CBD for Joint Pain: Does CBD Help with Different Types of Arthritis

Different Types of Arthritis…

If you or a loved one is suffering from arthritis, the first thing to do would be to see your doctor as there are different types of arthritis with different types of treatments.

There is Inflammatory Arthritis,

This is the most common form of arthritis, called osteoarthritis. This happens because cartilage (the tough yet flexible connective tissue of the body that covers our bones) wears away and the bones begin rubbing against each other causing swelling, stiffness, and pain! Over time, the pain can become chronic. To prevent and support this type of arthritis, healthy weight and lifestyle are very important. CBD can be quite a potent form of support as CBD’s mission is to reduce excessive inflammation. We even have CB2 receptors (the main receptors CBD works with) in our bones!

There is Degenerative Arthritis,

This is rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and gout. In this case, the immune system is no longer functioning in a balanced way. The immune system attacks the joints, mistaking them for a foreign invader, causing excessive inflammation and possible joint erosion. The immune system is supposed to function to create a homeostatic balance of not too much, yet not too little inflammatory activity. This whole process is actually controlled by the Endocannabinoid System, specifically the CB2 receptors, which are responsible for regulating the inflammatory response. These are the exact receptors that CBD specializes in ! Additional and important methods to combat this type of arthritis is by creating a healthy environment, physically and psychologically, as well as not smoking. It is important to treat this as early as possible, as left untreated it will only get worse and do possible irreversible damage. This is why cannabinoids are so amazing, they are not only able to help with pain, but they are treating the most primary/ root level of disease manifestation.

There is Metabolic Arthritis,

Gout and extreme, sudden spikes of joint pain can be caused by this type of arthritis. This is when uric acid is formed as the body breaks down purines, a substance inside human cells and inside many foods we eat. If someone has a uric acid build up due to excessive levels, or an inability to get rid of it in the time needed. The acid can build up and form crystals in the joints. This causes sudden pain or gout attacks. Cannabinoids are anti inflammatories plus they stimulate opioid receptors for natural pain relief. This is why CBD is great to have around in case of a gout attack.

There is Infectious Arthritis,

This is arthritis engendered by a bacterium, fungus, or virus that enters the joints and triggers inflammation. This can happen due to food poisoning/contamination, such as with salmonella and shigella. It can be caused by sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhea or chlamydia. It can also occur due to a blood-to-blood infection such as hepatitis C. This can be treated with antibiotics which should clear the arthritis, but sometimes it can be chronic. CBD cannot solve this, but cannabinoids are able to help with the pain, the inflammation, and they are potent antibacterial agents!

Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash

IL-6

An overproduction of IL-6 has been observed in the synovial fluid of rheumatoid arthritis. In infections and injuries there is a significant rise in IL-6. Excessive IL-6 / excessive production of IL-6, if not shut down after trauma to the body, can lead to an excessive inflammatory response called a cytokine storm, which can lead to death or the development of chronic autoimmune disease. Too much autoimmune action leads to a mental and emotional insult, as well as physical. Autoimmune diseases are associated with mental trauma. This can be explained in multiple ways. On one hand, being diagnosed with a chronic disease is emotionally and mentally upsetting/stressful. Additionally, this IL-6 impacts the HPA axis pathway, our stress-response pathway. This is where cannabinoids can shine as they promote cellular balance in this pathways and others which connect our body to our mind.

When we are injured, we are constantly asking our endocannabinoids (cannabinoids produced endogenously by the body) to heal over inflammation, but the body runs out of juice. Remember the body has more cannabinoid receptors than any other kinds of receptors! We require cannabinoids to do everything. Therefore, they cannot all be devoted towards curing this inflammatory response, we need them to calm us in times of stress, heal our bruises, clear out dead cells in the brain, promote our “runners high”, sync the systems of the body so we get a good night’s sleep, and the list could go on seemingly forever! Luckily, mother nature gave us a way to supercharge our immune system and stimulate excessive healing when excessive damage is being done – with the phytocannabinoid from hemp! (phytocannabinoids are cannabinoid produced by plants)

Suppression of IL-6 can be extremely helpful to those suffering with arthritis. Cannabinoid acids can help to suppress IL-6, even if the modulation is small – it goes a long way. Additionally cannabinoids help to reduce proinflammatory cytokine synthesis and work on many other anti-inflammatory pathways that, when left unmanaged, can promote disease development. It is CBD’s mission to activate the CB2 receptors, which are responsible for immune and inflammatory responses at the most basic cellular level. Keeping the body in cellular balance and homeostasis.

It’s basically the poor get poorer hypothesis – Disease leads to less cannabinoids, more strain on the body and mind, which leads to even less cannabinoids and the body deteriorates without its supply to complete base level actions. CBD is not a cure all (emphasis on cure), but it can support your body in healing itself, therefore improving disease outcomes and playing a huge role in preventing them from developing or worsening.

Photo by David Monje on Unsplash