Written By Liz Gold

More than 50 million Americans suffer from arthritis, making it the number one cause of disability in the country. This growing number is not slowing down and it’s one of the most common causes of chronic pain among adults. By 2040, an estimated 78 million (26 percent) of adults in the United States over the age of 18 are projected to be diagnosed with arthritis by a medical professional.

Arthritis doesn’t just look one way, it’s not one-size-fits-all; the condition includes more than 100 diseases and conditions that affect joints, the tissues that surround the joint and other connective tissue. Symptoms can vary depending on the specific form of the disease and individual but typically include pain and stiffness in and around one or more joints. It can be very painful and debilitating, hindering someone’s daily activities dramatically, when not treated appropriately.

Two of the more common types of arthritis are first, Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which is a disease where a person’s body attacks their joints, causing inflammation. It commonly affects the hands and feet and leads to painful, swollen and stiff joints. The second most common type is Osteoarthritis (OA), which is a degenerative disease that affects joint cartilage and bones, causing pain and stiffness. It often affects the hip, knee and thumb joints.

To deal with this debilitating chronic pain, many people turn to opioid painkillers – which may be a short-term solution for pain management – but ultimately, these types of drugs often end up causing addictions and fatalities from abuse and misuse. As opioid use continues to spike in this country (opioids are killing 115 Americans every day according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse) medical professionals and patients continue to seek new pathways for pain management and overall health. Cannabis, and in particular, CBD, can be a powerful alternative to using opioids and help an individual reclaim their wellness by taking a more natural route.

Cannabidiol (CBD) works to nourish and balance the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), a group of endogenous cannabinoid receptors in the brain, central nervous system and peripheral nervous system. CBD is safe, nontoxic, antipsychotic and nonintoxicating, working behind the scenes to address anxiety, depression and inflammation. Unlike, tetrahydrocannabinol, (THC) it won’t get you high. But you will feel less anxious, less pain and more ease in your body without the high-inducing nature of cannabis with THC. It can be a perfect match for addressing the chronic pain arthritis causes.

CBD also impacts the immune system, which makes it helpful for autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. A study published in the journal Rheumatology from Dr. Sheng-Ming Dai of China’s Second Military Medical University found that CB2 receptors are found in unusually high levels in the joint tissue of arthritis patients. Using cannabis fights inflammation in the joints by activating the pathways of CB2 receptors. CBD, on its own, is a natural anti-inflammatory agent that can relieve pain and stiffness caused by arthritis.

Many consumers new to cannabis start with CBD first and with small doses, often called micro-dosing. A conversation with your caregiver can provide you with a better understanding of what dose to begin with and how often to consume. As you begin to understand the effects CBD has on your body, you can make adjustments accordingly.

There are many ways to treat the chronic pain arthritis causes with CBD. Tinctures, salves, and bath salts are all great ways to get the healing effects of CBD and provide your body with relief without the addictive qualities of opioids. Here are a few of our products that we offer that can start you on your journey towards chronic pain relief:

CBD Chocolate Buttons – Micro-dose CDB with these hand-crafted chocolates. Each button contains five mg CBD and no THC, so you can relieve pain, inflammation and anxiety without experiencing any intoxicating effects. These chocolates may help with anxiety, chronic pain, inflammation, lack of appetite, seizures and stress.

Mary’s Elite Compound – Mary’s proprietary compound is a non-greasy salve with a cool citrus-basil scent. It’s designed to bring topical pain relief in under 30 minutes. It may help with chronic pain, muscle spasms and PMS. It contains no THC.

CBD Body Balm-Relax – Produced by Vital Leaf CBD’s, this topical balm is designed to relax the user and help with chronic pain, inflammation, muscle spasms and soreness.

CBD Body Balm-Uplift – Similar to the relax product above, this topical balm is designed to help induce relaxation and help with chronic pain, inflammation, muscle spasms and soreness.

CBD Elixir Drops – Produced by Vital Leaf CBD’s and manufactured with high quality hemp-based CBD extract, these drops can help with anxiety, chronic pain, depression, inflammation, muscle spasms, nausea and seizures.