Made by Hand in Our UK Lab
Rated Excellent on Trustindex
Free UK Delivery Over £50
Same Day Dispatch before 1pm
What is arthritis?
Arthritis is defined by the NHS as a common condition that causes pain and inflammation in a joint [1]. There are two main types of arthritis, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Osteoarthritis can cause a loss of smooth cartilage in the lining of a joint, which can cause movement problems as well as possible pain, swelling and the formation of bony spurs called osteophytes. If the loss of cartilage is severe enough, osteoarthritis can even cause bones to rub against one another, forcing them out of their normal position.
Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, occurs when the body’s immune system targets the affected joints, leading to pain and swelling. This can then also spread across the whole joint, causing further swelling and possibly even a change in the shape of the joint, possibly leading to the cartilage breaking down.
It is worth noting that, while these two may be the most common types, there are over 100 types of arthritis and while they may have some points in common, they all interact differently with the body. As such it is important to keep in mind what helps with one case of arthritis may not help with another. There is also the chance that CBD might interact with other medications you may already be taking for arthritis so, as always, we recommend you check with your doctor first if thinking about CBD while on other medication.
The research
Unfortunately, due to CBD only truly coming into the public eye in recent years, much of the research on it’s effects with specific conditions is still ongoing, such as this study [2]. That said, there are a number of completed studies about the effects of CBD on arthritis with generally quite positive results.
This article [3] talks about how the researchers found that CBD has successfully demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects in multiple inflammatory conditions, including arthritis, and that CBD possesses anti-arthritic activity.
Similarly to this, this study [4] found that topically applied CBD gel reduced joint swelling — in animal studies, which is early-stage evidence rather than human trials — and concluded that CBD has therapeutic potential for arthritis-related pain and inflammation.
To further back this up, this study [5] found, with an anonymous questionnaire of participants with arthritis, 83% reported that CBD use led to improvements with pain, 66% reported better physical function and 66% also found better sleep quality with CBD use. The majority of respondents here also reported a reduction or complete stop of other medications after CBD use. They also found greater improvement with osteoarthritis than with rheumatoid and other autoimmune arthritis. (Worth remembering: survey answers are self-reported — a weaker form of evidence than controlled trials.)
CBD alongside your arthritis treatment
Many people look at CBD because long-term use of conventional painkillers has well-known downsides — but that is a conversation to have with your GP, not a decision to make alone. Never stop or reduce prescribed arthritis medication without medical advice, and check before adding CBD: it can interact with some medications, including certain anti-inflammatories and blood thinners. Where CBD fits best is as a complement — particularly topically, applied directly to the joints that need it.
Summary
The research on CBD and arthritis is genuinely promising but still early — strongest in laboratory and animal work, thinner in human trials. What that supports is CBD as a complement to proper arthritis care, especially in topical form.
For arthritis specifically, topicals are where we would point you first, because they work locally in the joint and tissue where you apply them. Our muscle balms suit working into smaller joints like hands and knees, 24-hour patches cover a joint through the day and night, and for whole-body support the high-strength oils are the option our regulars combine with a topical. Our guide to which CBD format to use for joint, muscle and nerve pain walks through the whole decision. One of our recommended for arthritis would definitely be our Deep Relief Cooling Muscle and Joint Cream, which can be topically applied to the affected area where there is inflammation and sore joints or muscles.
References
https://athmjournal.com/beyondcbd/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/02/Khaleghi.pdf
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/arthritis/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6561449/
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41419-020-02892-1
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ejp.818
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42238-022-00154-9