About 6 million people in Canada are living with arthritis.

Arthritis can be a debilitating disease that affects the joints. Depending on the severity, arthritis causes swelling, decreased mobility, and inflammation.

While there are many medications and remedies for arthritis, CBD for arthritis may prove to be helpful. In this article, you’ll learn more about CBD for pain and how it might have a positive effect on arthritis.

What is CBD?

CBD is a compound called a cannabinoid that’s found in the hemp plant. Hemp is a part of the cannabis family, so some people may think that CBD can get you high. However, CBD cannot get you high because its chemical make-up is different from that of its cousin, THC which is found in marijuana.

CBD may have some positive effects on other physical ailments such as:

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Sleep
  • Hearth health
  • Neurological health
  • Skin
  • Chronic pain
  • Relief from symptoms associated with cancer treatments
  • Management of seizures from epilepsy

The research supporting CBD is still ongoing, and there’s no conclusive evidence that CBD cures any ailments. However, the results are positive and people are turning to CBD because it’s a low-risk option with little to no side effects.

Arthritis is one of the ailments that CBD may help with. Here are a few reasons why CBD might be a great arthritis treatment.

1. Inflammation

Inflammation means that your body is fighting against a harmful substance to heal itself. However, this is often accompanied by red or swollen areas that become painful if inflammation is not dealt with properly.

CBD for inflammation may have a powerful effect on managing inflammation because it’s a natural anti-inflammatory.

2. The Endocannabinoid System

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a system in your body that works to restore the balance between different areas like mood, appetite, sleep, and so forth. It can even help manage pain.

The ECS uses cannabinoids and receptors to bring that balance, and the ECS in humans recognizes CBD as a cannabinoid it can use. These receptors, when interacting with the cannabinoids, block the brain from receiving pain.

3. Methods of Taking CBD

For people with arthritis, even the smallest tasks might be hard depending on their cases. Thankfully, there are many methods of CBD you can take so you don’t struggle or hurt yourself further.

CBD comes in a variety of forms like tinctures, capsules, and even lotions or creams. Tinctures are very popular because you can measure exactly how much you need, while capsules are convenient to swallow. (To make capsules some people simply purchase empty vegetable capsules and put the desired amount of CBD oil inside).

Topicals are easy to use as well, especially if you only want CBD on one localized part of your body for skin issues or localized inflammation, instead of it impacting your entire body. You can apply on an as-needed basis. This is the least effective way of using CBD.

CBD also comes in flavours or scents making it more appealing to use. When you start taking CBD you’ll likely need to experiment with dosage

4. Chronic Pain

CBD has also been known to soothe chronic pain, which is very common with arthritis. This is due to its anti-inflammatory properties, and also because of the cannabinoids and their function in the ECS.

Risks

As with any supplement, it’s important to weigh the risks, especially with arthritis. If you’re taking medications, some of those medications come with hefty side effects that could make you feel worse.

While CBD has a short list of side effects, and you can’t really overdose, those side effects (if taken in high levels) include:

  • Tiredness
  • Gastrointestinal problems
  • Slight headache

The risks are even more important to consider if you’re taking medication for your arthritis. Sometimes certain medications may interact negatively with CBD and cause more problems. If you’re thinking about taking CBD for treating arthritis, talk to your doctor or pharmacist to see if there are any conflicts with the medications you’re taking.

Finding Safe CBD

With CBD exploding onto the market and continuing to grow, there have been many people who concoct fake CBD to make money and sell it online. This is dangerous, so you need to be aware of what makes a great CBD product before buying anything.

Make sure the company you’re buying from has a verifiable address, phone number, and employees. You should talk to a customer service representative about the product if you need to, and get more information on the company. If you do not see any contact information, this could be a red flag.

It’s also important to do your research. Does the company stand up to its promises and philosophies on CBD? Do they have a good rating among customers?

Another indicator that you want to look for is if the products they use are third-party tested. A third-party lab takes an unbiased look at a company’s product and verifies its credibility. Having third-party lab results is an excellent way of ensuring that the product is transparent.

Does the company boast about its sources and relationships with other suppliers? Are they proud of the way they hand their business? If you’re reading about the company, and they’re transparent about sourcing, supplying, and making their product, you can feel more confident that it’s high quality.

All of these elements are important because you’re putting CBD on or in your body. When you ingest supplements without knowing where they come from, you put yourself and your health at risk.

Trying CBD For Arthritis

CBD for arthritis may help you manage your pain and give you greater mobility and outlook on life. With a low possibility of side effects and many methods, CBD could be the relief you’re looking for.

Are you searching for a high-quality CBD for your arthritis? Our shop has many options for you. Shop with us today and find what you’re looking for!