Cannabis Helps - Arthritis

Arthritis refers to any more than 100 inflammatory joint disorders characterized by pain, swelling, and limited movement. Arthritis involves the inflammation and degeneration of cartilage and bone that make up the joint. Experts estimate that more than 31 million people in the United States alone suffer from various degrees of the disease. Common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Emerging evidence implies that cannabis can help alleviate symptoms of both conditions.

Osteoarthritis, the more common disorder, occurs when cartilage in the joints degenerates. It typically strikes the joints that support weight such as the knees, hips, and spine. Main symptoms of the disease are joint stiffness, swelling, and pain, usually in the morning. Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by painful swelling of the smaller joints with the destruction of the tissue around them. Physicians commonly prescribe analgesics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) to ease the pain and inflammation associated with arthritis.

Cannabis' pain reducing properties are well documented (1) and emerging evidence indicates that it holds anti-inflammatory qualities. Dale Gieringer, author of the paper "Review of Human Studies on the Medical Use of Marijuana," cites three animal and laboratory studies documenting cannabis' potential anti-inflammatory effects. (2) In addition, a 1988 study by an English research team found the cannabinoid CBD (cannabidiol) ameliorated inflammation in mice. "Our results would suggest that cultivation of cannabis plants rich in CBD and other phenolic substances would be useful … for medicinal purposes in the treatment of certain inflammatory disorders," researchers concluded. (3) It is possible that cannabis' anti-inflammatory properties could reduce swelling and improve mobility in some arthritis patients. Research in this area is obviously needed.