Over 54 million people in the United States suffer from some form of arthritis. While osteoarthritis occurs after 40, rheumatoid arthritis can occur at any age. Arthritis is a disease that affects joints and causes inflammation. The fact that it is so widespread means that the cure is sought everywhere. CBD for arthritis gives hope to everyone suffering from this disease as at least according to anecdotal evidence it is quite helpful. Let us see what is that you should know about using CBD for arthritis and whether it can help you with your symptoms.

What is CBD anyway?

CBD (cannabidiol) is a compound that is derived from hemp and marijuana. Most people mix it with THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) which gives you the `high`. However, it is a different compound that does not have psychotic effects, and it completely legal for usage. Products containing CBD should have 0.3 THC to be completely legal, and this is the case if they are derived from hemp. More and more people are using CBD products every day and feel better. It even helps pets overcome pain, nausea, and other unwanted symptoms.

Always consult a doctor before using CBD for arthritis

Just like with any other medication, a doctor`s advice is the best thing in the world. Certain types of arthritis require other medication for successful treatment, such as rheumatoid arthritis. Your doctor will advise on the dosage, side effects, and possible benefits.

Dosage

There is no regulated amount of dosage for CBD for arthritis or any other disease. People usually start with a low dose, 5 to 10mg, for example. Then they proceed with higher and higher dosage to reach about 25 to 50 mg, in a couple of weeks. On the other hand, some people take 600mg of CBD a day, but this is quite rare. The proper thing to do is to consult with your doctor. The dosage will also depend on your weight, the form of CBD you are taking, and on medical indication.

Side effects

Can CBD cause any side effects? Yes, you can experience some mild side effects after consuming CBD. Usually, these include lightheadedness, sleepiness, and dry mouth. Sometimes it can even affect your liver, but again these are rare cases. It is good to know that all the side effects were reported to be quite mild.

CBD and other medications

CBD does not interact well with all medications, especially corticosteroids. It also does not go well with some antidepressants such as amitriptyline, citalopram, paroxetine, and others. You should also take precautions if you are taking high blood pressure medication, heart medication, and antihistamines.

In what form can you take CBD for arthritis?

Nowadays you can choose your CBD in many different forms. Here are the most common ones:

• Edibles – You can take your CBD in form of cakes, chocolates, gummies, sodas, or any other baked and edible item. This is a good thing as you don`t have to worry about dosing as it is already done for you. It takes anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours to start feeling the positive effects of CBD in this way.
• Vaporizer – This is the fastest way to feel the benefits of CBD. By inhaling through a vape pen that on the other hand is heating the oil, you will feel effects in two minutes.
• Sublingual drops – Drops are taken under your tongue and you feel the effects in 15 to 30 minutes. Drops are among the most common ways of CBD consumption.
• Topicals – And last, but not least, topicals. Topical CBD comes in form of creams, lotions, balms, and any other product that is applied directly to your skin. It takes 10 minutes to feel the benefits of CBD in this way. It is particularly useful to apply a cream for example on soar joints.

How can CBD help with arthritis?

When consumed or applied, CBD affects the parts of your body that hurt, such as joints. CBD also has anti-inflammatory features, making it ideal to fight arthritis. It operates in the nervous system sending signals to your body for pain relief.

What else is CBD good for?

CBD is not used only for arthritis. It has a wide spectrum of diseases and conditions it can affect and reduce. It is used both with people and animals. It is believed to reduce nausea, anxiety, stress levels, insomnia, etc. It helps your body calm and rests so that it can recover.

What is the science behind CBD?

While it is known that CBD has anti-inflammatory properties, and many people claim that CBD has helped them, there are no sufficient studies to back this up. It takes a lot of time to conduct a serious study with viable data. The studies that have been taken out so far have not been conclusive about the usage of CBD. There is no scientific evidence that CBD can help out with all the above-mentioned symptoms.

But anecdotal evidence tells a different story

Just because there are not enough scientific studies to back up CBD, it does not mean you should stop using it. Thousands of people claim that CBD has helped either them or their pets. The most important thing is that CBD does not harm your body, and it does not hurt to try it out as well. Of course, you should consult a doctor first.

Always opt for high-quality products

Just like with any other product on the market, you have the ones of low and high quality. Always opt for the ones that are FDA approved, and for the ones that don`t have a lot of ingredients in them. Even if they cost a bit more, using CBD will help you reduce the symptoms of arthritis which is the main goal here. Good luck!