The cannabis plant is one of the most dynamic and versatile plants on earth, which is why it can be used for so many things.
Every cannabis plant contains various levels of dozens of different cannabinoids.
One of the most well-known cannabinoids is cannabidiol (CBD).
CBD is now arguably the most popular cannabinoid on earth, surpassing THC.
A big part of that is due to the favorable legal status that is applied to CBD in many jurisdictions across the globe.
The CBD cannabinoid is now infused into many products, from gummy candies to tinctures to topical rubs. Oral consumption methods are particularly common, however, are they effective?
Oral CBD And Arthritis
Consuming CBD products orally is a popular consumption method.
It’s exactly like it sounds – oral consumption is consuming CBD products by eating/drinking them.
A team of Dutch researchers recently conducted a study involving the oral administration of synthetic CBD to see if it helped osteoarthritis and psoriatic arthritis patients.
The study involved a total of 129 patients, some of which were provided synthetic CBD and the rest being provided a placebo over the course of 12 weeks.
“We found neither clinically nor statistically significant effect of CBD for pain intensity in patients with hand osteoarthritis and psoriatic arthritis when compared to placebo,” the study’s authors reported.
“Additionally, no statistically significant effects were found on sleep quality, depression, anxiety, or pain catastrophizing scores.” the researchers stated.
Important Study Limitations To Consider
It’s important that readers know that the results of this study come with a series of limitations.
For starters, this study obviously involved synthetic CBD rather than real CBD, which could play a role in the CBD’s efficacy.
Another important factor is that this study only involved oral administration of CBD. Fortunately, there are many other ways to consume CBD products.
Topical administration of cannabis via a salve, lotion, or other rub is a consumption method that is likely common amongst arthritis sufferers. Smoking/vaporizing is another one.
As always, make sure to talk with a medical professional prior to starting a medical cannabis treatment regimen