Medical marijuana helps 91 percent of older adults improve their pain, insomnia and mood or behavioral symptoms, a new study has found.

The research involved 124 people over the age of 65 who received medical cannabis from a specialized practice in Colombia and whose symptoms were measured at baseline, 44 of whom had a follow-up visit after three months.

Most of the participants had not previously used marijuana, and the most frequent diagnoses they presented with were pain-related and musculoskeletal disorders, cancer and neurodegenerative and non-degenerative neurological disorders—with their top therapeutic objectives being relief of pain, mood/behavioral issues, insomnia and motor symptoms.

Patients’ symptoms were recorded by treating physicians and then coded by researchers on a four-point scale (0 = absent, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate, and 3 = severe), “classified according to its documented impact on patients’ autonomy, basic and instrumental activities of daily living, and participation in meaningful daily activities,” the paper said.

“Symptom severity decreased significantly across the three main symptom domains, with improvement in approximately 90% of patients.”

Symptom improvement was defined as a reduction of at least one point in severity relative to baseline, and 91 percent of participants met that threshold, the study, which has not yet been published in a journal and has been made available as a preprint, found.

“The first documented improvement occurred at visit 2 in 67.7% of patients with pain, 65.4% of those with insomnia, and 73.9% of those with mood or behavioral symptoms, with median times to first improvement of three, two, and one month, respectively,” the researchers wrote.

“Symptom evolution between baseline and the last available follow-up visit demonstrated a consistent reduction in symptom severity across the three most prevalent clinical domains. Median severity scores for pain, insomnia, and mood or behavioral symptoms decreased significantly from baseline to the last available assessment, and no patient showed worsening of symptom severity.”

Analyses also showed that there were “strong effect sizes” for descriptive improvements in digestive and motor symptoms, appetite, well-being and physical strength—though those were not statistically significant.

There was a “significant progressive decline in symptom severity over successive follow-up visits for pain, insomnia, and mood or behavioral symptoms.”

While total resolution of symptoms was uncommon, a small numbers of patients with pain, insomnia and mood/behavioral issues did report complete relief.

Notably, the researchers said that the clinically effective doses of cannabis, which was most commonly administered in oral oil-based formulations, was “low”—typically using just a few milligrams per day of THC, CBD and/or CBG.

The study, which received funding from the European Union, also measured patients’ ongoing use of other medications after starting cannabis, finding that while the “overall medication burden remained stable,” there were dose reductions or discontinuations of concomitant medications in a quarter of the patients.

Overall, there was a “favorable longitudinal evolution of the three most prevalent symptom domains—pain, insomnia, and mood or behavioral symptoms—during routine treatment with supervised medical cannabis,” the paper said.

“Symptom intensity decreased from predominantly moderate to mild levels, and most patients experienced at least a one-point reduction in the severity of their principal symptom during follow-up. Longitudinal analyses further showed progressive improvement across successive follow-up visits, suggesting that these changes reflected a sustained clinical trajectory rather than an isolated difference between baseline and the final assessment.”

“In this retrospective real-world study, older adults receiving supervised medical cannabis experienced favorable symptom evolution during follow-up, while treatment showed a clinically acceptable safety profile and was characterized by consistently low documented clinically effective doses,” the researchers concluded.

The findings, they said, “add to the growing evidence that cannabis may represent a therapeutic option for selected older adults under specialist supervision.”

The researchers cautioned that the observational nature of the study means that causality cannot be inferred, though they do plan to follow up with larger cohorts of patients in Colombia, Argentina and Chile, which they said will “improve statistical power, increase the diversity of clinical practice settings, and allow more robust evaluation of treatment patterns, effectiveness, and safety across different healthcare contexts.”

A separate recent federally funded study published by the American Medical Association (AMA) found that “older adults are increasingly turning to cannabis for symptom management”—with many motivated to try marijuana “as an alternative to traditional pharmaceuticals due to concerns about adverse effects.”

“As cannabis legalization becomes more widespread, older adults are increasingly turning to it not just for recreational use, but to manage symptoms associated with aging, including pain, sleep disturbances, and mental health concerns,” that research found.

AMA separately adopted a resolution this year that recognizes both the risks and potential therapeutic benefits of marijuana use among older adults.

Photo courtesy of Max Pixel.

Source link

What is Arthritis and Joint Pain?

Arthritis is an ailment that damages your joints. It’s the inflammation in your joints.

While..

Joint pain is pain around or in the joints, but it’s not always caused by arthritis.

What’s the difference between Arthritis and Joint Pain?

Arthritis and joint pain are related, but they are slightly different. Let’s see the key distinction between the two.

Joint pain is a symptom. It’s a sensation; arthritis is one reason you may feel it. Whereas arthritis is a diagnosis, meaning the cause of a disease.

Arthritis is the reason for the majority of joint pain cases.

​

Let’s dive a little deeper into arthritis.

​

Arthritis is an umbrella term for over 100 conditions that cause joint inflammation and pain. Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriatic arthritis are common types.

​

Arthritis can be felt in your hands, wrists, knees, hips, ankles, shoulders, etc.

How to know if you have arthritis and joint pain? You need to know the signs of arthritis.

Signs of Arthritis

If you have any of the following, you might have arthritis:

• Stiffness
• Redness
• Pain in the joints
• Swelling in the joints
• Warmth in the joint region
• Tenderness or sensitivity around a joint

Types of Arthritis

Arthritis is of many types. However, the most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, and gout.

Osteoarthritis

When cartilage gets damaged, it’s called osteoarthritis. The cartilage is like a cushion for the joints, which allows for free movement, but when the cartilage breaks down, the joints may get restricted, resulting in pain and low mobility.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition. In this condition, the immune system attacks the joints as it can’t distinguish between the body and foreign elements. This attack starts from the lining of the joints and is the reason for inflammation and tissue damage.

Gout

Uric Acid crystals develop in the joints because of increasing uric acid in the blood. The high levels of uric acid are called hyperuricemia. It usually happens in the big toe, like a burning sensation.

Other Causes of Arthritis

Injury

An injury, be it from sports or a sudden accident that hasn’t healed properly, can lead to degenerative arthritis.

Infection

Infections like Lyme disease can trigger joint pain and other problems such as nervous system issues, heart problems, sluggish memory, etc.

Tendonitis

Overuse of tendons can cause inflammation; this is called tendonitis. Tendons are the bands connecting the bones (joints) that are present in the elbow, heel, and shoulder.

All these things can cause arthritis, but is there an effective way to reduce arthritis (joint pain and inflammation) without relying on synthetic medications and surgery?

Yes, there is a natural way to reduce arthritis and joint pain.=

It’s called CBD.

Let’s explore this natural solution.

Can CBD help with Arthritis and Joint Pain?

What is CBD?

CBD ( cannabidiol) is one of the active compounds found in the cannabis plant. It’s one of the many cannabinoids found alongside THC, CBG, CBN, terpenes, etc.

Properties of CBD

CBD has medicinal properties such as:

• Antioxidant
• Anti-anxiety
• Anti-tumor effects
• Anti -Inflammatory effects
• Analgesic (pain-relieving) properties

There are more medicinal properties of CBD that help with stress, sleep, and other ailments as well.

How CBD works in the body

CBD influences the endocannabinoid system (ECS), a complex cell signaling system that regulates important functions such as:

• Regulation of the immune system
• Relaxation of the body
• Sleep regulation
• Metabolism
• Memory
• Mood

When the ECS gets dysfunctional, the body experiences many problems like stress, lethargy, weakened immunity, and much more. But CBD makes the ECS functional, and this keeps the body in homeostasis and free from ailments.

How does CBD exactly reduce arthritis and joint pain?

The main reason CBD can help with arthritis and joint pain is due to CBD’s pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties. 

Since pain and inflammation are the main signs of arthritis and joint pain, CBD becomes a good choice for helping with this problem.

​

The ECS works throughout the pain pathway, and CBD helps to reduce pain sensitivity.

​

The ECS mainly functions through two receptors: CB1 and CB2 receptors.  The CB1 receptors are densely packed in the pain processing areas like the spinal cord, thalamus, amygdala, and dorsal root ganglia. When the endocannabinoids like anandamide and 2-AG activate the CB1 receptors, the CB1 receptors reduce the release of neurotransmitters that are involved in pain signalling and decrease neural activity, meaning the transmission of pain signals to the brain is reduced.

​

CBD not only reaches the brain but also the pain region. It reduces the pain signals from the inflamed joint but also helps to reduce the actual pain by regulating overactive cytokines (proteins that help deal with infection, but too many can be harmful, causing inflammation and autoimmune diseases)  

​

CBD has been shown to be effective against inflammatory arthritis in mice due to its immunosuppressive and anti – inflammatory effects, and multiple animal studies show potential.

​

CBD’s antioxidant properties help with reducing oxidative stress. If oxidative stress is left unchecked, it can increase the inflammation of the already present arthritis.

​

Recent literature indicates that 62% of CBD users are treating a medical condition, of which anxiety, chronic pain, and arthritis were the most frequent (Corroon & Kight, 2018).

​-The CBD Bible

​

Doctor’s consultation

Before trying CBD products for arthritis and joint pain, make sure to consult with a doctor.

A doctor can help you assess your situation with arthritis and joint pain:

​

A doctor’s guidance will help you effectively relieve arthritis and joint pain.

Conclusion

Arthritis and joint pain can restrict you from going on trips, playing with your kids, being with your spouse, and living with ease. Since inflammation and pain are the root causes of arthritis and joint pain, you can stop arthritis and joint pain with the help of CBD’s pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties.

Source link

Chronic pain has troubled many individuals be it, Working Professionals, physically active individuals, youngsters or senior citizens.

Chronic pain creates a drain on your mental and physical energy due to this your nervous system cannot be in a state of rest. 

There are many types of chronic conditions: 

• Neuropathic (nerve) pain
• Migraine
• Cancer Pain and Chemotherapy -induce neuropathy/pain
• Fibromyalgia
• Arthritis/joint pain
• Muscle pain
• Chronic pelvic pain

Most Modern treatments for chronic pain conditions are not natural, have side effects and are not effective to help with chronic pain problems. 

However there is one natural method that might be a better option. 

It is CBD. 

What is CBD? 

CBD is a compound found in cannabis that helps with many lifestyle ailments including stress, sleep, anger management and even helps during cancer treatment induced ailments.

Ayurvedic texts have mentioned the different uses for cannabis that helped ancient civilizations overcome problems. Now in the modern world Cannabis is being used in the form of CBD products to help with modern ailments. 

Let ‘s see how CBD works to help you with different Chronic Pain conditions 

CBD and Types of Chronic Pain Conditions

1. Neuropathic (nerve) Pain

When your nervous system malfunctions then you are experiencing neuropathic pain. The pain is present in the nerves and they are sending wrong signals to the brain. It is a sudden pain as if someone is stabbing you or like a burning sensation. 

How CBD helps with Neuropathic Pain 

CBD has antiinflammatory properties and can also help with chronic inflammatory and neuropathic pain in animals – study

2. Migraine 

Migraines are more than a headache as they cause pain , sensory disturbances, nausea while also making you sensitive to light and sound 

How CBD helps with Migraine 

Ancient civilizations used cannabis to treat headaches.Although, headaches and migraines are different but a headache is a symptom of migraine. 

3. Cancer Pain and Chemotherapy -induce Neuropathy/Pain

Cancer cells can cause neuropathy pain. The cells move to nerves, press on the nerves and deal damage. Chemotherapy can cause nerve pain due to surgery to remove tumors.  All this  can lead to numbness, buzzing sensation, twitching and more.

How CBD helps with Cancer Pain and Chemotherapy induced pain 

4. Fibromyalgia

It is a condition in which there is a constant dull pain throughout the body along with fatigue and sleep issues. The body becomes hypersensitive to pain. Normal or slight touch can feel painful.

How CBD helps with Fibromyalgia

CBD can help alleviate fibromyalgia by blocking the pain perception, help you get deep sleep and calm your mind.

5. Arthritis/Joint Pain

Arthritis pain means the conditions affecting joints in your body and causing pain. There will be pain, stiffness, swelling and a decreased range of motion during arthritis.

It usually happens in wrists, knees, feet and ankles

How CBD helps with Arthritis/ Joint Pain

”CBD use was associated with improvements in pain (83%), physical function (66%), and sleep quality (66%). Subgroup analysis by diagnosis type (osteoarthritis, rheumatoid, or other autoimmune arthritis) found improvements among groups for physical function (P=0.013), favoring the osteoarthritis group. The overall cohort reported a 44% reduction in pain after CBD use (P<0.001).  –Cannabidiol as a treatment for arthritis and joint pain 

6. Muscle Pain

Muscle pain(pain and inflammation in the muscles)  can be caused by traumatic injuries, Overused muscles or underlying health conditions. 

How CBD helps with Muscle Pain 

CBD interacts with the ECS which controls many core functions in the body like managing mood, memory, metabolism and making sure the body returns to homeostasis (balance). Homeostasis helps to sleep better which will help to heal the muscle pain and CBD will reduce the pain signals. 

7. Chronic Pelvic Pain 

The Pelvic floor consists of bladder, bowel and other pelvic organs can become inflamed or tight and cause pain.

During period cramps or due other underlying conditions makes an issue of pelvic pain for many individuals especially women.

How CBD helps with Chronic Pelvic Pain 

CBD ‘s analgesic (pain relieving) properties help to relax the pelvic floor.

CBD Products for Pain

There are many CBD products available for all kinds of ailements but few products specifically are better suited for solving chronic pain problems.

These 3 CBD products helps with recovering from chronic pain

4500MG Full Spectrum CBD oil

4500MG CBD oil is versatile and can be consumed as it is or with in your tea, coffee, salads, smoothies and juices.

This can help you relieve persistent pain from your body.

Calmasule Plus

Calamasule Plus is an easy way to consume CBD. Calmasule Plus deals with migraine, back pain and all sorts of chronic pain.

Muscle Recovery Gel

Topical application of CBD is possible with Muscle Recovery Gel get rapid recovery from pain and inflammtion.

Conclusion 

CBD has pain relieving and anti-inflammatory properties which play a huge role in helping individuals deal with different types of chronic pain conditions. 

When CBD interacts with the ECS all the chronic pain issues can be alleviated through a natural alternative instead of relying on synthetic pills or surgical procedures which are mostly not as effective and safe as compared to CBD. 

Source link