If you have been unfortunate enough to be diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, you no doubt want to find the most effective way to relieve your pain with minimal side effects. Before you jump into prescribed pills, you might want to consider checking alternative natural products.
One of the most recent questions on health forums regarding the treatment of arthritis was “does medical marijuana help with arthritis pain?” So, we have decided to look closely into the question if this can be a solution for suffers such as yourself.
Before we discuses alternative natural treatments, let’s take a look at the different types of arthritis and their common symptoms.
What is Arthritis?
Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints. The most common types of arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis arthritis.
- Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease where your body starts creating antibodies that attack your joints.
- Osteoarthritis is a degenerative process that occurs with aging due to the increased wear and tear on your joints, especially the knee.
Less common forms of arthritis include gouty arthritis and septic arthritis.
- Gout arthritis is a metabolic derangement where there’s too much uric acid in your blood, which can gather in the joints.
- Septic arthritis is where there are microorganisms causing inflammation of the joints, basically an infection in your joints.
Our main focus is on rheumatoid and osteoarthritis as they’re by far the most common forms of arthritis.
There are a few key features that separate rheumatoid from osteoarthritis. The most prominent of these is the difference in the timing of the inflicted pain.
In osteoarthritis, the pain gets worse as the day progresses and you work your joints. In rheumatoid arthritis, the pain is worse in the morning as the patient suffer from what is known as morning stiffness. As the day progresses, the pain becomes less severe.
What Can Western Medicine Offer You?
Western medicine hasn’t found a cure for either rheumatoid or osteoarthritis. But there are drugs to slow down their progression and improve the overall state of the joint.
As rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, doctors have been able to developed drugs that inhibit the immune system to a degree. Unfortunately these drugs inhibit the bone marrow as well as they act on rapidly dividing cells. Some of drugs are also hepatotoxic, i.e. damaging or destructive to the liver cells.
Osteoarthritis, on the other hand, is degenerative due to the effects of prolonged wear and tear on the joints. There’s very little that medicine can do here to reverse the process. Applicable drugs are mainly focused on limiting inflammation to the joints and alleviating pain. Prolonged use of these drugs, however, can damage the kidney.
Holistic Medicine Treatments.
Holistic medicine can also play a role in the treatment of arthritis. Aloe vera, cat’s claw and eucalyptus are just a few of the herbs that have been used to combat arthritis.
Their primary benefit is derived through their anti-inflammatory properties. These herbs are used typically by applying to the affected joints. Others herbs that can be taken orally include ginger and green tea.
Medical Marijuana and CBD Oils.
Medical research hasn’t overlooked the role of medical marijuana and CBD oil in treating arthritis either.
1.A study in 2006 showed that using a cannabis based drug called Sativex for just 5 weeks has helped reduce inflammation and decrease pain for patients.
Another study in 2008 showed similar results. In both studies, participants reported improved sleep.
In 2012, CBD gel was tested on rodents. It was shown to control inflammation in affected rats. Other studies in 2014 and 2017 have shown that CBD is an effective treatment option for osteoarthritis.
2.Medical marijuana and CBD oil interact with CB1 and CB2 receptors. These receptors help to reduce the pain and control inflammation. CB2 has also been shown to play a role in the immune system, which can be particularly helpful in treating rheumatoid arthritis.
Does Medical Marijuana Really Help with Arthritis Pain?
Basically, medical marijuana and CBD oil are great choices when it comes to treating arthritis. Not only do they help ease the pain and reduce inflammation, but they have an additional benefit in treating rheumatoid arthritis.
Thanks to CB2’s immune regulating activity marijuana can actually slow down the progression of rheumatoid arthritis.
Medical Marijuana and CBD Oils Side Effects.
1.Most medication has potential side effects. Medical marijuana is no exception. If you use medical marijuana or CBD oil for a long time, you might experience some mild side effects that include nausea, fatigue, diarrhea, and appetite changes. If you’re using medical marijuana with THC, you might also experience psychoactive effects.
2.Considering the very serious side effects of western medicine like bone marrow suppression and liver toxicity, those of CBD side effects seem relatively mild if not exhilarating in some cases. Also, since the pain will be alleviated, you’ll need to take fewer painkillers. This will decrease your likelihood of kidney damage from overuse of painkillers.
How Should You Take CBD Oils?
The good thing about CBD is that it can be taken in various forms. The simplest way is to take it in capsule form. Another way that is more fun is to add CBD oil to water.
If you prefer to apply CBD to a joint that hurts, then mix the CBD oil with a lotion and apply it locally. Applying the CBD oil locally after mixing with a lotion is the most effective way of limiting side effects.
You should consult your doctor before using CBD oil or medical marijuana for arthritis. Your doctor will tell you if it’s the right choice for you, the best method takeoff taking it, and the appropriate dosage to take.
It’s always best to start with the lowest dosage possible and work your way up until you find the dose that works best for you. The smallest dose is 2.5mg and the largest is about 1,000mg.
Where to Purchase Medical Marijuana and CBD oils?
If you decide to use medical marijuana, make sure it’s legal in your state and there are dispensaries that sell it. Purchasing CBD oil is much easier as it can be done online in any state.
Make sure that the online company from which you’re buying CBD oil is reliable with a good reputation. There’s no advantage in buying poor quality products. Remember the expression; you get what you pay for.
The purer the CBD oil the lower the dose you’ll need and the lower its side effects. It’s always best if the sellers can provide you with the CBD and THC concentrations of their products.
Summary.
So if you’re asking if medical marijuana is effective for arthritis, the answer is ‘yes’.
Both medical marijuana and CBD oil can be used as alternative treatment options for patients with arthritis through their action on CB1 and CB2 receptors.
Thank you for reading our “Does Medical Marijuana Really Help with Arthritis Pain?”
We would love to hear about your experiences using medical marijuana or CBD oils for arthritis pain. Please leave your comment below.
We believe others who are trying to find a natural treatment for their arthritis pain will definitely appreciate and benefit from your experience.
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