Everywhere you look people are talking about medical marijuana. It’s on the news, all over Facebook, and even at the dinner table. You would think that we’ve already said all we can say about these little green leaves. But it seems like with every new year comes new studies on the benefits of cannabidiol (CBD) oil. People have used it for epilepsy, anxiety, inflammation, post-traumatic stress disorder, and so much more. I’m starting to wonder if there’s anything CBD oil can’t do! Recently, as per usual, science has found yet another place where CBD might prove extremely useful. Repairing arthritic damage and easing joint pain. (1)
Arthritis And Joint Pain
Most people have a general idea about what Arthritis is, but not a lot of people are aware of just how debilitating it can be. As it turns out, arthritis is the leading cause of disability in America, with over 50 million adults and 300,000 children diagnosed. That’s a whole lot of joint pain. (2)
But arthritis is more than just joint pain and joint disease. Arthritis also includes and is connected to back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, inflammatory bowel’s disease, gout, and Lyme disease. The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which occurs when the cartilage between bones wears away. This leaves your bones to rub against each other causing pain, swelling, and stiffness. (2, 3)
The worst cases of arthritis require joint replacement. Mild to moderate cases of arthritis are commonly managed in the following ways.
- Hot and cold therapies
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Assistive devices
- Regular physical activity
- Strengthening muscles around the joint
- Avoiding excessive repetitive movements (2)
How Does CBD Oil Fit Into Joint Pain?
Arthritis can cause extreme pain and keep you from performing daily tasks. But CBD oil comes to the rescue once again, with years of science on its side. One study showed that CBD oil could help decrease joint inflammation and protect the nerves. Other studies have concluded that CBD oil could block joint pain caused by osteoarthritis. And still another study showed that CBD oil was the key to relieving patients of joint pain without side effects. Different scientists, various research methods, and one result. CBD oil may be a key factor in preventing joint pain. (4, 5, 6, 7)
But previous studies regarding arthritis tend to focus more on physical joint degeneration. Dr. Jason McDougall, a professor at Dalhousie University, took his research in a different direction. He focused instead on the nerves, rather than the joints themselves. His research was based on the idea that nerves of arthritic patients are similar to stripped wires. Because they are so bare and raw, they are much more susceptible to pain. (8)
So where does CBD oil come in? Dr. McDougall found that cannabis-like molecules could actually repair those nerves and protect them, thus reducing the joint pain. Additionally, administering those molecules locally to the affected nerves could reduce inflammation and prevent later development of pain. In the end, CBD oil turned out to be more beneficial to arthritis and joint pain than anyone could have imagined! (9, 10)
More Research, More Results
It’s starting to sound like CBD oil could cure just about anything! But there’s always more research to be done on the exact extent of its power. For now, what we do know is that CBD oil has the potential to repair nerve damage due to arthritis, and ease a bit of that daily pain. But hey, if you’ve got a bit of joint pain, maybe that’s all the information you need!