CBD Topicals & Arthritis Pain

Arthritis, or inflammation of the joints, is one of the most common chronic conditions in America. Chronic conditions can be debilitating –physically, mentally, and emotionally. They require lifestyle changes, ongoing support, and a positive but realistic outlook on life. 

According to the Arthritis Foundation, there are more than 100 different kinds of arthritis, and more than 50 million Americans struggle with arthritis every day. Arthritis medication can alleviate symptoms, but usually at the expense of living with different gastrointestinal problems or other side effects. 

If you suffer from arthritic pain, you may have heard of Cannabidiol (CBD) as a possible treatment. In our previous post, we talk about all things CBD: what it is, how it interacts with your receptors to help your body, and how to distinguish between good CBD products and snake oil. 

In this post, we will take a closer look at why both topical CBD products and ingestible CBD products may show great potential in helping relieve arthritis symptoms and achieve a better quality of life.

 

CBD and Arthritis

CBD has exponentially increased in popularity in the United States, also among people with chronic pain conditions like arthritis. According to the Arthritis Foundation, 79% of individuals with arthritis have used CBD in the past, are currently using it, or are considering starting it.  

• 94% of these individuals say that they use CBD for pain relief.
• Some people indicated that CBD is a better alternative to opioids, and CBD has helped some patients to wean off opioids.
• About 3 out of 4 individuals with arthritis said that CBD ranged from effective to very effective in relieving their symptoms, like: improvement in physical function, relief from stiffness, better sleep, and less fatigue.

Evidence that CBD Is Effective for Arthritis Pain

There are several clinical studies that show promising (yet not definite) results regarding the use of CBD for arthritis pain management. 

CBD has shown promise in reducing knee pain due to osteoarthritis, where in a clinical study, patients reported “significant reduction” in their pain.

The following studies have found CBD to help ease the pain of individuals with arthritis:

• Involvement of the endocannabinoid system in osteoarthritis pain - PubMed (nih.gov)
• Transdermal cannabidiol reduces inflammation and pain-related behaviours in a rat model of arthritis (nih.gov)
• Attenuation of early phase inflammation by cannabidiol prevents pain and nerve damage in rat osteoarthritis - PubMed (nih.gov)
• The abnormal cannabidiol analogue O-1602 reduces nociception in a rat model of acute arthritis via the putative cannabinoid receptor GPR55 - PubMed (nih.gov)
• Preliminary assessment of the efficacy, tolerability and safety of a cannabis-based medicine (Sativex) in the treatment of pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis - PubMed (nih.gov)

The article “A Balanced Approach for Cananbidiol Use in Chronic Pain” also states that CBD can relieve chronic pain in certain conditions and improve quality of life. 

Other studies like:

• Wade et al., 2003 (nih.gov)
• Naftali et al., 2014 (nih.gov)
• Van De Donk et al., 2019 (nih.gov)

Have reported that CBD has helped relieve the pain of patients with the following conditions: multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, Crohn’s disease, fibromyalgia, and overall chronic pain management.

How Topical CBD Products Can Relieve Pain

Topical CBD nourishes your skin. In addition, CBD acts as an anti-inflammatory agent that can help reduce pain. Topical CBD products usually provide the most immediate pain relief if your pain is localized.

Studies show that cannabidiol can help repair, replenish, and promote new skin. CBD can slow the progression, for example, of osteoarthritis by decreasing inflammation. CBD, when applied on the skin, has also shown to reduce mechanosensitivty of the joint receptors and joint swelling. 

Our Product Recommendation

Our top 2 recommendations for treating chronic pain topically are:

• 2oz 1800mg Full Spectrum Hemp Salve

A customer and staff favorite, our hemp salve soothes your sore muscles and supports your joints.  Besides CBD, it also includes arnica, which will help especially with inflammation. If you need a salve and you’re always on the run, we also have a smaller 1oz CBD salve size.

• 4oz 750mg Full Spectrum Hemp Lotion

Our CBD lotion is another customer favorite in terms of pain relief. Try it for yourself and let us know what you think! Down below you can read what one of our runner customers said about our CBD lotion.

Harvard Health Publishing recommends buying a CBD product that has been “tested for purity, potency, and safety,” as well as those with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) certification. We are GMP certified (make sure to check out our other certifications like USDA Organic and GAP in this post), and we also provide all COAs to prove that our product is clean and safe.

What Our Customers Are Saying

The goal of Appalachian Growers is to help people feel better and achieve a higher quality of life through natural and organic CBD products. We were so pleased to recently receive the following review from a customer who is a marathon-runner regarding our CBD lotion and his knee pain:

The lotion has virtually eliminated any knee pain from long runs (like marathons).  I just ordered two of the gift sets – one for me, one for a running buddy. I’m a believer! I do about 8 full 26.2 marathons a year – and at age 54, my knees do start to feel it. But they are 100% better.  Of course, I use it daily.

How Ingestible CBD Products Can Help Relieve Pain

According to the article CBD Oil and Pain:

Ingestible CBD: stimulates your endocannabinoid system, which partly dictates how pain is processed and experienced. CBD has also shown to inhibit glutamate levels in the brain and spinal cord of mice, which is associated with pain sensation and transmission. In humans, CBD has been shown to enhance anandamide signaling, which is linked to feelings of well-being and happiness.

Our Product Recommendation

Make sure to check out these 2 ingestible CBD Appalachian Growers products:

• CBD Instant Release Tablets

The instant release allows for immediate absorption in the gut for quick relief. The concentration is 50mg of CBD per tablet, but each tablet contains a breaker bar if you only want half a dose. The tablet is easy to carry and it is also a great option if you are on the go.

• 1500mg Full Spectrum CBD Oil

If you have not given our 1500mg oil a try, today may be your day. This organic CBD oil has been a customer favorite from day #1, and it will always be an Appalachian Growers classic! Check out the review from a customer down below about our CBD oil.

 What Our Customers Are Saying

Another customer sent us the following review a few months after starting to take our full spectrum CBD oil:

I discovered your product when I visited the hemp convention in Atlanta, GA looking for an organic full spectrum CBD oil. Just wanted to take a second to say I really love your product and have been using it ever since. Super stoked for you guys getting USDA certified. Thanks again for your passion and an awesome product!

Conclusion

Suffering from conditions like arthritis can be debilitating but remember that you are not alone. CBD can be a great therapy option for individuals with joint-pain and swelling. If you suffer from medical conditions, however, we always recommend you speak with your doctor before starting to take CBD products. 

Our goal is to help our customers find relief and a happier, better quality of life through incorporating natural, organic, and local CBD products into their wellness routine.

Our team at Appalachian Growers is always here to answer your questions!

Written By: Pamela Jertberg