What is joint pain and how do CBD topicals relieve it? Let’s tackle this one piece at a time. First, we’ll look at joint pain. After that, we’ll discuss how CBD relieves pain.
What causes joint pain?
Painful, achy joints can have many causes. Of course, injury is one. However, joint pain can occur without an injury. It can show up in shoulders, neck, elbows, wrists, hips, knees and feet. Arthritis is probably the leading cause of disability among Americans. Osteoarthritis is the most common form. It isn’t just older adults who have arthritis. Nearly 60 million adults and 300,000 children have some form of arthritis, according to the Arthritis Foundation. In addition, people of all ages and sexes can be afflicted.
Some other causes of joint pain include:
- Gout: Crystals from the body collect in joints, causing severe pain and swelling. Most often it occurs in the big toe.
- Bursitis: Overuse can cause inflammation of hips, knees, elbows or shoulders.
- Tendinitis: Tendons, or the flexible bands that connect bone and muscle, become inflamed from overuse, causing pain in elbows, heels or shoulders.
These conditions are often accompanied by inflammation, pain, stiffness, decreased range of motion and fatigue. Treatment varies for each condition. For instance, change of diet, exercise, weight loss, over-the-counter medications, dietary supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin and topical treatments.
In this blog, I’ll talk about CBD topicals to relieve joint pain.
What are CBD topicals?
Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a component of the cannabis plant. The Lost Remedy CBD topicals are derived from the hemp plant. CBD is a nonintoxicating element of hemp, as a result, you won’t experience a high when you use it. Through the centuries, CBD has been used for its medicinal and therapeutic properties. Used for chronic pain, anxiety, inflammation, depression and many other conditions, CBD has few, if any, side effects that often occur with pharmaceuticals and over-the-counter medications. As a result, you can use it as often as necessary to relieve pain safely.
CBD creams, salves or balms applied directly to the affected area can quickly go to work to relieve pain. Rather than make its way to the blood stream, CBD is permeable so it can zero in on a specific area to relieve pain, itching, burning, etc. CBD, combined with essential and carrier oils, creates chemical-free topicals that nourish and protect skin, muscles, nerves and tissue.
When you use CBD topicals for joint and muscle pain, it helps relax muscles, relieve spasms, reduce inflammation and reduce aches and pains. In fact, there is some evidence that using the topicals before you’re in pain could potentially act as a preventive.
How do CBD topicals relieve joint pain?
CBD is a known anti-inflammatory. Inflammation is the root of most joint and arthritis pain. However, hemp-derived CBD has other beneficial properties that occur naturally, including:
- analgesic
- antioxidative
- antiemetic
- antipsychotic
- neuroprotective
Everyone has an endocannabinoid system (ECS) that regulates the body’s homeostasis or balance. Within the ECS are CB1 and CB2 receptors. These receptors are everywhere in the body. Each has a role to play in the system to help maintain homeostasis.
Applying CBD topicals activates the CB receptors that are present in the skin. The brain triggers the release of neuropeptides into the body. CB receptors on cell surfaces latch on to them, kick-starting endorphins. An endorphin is a neuropeptide that helps relieve pain.
CBD provides an efficient and effective delivery agent to stimulate the ECS system. Though CBD on its own is a powerful anti-inflammatory, its effectiveness is multiplied when used in conjunction with other carrier and essential oils to specifically target a particular issue, such as arthritis or other join pain.
Are CBD topicals safe?
According to this article in the National Library of Medicine, An Update on Safety and Side Effects of Cannabidiol: A Review of Clinical Data and Relevant Animal Studies, “In general, the often-described favorable safety profile of CBD in humans was confirmed and extended by the reviewed research… the most commonly reported side effects were tiredness, diarrhea and changes of appetite/weight. In comparison with other drugs… CBD has a better side-effect profile.” So, as I mentioned earlier, you can use CBD topicals frequently without fear of harmful side effects, which means you’ll probably stick with the treatment. Not many other medications can make that claim.
A final word of caution before you run out to buy a CBD topical for pain. Know what you’re getting. You’ll want to research various suppliers. Not all CBD products are the same, regardless of claims. First, consider where and how hemp is grown. Look for hemp grown in the U.S. as organically as possible without harmful herbicides, pesticides or growth enhancers. Second, how is the CBD is extracted? Look for a product derived from CO2 extraction, the most expensive extraction method, but by far the safest.