CBD, or cannabidiol, is one of the 100+ cannabinoids in cannabis and hemp plants. Recently, CBD has attracted widespread attention due to anecdotal reports glorifying its immense health benefits.
While cannabis has been an integral component of traditional medicine since the old days, little is known about how it works. Of course, this has been due to limited research occasioned by cross-cutting anti-cannabis legislation.
However, with the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill in the United States and the legalization of medical marijuana across various nations, research is beginning to yield more insight into the inner workings of cannabis.
In particular, its pain-relieving and sleep-boosting properties have been the focus of many studies and have spurred interest in other areas.
So much information on CBD’s analgesic properties is available online. The problem is that not everything that’s online is credible. This is particularly true in instances where the information is largely circumstantial.
But as more research is conducted, an empirical approach to determining whether CBD can help with joint pain is certainly feasible.
Does CBD help with joint pain?
A 2019 Gallup poll showed that the primary reason why 14% of Americans use CBD products is to manage pain. Another poll by the Arthritis Foundation indicated that at least 29% of Americans use CBD regularly, with another 80% “having considered” or used it before.
Most people cited sleep improvement, physical function, and overall wellbeing as the major reasons for using CBD. A minority mentioned pain management.
Given the challenges of managing chronic pain and the consequences of opioids, pain experts have been looking for safer and more effective alternatives.
Historically, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has attracted more attention due to its psychoactivity, but CBD research is gathering momentum.
A 2019 study titled CBD as the New Medicine in the Pain Provider’s Armamentarium noted the great benefits of using CBD oil as part of a pain treatment program. However, it highlighted uncertainties regarding its safety, especially in long-term use.
An investigation into the pain-relieving properties of cannabis-based supplements focused on nabiximols – cannabis products containing both THC and CBD in a 1:1 ratio. It concluded that the combination “definitely” has therapeutic effects but couldn’t attribute the pain-killing properties to CBD alone.
In many countries, nabiximols are sold for various purposes, including treating neuropathic pain, particularly in patients with multiple sclerosis.
Broadly speaking, CB1 agonists – cannabinoids that enhance CB1 receptor activity, like THC – have repeatedly been shown to induce antinociceptive effects in animal studies pain models. It’s increasingly evident that cannabinoids mobilize the endocannabinoid signaling pathways, which are essential factors in pain response.
For this reason, researchers hold that THC’s potential analgesic property is because it’s a CB1 receptor agonist. These receptors are expressed by neurons across the neuraxis.
Studies show that CB1-mediated influencing of neural pathways in various parts of the central nervous system such as the amygdala, periaqueductal gray, rostroventral medulla, and the spinal cord can impede nociceptive processing.
This was demonstrated by injecting CB1 agonists into various brain regions.
However, CB2 agonists (CBD) have also been shown to modulate positive impacts in pain models simulated in mice. This is attributed to their ability to reduce microglia activation in the central nervous system as well as their anti-inflammatory qualities.
But since THC can activate both CB1 and CB2 receptors, it would be easy to conclude that it may be responsible for pain reduction. However, older studies indicate that CB receptors are equally predominant in DRG neurons, including nerves in the osteoarthritic synovium.
This raises the possibility that activating CB2 receptors may regulate nociceptor excitability.
In simpler language, research shows that CBD administration may benefit some pain models. The molecular mechanisms are, however, unclear. Nonetheless, the broad implication is that CBD may reduce pain via different signal transduction mechanisms.
Indeed, several studies on the effect of CBD on arthritic joint pain indicated that it blocks arthritic progression through an immunosuppressive pathway. It also “considerably” reduced joint swelling, infiltration of immune cells, and synovial membrane thickening, albeit dose-dependently.
Overall, there is substantial evidence that the endocannabinoid system limits pain in people with joint disease. As such, scientists maintain that activating this system with the correct cannabinoids increases its efficacy in reducing pain at peripheral and central locations.
CBD for joint aches
Many studies support the idea that CBD may offer pain relief in pathologies characterized by joint pain, such as arthritis.
For instance, a 2015 study investigating the effects of transdermal CBD on pain-related behavior and inflammation showed that it “significantly” reduced joint swelling and pain.
Furthermore, a 2017 animal study on CBD’s impact on osteoarthritis (OA) in rats demonstrated that it blocked OA pain. Prophylactic CBD therapy also prevented late pain from developing and stopped nerve damage.
More recently, a 2020 study described CBD as a “killer for inflammatory rheumatoid arthritis” due to the wide-ranging mechanisms it mediated to prevent inflammation.
The researchers found that CBD fought inflammation by increasing intracellular calcium levels, reducing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and decreasing cell viability.
The study concluded that CBD “possesses anti-arthritic activity” and could ease arthritis symptoms, including joint pain.
Be that as it may, it is noteworthy that well-designed human studies with compelling evidence that CBD can effectively relieve arthritis pain are limited. A randomized study on the effectiveness of topical CBD in treating knee osteoarthritis only produced mixed results.
Of course, cannabis research is still in its infancy stages, so making definitive conclusions regarding CBD’s analgesic properties may be premature.
How does CBD reduce inflammation?
Although THC’s anti-inflammatory properties have been the subject of many studies, it is now emerging that non-psychoactive cannabinoids like CBD could play vital roles in inflammatory processes.
Research suggests that CBD’s anti-inflammatory effect could be mediated by various cannabinoid receptors, including adenosine A2A, GPR55, TRPV1, CB2, and 5HT1A. Recent studies show cannabinoids generally minimize peripheral inflammation by acting on the GPR55, CB2, and TPRV1 receptors.
These interactions downregulate enzymes responsible for producing pro-inflammatory proteins like prostaglandins, cytokines, and reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, these mechanisms are not solely mediated by CBD.
For instance, while CBD can reduce induced inflammation in rats by reducing the production of nitric oxide (NO), PGE2, COX activity, and malondialdehyde, its precursor CBDA has also been shown to downregulate COX and enzyme activity.
Further, other cannabinoids like CBC have also demonstrated the ability to reduce the production of nitrites and cytokines without interacting with cannabinoid receptors. CBG and CBGA can also inhibit COX activity.
Other components of cannabis, such as the terpene beta-caryophyllene, can also reduce cytokine production and ROS.
These findings are consistent with the theory that the beneficial effects of cannabis are mainly due to the entourage effect. Each of the compounds in cannabis contributes in its own unique way to enhance the overall impact of the product.
Does CBD heal inflammation?
It is not exactly clear if CBD ‘heals’ inflammation per se. From numerous reviews of existing CBD studies, the overarching hypothesis is that CBD may help reduce, mitigate, or lower inflammation.
From a pathological point of view, the term ‘heal’ implies being disease or injury free. In most literature on CBD, the wording is categorical that CBD reduces or lowers inflammatory responses.
The implication is that CBD does not entirely eradicate inflammation but makes it manageable.
Does CBD reduce inflammation?
Yes, a growing body of research suggests that CBD has anti-inflammatory properties. Its mode of action is still ambiguous, with many studies suggesting it uses different action pathways. This is because, unlike THC, CBD does not bind with CB1 and CB2 receptors.
It is, however, believed to mediate the activities of other receptors (e.g., TPRV-1 and GPR55) and enzymes to bring about wide-ranging beneficial biological and physiological processes.
CBD for knee pain
CBD’s growing popularity is attributed mainly to its ability to ease pain and inflammation. A 2020 CBD survey found that 64% of people who use CBD do so to manage pain.
Given such statistics, it’s easy to see why CBD is increasingly the go-to supplement for pain.
Knee pain can cause significant discomfort and even affect your quality of life. It’s caused by various conditions, including:
- Infection
- Traumatic injury
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Tendinitis
- Degenerative diseases
Some conditions like being overweight and pregnancy also increase the risks of developing knee pain. Fortunately, CBD may help reduce symptoms associated with chronic pain by interacting with neurotransmitters in the brain that control pain processing.
Nonetheless, it’s better if people with chronic pain integrate CBD into their pain management program. Using a multimodal approach that involves other pain medications has often been shown to yield the best results.
Vitamin B6 for nerve pain
The common causes of nerve pain include vitamin B12 or vitamin B1 deficiency. So, to replenish your system’s supply of vitamins, we highly recommend FOCL Day.
These capsules contain premium hemp CBD and a perfect blend of adaptogens to help you stay focused and easily power through your day. It’s also a rich source of vitamin B6, which helps promote overall brain health and regulate mood.
Ashwagandha benefits for joint pain
Ashwagandha is not called the king of Ayurvedic herbs for no reason. This non-toxic adaptogen is widely known for its numerous properties which are believed to influence things like stress, blood sugar, inflammation, memory, mood, and the immune system.
It is one of the key herbal ingredients in our FOCL Night capsules, specially formulated to help you relax your mind and body.
How much CBD for anti-inflammation
A major undoing of CBD is the lack of a clear dosing framework to help people take it correctly. Even though manufacturers often provide a general guideline, it is not always successful with everyone. This is why some people complain that CBD does not work for them.
The truth is that everyone responds differently to CBD. Some people find their “sweet spot” without much problem, while others struggle.
It all comes down to several factors like your weight, the strength of the CBD product, your method of administration, and your endocannabinoid system. You may not feel the effects of CBD until you have a certain level in your system to stimulate your endocannabinoid system.
Nevertheless, experts recommend starting with 20-40mg of CBD daily and increasing the dosage gradually by 5mg weekly until you hit your “sweet spot.”
Best CBD capsules for joint pain
The FOCL Bundle gets the job done as far as joint pain is concerned. This bundle combines the potent properties of 11 organic adaptogens and premium hemp CBD to help you get quick relief from pain.
All these ingredients have been expertly formulated to amplify each other’s effects and give you the balance you need to stay active and focused during the day, and to relax your body and help you sleep better at night.
Bottom line
CBD has been in the shadows of THC for a long time. So, much that researchers know about cannabis is usually attributed to THC.
However, emerging research findings indicate that CBD may have valuable health benefits, including antagonizing the psychoactive effects of THC.
Nothing is clear-cut at the moment, so exercise caution and due diligence when using CBD. Its safety profile is, however, promising, with many studies showing it has no adverse side effects.
