Arthritis is a condition impacting more than 54 million adults in the United States every year. Even though figures and stats reveal that arthritis affects women more than men, anyone over 50 is at an elevated risk.
Are you looking for a targeted treatment that works quickly? Whether you’re suffering from pain caused by overworking (exhausted muscles) or joint pain caused by aging and arthritis, CBD creams can help you.
CBD creams can minimize the use of pain relievers such as NSAIDs and opioids and their quick, targeted, and convenient effects. They’re usually small and portable, and some even come in a roll-on shape for easy application.
If you’ve been considering using CBD to treat pain, our guide on the best CBD cream for chronic pain can point you in the right direction.
What’s CBD – Overview
CBD, or cannabidiol, is a substance you can obtain from the hemp plant. Both hemp and marijuana are cannabis plants, although they’re distinguishable. They have varying amounts of phytocannabinoids, chemicals naturally found in the cannabis plant.
CBD products have grown in popularity and availability over the last few years. While you’ve probably heard of CBD oil and CBD gummies, there’s also a rising industry for topical CBD products.
Marijuana vs. Hemp Plant
Marijuana: THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the “high” inducing cannabinoid, is abundant in marijuana.
Hemp: THC content in hemp is less than 0.3 percent. CBD is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid you can find in hemp. CBD won’t make you feel euphoric. Instead, CBD oil interacts with your endocannabinoid system, a set of receptors in the body influenced by the hundreds of different discovered cannabinoids.
CBD Creams- An Overview
CBD cream is a specifically made lotion with CBD, essential oils, and other skin-nourishing, pain-relieving substances blended into a moisturizing foundation to help calm targeted painful spots.
Broad-spectrum CBD creams are available in various concentrations and aromas and can be full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, or CBD isolates. If you’re looking for a CBD cream, be sure it’s made with organic components and natural odors and doesn’t contain any dangerous additives.
Most CBD creams are light, effective, and simple to apply. However, as with any medical product, you should conduct your homework, enabling you to select a high-quality CBD cream that meets your specific health and well-being requirements.
CBD Topicals: The Safer Pain Relief Alternative
Continuous use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Ibuprofen can increase your risk of heart disease, cardiac arrest, and liver and kidney damage. The opioid problem in the United States has wrecked countless lives and resulted in millions of deaths from overdose.
Because of the dangers and addiction potential of prescription opioids, an increasing number of people are looking for more natural solutions to relieve chronic pain. Millions have discovered that CBD cream can be used as a natural alternative to pain medication.
Arthritis & Muscle Pain
Symptoms of this condition can range from mild to severe, depending on the type of arthritis you have. The following are some of the most well-known symptoms of arthritis:
- Inflammation
- Stiffness
- Reduced range of motion
- Exhaustion
- Pain
Arthritis can affect practically every part of the body, although the hands, fingers, back, wrist, neck, and ankle are usually the most affected.
Did you know that there are over a hundred different types of arthritis? And while all of them can cause pain, they don’t all behave the same way. Moreover, what works for one person doesn’t necessarily work for someone else. All varieties of arthritis are handled to minimize pain and inflammation while maintaining regular body function.
Experts recommend using traditional prescription medications for specific disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis because they help avoid irreversible joint damage and severe disability.
Furthermore, different consumers may perceive pain and react to treatment differently. As a result, finding a single CBD product that works for everyone with arthritis is pretty unlikely.
CBD Topicals For Arthritis Pain Relief
As we read above, CBD topical cream has the potential to manage and reduce arthritis pain. Osteoarthritis arthritis and Rheumatoid are two of the most widespread types of arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease where a person’s immune system attacks and inflames their joints. This type of arthritis typically affects the hands and feet, resulting in inflamed, aching, and stiff joints.
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease damaging the cartilage and bones in the joints, resulting in pain and stiffness. The hip, knee, and thumb joints are frequently impacted.
Anecdotal research suggests that some patients with arthritis who resort to CBD experience arthritis pain relief, improved sleep, less anxiety, etc. However, it’s also notable that no substantial clinical investigations in humans with arthritis have been conducted to back this up.
Science Behind CBD Cream For Arthritis Pain Relief
A CBD pain cream works by allowing CBD to enter the body through the skin. The CBD will then absorb into your aching muscles and joints, where it’ll interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system to provide comfort and relaxation. CBD appears to have the ability to help alleviate pain, discomfort, and other unpleasant sensations.
CBD is emerging as a promising pharmacological agent for treating pain, inflammation, seizures, and anxiety (minus the euphoric effects of THC). Our understanding of CBD’s impact on pain management is still developing. Still, animal research suggests that CBD works by interacting with and modulating the endocannabinoid, immune, and neuropathic pain systems to relieve pain.
Cannabinoid receptors connect with naturally occurring cannabinoids to form the endocannabinoid system. This natural system controls various bodily functions, including metabolism, hunger, temperament, nervousness, and pain perception.
Research On Topical CBD Products
While there are lab studies suggesting CBD has potential, animal studies demonstrating CBD’s anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties, there are no well-designed studies that show CBD is safe and helpful for chronic arthritic pain.
According to a Gallup research conducted in August 2019, roughly 14% of Americans use CBD products (primarily for pain).
The Arthritis Foundation sponsored its research, revealing that 29% of respondents were currently using CBD (mostly in liquid or topical form). Nearly 80% were either consuming it, had used it in the past, or were contemplating using it.
The majority of people who used CBD salve said this substance improved their physical function, sleep, and overall health. Moreover, a small percentage of the group said it helped with arthritis pain or stiffness.
But the Arthritis Foundation is collaborating with researchers at the University of Michigan and the Arthritis Association of Canada to find out if and how people with arthritis or other rheumatic illnesses utilize medical cannabis, including CBD and THC products.
Finding The Best CBD Creams
CBD products are becoming increasingly popular. This has resulted in new companies and items infusion into an already crowded market. When shopping for CBD oil, bear in mind that not all products are made equal.
While there are credible CBD products like Fusion CBD Pain Relief Muscle & Joint Recovery cream, many companies cut corners to low-cost market products full of harmful ingredients, herbicides, pesticides, chemicals, and other hazardous compounds.
If you’ve decided to purchase a CBD cream to help with pain, you’ll first want to do some research. Here are a few things to ponder.
Buy CBD Online
While visiting a local store that sells CBD may seem like a simple approach to finding a decent CBD cream for arthritis, it has some downsides.
To begin with, you must completely rely on the store’s judgment of “excellent quality.” To profit from a flourishing market, many local sellers carry products that are mislabeled or tainted with pesticides and heavy metals. Finding a reputable local vendor takes time and effort, not to mention that most stationery stores only provide 2–3 varieties of CBD products.
The first advantage of shopping for CBD cream for arthritis online is that you may compare hundreds of different goods from the comfort of your own home. The variety of options is the second advantage of choosing a reliable online supplier. Online stores tend to offer numerous choices for CBD, including topical CBD products, oils, pills, vapes, creams, gummies, and even brands for pets.
Learn About Broad Spectrum CBD VS. Isolate Products
Learn how to differentiate between full-spectrum, broad-spectrum CBD, and CBD isolate items. Full-spectrum CBD products include all of the hemp plant’s beneficial cannabinoids, terpenes, and herbal extracts. These products also have a THC content of 0.3 percent or less.
They can, however, cause a false positive on a drug test. Broad-spectrum CBD products have the same phytonutrients, cannabinoids, and terpenes as full-spectrum products but no THC. Finally, CBD isolates are pure products of about 99 percent CBD (all other plant components removed via a unique method).
Choose A High-Quality Product
While CBD shopping, don’t just go for the cheapest option on the shelf. There are numerous poor-quality CBD products on the market. According to FDA warning letters, some of these products don’t even have the amount of CBD they claim.
Look for CBD creams made in the United States extracted using a carbon dioxide-based technique. Choose a CBD cream that has undergone independent testing for purity, potency, and quality, such as one that has gotten a “Good Manufacturing Practices” (GMP) certificate.
Third-Party Lab Tests
All credible brands have their products tested for potency, safety, purity, and efficacy regularly by an independent third-party lab.
These companies will then post the lab findings on their websites for customers to easily access and provide additional options for customers to receive them. Third-party lab reports are crucial because they inform clients about what they’ll be putting into their bodies.
Tips To Amplify CBD Oil Effects
Allow time for the impact to take effect. Applying CBD cream before bedtime will provide relief for a better night’s sleep, and you can relax while the CBD cream works on your body.
To help amplify the effects of your cream, consider a CBD tincture, CBD gummies, or CBD capsules. CBD oils help with general pain and inflammation, whereas CBD cream targets a certain location.
If your arthritis pain persists or worsens, make an appointment with a physician. CBD oil is meant to aid with minor aches and pains, but persistent symptoms could indicate a condition that needs medical treatment.
First, try THC-containing drugs at home or at night to sleep off any adverse effects.
Cautious Before CBD Topicals Application
There are valid reasons to shop with caution. The market for CBD products in the United States is primarily uncontrolled.
Patients who intend to utilize CBD cream should first speak with their arthritis doctor. They can discuss what’s worked and what hasn’t in the past, whether there are any alternative options to try first, how to conduct a trial run, what to look out for, and when to return for another appointment to assess the outcome.
To keep track of your results, keep a symptom and dose journal. Moreover, remember that CBD products of high quality can be costly, especially when used for lengthy periods. To prevent wasting your hard-earned money, make sure the product has a positive impact.
CBD Oil Dosing
While no clear clinical standards exist, the Arthritis Foundation’s medical specialists prescribe the following for adults.
When taking a liquid form of CBD, keep in mind that the CBD extract is blended with olive oil or coconut oil, so you’ll need to know how much of the product to take (dosage) and how much CBD is in each dose.
Keep it low and slow. Begin by sublingually taking a few milligrams of CBD twice a day. If relief is still insufficient after one week, up the dose by the same amount. Increase in tiny amounts over several weeks if necessary. If you feel better, take the same dose twice a day to keep the CBD level in your blood steady.
CBD might not be suited for you if you don’t get relief from CBD alone or a combination of CBD and extremely low THC after a few weeks.
If you detect any unpleasant side effects after using a CBD product, stop using it immediately and notify your doctor.
CBD Cream Side Effects
There are potential drawbacks to each treatment. CBD is usually harmless, but it can still induce dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, and, in rare cases, liver problems. Because CBD products aren’t regulated like prescription pharmaceuticals, there may be some doubt about their potency or purity, and CBD can interact with other meds.
Is CBD Legal?
CBD products produced from hemp are no longer classified as Schedule I drugs under the federal Controlled Substances Act, but they remain in legal limbo. Legalization developments are ongoing and will eventually establish the laws and regulations governing CBD-based products and sales on federal and state levels.
Regardless, they’re widely available in practically every state and online. CBD cream users should review their state laws before consumption.
Speak With Your Physician
Before starting CBD or any other substance, speak with your arthritis doctor. They can inform you whether CBD might interfere with your medications, exacerbate a chronic illness, etc.
For example, CBD creams may exacerbate bleeding. If you’re having surgery, you should probably cease taking it before the procedure.
Moreover, for the treatment of certain kinds of epilepsy, the FDA has approved Epidiolex, a refined version of CBD. People taking this drug should adhere to their doctor’s dosage recommendations.
Final Thoughts
CBD, or cannabidiol, is a substance you can find in the hemp (cannabis) plant. CBD is not intoxicating, but it can make you sleepy. All CBD oils and products are derived from hemp, a type of cannabis with only traces (0.3 percent) of THC, the psychoactive ingredient that induces a “high.”
CBD has been shown in animal research to have pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory qualities, although these effects have yet to be seen and confirmed in human studies. Although, many patients with arthritis have reported arthritis pain relief, improved sleep, and reduced anxiety after applying CBD cream.
CBD creams could be an excellent alternative for people who have arthritis and other painful conditions. Choose a high-quality product created with natural components for the best results. We hope this blog can help you learn more about CBD’s pain-relieving qualities. Don’t also forget to read our guide on choosing the Best CBD Product for Your Needs.
