Table of Contents
- WHAT IS ARTHRITIS
- WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ARTHRITIS
- WHY IS CBD OIL USED AS A PAIN MANAGEMENT TREATMENT OPTION?
- IS CBD OIL SAFE TO USE?
- IS CBD OIL LEGAL IN THE UK FOR TREATMENT OF ARTHRITIS?
- HOW EFFECTIVE IS CBD OIL FOR ARTHRITIS AND FIBROMYALGIA?
- WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT WAYS OF USING CBD OIL FOR ARTHRITIS OR FIBROMYALGIA
- WHAT IS THE RECOMMENDED CBD DOSAGE FOR ARTHRITIS?
- WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN PURCHASING CBD OIL FOR ARTHRITIS?
- HOW DOES CBD OIL HELP TREAT ARTHRITIS? CONCLUSION
- SOURCES
WHAT IS ARTHRITIS
Arthritis is a condition that can affect people of all ages, and is essentially the swelling or tenderness in one or more joints, so includes over 100 types of arthritis and related conditions. This leads to pain and stiffness, and tends to get worse as time goes on.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ARTHRITIS
Typical forms of arthritis include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. Osteoarthritis usually occurs in older people and is a loss of cartilage that leads to inflammation, which in turn makes moving painful.Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks the synovium - the lining of a joint - and the immune response causes inflammation, making moving the joint difficult and painful. [1]
The evidence for CBD oil as an anti inflammatory suggests that it could be useful in combating the inflammation in forms of arthritis, and anecdotal reports of improvements in chronic pain and stiffness indicate a need for investigation.
WHY IS CBD OIL USED AS A PAIN MANAGEMENT TREATMENT OPTION?
A poll from the Arthritis Foundation found many sufferers of arthritis report improved ‘physical function, sleep and well-being’ when using CBD, but not all reported improvements in pain or stiffness, though some certainly did [2]. Given the large number of different types of arthritis, with different root causes and different mechanisms in action, it is not entirely surprising to find that a treatment for one form does not necessarily work for another.
There is evidence that CBD may play a role in aiding with pain, and there is specific evidence from animal studies suggesting that CBD can decrease the pain response in mice subjected to acute arthritic conditions. There is still more research to be done to improve the understanding of CBD and its properties, but there is at least a scientific basis, in addition to anecdotal evidence, that CBD may be useful for reducing arthritis pain.
IS CBD OIL SAFE TO USE?
One of the benefits of CBD is that it is very well tolerated in most people - according to the World Health Organization’s review on CBD, it has a good safety profile, and states CBD does not present effects to suggest that there is potential for abuse or dependence.
Epidiolex is the name given to the CBD based medicine used to treat rare forms of epilepsy. Typical side effects seen from the only FDA approved CBD treatment ‘Epidiolex’ include drowsiness, appetite changes and diarrhoea, but it is worth noting the strength of the medication is 100mg per millilitre - much stronger than CBD products available on the retail market.
The main risks associated with CBD come in the form of drug interactions. Many of the medications we take are broken down by the liver, and there is evidence to suggest that CBD inhibits some liver enzymes - so people with a liver condition, or taking medication, should make sure to consult a doctor before taking CBD.
Other concerns of taking CBD relate to potential damage to male reproductive health, and can negatively impact unborn babies in women, so unless prescribed, CBD should not be taken in pregnant women.
IS CBD OIL LEGAL IN THE UK FOR TREATMENT OF ARTHRITIS?
Cannabidiol is legal almost all over the world. There is plenty of space for confusion though - it comes from cannabis plants with less than 0.3% THC, and these are classified as ‘hemp’ plants - not to be confused with medical marijuana that has higher levels of THC.
The THC is the psychoactive component of the cannabis plant that gives the high, and while it is present in full spectrum CBD products, the levels should be low enough that they don’t induce feelings of intoxication.
If you need to be certain about not getting any THC in your system - an athlete may need to avoid it for drug testing, for example - then do not use full spectrum CBD products. Broad spectrum CBD has all the cannabinoids, flavonoids and terpenes that are found in full spectrum CBD but with the THC removed, so might be the best option.
The THC is the psychoactive component of the cannabis plant that gives the high, and while it is present in full spectrum CBD products, the levels should be low enough that they don’t induce feelings of intoxication.
If you need to be certain about not getting any THC in your system - an athlete may need to avoid it for drug testing, for example - then do not use full spectrum CBD products. Broad spectrum CBD has all the cannabinoids, flavonoids and terpenes that are found in full spectrum CBD but with the THC removed, so might be the best option.
HOW EFFECTIVE IS CBD OIL FOR ARTHRITIS AND FIBROMYALGIA?
According to the evidence, CBD should be useful for people with arthritis due to its ability to mitigate pain perception, and reduce and regulate inflammation. Some people report improvements in those areas, and some see improvements not related to the condition, and some people do not see much, if any, benefit. This tells us we still have much to learn about CBD and why it works for some and not others.
A study in 2016 looked at topical CBD as a treatment on rats with arthritis and found that the CBD gel substantially reduced joint swelling. The study also analysed pro-inflammatory markers in the spine and found that the strength of the CBD dose impacted the presence of these pro-inflammatory markers, further indicating CBD’s ability to reduce inflammation.[4]
A blog website on arthritis conducted a survey and found that 29% of those surveyed currently use CBD to help with their arthritis, with a total of 79% who have used it or are considering using it. Of those using CBD, 87% said they used it to manage their arthritis symptoms.
Of those using CBD to manage arthritis symptoms, about two-thirds reported an improvement in physical function, roughly a third said CBD helped get them moving in the morning, roughly a third said it helped reduce fatigue, and over two thirds noted improved sleep.
A blog website on arthritis conducted a survey and found that 29% of those surveyed currently use CBD to help with their arthritis, with a total of 79% who have used it or are considering using it. Of those using CBD, 87% said they used it to manage their arthritis symptoms.
Of those using CBD to manage arthritis symptoms, about two-thirds reported an improvement in physical function, roughly a third said CBD helped get them moving in the morning, roughly a third said it helped reduce fatigue, and over two thirds noted improved sleep.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT WAYS OF USING CBD OIL FOR ARTHRITIS OR FIBROMYALGIA
An advantage of CBD oil is the number of ways you can take it - CBD oral drops are an easy way of administering CBD, the dosing is easy to calculate, and the drops can be used in food or drink. Gummies containing CBD are another straightforward way of getting your CBD - each gummy has a fixed amount in it, so you know how much you are getting in each one, though smaller doses would then be harder to manage. There are also CBD pills that are taken orally.
Administering a CBD topical cream where CBD is absorbed through the skin is harder to dose accurately, but applying directly to the site of pain or discomfort should mean the CBD gets where it needs to be quickly, giving faster pain relief.
There are also CBD preparations for vaping! Dosing here can be a little tricky due to the device used, the size of puffs, whether it is a mouth to lung or direct to lung inhale, but you can work it out. If you are using a 10ml bottle containing 1000mg CBD, each millilitre contains 100mg CBD - that means a 1ml vape tank filled with this CBD liquid has 100mg of CBD in it, half a tank contains 50mg, a quarter tank contains 25mg, and so on. You could therefore measure your doses in terms of your tank!
WHAT IS THE RECOMMENDED CBD DOSAGE FOR ARTHRITIS?
When it comes to CBD, there is no recommended dosage, save for those who have been prescribed Epidiolex - the only FDA approved medical CBD treatment [3]. Epidiolex’s maximum recommended maintenance dosage is 10mg CBD per kilogram of bodyweight to be taken twice daily. For a 70kg man, that’s 700mg of CBD two times a day.
Compared to using CBD as a supplement, the dosage in Epidiolex is enormous. For normal users of CBD, applying CBD oral drops three times a day from a 2000mg 10ml bottle would see you taking 30mg of CBD per dose, totalling 90mg per day. These doses should be well tolerated, given the maximum maintenance dose recommended for Epidiolex.
Compared to using CBD as a supplement, the dosage in Epidiolex is enormous. For normal users of CBD, applying CBD oral drops three times a day from a 2000mg 10ml bottle would see you taking 30mg of CBD per dose, totalling 90mg per day. These doses should be well tolerated, given the maximum maintenance dose recommended for Epidiolex.
Topical creams usually apply about 3mg CBD if they are low strength or 8mg for a higher strength, but dosing instructions are open to a small degree of interpretation - an approximate blob size is never going to be accurate! Just start sparingly and use more as needed, and increase the strength if required.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN PURCHASING CBD OIL FOR ARTHRITIS?
With a condition like arthritis or Fibromyalgia, it is important to get dosing correct as a minimum amount may be required to achieve a certain effect - we have seen many instances where the benefits of CBD are dose-dependent i.e. a larger dose begets a larger improvement. This means that correct, accurate dosing is essential.
One study of CBD products purchased online found that over 25% of the products purchased had less CBD than labelled, 46% had more CBD than labelled! In addition, THC was detected at levels high enough to cause intoxication in 18 of the CBD products. [5]
To ensure you are getting a quality product, it is essential you buy CBD from a trusted, reliable source. Make sure to see what information is available from the manufacturer, like a certificate of analysis that contains the levels of active compounds found in the tested product. Check out customer reviews, too!
HOW DOES CBD OIL HELP TREAT ARTHRITIS? CONCLUSION
The evidence available from clinical studies, reviews and meta-analyses all point towards CBD having utility in arthritis care, and other rheumatic diseases. It has been demonstrated that CBD can reduce inflammation, help in reducing pain, and contribute to improvements in other areas of life, such as improved sleep and reduced fatigue - these improvements may help someone suffering from arthritis live the best life they can.
More studies need to be done in order to understand the mechanisms better, as well as investigate long term tolerance for CBD at high doses in humans, and if we can, answer the question of why not everyone benefits from CBD.
If you have a medical condition, or if you wonder that CBD may be of benefit to you, then check out SMOKO’s CBD blogs and see if we have covered the topic.
Try SMOKO CBD Oil oral drops and CBD gummies today!
*2024 Update - Don't miss out on our limited-time offer of a FREE* pack of CBD Gummy Bears when you buy any of our amazing CBD products!
SOURCES
[5] JAMA Medical News Network study on potency of CBD products
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Written by Dan Overgage
Dan Overgage is a long term member of the SMOKO Team. Dan started working with SMOKO 5 years ago and works across our Customer Service and heads up our content creation and research with a strong focus on all things related to CBD and the health benefits of CBD Products. Dan is an active user of the SMOKO CBD Tinctures and CBD Soft Gels to help with his lower back pain and sciatica.
