Good Information to Review About CBD for Arthritis Pain
Many researchers and studies have shown that CBD helps to alleviate arthritis pain. However, learning what science reveals about the benefits and risks of using CBD and how to purchase the best products to alleviate arthritis will be vital.
CBD Overview
What is CBD?
Cannabidiol (CBD) refers to an active compound present in marijuana plants. Instead of causing intoxication, CBD leads to some drowsiness. Most manufacturers extract CBD products from the Hemp plant. These products have little traces of THC, approximately less than 0.3%, which is the compound that results in a ‘high’ feeling.
Is CBD effective for arthritis?
Various studies on animals suggest that CBD provides anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. However, the studies have not validated these properties in humans. Some individuals with arthritis have tried CBD products, which helped relieve pain, reduce anxiety, and improve sleep.
Is it safe to use CBD?
With various research and evaluating CBD safety underway, experts understand little about the safety of CBD. Nonetheless, no user has reported any safety concerns with moderate doses. Some individuals believe that CBD can react with some arthritis drugs patients take to alleviate the condition. Therefore, it’ll be wise to consult your physician before using CBD with some common medicines. The medications include tofacitinib (Xeljanz), corticosteroids (like prednisone), naproxen (Aleve), tramadol (Ultram), celecoxib (Celebrex), certain antidepressants such as citalopram (Celexa), amitriptyline (Elavil), mirtazapine (Remeron), fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil), and certain fibromyalgia medications such as pregabalin (Lyrica) and gabapentin (Neurontin).
Are CBD products legal?
The federal government no longer classifies hemp-derived CBD products under Schedule I drugs but remains in the legal gray zone. However, changes are underway in the federal government to clarify the regulations and laws for possessing and selling CBD-based products. Despite the regulations, most states can easily find these products online. It’ll be vital to check your state’s laws before using these products.
Taking the First Step
Can you try CBD?
With the limited studies on the association between CBD and arthritis pain, many physicians can’t tell who the products suit. Furthermore, doctors find it challenging to prescribe the right doses & forms or tell who should avoid CBD products. However, before trying CBD, you must understand that:
● You can’t substitute CBD or disease-modifying treatment for arthritis
It’s good to consult your healthcare provider or an arthritis specialist first before trying these products. You can review the therapies that have worked and those that have failed and explore the other options first. During the consultation, you can also consider how to have a trial, risk factors to watch, and the appropriate time for a follow-up visit, helping you evaluate the outcome or results. Remember to track the effects by keeping a dose and symptom diary.
● High-quality CBD products are costly
These products are expensive, especially when using them for a long time. It’ll be wise to ensure that the products will provide positive results to avoid wasting time.
What CBD products should you consider?
You can take CBD-based products orally, through the skin, or by inhaling. Below are the pros and cons of each method:
Orally
You can swallow CBD as liquid, food, or capsules for the digestive tract to absorb. The dosing is tricky due to slow absorption and delayed onset of unknown stomach acid effects.
Capsules
Capsules offer safe and effective daily use. However, due to unreliable dosing, experts discourage taking CBD edibles like cookies and gummies. Furthermore, they are appealing to kids and don't have childproof containers.
Tincture or spray
It enhances direct and faster absorption into the bloodstream using a dropper or sublingual. Tinctures have an unpleasant taste, and you can feel the effects after 15 to 45 minutes.
On the skin
You can apply CBD topical products, like balms and lotions, on the skin. It’s still unknown whether the products deliver CBD under the skin. Topical products include popular over-the-counter ingredients like capsaicin, menthol, or camphor. The different products make it hard to determine if CBD or other compounds offer positive effects.
Inhaled
You can inhale CBD via a vaporizing pen or vape. Nevertheless, inhaling chemical byproducts and vapor oils has various unknown risks for inflammatory arthritis patients. Thus, experts don’t recommend vaping. Furthermore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention associates severe pulmonary disease, resulting in vaping to widespread hospitalization.
How much CBD should you consume?
Despite the lack of established clinical guidelines, medical experts from the Arthritis Foundation recommends the following for adult users:
● Be aware that CBD extract has a carrier oil when preparing to have a liquid form. Thus, you must understand the two measures: the amount of CBD in individual doses and the liquid products you need to take.
● Start low and slow. It’ll be wise to start with a few CBD mg sublingually twice daily. You can increase the dose by the same amount after one week of inadequate relief. Importantly, you can consider small increments over the weeks. Lastly, consider taking the dose twice daily if you find relief, as the constant doses maintain table CBD level in the blood.
● You can consider talking to your primary care physician about combining CBD with low-dose THC products if CBD alone doesn’t work. However, it’ll only be possible in a state that legalizes recreational and medical cannabis. Remember, even a low THC level results in a ‘high’ feeling, leading to balance, motor, and cognitive issues. Experts advise that you try these products at home, where you can sleep off unwanted effects.
● Discontinue CBD use immediately and inform your physician if you experience any adverse effects.
What to Consider When Shopping
Being a cautious shopper is good, as the authorities don’t regulate CBD products. Independent testing reveals numerous cases of lack of quality control and mislabelling. The main issues are mismatched CBD strength, undeclared THC, pesticide, solvent, and metal contamination.
Consider the following when shopping for CBD products:
● Consider U.S manufactured products with domestically cultivated ingredients
● Choose products from companies that adhere to good manufacturing practices that FDA approves for dietary and pharmaceutical supplements. You can consider a voluntary quality standard as the federal authorities don't regulate these products.
● Purchase from companies offering to test for each batch. Furthermore, the company should produce an analysis certificate from an independent lab using a validated standardized testing approach that the Associations of Official Chemists (AOAC), the U.S Pharmacopeia (USP), or the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia approves.
● Avoid manufacturers claiming that their products offer disease benefits.
● Be keen on individuals and marketers in retail counties as most aren’t health professionals but salespeople. It’ll be wise to seek guidance from your physician when purchasing unregulated products.
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