Why Topical CBD Shows So Much Promise As An Option For Joint Pains, Inflammation And Arthritis
You can swallow a pill, take an extract or vape it, but some individuals find that it is best to apply CBD to their skin directly.
We were interested in learning more about why topical applications are being chosen by some CBD consumers, like massage oils or lotions, over other forms of the supplement, and we were surprised to find how many ailments it can help.
Although CBD oil is a non-psychedelic industrial hemp extract, it appears to provide healing benefits no matter how it is ingested, from some skin conditions, some forms of chronic pain, and other types of localized issues, topical applications enable users to directly to the source. Topical CBD also works faster, since it doesn’t need to first travel throughout the digestive system.
Just like our investigations into whether or not CBD can help anxiety and chronic pain, we have reviewed the scientific literature on the subject at look at reports as well from ordinary people who benefit from hemp extract. There is extensive research on the overall benefits that CBD provides in human, but most of the studies on topical applications that we were able to find used animals.
A University of Kentucky research team in July 2016 published the results from their successful CBD study in the European Journal of Pain regarding relieving arthritis symptoms found in rats. Arthritis was artificially induced in the knee joints of rats by scientists, and then it was studied whether or not their pain was reduced and mobility improved by CBD.
The researchers noted that joint swelling was significantly reduced by transdermal CBD gel, and noted other pain indicators, including how the affected joints were positioned by the rats appeared to be improved as well.
The researchers added that the CBD did not alter exploratory behavior which indicated that higher brain function had only a limited effect, and there was additional evidence that few side effects were associated with CBD.
The scientists concluded that according to the data topical CBD application appears to have therapeutic potential for relieving arthritis pain-related inflammation and behaviors without any noticeable side effects.
Although maybe not as applicable to daily applications, it has been suggested by other animal studies that CBD might reduce numerous different types of inflammation. Another thing that is worth noting is there are two patents at least already on specific topical CBD formulations.
Possible relief of Psoriasis by study at NCBI Here
When cannabinoids are topically applied, it enables them to be directly absorbed into the affected area for more focused and faster relief.
They noted that one benefit was even psychoactive cannabis-based topical formulations are not mind-altering since they bind with CBD receptors close to the skin, which activates the endocannabinoid system, and not absorbed into the bloodstream ever.
Beyond just the basic chronic pain problems, it has also be shown that the topical use of the combination of CBD and THC have been reported as being effect against multiple sclerosis’ central pain. It might help with skin conditions as well, including skin infections, psoriasis, eczema, rashes, and burns.
The freelance fitness writer Rachael Schultz, in her January 2017 report published in Shape magazine, had a more cautious take on topical CBD. She warned that there very little scientific data supporting the concept that a CBD-infused topical cream is more effective compared to other topical pain relievers, such as Icy Hot, BenGay or Tiger Balm.
It was also speculated by Schultz that other herbal ingredients contained in topical CBD cream might be as active or more than CBD itself. However, the experts that she consulted with did admit that CBD is promising, but mainly still unproven in human-based lab testing.
According to Gregory Gerdeman, a cannabinoid expert, and neurophysiologist at Exkert College, the stiffness and pain coming from overexertion or post-workout does have a pro-inflammatory aspect to it, and therefore it is reasonable to believe that CBD or other types of cannabinoids may have benefits. But there is no research supporting that yet.
According to some CBD users, CBD is the only thing that helped them and state why they have gone topical.
On Reddit at /r/CBD/, users were asked about topical use of CBD, and there were numerous individuals who were eager to discuss its benefits.
Dr. Ranga Krishna, a Brooklyn-based neurologist, said he both holds a patent and prescribed topical CBD due to its amazing promise.
He said that topicals are a great option since it is easy to measure them when it comes to ingredient compositions, and they have higher bioavailability compared to orally ingested compounds due to having the ability to skip liver metabolization.
Although he is hoping CBD can shine through when it comes to topical application, he said they were doing studies still regarding that. He said he hopes to eventually combine it along with other kinds of topical pain relievers.
Since everyone is different, topical CBD does not work for everybody.
One user reports that he tried it for a stubborn chronic pain issue and that it did help some but wasn’t enough for his level of pain or the spot.
He said they had gone back to other ingesting CBD methods that appear to help more. Although topical creams did not help with chronic pain, another, an unexpected benefit was discovered. It worked great on menstrual cramps.
Other people on Reddit were very enthusiastic about topical CBD benefits. One person suffering from postherpetic neuralgia, which is a lingering type of chronic pain that might be caused by shingles, wrote that CBD was the only thing that helped.
There are severeal Studies done on CBD and Skin Care from the NCBI below:
Another user wrote that he used topical salves because he had stopped ingesting cannabis, but that they still helped when his joints and muscles were knotted or tense.
In another discussion, it was suggested that topical CBD might help with hemorrhoids.
