CBD For Arthritis: Can CBD Help Support Normal Joint Function?

Joseph Powers
5 min readOct 18, 2020

Short answer: Four legitimate CBD for arthritis studies identified and reveals cannabinoids support healthy natural function of the body and can improve your quality of life.

Most sources recommend using a combination of oral CBD and topical CBD cream to maximize the effective potential of cannabinoids.

Before adding cannabinoids to your arthritis, it’s best to consult with your doctor because some medications have certain drug interactions with CBD and other cannabinoids.

Learn more: CBD Drug Interactions With Prescription, Vitamins, OTC Meds, & Any Other Supplement?

How to use CBD normal joint function?

  • It’s recommended you start with lower doses
  • Start with 5–10 mg two times per day and increasing as necessary
  • Increase does up to 50–100 mg per day
  • If no relief is found after 100 mg per day, consider using a CBD oil with THC (when it becomes legal in Idaho)
  • Start using at night

There are currently four clinical trials either recruiting or not yet recruiting for arthritic and CBD.

CBD and arthritis clinical trials include: (ClinicalTrials.gov)

  • Psoriatic arthritis
  • Hand osteoarthritis
  • Three trials for knee osteoarthritis

These clinical trials will take place either in Denmark and various areas in Canada (Quebec, Scotia, and Ontario).

What are CBD and cannabinoids?

CBD is a cannabinoid found in the cannabis or hemp plant.

Federal law defines hemp as cannabis by less than 0.3% THC and Idaho defines hemp as cannabis with zero THC (0.0000% THC).

Learn more: Is CBD Oil Legal In Idaho 2019: Where To Buy Legal CBD Oil In Idaho?

What is arthritis?

Arthritis can create life-changing and often debilitating pain.

A Greek word meaning “disease of the joints,” arthritis is either classified as an acute or chronic inflammation of the joints.

Arthritis will typically also come with pain and damage to the structure.

Types of arthritis

In total, there are over 100 different types of arthritis and closely related conditions.

Arthritis can appear in many forms and several forms of Arthritis involve inflammation and/or an autoimmune issue.

Basic types of arthritis include:

  • OA — Osteoarthritis (degenerative disease)
  • RA — Rheumatoid arthritis (auto-immune/inflammatory)
  • PsA — Psoriatic Arthritis
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Ankylosing spondylitis (auto-immune/inflammatory)
  • Gout (crystal deposition)
  • Pseudogout (crystal deposition)
  • And many more

OA — Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is when the cartilage between (inside) your joints starts breaking down and removes its protection.

Without the protective cartilage layer, movement becomes painful and increasingly challenging.

As time goes on, the bones of the joints may start to rub directly with each other — trigger more severe pain.

Osteoarthritis man also include joint decay, inflammation, and neuropathy.

RA — Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune condition where your joints and organs get attacked by your own immune system.

Those with Rheumatoid Arthritis have an immune system that becomes overactive and starts attacking and invading healthy tissues.

With Rheumatoid Arthritis, the immune system mainly attacks the synovium (joint lining).

As time persists, the inflammation from RA begins breaking down joints and begins causing permanent damage.

PsA — Psoriatic Arthritis

Psoriatic Arthritis is an inflammatory autoimmune condition with the body attacking itself.

Those with PsA have an immune system attacking joints, connective tissue (tendons and ligaments attaching bones), and skin (causing psoriasis).

Psoriasis is a skin disorder causing skin cells to grow and multiply 10+ times more quickly than what’s considered normal. Causing a buildup of skin into red bumpy patches with white scales covering it.

Psoriasis has the ability to grow anywhere appearing mostly on the lower back, scalp, knees, elbows, and more.

What causes arthritis?

A common cause of arthritis is the natural wearing of cartilage OA (osteoarthritis).

Joint injury or infection can speed up the wearing of cartilage.

Family history can increase your risk of developing arthritis.

Autoimmune conditions are another common type of arthritis RA (rheumatoid arthritis).

RA is when the body attacks the joints soft tissues (synovium) that provides nourishment to cartilage and also helps lubricate joints.

This invasion of synovium eventually causes the breakdown of both the inside joint cartilage and bone.

Science has discovered rheumatoid arthritis may have a genetic origin adding to the increased risk.

Can CBD help improve healthy normal joint function?

Research is showing an improvement of natural functioning of the joints by inhibition sensitive peripherals. (Source).

Journal of Arthritis Care & Research (Vol 68 Issue 5) shares its results from 203 patients with different types of arthritis. In the study, 58 had rheumatoid arthritis, 74 had osteoarthritis, and 71 had fibromyalgia. It’s conclusion show statistical significance on helping aid natural joint function, improve normal sleep, and an overall improvement in quality of life.

Further reports in the study measured the outcome of the following:

  • Movement ability in the morning
  • Normal function in morning while resting
  • Quality of normal sleep
  • Stiffness in the morning
  • Points of tenderness
  • Threshold tender point
  • Mood
  • Physical function
  • And more

Results of the efficacy (intended results) reports an improvement in:

  • Normal movement
  • Rest
  • Quality of normal sleep
  • Feeling normal
  • Mood
  • And more

Current research on normal healthy joint function is extremely lacking. More research is needed to make conclusive statements.

What’s the mechanism for CBD helping normal joint function?

Humans have an ECS (endocannabinoid system) with a primary function of modulating balance and homeostasis.

When joints are not working normally, they might affect your normal healthy active life, thus limiting the fullness you can move about in your everyday normal life.

More research is needed to make conclusive statements on the mechanism for CBD helping normal joint function. However, enough research is showing an improvement in normal joint function.

Conventional treatments for arthritis?

Pain reduction and prevention of additional joint damage is the primary goal of arthritis treatment.

Experimenting with various pain control methods is how to best discover what works best for you in pain management and halting further damage.

Common treatment methods include:

  • Heat pad. (Check pricing on Amazon).
  • Ice pack.
  • Cane or walker (take pressure off joints causing pain).
  • Pain killer.
  • Anti-inflammatory.
  • Menthol and capsaicin cream. (check pricing in Sagely Naturals).
  • Immunosuppressant.
  • Surgery.
  • Physical therapy.
  • Lifestyle changes (weight loss, healthy diet).
  • Exercise (swimming).

Natural options to improve normal joint function

There are several natural arthritis treatment options to begin exploring to determine what works best in finding lasting relief.

Healthline and Arthritis.org recommend a variety of natural arthritis treatments including:

Before adding anything to your current (conventional) arthritis treatment, talk to your doctor to avoid potential drug interactions or side effects.

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Joseph Powers

Exploring hemp! Let’s find out what interesting things others are making & discovering from hemp! Publisher at HempWriter.com