Arthur who? – was my grandma’s favourite response whenever I asked about her arthritis. The joke never got old, especially as she needed some light relief from the pain, inflammation and decreased quality of life caused by this disorder affecting the joints. More than 15% of people in Australia and up to 20% of the United States’ population have one of the 100+ types of arthritis, which disproportionately affect the elderly.
Osteoarthritis is the most common, affecting about 3.8% of people the world over. Rheumatoid arthritis affects about 0.24% of people while the sharp pain of gout affects 1-2% of western populations at some point in their lives.
Living with arthritis is hard. Actually treating it can be even harder, requiring joint replacements, exercise regimes or medicines in the form of steroids, painkillers and antirheumatic drugs. Nevertheless, CBD oil can help. In many cases, controversial opioids are prescribed to manage pain or recover from operations and often lead to life-threatening addictions.
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Is CBD good for arthritis?
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has labelled pure CBD as ‘safe’ and without ‘dependence potential’. CBD is known to have anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving therapeutic properties. This makes it a popular alternative for opioids in pain relief for arthritis, though there are not yet robust clinical trials proving CBD’s effectiveness as a specific arthritis treatment.
The top medical report to date saw researchers administer CBD gel (250mg or 500mg doses) to patients with knee pain from osteoarthritis. Patients gave up both anti-inflammatory medications and painkillers during the trial. Participants recorded better physical function with CBD oil though without a significant change in pain. A Harvard Health Blog noted that the trial only lasted 12 weeks and was a preliminary trial.
The problem is that CBD was only decriminalised in the US and the UK in 2018, and 2020 in the EU (read more about CBD legality here). Though preliminary research is promising – and this large-scale review concluded cannabis is effective for chronic pain in adults – there’s still so much more to know.
CBD use among 2,600 arthritis patients – Arthritis Foundation
The US-based Arthritis Foundation provide some of the most interesting evidence to answer the question: is CBD good for arthritis? They received 2,600 responses to a survey on CBD use. Some 52% of respondents lived with osteoarthritis and 45% with rheumatoid arthritis for 10 or more years. Here’s a summary of the findings:
- 29% of respondents regularly used CBD to manage arthritis symptoms – with 62% using a liquid form of CBD such as CBD oil, and 55% using a topical CBD muscle balm or gel.
- 94% of regular CBD users said they use it to relieve pain, with many saying it was a non-addictive alternative to opioids and others using it to wean off opioids following joint replacement surgery.
- 75% of regular CBD users said it was ‘effective’ or ‘very effective’ in relieving symptoms of arthritis.
- Over 30% of users said CBD provided relief from morning stiffness.
- 71% of users said CBD helped them get to sleep, while 30% said CBD helped relieve symptoms of fatigue.
- 41% of users reported greater wellbeing after using CBD, and 77% of CBD users said it relieved symptoms of anxiety. 67% reported improvements in depressed mood.
- 33% of respondents not using CBD said they wanted to know more about how it could replace or complement nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
- 66% of all respondents reported having spoken to their doctor about CBD use, though 47% said they were still unsure if CBD is good for arthritis.
A further press release from the Arthritis Foundation urged patients not to substitute CBD for disease-modifying medications for inflammatory arthritis. Stopping prescribed medications for rheumatoid arthritis can cause future damage to joints, and so CBD should be considered part of an overall pain management plan. Top health professionals also warned that high-quality CBD products can be expensive, and advised researching that products are what the marketing says before starting with low doses to confirm a positive effect on symptoms.
Does CBD have side effects?
CBD has no known adverse side effects. The most common complaints include tiredness, dizziness, change in appetite, lower blood pressure and dry mouth. CBD can also have interactions with medicines like steroids, antihistamines, HIV antivirals, antibiotics, immune modulators and more. Usually the interactions are caused by CBD’s effect on the liver, where it often suppresses the release of medication into the blood.
According to the Arthritis Foundation, no serious safety concerns have been associated with moderate doses of CBD and common arthritis medications. The foundation nevertheless suggested patients talk to their talking if taking the following medications: corticosteroids (e.g. prednisone), tofacitinib (Xeljanz), naproxen (Aleve), celecoxib (Celebrex), tramadol (Ultram), some antidepressants, including amitriptyline (Elavil), citalopram (Celexa), fluoxetine (Prozac), mirtazapine (Remeron), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), and medications for fibromyalgia, including gabapentin (Neurontin) and pregabalin (Lyrica).
What’s the best CBD for arthritis?
CBD is most commonly taken in an oil-based solution, taken orally. Just 3-4 drops are held under the tongue for rapid uptake in the bloodstream and maximum pain-relieving, anti-anxiety and sleep-improving effects.
Taking CBD products orally can provide the most CBD to the body, however if arthritis symptoms are concentrated in a particular area like a knee or knuckle CBD gels can be a good option. Topical CBD muscle balm or gel are usually cooling and easily applied to a painful joint. Topical CBD products may also contain ingredients like menthol, camphor or aloe vera gel which are worth researching before you make a purchase.
CBD can also be inhaled by a vaporiser, or vape, pen. However, inhalation of vapor oils and chemical byproducts are not recommended for people with inflammatory arthritis. The US-based Centre for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating hospitalisations from severe pulmonary disease often associated with vaping.
