids proceeds with the reduction of pain as a result. Besides, the inflammation is stopped and reduced to the point that it disappears.

According to Dr. McDougall, “Cannabis and the endocannabinoid system could be a very useful way of treating joint inflammation and joint pain.