Arthritis Foundation Issues Guidelines Regarding Patient Use of CBD for Pain Management

The Arthritis Foundation released a set of guidelines for patients who are using cannabidiol or CBD to help alleviate their pain. Patients who have arthritis have been asking more about CBD, doctors noticed.

CBD-containing products are widely marketed in the industry. However, regulations are still unclear on how to use CBD, where it is bought and if it is legal. This reason prompted the said foundation to develop their set of guidelines.

Preliminary studies on CBD, a cannabis extract, have shown promising results regarding its effect on pain. It is distinctive to tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, which is responsible for the psychoactive effects of marijuana, according to the University of Michigan Rheumatologist Dr. Daniel Clauw.

Dr. Clauw also helped formulate the Arthritis Foundation’s CBD guidelines.

Curiosity regarding CBD

A significant concern about cannabidiol is the source from which patients would buy their stock. There is a risk for contamination of THC or any other chemical that may have been introduced while processing or manufacturing the product, according to Clauw.

Patients are increasingly curious about CBD and its effect on pain and other health conditions.

Clauw also noticed how patients are asking their respective providers for medical advice regarding CBD since people on the internet claim that CBD is used for almost everything. However, not many providers have a vast knowledge of the medicinal properties of cannabinoids like CBD.

After the legalization of hemp in the 2018 Farm Bill, CBD extracted from the hemp variety is legal, although a gray area on regulation still exists. Clauw reiterated that CBD and THC could be contaminated or adulterated, which makes such products more harmful than beneficial.

Clauw shared tips on the safe way of using CBD for pain.

He stated that CBD is different from THC in that it’s doesn’t have the psychoactive effect that THC has. He also said that THC could even protect a user against the high caused by THC. Therefore, CBD is safe to take for pain.

When a CBD-infused product contains high levels of THC, the psychotropic property is activated and becomes detrimental to health. The patient is exposed to the risk of addiction and dependence, which is the infamous ­side effects of taking cannabis.

Advice on how to take CBD

Clauw further stated that supplement pills, tinctures, gummies, or generally any that have CBD are the best form to take. He said that inhaling or introducing anything through the respiratory route (i.e., vape) is dangerous. He noted the recent reports concerning vape products, which are laden with contaminants. He added that this type of administration is inherently more harmful.

He reiterated how there is no reason to administer CBD via the respiratory tract. Oral CBD can work in as fast as thirty minutes to an hour, which makes the fast onset of inhalation unnecessary for medicinal purposes.

With regards to topical CBD, Clauw stated that unless CBD is combined with something else to hasten its absorption, then it might not penetrate well through the skin, rendering it almost useless. He explained that CBD and other cannabinoids are highly fat-soluble, which makes topical administration an impractical route of taking CBD.

Clauw likewise gave pointers on what to look for in quality cannabidiol products. Firstly, it must be tested by an official regulatory board and labeled accordingly. He said that there’s danger in the uncertainty of what CBD a person is getting if it’s pure or not.

There is also the matter of even just a small THC amount causing a positive result on a urine drug screening. That is why Clauw advised employed individuals to be careful about the product they are using.