In our growing elderly population here in the US, cases of arthritis are growing at an exponential rate. Chronic arthritic conditions are though to affect upwards of 52 million adults in the US alone, and this expected to increase still further to an expected 67 million by the year 2030. It is little wonder why many medical experts believe that arthritis is a ticking time bomb.
One alternative treatment that is growing in popularity among the aging population is medicinal cannabis. This is because of the pain relieving properties of cannabis and its anti-inflammatory properties which are thought to be particularly effective in treating arthritis.
Despite the apparent benefits of cannabis in treating arthritis, there is a surprising lack of evidence and studies that verify the anecdotal evidence on offer for arthritis, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
A sufferer of Arthritis is likely to suffer from severe symptoms:
- Injuries that don’t heal quickly or properly
- Carpal tunnel syndrome (results in tingling sensations and accompanying numbness in the extremities)
- Plantar fasciitis
- Chronic joint pain
- Locked joints and difficulty moving
A Canadian researcher, Dr. Jason McDougall from Dalhousie University in Halifax, has undertaken a piece of research to identify whether medicinal marijuana can indeed help repair arthritic joints and relieve chronic pain in arthritis sufferers. The study was backed by the Arthritis Society, because they were intrigued to see whether cannabis can actively fight the inflammation and repair the joint of the patient, rather than just reducing the pain that the sufferer experiences.
McDougall’s research focussed on the non-psychoactive cannabinoids of cannabis. We often hear of research into cannabis focussing on the psychoactive cannabinoid of THC. The research found that cannabis molecules can attach themselves to the ending of the nerve receptors and reduce the firing of pain that the sufferer experiences.
McDougall said that the nerves are like plug wires that have had their coating taken off, meaning the inner wires concealed within the coating are exposed. This analogy seems to suggest why sufferers of arthritis feel this pain. By applying cannabis molecules to these exposed areas, it is hoped that the cannabis can help repair these nerves and in turn reduce the feelings of pain that the sufferer experiences.
If you would like more information about using cannabis for your arthritis symptoms, we would recommend that you speak with your local dispensary. You can use the dispensaries near me tool on Cannabis.net to locate your nearest location.
