The cannabis plant has been infamous for centuries, and for a good reason. But while many of us associate cannabis with one of its main compounds, called THC, which is known for its psychoactive or intoxicating effects, cannabis has other compounds which can help us deal with the pain caused by different conditions as well. The compound we are talking about is called CBD, or cannabidiol, and we can extract its oil which we can then use for the treatment of pain. The good thing about CBD is that it doesn’t have any psychoactive effects like THC, so you don’t have to worry about feeling ‘high’ when you take it.
One condition which CBD can potentially help is rheumatoid arthritis. There are now more studies on rheumatoid arthritis and CBD, and the results seem promising. Do you have rheumatoid arthritis and are wondering how you can use CBD to help with the pain? Here’s how CBD can help with rheumatoid arthritis: quick facts you should know.
According to research:
The very first study done to find out the effects of cannabis medication on rheumatoid arthritis was in 2006. In the study, researchers found that after using cannabis medication for five weeks, participants experienced a decrease in inflammation and pain as well. Aside from this, the participants said that they had enhanced sleep, and the side effects, if any, were not too severe.
Another study in 2008 reviewed CBD use for the treatment of chronic pain, and the study found that CBD was able to improve participants’ sleep as well as reduce their pain without any side effects. The latest research was in 2016, and in this study, scientists used CBD in gel form on rats, and they also found that the gel made from CBD reduced inflammation as well as pain in the joints with no side effects, either.
But while these studies are positive, more studies need to be done, especially on humans, so we can thoroughly understand the overall effects of cannabidiol and other treatments which are cannabis-based, particularly with rheumatoid arthritis.
How it works
CBD can have an effect on the activity of the brain, but not like THC, which is psychoactive. Instead, CBD may interact with receptors which can result in reduced pain and inflammation. It may also be that CBD can slow down your rheumatoid arthritis’ progression due to its inhibiting effects on inflammation.
How you can use it
CBD can come in liquid form as well as capsule form. You can ingest the oil by placing a few drops underneath your tongue, or you can take a CBD capsule orally. But the CBD oil is more versatile as you can mix it with a lotion or moisturiser and apply the mixture on your skin.
When you are looking for CBD oil, it’s always best to go for a trusted manufacturer and supplier – one who can tell you exactly where their product comes from and how they produce it. While there are many CBD products in the UK, including CBD oil and even CBD vape liquids, it’s better to be safe than sorry, so choose your supplier wisely.