Aging is a beautiful thing. As years go by and hair turns white, the mind gets wiser and knowledge reaches an all-time high. There’s a reason ancient cultures often held their elders to the highest esteem—a wealth of experience and the wisdom to go with it is a valuable asset.
Aging is also painful. While experiences pile up and wisdom becomes more accessible, the body starts to naturally deteriorate and shut down. One unfortunate symptom of aging is arthritis. Joints start to ache, and it hurts to move even the smallest finger. In today’s world especially, where we spend so much time typing and using a mouse, arthritis can be a real challenge. It may seem like nothing can help, and that relief is an unattainable dream.
With the help of Farmer & Chemist CBD, however, the dream of relief is more attainable than ever. We have various CBD products, both topical and ingestible, that are specifically engineered to help ease the pain and inflammation that accompany various forms of arthritis. In addition to providing pain relief that works, CBD also helps you find the peace of mind that your arthritis may have taken away from you.
But first, let’s answer the most basic question: what is arthritis?
What is arthritis?
In the simplest sense, arthritis is joint pain and inflammation. A common result of the aging process, arthritis weeds its way into various parts of your body, making it painful to accomplish simple tasks. It affects more than just the senior population, however, with 23% of all American adults suffering from some form of arthritis. That’s more than 50 million individuals.
Contrary to popular belief, arthritis is not one single named condition. The Arthritis Foundation points out that arthritis “is not a single disease; it is an informal way of referring to joint pain or joint disease. There are more than 100 types of arthritis and related conditions.” In fact, the name itself shows how general of a term “arthritis” is. The word comes from the Greek roots arthr and itis, which mean “joint” and “inflammation” respectively.
The most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease) and rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disorder than affects joins in the hands and feet. Other forms of arthritis include gout, septic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and Still’s disease.
What is CBD?
Now that we know what arthritis is, let’s talk CBD. CBD (cannabidiol) is a naturally-occurring compound extracted from cannabis plants that aids individuals with anxiety, cognition, movement disorders, and pain—all while avoiding the hypnotic and psychoactive properties of medical marijuana. Basically, it provides the calming and pain-relieving benefits of other cannabis products while avoiding the “high.”
If you want to learn more about CBD and how it interacts with the body, check out our previous post entitled “Let’s Talk CBD.”
How does CBD fight arthritis?
CBD fights arthritis in two ways: reducing inflammation directly at the site of soreness and relieving pain by interacting with the body’s central nervous system.
This first way CBD fights arthritis is by interacting with the site of inflammation (such as joints or muscles). Topical products, like Farmer & Chemist It’s the Balm or Problem Salved, are applied directly to the skin over a painful joint or muscle. The cannabinoids found in CBD then bind with the endocannabinoid receptors found in muscle tissue, skin, and nerves, ultimately relieving both pain and inflammation. It’s also important to note that topical CBD products don’t simply mask pain—they make it disappear. This is due to the high amount of endocannabinoid receptors on the skin that bind with CBD chemicals and carry relief directly to the afflicted areas.
This type of relief is exactly what Danell Murdock, creative director of Farmer & Chemist, experiences when she uses Farmer & Chemist Problem Salved. “It’s immediate,” she says. “I put it on my hand and it’s an almost immediate release of intense pain.”
However, arthritis often affects more than just one singular part of the body. As such, going the topical route may not be the most productive way to rid yourself of uncomfortable inflammation. When this is the case, taking CBD that interacts directly with your body’s central nervous system it the most effective way to stave off any excess pain. When taken orally, CBD interacts with various endocannabinoid receptors in the body that in turn influence the body’s nervous system, leading to full-body relaxation and relief. If this is the relief you’re looking for, check out our Lickety Split and Steady Going tinctures.
Which products best fight arthritis?
First, let’s talk about It’s the Balm. It’s the Balm is our broad-spectrum CBD infused balm, that is created with beeswax and MCT oil, in addition to essential oils like lavender and eucalyptus. It provides soothing pain relief in addition to basic moisturization. It’s easy to use—just scoop out enough balm to liberally cover the arthritic area. Let it sit for a few seconds and wait for the relief to flood in. It’s the Balm comes in three different sizes and concentrations: 1oz with 500mg of CBD, 1oz with 1,000mg of CBD, or 2oz with 2,000mg of CBD.
If It’s the Balm isn’t concentrated enough for you, or if you just need some extra kick, look no further than Problem Salved. Our anti-inflammatory CBD-infused salve simultaneously moisturizes your skin and fights off inflamed joins and sore muscles, so it’s the perfect warrior against arthritis. It’s a bit more concentrated than the balm, with 1920mg of CBD in the 1oz package. Furthermore, Problem Salved also features 0.3% THC, purely to aid in absorption and effectiveness. Pairing CBD with this minimal amount of THC helps cannabinoids bind to your body more effectively, increasing the amount of relief you feel. Don’t worry, it’s not nearly enough to influence your thought process.
A Thing of the Past
So, what are you waiting for? Make your arthritis a thing of the past and try Farmer & Chemist CBD. In no time your hands will feel good enough to play a Joplin rag on the piano or write a poem rivaling the great masters.
If you have any questions or concerns, one of our in-house pharmacy technicians would love to help out however they can. If you’re unable to come see us, then give us a follow on Facebook and Instagram (@farmer_and_chemist), where we answer questions and provide helpful information about CBD regularly.