The information in these pages are designed for both the general consumer, as well as, health and medical practitioners seeking to expand their working knowledge of cannabis and the potential of cannabinoid based therapies. While we work to ensure the information in these pages and resources is accurate and up to date, we do not make any claims as to the veracity or totality of the information contained herein. Research into cannabis as medicine is ongoing and our understanding of its many potential benefits continues to grow everyday. Our hope is that you will find this information beneficial and inspiring in your own search to better understand the potential of this incredible plant to increase overall health, vitality, and well-being. CBD products are not approved by the FDA for the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of any disease. We are restricted from making any claims about the efficacy of our specific CBD products to treat or cure any disease or medical conditions. You should always seek the advice of a physician before adding nutritional supplements to your diet. The following information is presented for educational purposes only. Healers Blend provides this information to provide an understanding of the potential applications of cannabidiol. Links to third party websites do not constitute an endorsement of these organizations by Healers Blend and none should be inferred.

Concerning CBD and Arthritis the questions asked regularly are:

How much CBD should I take for arthritis related symptoms?
What is the best CBD oil for arthritis related symptoms?
How does CBD work to effect arthritis related symptoms?
What are the side effects of CBD?

In this FAQ, we will answer the above questions, and walk you through the basics of using Healers Blend CBD products. 

  1. The FDA Guidelines (legal stuff)
  2. Will CBD Help Arthritis? – The Current Research
  3. Finding Your Minimum Effective Dose – How Much CBD Do I Take And How Often?
  4. How To Determine Dosage Based On Type of Product
  5. CBD Side Effects and Drug Interactions

1. The FDA Guidelines Concerning The Use Of CBD Oil For Arthritis

(Let’s get the legal stuff out of the way first)

It is important to note that CBD products are not approved by FDA for the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of any disease. We are restricted from making any claims about the efficacy of our specific CBD products to treat or cure any disease or medical condition including arthritis.

As of now, the FDA does not recognize CBD as a treatment for arthritis. Therefore, there are no currently established guidelines recognized by the FDA in regard to the proper dosing of CBD (cannabidiol) for treating arthritis or arthritis- related symptoms.

None of the products or information made available to the public is intended to be a treatment protocol for any disease state, but rather are offered to provide information and choices regarding nutritional support for various health concerns. None of the information presented is intended to be an enticement to purchase and should not be construed as medical advice or instruction. The FDA would want us to remind you: You should always seek the advice of a physician before adding nutritional supplements to your diet.

2. Will CBD Help with Arthritis? – What the Current Research Says

Phytocannabinoids, like CBD, are currently showing promise as treatments for pain and inflammation resulting from arthritis. These compounds interact with cannabinoid receptors in areas of the central and peripheral nervous system that modulate pain processing. They also interact with cannabinoid receptors on immune cells signaling those cells to stop producing the inflammatory chemicals that induce pain and inflammation in arthritis. Non-cannabinoid receptors and other mechanisms are still being explored.

Pre-clinical studies involving animals have documented the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of CBD. In experimental models of arthritis – where the arthritis is artificially induced in laboratory animals – CBD has been shown to reduce tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and other inflammatory mediators, reduce pain and slow the progression of both osteo and rheumatoid arthritis.1-3 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10920191, https://www.scirp.org/Journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=53912, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28885454) Pain and inflammation were also reduced in a rat model of arthritis using a topical CBD preparation.4 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26517407)

While fewer in number, human studies have also found positive results when using CBD to reduce arthritis-related pain and inflammation. Nonetheless, the clinical evidence available to support the therapeutic use of CBD as a treatment for arthritis is insufficient, in spite of these promising preclinical results.

For your convenience, and to assist with your research, we have assembled an index of published studies on CBD as a treatment for arthritis. For more information on the studies relating to the use of CBD for arthritis therapy, go to this page.

3. Finding Your Minimum Effective Dose: How Much CBD Do I Take And How Often?

Due to FDA regulations we cannot give specific advice on how to use CBD for a particular condition such as arthritis. Fortunately though, the process to find a minimum effective dose of CBD for any condition, is very simple.  The key to finding the most effective dosage is by using a Stepwise Dosing procedure.

Stepwise Dosing is a process by which you first establish a baseline dosage, then adjust the dosage incrementally over a set period of time (typically 3 days) until you find your effective dose.

It is important to recognize that everyone responds a little differently to CBD so there is no set dose for everyone or every condition. By following a stepwise dosing procedure you can find the most effective dosage of CBD for you.

 The Stepwise Dosing Procedure

Start Low and Go Slow: The first step to finding your minimum effective dose is to establish a baseline dosage. Since many people report good results with CBD at low doses, we suggest you start with a minimal dose and slowly increase the dosage until you find results. Start with a small baseline dosage between 2-5mg, 2X or 3x daily (6-10mg total).

  1. Maintain your baseline dosage for 7 days taking note of how the CBD interacts with your body.
  2. After the initial 7 days of your baseline CBD dosage, if you are not receiving the benefit you need, then increase the daily dosage by 1-2mg every 3 days until you find the dosage that works best for you.
  3. Once you have determined your minimum effective dose you may wish to decrease your dosage by one step to see if you can maintain the benefits at a slightly lower dosage.

Important Note: Typically, people decide to try CBD because of a specific condition, only to find it helps other areas of their body as well. Remember, your endocannabinoid system runs throughout the entire body at a cellular and sub-cellular level. CBD is a whole-body compound. When you start taking CBD for the first time, pay attention to everything going on in your body. Do not be surprised if you find various benefits from your dosage. 

About Sleep: Often times, certain conditions or side-effects from medication can create insomnia. Sleep is essential to the bodies healing and recovery process. If sleep deprivation is an issue, you may want to consider weighting your dosage heavier at night to assist with a more sound sleep.

Establishing A Baseline Dosage Based On Weight

If you feel you need a higher dosage as a starting point we have created the following chart to assist you. This chart is submitted as a suggestive guide only and is not meant to take the place of a qualified physician.

CBD Oil Dosing By Weight
CBD Oil Dosing By Weight

4. How To Determine Dosage Based On A Specific Product

Dosing With Sublingual CBD Oils

Once you have established a minimum effective dose using the stepwise dosing procedure, the following chart will help you determine which sublingual oil potency will best meet your daily dosage requirement. To find the best product match for your dosage simply match your daily dosage to the row on the chart labeled “30 Day Supply in Bottle”. For example: If you need 15mg CBD daily then according to the chart you would need a 450mg product. The chart also acts as a guide to how to use the glass dropper to measure out CBD in milligrams.

CBD Oil Measurement Guide

5. Possible Side Effects Of CBD And Drug Interaction

There are multiple studies demonstrating the effectiveness of CBD in treating various conditions. Most of these studies conclude that CBD (cannabidiol) is safe and virtually free of side effects.

A review on the Safety and side effects of cannabidiol by the NCBI for example suggests that controlled CBD (cannabidiol) administration is safe and non-toxic in humans and animals. It also does not induce changes in food intake; nor does it affect physiological parameters like heart rate, body temperature or blood pressure. Also, according to this review paper, “high doses up to 1,500 mg/day of CBD are reportedly well tolerated in humans.”

There are very few known side effects of CBD, these are mostly minor but you should be informed before taking CBD:

  1. Inhibition of hepatic drug metabolism – CBD and other plant cannabinoids can potentially interact with some pharmaceuticals by inhibiting the activity of cytochrome P450, a family of liver enzymes. This key enzyme group is responsible for metabolizing some of the drugs we consume. At sufficient dosages, CBD will temporarily deactivate cytochrome P450 enzymes, thereby altering how we metabolize certain compounds. A 2013 report on a clinical trial using GW Pharmaceutical’s Sativex, found no interactions with CYP enzymes when approximately 40mg of CBD were administered.
    GRAPEFRUIT WARNING: If your medication has a grapefruit consumption warning label then you should not take CBD without first talking to your doctor or pharmacist to see if CBD will inhibit the efficacy of your medication.
  2. Dry mouth- Some people have reported an unpleasant dry sensation in the mouth.
  3. Increased tremor with Parkinson’s at high CBD dosages – There are studies showing the potential of CBD to help alleviate symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. However, there have been reports of CBD increasing tremors when taken at very high dosages. Reducing intake to a smaller dosage will typically eliminate increased tremors.
  4. Lightheadedness – In cases where extremely high dosages of CBD are being taken some people have reported temporary lightheadedness.
  5. Drowsiness – Higher dosages of CBD may cause of drowsiness. If you are affected this way, you should not operate machinery or drive a vehicle. Conversely, due to its bi-phasic nature, micro-doses of CBD act as a wake-inducing agent.

Interactions With Common Supplements:

The most common and widely used supplements to treat arthritis pain are ginger, fish oil, glucosamine chondroitin, and turmeric supplements. To our knowledge, there have been no reports of any harmful interactions between CBD and these commonly used supplements. 

 Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There is not enough reliable information about the safety of taking CBD if you are pregnant or breast feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

References

1. Malfait AM, Gallily R, Sumariwalla PF, et al. The nonpsychoactive cannabis constituent cannabidiol is an oral anti-arthritic therapeutic in murine collagen-induced arthritis. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 2000;97(17):9561-9566.

2. Gallily R, Yekhtin Z, Hanus L. Overcoming the Bell-Shaped Dose-Response of Cannabidiol by using Cannabis extract enriched in Cannabidiol. Pharmacology & Pharmacy,. 2015;6:75-85.

3. Philpott HT, O’Brien M, McDougall JJ. Attenuation of early phase inflammation by cannabidiol prevents pain and nerve damage in rat osteoarthritis. Pain. 2017;158(12):2442-2451.

4. Hammell DC, Zhang LP, Ma F, et al. Transdermal cannabidiol reduces inflammation and pain-related behaviours in a rat model of arthritis. Eur J Pain. 2016;20(6):936-948.