Could CBD Oil play a role in providing arthritis pain relief?
In this article, we will explore whether CBD oil could provide an effective treatment for arthritis by examining the benefits and side effects of the cannabis extract and how it can be associated with the chronic disease.
Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the United States with over 50 million Americans dealing with the condition.
According to the Arthritis Foundation, 1 in every 5 adults and 300,000 children deal with some form of arthritis.
Current treatment for arthritis can include medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics, and counterirritants, which focus on improving joint movement and relieving symptoms.
Other treatments can include surgery (joint repair, joint fusion, or joint replacement) or physical therapy depending on the type of arthritis.
Many people dealing with this condition are now turning to alternative medicine which brings up the question…
Can CBD oil be used as a viable solution to treat arthritis pain?
First, let’s look at the common types of arthritis.
Understanding Arthritis
Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints. There are over 100 different types of joint diseases associated with arthritis. The two most common types are rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA).
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the joints rather than protecting its health by attacking bacteria and viruses.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the “wear and tear arthritis” and is the most common chronic condition of the joints. Often called the degenerative joint disease, it develops when the cartilage between joints breaks down.
Can CBD oil assist in treating this chronic condition? Let’s look at what makes up this alternative medicine.
What is CBD (cannabidiol) oil?
Cannabidiol oil, also known as hemp oil or CBD oil, is a non -intoxicating extract derived from the cannabis sativa family of plants.
Within this diverse genus we find both hemp and marijuana varieties. The difference between the two lies is the percent of THC, above 0.3% is is classified as marijuana. Below 0.3% and it is classified as hemp.
Cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and are the two primary cannabinoids used therapeutically. These substances differ greatly in how they interact with the cannabinoid receptors found in the human brain and body.
Basically, CBD will not get a user “high”. It is a non-psychoactive agent meaning digestion will bring little to no noticeable effects to cognitive abilities.
With this basic understanding of arthritis and CBD oil, let’s examine the research that has been considered with dealing with the chronic pain of this disease.
There are no claims here to support that CBD oil is a medical treatment for chronic conditions including arthritis. We recommend taking the time to make as much research as possible from all reputable sources and deciding for yourself if CBD oil is a viable option for relieving joint pain.
CBD Oil for Arthritis Pain: Beginning the Research in 2005
A report published Nov. 9, 2005 investigated such potentials. D.R. Blake from the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases shared some interesting results from a CBD based study.
The objective?
To assess the efficacy of a cannabis-based medicine (CBM) in the treatment of pain due to rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Blake, D. (n.d.). Rheumatology (1st ed., Vol. 45).
Researchers compared a cannabis-based medicine (Sativex) with placebo in a randomized group study over 5 weeks with 58 patients.
The cannabis-based medicine (CBM) produced significant improvements on many issues from rheumatoid arthritis. The subjects claimed improvements on quality of sleep, pain on movement, and pain at rest.
As the first controlled trial of testing cannabis-based medicine with rheumatoid arthritis, significant effects were observed with the subjects.
Even then, as the differences are small across the population, this group study further revealed the need for more clinical studies in cannabis-based medicine.
In conclusion, evidence from this study suggested that CBM (cannabis-based medicine) may have therapeutic clinical potential in the treatment of arthritis and other chronic conditions. *
Before this group study, the therapeutic potential of CBD (cannabidiol) was tested with collagen-induced arthritis in mice.
CBD was found to be Therapeutic to Collagen-induced Arthritis
According to research published in 2000, CBD was found to effectively block the progression of arthritis that mice induced.
Mice were subjected to collagen-induced arthritis and were then given CBD treatment after the clinical symptoms. With both instances, CBD showed significant results in blocking the progression of arthritis.
The clinical improvement was shown by protecting the joints against severe damage with collagen-induced arthritis.
Interestingly enough, the dosage amount of CBD had a statically significant effect on the suppression of the chronic condition. *
When CBD was administered at doses of both 20 mg/kg per day and 10 mg/kg per day, it had a slight therapeutic effect on arthritis. *
When the CBD was given at the lower dose of 5 mg/kg per day, the subjects induced an optimal progression against the arthritis. *
Similar research was also tested with osteoarthritis (OA).
The 2017 Osteoarthritis and Cannabidiol (CBD) Study
Osteoarthritis is a joint disease that includes intermittent inflammation, joint degeneration, and peripheral neuropathy.
The aim of this study was to determine whether CBD is anti-nociceptive in OA, and whether inhibition of inflammation by CBD could prevent the development of OA pain and joint neuropathy.
Philpott, H., O’Brien, M., & McDougall, J. (2017). Attenuation of early phase inflammation by cannabidiol prevents pain and nerve damage in rat osteoarthritis. Retrieved February 4, 2019, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28885454.
On day 14, joint inflammation and pain behavior was measured in the male Wistar rat subjects. With the prophylactic administration of CBD, the development of joint pain in the subjects was prevented. It was also found to protect nerve cells against damage and degeneration.
CBD Oil – Is it a safe and therapeutic medicine for arthritis pain?
While we cannot make any strong medical claims on the benefits of CBD oil with chronic diseases such as arthritis, we can present some compelling research to help you decide the correct path of treatment.
There are multiple studies on the health benefits of CBD oil for many different conditions. Even then, strong research is still new for this form of alternative medicine. There are also many other options available to assist in treating arthritis.
Some of these additional forms of alternative medicine could include supplements, natural herbs, vitamins, massages, and acupuncture.
While we believe that CBD has a strong therapeutic effect on multiple diseases, we recommend taking the time to research many alternative options, so you are completely sure on what is right for you in dealing with arthritis issues.
* The Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated the statements made regarding these products. FDA-approved research has not confirmed the efficacy of these products. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. All information presented here is not meant as a substitute for or alternative to information from healthcare practitioners. Please consult your healthcare professional about potential interactions or other possible complications before using any product. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act require this notice.
