Dr. Stan Headley, natural health consultant for Cypress Pharmacy
The Arthritis Foundation says 54.4 million adults suffer from arthritis, but including people who have not yet been diagnosed, the number is closer to 91.2 million and expected to grow by 49 percent by the year 2040.
May is Arthritis Awareness Month, which aims to raise awareness and advocacy for this debilitating disease that affects 1 in 4 Americans with symptoms including pain, stiffness, decreased joint movement and often anxiety and depression.
Who might benefit from CBD?
Although there’s no cure for arthritis, some people with joint pain and arthritis who have tried CBD oil have reported noticeable pain relief, sleep improvement and/or anxiety reduction. As CBD has risen as a source for many therapeutic benefits, more people are turning to CBD to help manage pain and other arthritis-related symptoms, naturally.
Recognizing that people with arthritis were already using CBD oil for relief, the Arthritis Foundation last July conducted a nationwide survey about CBD use for arthritis pain. Of 2,600 people who responded, 79% said they are using CBD or have used it. As a result, last September the Arthritis Foundation released CBD guidance for adults. The Foundation also sent a formal comment to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration urging the agency to expedite the study and regulation of CBD products.
5 ways CBD can help with arthritis
Some of the potential benefits for using CBD for arthritis include:
- CBD can help with pain management. CBD balms and salves applied topically to tender and painful joints, plus liquid tinctures taken under the tongue and softgels taken orally, have proven to be extremely effective at reducing pain.
- CBD acts as an anti-inflammatory. Animal studies have suggested that CBD has anti-inflammatory properties, which helps with chronic and joint pain, possibly improving physical function and reducing joint stiffness.
- CBD eases anxiety. CBD has been linked to a variety of mental health benefits such as a reduction in anxiety, a common arthritis-related symptom.
- CBD has been found to make improvements in people suffering from depression. The Arthritis Foundation says the depression rates of those diagnosed with certain types of arthritis can be 2 to 10 times greater than the general population.
- CBD oil has been found to improve sleep. Sleep is a critical factor for health and wellness, and those with arthritis are often also faced with insomnia.
Even with its benefits, CBD has the potential to interact with some drugs commonly taken by people with arthritis. A medical professional or pharmacist can help you determine any possible drug interactions or side effects based on your current medications.
Like treatment for any medical conditions, use of CBD oil should be evaluated by your doctor. CBD should not substitute disease-modifying treatment for inflammatory arthritis.
The quality of CBD is a key factor in its effectiveness, so consumers must ensure that they are purchasing CBD products from a trusted source. The amount of CBD oil in a product will have a direct effect on its efficacy, and the methods used to manufacture CBD oil will impact the safety and quality of products you might buy. A knowledgeable health care professional can provide guidance on product quality and safety as well as formulation selection, usage and application.
