The Arthritis Foundation released guidance for adults with arthritis about CBD. They are the first patient advocacy group to release recommendations like this officially. They acknowledge that arthritis sufferers are a very interested group for the drug. People are looking to CBD as a possible avenue of relief from chronic pain.
They advise that results may depend on how you are taking the medication. By mouth, the effects will be delayed several hours for oils or capsules. Gummies and cookies aren’t reliable with dosing and are too appealing to children in the house.
Topical products are isolated to a particular joint, but it hasn’t been proven that these products release CBD below the skin. Vaping, while labeled as a safe alternative, has recently come under scrutiny and is not recommended.
The foundation endorses cautious optimism for the new treatment option. They are reserving any official recommendation until the FDA provides clear studies and regulations. If people are going to be self experimenting, then they should know some best practices.
- They recommend avoiding THC unless it is legal and you feel it may be the difference in providing relief
- Shop domestically, buying products grown and manufactured in the U.S.
- Buy from companies that test each batch they make, and follow all of the best standards and practices.
- Learn your dosing. If you are ingesting the oil, learn what the volume of oil is in each dose as well as CBD.
- Start slowly. It can take hours before effects start, and weeks for patients to notice a difference.
- Don’t mistake salespeople for health professionals.
Even for those of us who don’t have arthritis, but are interested in CBD, this is good advice.
