Thanks to research, it’s been found that CBD provides numerous medicinal benefits to users. Research suggests that CBD can be used to treat a range of ailments, including anxiety, insomnia, and even pain caused by inflammation.
With it being estimated that at least 50% of South Africans could be living with arthritis, it is no wonder that many will be seeking relief for this joint inflammation and autoimmune condition. It must be noted that inflammatory conditions besides arthritis exist. These include skin diseases and body pain, to name a few.
A question asked by many seeking to relieve the pain and distress caused by inflammation is, “Does CBD reduce body inflammation?”
Does CBD Reduce Body Inflammation?
Let’s first understand what inflammation is and how CBD can help alleviate the pain caused by it.
Inflammation is linked to numerous conditions, including disease, chronic pain, and stress. It occurs when your immune system is activated when your body comes into contact with an offending substance (such as a virus, bacteria, or harmful chemical) or sustains an injury.
Your immune system first sends out inflammatory cells and cytokines when this occurs. These substances stimulate more inflammatory cells.
The inflammatory cells then initiate an inflammatory response in order to trap bacteria and other harmful agents or to begin the healing process for wounded tissue. Pain, swelling, bruising, and redness may occur as a result.
There are two types of inflammation that exist: acute and chronic inflammation. Acute inflammation is a normal response of your body healing the site of an injury such as a cut, bruise or wound. This type of inflammation usually subsides after a few days.
While acute inflammation ceases after infection or injury, chronic inflammation lasts for a prolonged period of time. It’s the result of a viral or microbial infection or even poor lifestyle choices. Examples of chronic inflammation include acne, osteoarthritis, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, and rheumatoid arthritis.
When determining if CBD reduces body inflammation, we have to understand how CBD interacts with the body when it enters the bloodstream (via a CBD tincture) or via topical application to the skin (such as using a CBD lotion).
Research supports claims that CBD can reduce body inflammation. The data in this study indicates that applying CBD topically to the skin has the potential to reduce pain related to arthritis and inflammation without causing any noticeable negative effects.
This is because of a state known as homeostasis. It’s when your body’s regulatory function is in balance and your biological system works optimally. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) of your body works to keep your body in a state of homeostasis. If your ECS fails to prevent overactivity in your immune system, the response is mainly inflammation.
CBD inhibits the breakdown of the most important endocannabinoid of our bodies, which may help bring our bodies into a state of equilibrium and reduce inflammation.
This points to CBD possibly being able to reduce body inflammation. But you may wonder if CBD is good for inflammation, particularly chronic inflammation.
Is CBD Good For Inflammation?
The simple answer is yes. This research indicates that sufferers of chronic arthritis may benefit from the use of CBD treatments.
Another reason why CBD is good for inflammation is that using it transdermally, applying it onto your skin, has no significant side effects. This is a relief for those needing to treat inflammation because typical treatments, such as NSAIDs and steroid creams, have considerable side effects.
Long-term use of NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as aspirin and ibuprofen leads to an increased risk of developing peptic ulcer disease and kidney disease.
On the other hand, corticosteroids reduce inflammation and suppress the immune system. This may not sound good, but it’s beneficial when the immune system begins attacking healthy tissue. However, long-term use of these steroids is associated with osteoporosis, high blood pressure, and impaired vision.
Using CBD to alleviate inflammation has none of the side effects associated with the use of NSAIDs or corticosteroids, so it’s definitely safe to use for inflammation.
CBD For Inflammation — Best CBD Oils, Lotions, And Creams For Inflammation
It’s good to know that CBD works well at alleviating pain and inflammation, but where can we purchase these CBD products? Let’s take a look at the best CBD oils, lotions, and creams for inflammation.
Cannabudy 600mg CBD Isolate
If you’re a purist, you’ll be pleased to know that there are no other cannabinoids or terpenes in this product because it is created with pure CBD isolate. This is perfect for someone looking to alleviate the pain caused by inflammation.
Africanpure™ Active CBD Oil 600mg – 30ml
The africanpure™ Active 600mg CBD Oil is World Anti-Doping Agency-approved and is ideal for those always on the move. It helps to relieve muscle and joint pain, as well as inflammation and swelling. If you experience pain and inflammation from severe arthritis, this product will be a great choice.
Elixinol CBD Hemp Balm From Whoomph Apothecary
If you’d prefer a topical solution, check out the Elixinol Hemp Balm from Whoomph Apothecary. This moisturising balm is formulated with synergistic extracts to support and fortify CBD’s known benefits, one of which is the relief of pain and inflammation.
It’s important to note that this balm is not an isolate and contains additional cannabinoids or terpenes.
Rub the balm onto the site you’re experiencing pain and inflammation. Since this is a balm, you can apply it all over your body too!
How To Take CBD For Inflammation
You’ll find that CBD is available in a variety of forms. You may prefer edible CBD products, such as gummies and tinctures. If you don’t fancy that, don’t worry. You can always use a topical CBD product such as a lotion, cream or massage oil. Topical applications of CBD are typically used to reduce inflammation and relieve muscle and joint pain.
Experiment with various kinds and concentrations of CBD products to find out what works best for you.
The Bottom Line On CBD For Inflammation
Inflammation can be a pain in the butt (or leg, shoulder, and back), but you shouldn’t have to live in chronic pain. While you don’t need a prescription for CBD products, consider speaking to a medical professional about using CBD to treat your inflammation.
You can always obtain a second opinion if you aren’t satisfied with your first doctor’s opinion. Hopefully, the second doctor has CBD lollies and a better response to your request to use CBD for inflammation.