Compare the best CBD Oil for Joint Pain in 2021

How CBD Works

According to the Mayo Clinic, joint pain is usually associated with other health conditions, including bone cancer, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis (joint breakdown), and rheumatoid arthritis (inflammatory joint disease)⁽¹⁾.

A 2006 study suggested that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may lead to joint deformity, destruction, loss of function, and chronic pain. The researchers also warned that RA may result in disability and premature death⁽²⁾. 

Depending on the diagnosis, your doctor may prescribe painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, therapy, or surgery, to treat joint pain⁽³⁾.

However, you may also opt for a natural treatment option, such as CBD.

CBD is a cannabinoid or a naturally occurring compound present in cannabis plants. It is one of the more than 100 cannabinoids in cannabis.

CBD is one of the most well-known cannabinoids, along with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive component of cannabis. Unlike THC and other opioids, CBD is non-psychoactive, meaning that CBD does not get individuals high.

CBD usually comes from the cannabis plant‘s indica strain. However, you may find small traces of CBD in the Cannabis sativa strain.

According to a Journal of Pain Research study, cannabinoids work via interactions with the endocannabinoid system (ECS)⁽⁴⁾. CBD interacts with the body’s cannabinoid receptors, which may be found throughout the body, including the central nervous system and immune system.

In a 2006 study, researchers noted that modulating ECS activity may help manage the following health conditions and diseases⁽⁵⁾:

• Neuropathic pain
• Multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury
• Mood and anxiety disorders
• Movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease
• Atherosclerosis or fat buildup on the arterial wall
• Stroke
• Hypertension
• Glaucoma
• Obesity
• Osteoporosis

Benefits of Using CBD Oil for Joint Pain

Medical researchers studied the therapeutic effects of CBD in patients with joint pain. 

Medical researchers have conducted animal studies to examine how CBD may help treat arthritis pain and relieve the inflammatory pain linked to the condition.

Researchers of a 2017 animal study published in the Pain journal noted that CBD may prevent the onset of joint neuropathy and osteoarthritis pain⁽⁶⁾. 

Meanwhile, in a 2011 animal research, scientists observed that CBD may decrease inflammatory pain by controlling the pain receptors’ response to stimuli⁽⁷⁾. 

A 2014 review of osteoarthritis studies from the European Journal of Neuroscience suggested that CBD may treat osteoarthritis⁽⁸⁾.

Medical researchers also published a study in 2016 that demonstrated the efficacy of CBD in treating pain. In the European Journal of Pain animal study, researchers noted that the topical application of CBD may reduce inflammation and pain linked to arthritis symptoms⁽⁹⁾. 

Scientists have demonstrated that CBD may be a safe treatment option for patients with arthritis. According to a 2017 study, researchers noted that CBD may safely help treat osteoarthritis joint neuropathic pain⁽¹⁰⁾.

Sativex, a cannabis-based drug with THC and CBD, may help in pain management for arthritis patients⁽¹¹⁾. 

In a study published in 2006 in the British Society for Rheumatology journal, medical researchers showed how CBD may help with arthritis.

Sativex was administered to arthritis patients for five weeks. Based on results gathered after the treatment period, the patients experienced an improvement in movement pain and sleep quality⁽¹²⁾.

Risks of Using CBD Oil for Joint Pain

Although generally considered safe, CBD may still have side effects, such as drowsiness, lightheadedness, dry mouth, and liver problems⁽¹³⁾.

According to a recent CBD article published in Harvard Health Publishing, the healthcare field still has no specific conclusion regarding CBD’s efficacy in treating pain since definitive studies are still not available⁽¹⁴⁾.

In addition, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) still does not regulate the CBD market. Because of this, you may not be entirely sure about the potency or purity of the CBD products you plan to buy.

Another downside to CBD use is limited research into the cannabinoid’s effects on children or pregnant women.

Moreover, some pain specialists have raised concerns that CBD may alter the body’s natural system of pain regulation. The change may lead to pain tolerance, which could result in the patient needing higher doses of medicine to achieve the same effects⁽¹⁵⁾.

Note that CBD may interact with other medications in the body⁽¹⁶⁾. To know more about drug-to-drug interactions involving CBD, you must first consult with your doctor before using any CBD product.

Your doctor can assess if CBD has the potential to worsen your medical condition.

CBD products may trigger an allergic reaction to those allergic to cannabis or its components. People who have allergies are advised to avoid using CBD products unless they are sure that any compound in the cannabis plant will not trigger their allergy.

To minimize the risks that come with CBD use, you can conduct your own research about CBD. It is also advised to choose reputable products with confirmed third-party testing lab results that confirm the product’s safety and quality.

CBD Dosage and Administration Routes

Dosage

Since CBD use remains unregulated by the FDA, there is no standard CBD dose for joint pain or any other condition. 

Dosing depends on several factors, including your body chemistry, the severity of your joint pain, and the CBD product’s concentration.

You may choose to follow the recommended dosage provided on the product label. Most CBD brands provide a dosing chart for each of their products as a guide. 

To be safe, consult your arthritis doctor to inquire about safe and effective dosing before taking any CBD product.

Methods of Consumption

There are several administration routes for consuming CBD products. Some of the most common routes are:

• Oral ingestion of CBD edibles or capsules
• Topical application of CBD balms or balms onto the skin
• Sublingual method of consumption (dropping the oil under the tongue)
• Mixing CBD into drinks or meals

One way of administering CBD for joint pain is by applying CBD transdermally on the skin. Some brands mix their topical creams and topical products with other compounds with anti-inflammatory properties and analgesic (pain-relieving) effects, such as cumin, ginger, and rosemary.

According to a 2019 study from the Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine journal, cumin possessed analgesic properties ideal for chronic pain treatment⁽¹⁷⁾.

Meanwhile, a 2011 study noted that ginger may reduce inflammation, swelling, and pain⁽¹⁸⁾.

A 2017 study published in the Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research suggested that the topical use of rosemary and menthol may reduce musculoskeletal pain intensity in the legs among patients with kidney disease⁽¹⁹⁾.

Another benefit of CBD’s topical application is that it bypasses gastrointestinal administration and first-pass metabolism, leading to more constant plasma levels⁽²⁰⁾. 

The first-pass metabolism effect pertains to the early metabolization (breaking down) of a medication, decreasing the drug’s concentration before it reaches its intended site of action⁽²¹⁾.

Another common method of CBD consumption is oral administration. CBD edibles, including capsules, softgels, tablets, brownies, and gummies, are some of the CBD products you may take ingest orally.

You may also take CBD through the sublingual method. CBD oils, CBD tinctures, and CBD extracts may be taken sublingually or dropped under the tongue using a measured dropper. 

Before swallowing, you must hold the oil in the mouth for 30 seconds to allow CBD into your bloodstream.

The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology published a study in 2002, suggesting that the sublingual method of CBD is an efficient way of introducing CBD in the body. According to the study, CBD oil possessed a sublingual bioavailability of 13% to 19%⁽²²⁾.

Bioavailability means the extent and rate at which a drug is absorbed and becomes available for the body to break down⁽²³⁾. 

In a 2015 review, scientists noted that with the sublingual consumption method, peak blood levels of most compounds are reached in 10 to 15 minutes. According to the authors, this is faster than when the same drugs are taken orally⁽²⁴⁾. 

If you do not enjoy the taste of pure CBD hemp extract, some CBD companies offer edibles, like gummies, in delicious flavors. CBD gummies also come in a fixed dose, making the product consistent and convenient to take.

Meanwhile, some CBD brands offer unflavored options for their CBD oil product line to attract more customers, even those who do not enjoy the CBD oil’s grassy taste.

You may also infuse CBD oils into your meals. According to a 2018 Frontiers in Pharmacology study, cannabinoid’s highly lipophilic nature (soluble in lipids or oils) makes it easy to dissolve in the fat content of food, which may boost the compound’s solubility and absorption⁽²⁵⁾.

Vaping is also an efficient way to take CBD since it enters through the lungs’ bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system. 

A 2018 study demonstrated that after smoking CBD through vaping, the cannabinoid reached the peak plasma concentrations within three minutes after dosing⁽²⁶⁾.

Peak plasma concentration is the highest concentration of medicine in the body after taking it⁽²⁷⁾.

However, medical researchers caution that vaping can have harmful effects on the lungs. According to a 2020 Cureus study, increased vape use in the United States resulted in a spike in cases of vaping-related pulmonary diseases⁽²⁸⁾.

Other vaping risks include chemical irritation or allergic reactions to the compounds in the inhaled vapors⁽²⁹⁾. 

A 2018 study reported that the cannabinoid’s half-life is between 1.4 hours and 10.9 hours after dropping CBD on the surface of the mouth. Results showed the half-life of CBD two to five days after an oral administration⁽³⁰⁾.

Meanwhile, in another study, the half-life of the cannabinoid was reported 24 hours after an intravenous route of consumption and 31 hours after smoking⁽³¹⁾. 

Half-life is the time needed for one-half of a drug’s concentration to reduce to half of its initial dose in the body⁽³²⁾.

Choosing the Best CBD Product for Joint Pain

Below are some of the relevant factors to keep in mind when looking for high-quality CBD products.

Method of Consumption

Determine the route of administration you plan to use. If you plan on using topical administration of CBD, you may purchase CBD creams, salves, or lotions.

As mentioned above, topical CBD may be ideal for joint pain. Most brands infuse their product with other compounds that possess analgesic properties.

If you opt to use CBD sublingually, you may buy CBD oils, tinctures, or hemp extracts. 

Some CBD brands offer CBD products for pets suffering from joint pains. However, you must first consult your pet’s veterinarian before giving CBD to your pet.

Extraction Process

CBD brands use various types of extraction methods to remove CBD from the raw plant material. 

One of the most common CBD extraction methods is the CO2 extraction method. This process involves using carbon dioxide, low temperature, and high pressure to produce a pure CBD form. 

Some manufacturers also use an ethanol-based extraction method. This method uses ethanol or other alcohol as a solvent during extraction. 

After the extraction process, most brands mix CBD into carrier oils, such as hemp seed oil and medium-chain triglycerides oil (MCT oil).

Type of CBD

Before buying a CBD product, you must determine the type of CBD you want to consume. There are three types of CBD products currently available on the market: full-spectrum CBD, broad-spectrum CBD, and CBD isolates.

Full-spectrum CBD oil or whole-plant CBD oil contains all cannabinoids from the raw hemp plant., including CBD, terpenes, and traces of THC.

Some customers choose to buy full-spectrum CBD oil tinctures as consuming full-spectrum hemp creates the entourage effect. 

The entourage effect pertains to the synergy of cannabinoids and terpenes working together⁽³³⁾.

Meanwhile, broad-spectrum CBD also contains all cannabinoids from hemp plants, except THC. Broad-spectrum CBD is ideal for those who want all the health benefits of CBD from a full-spectrum product but want to be THC-free.

Pure CBD or a CBD isolate contains only CBD. CBD isolate products are ideal for you if you need to take a drug test soon. 

Reliability of the Brand

Purchase products only from reliable CBD companies. The most reliable companies provide consumers certificates of analysis (COAs) of their products from third-party laboratories. 

The third-party lab reports confirm the safety and quality of a CBD product.

Reliable brands grow their own hemp to ensure the quality of their products. They also adhere to sustainable and ethical farming practices.

Some of the most trusted brands carry gluten-free CBD products with high potency to attract more consumers. 

Money-back guarantees and discounts on bulk purchases are also common offers.

Legality of CBD

Colorado has been at the forefront of the American CBD industry. Known for its favorable CBD regulations, Colorado has made legal since 2012 the use of CBD and other cannabis-derived products⁽³⁴⁾.

When former President Donald Trump signed the Farm Bill in 2018, the cultivation of hemp became legal in the US. The law removed hemp and hemp-based products from the list of Schedule I controlled substances (substances with high misuse potential)⁽³⁵⁾. 

Under the legislation, hemp farmers may grow and cultivate hemp crops as long as the plants’ THC content is less than 0.3%⁽³⁶⁾.

Although hemp-derived products are federally legal in the US, state laws have varying levels of restrictions regarding CBD regulations. In some US states, like South Dakota, rules on CBD regulation are still unclear⁽³⁷⁾.

Most states do not require patients to have a doctor’s recommendation or a prescription when buying CBD. However, patients in other states, like Alabama, still need a prescription to possess or use CBD products⁽³⁸⁾.

Although the 2018 Farm Bill did not legalize marijuana products, state lawmakers are allowed to introduce their own regulations regarding the legalization of medical marijuana and recreational, over-the-counter marijuana.

Below is a list of US states with Limited Access Marijuana Product Laws. Some states allow the production of high-CBD and low-THC hemp products⁽³⁹⁾:

• Alabama
• Florida
• Georgia
• Idaho
• Iowa
• Mississippi
• North Carolina
• Oklahoma
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Utah
• Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming
  

Most companies design drug tests to detect psychoactive compounds, like THC. The cannabinoid is present in full-spectrum CBD products, although only in trace amounts.

According to a drug test review published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings, the detection of trace amounts of THC does not result in a positive test⁽⁴⁰⁾. However, the frequent use of CBD products may increase the THC level in your body above the cut-off values set, resulting in a positive drug test.

Currently, the use of CBD alone is not approved for the treatment of pain in the US⁽⁴¹⁾. The FDA has only greenlighted the use of Epidiolex, a CBD-based drug, to treat seizures linked to Dravet syndrome (DS) and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), two types of epilepsy⁽⁴²⁾.