Cannabis for Arthritis Pain & InflammationPosted by GerryKerns on September 21st, 2019 Welcome to the Herbal Coast. We have been part of a community that has been working towards legalizing medicinal cannabis for over 15 years. Our motto is “Be part of the solution.” We are also very proud to say that we have been running two storefront dispensaries in the Vancouver area for the last three years, without running into any legal issues or closures. That says a lot about our business practices. Does medical cannabis relieve arthritis pain? Better yet, how do you actually use the herb, anyway? We have the answers to these questions and more. One of the most prominent concerns is the prevalence of chronic arthritis, an ailment that affects 52.5 million adults today, and that number is expected to increase to 67 million by 2030. There’s no cure for arthritis, and limited treatment options exist for the painful and limiting disease. One alternative that’s gaining popularity among the aging population is the use of cannabis to get full-bodied pain relief and anti-inflammatory properties. Although arthritis is considered a qualifying condition in at least two states, there’s a remarkable lack of data and research behind the effectiveness of cannabis as a treatment alternative for arthritis, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Arthritis is an uncomfortable and often unavoidable disease that often results in severe symptoms: Injuries that don’t heal properly Carpal tunnel syndrome and peripheral neuropathies (tingling or numbness in extremities) Plantar fasciitis (inflammation of the forefoot) Persistent joint pain Locked joints Morning stiffness A study published in the journal Rheumatology from Dr. Sheng-Ming Dai of China’s Second Military Medical University found that CB2 receptors are found in unusually high levels in the joint tissue of arthritis patients. The use of cannabis is shown to fight inflammation in the joints by activating the pathways of CB2 receptors. Canadian researcher Dr. Jason McDougall, a professor of pharmacology and anesthesia at Dalhousie University in Halifax, has undertaken a new study to find out if medical marijuana can help repair arthritic joints and relieve pain. The study is supported by the Arthritis Society and is awarding a grant for a comprehensive, three-year study to investigate if cannabis is not just dampening the pain in the brain, but also working to fight inflammation and repair the joint itself. Cannabis and rheumatoid arthritis pain Recent research suggests that cannabis not only eases arthritis pain, but the herb can calm the immune system and ease related symptoms. Here’s everything you want to know about cannabis and rheumatoid arthritis. What is rheumatoid arthritis? Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder. The body attacks itself as if it were fending off bacterial and viral invaders. An overactive immune system breaks down the soft tissues in your joints and surrounding your bones. This immune response causes excess inflammation, which then leads to tissue deterioration, scarring, and significant pain over time. Symptoms of RA go well beyond aching joints and arthritis pain. As with most autoimmune diseases, chronic inflammation, and an aggravated immune system can have wide sweeping effects on the body. Autoimmune diseases are comparable to having permanent flu, only a whole lot worse. Other than stiff, aching joints, here are a few additional RA symptoms: Fatigue Injuries that never seem to heal Numbing and tingling in hands and feet Eye issues Morning stiffness Locked joints Gastrointestinal issues Lung disease Inflammation reduction Unchecked inflammation can create havoc in the body. When you have an injury or the common cold, inflammation is part of a healthy bodily response. Yet, rampant swelling from autoimmune disease is a different story. When the body is in an inflamed state for a prolonged period of time, it ages more rapidly and basically begins to fall apart. This quality makes THC a candidate for the treatment of a variety of autoimmune disorders, including multiple sclerosis, colitis, lupus, and arthritis. Older research from 2003 tested non-psychoactive CBD on rats induced with an arthritis-mimicking condition. After injecting the rodents with specific pro-inflammatory compounds, they treated the creatures with an oral dose of CBD. Cannabidiol decreased inflammation in a time and dose-dependent fashion. CBD continued to reduce inflammatory markers after three consecutive days of treatment. Like it? Share it! More by this author |