StemCell Therapy

One-and-a-half million people in the United States suffer from rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In fact, The Arthritis Foundation estimates that three times as many women as men have the disease and it affects individuals of all ages, but primarily women ages 30 to 60.

Commonly affecting the hands and feet of the body, RA is considered an autoimmune disease, where the body attacks joints, leading to inflammation and pain as well as a loss of motion. With a diagnosis comes a rapidly-changing lifestyle, often causing activities and hobbies that were once loved and now off-limits.

Through stories on the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society website, many individuals have shared that arthritis has caused a dramatic lifestyle change thats often accompanied by depression and anxiety. But that doesnt have to be the case.

With patients young and old experiencing the debilitating effects of rheumatoid arthritis, individuals like Pearl Schomburg are advocating for doctors to mention the effects of cannabis in office. Pearl explained to Newshub, Cannabis balm was the first thing I discovered and was shocked by how well it worked.

RELATED: Theres No Known Cure For Arthritis, But Marijuana Works Wonders

The Arthritis Foundation recently shared information about CBD and marijuana on their website to educate patients around its use. Recognizing the potential to treat both inflammation and pain, they advise to always discuss CBD and cannabis with your care team and make sure to contact the manufacturer to see proof of a third-party analysis for purity.

Photo by rawpixel.com

In a 2018 study published in the journal CannabisandCannabinoid Research, researchers found that terpenoids, which exist in cannabis, offer anti-inflammatory properties, but didnt offer as much relief as purified CBD. Often used in chronic inflammation and for pain, purified CBD offered better relief in the study over other mixtures, including CBD.

Psoriasis, a condition where cells build on top of the skin and cause pain and redness, is often coupled with RA and offers treatment that can be very expensive. John S. from Minneapolis explained that his medicine came in the form of a shot billed to insurance at $60,000 each year creating a debilitating pattern of relying on pharmaceutical medicine that is often inaccessible. Would he explore CBD and cannabis? He explained, Its been on my mind; a year ago, I wouldnt have even thought about integrating CBD, now Im looking at reviews online. In fact, MedicalNewsToday cited 2016 research that suggested that cannabinoids offered benefits to individuals with psoriasis.

With the market ever-changing, not only are tinctures available, but patches as well. In 2016, a study found that placing CBD on the body in a topical fashion offered some relief for pain and inflammation over other methods. CBD comes in many forms, including:

As the cost of medicine continues to rise, CBD and cannabis offer a more affordable solution to many experiencing the effects of RA, inflammation and psoriasis.

RELATED: Young People Experience Arthritis Too And Cannabis Can Help

House of Cannabis, a new pot shop in Twisp, WA, is seeing a steady increase (about 52%) of customers coming in aged 50 and older. Mainly focused on pain relief, House of Cannabis has been both startled and empowered by the number of older adults coming in for the first time.

Arthritis is probably the most common issue people are dealing with in their hands, back and legs, shared Cindy Knutson, the retailers general manager and state-certified medical cannabis consultant. Were seeing a shift in mindsets and the market, Knutson continued, notating that adults who typically wouldnt have spoken about cannabis or CBD are now sharing with their friends.

Original post:
Whats Next For Rheumatoid Arthritis And Cannabis? - The Fresh Toast

This entry was posted on September 21, 2020 at 6:52 pm and is filed under Arthritis. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed. |