More than half of Canadian women over 65 have arthritis. That’s worse odds than a coin-flip. And the number for men over 65 isn’t much more encouraging, at over 30%.
As the Canadian population continues to age, finding better treatments for arthritis will become more and more important. You shouldn’t have to spend your well-earned retirement years in pain.
But arthritis isn’t a condition that only impacts seniors. 17% of males and 25% of females reported they suffer from arthritis in their prime working years. That means almost 2 million Canadians between the ages of 45-64 are suffering.
Can Medicinal Cannabis Help?
If you or somebody you know has been touched by arthritis, medicinal cannabis may be part of their path towards living better. Cannabis experiments, specifically testing the CBD component of the cannabis at the Imperial College of London confirmed that CBD alleviates symptoms of arthritis such as swelling. This should come as no surprise, as CBD has shown to be effective in acute and chronic inflammation situations. Further studies have come to the same conclusions. For example, another study found extensive benefits of medicinal cannabis for those suffering from arthritis, including “statistically significant improvements in pain on movement, pain at rest, and quality of sleep.”
…another study found extensive benefits of medicinal cannabis for those suffering from arthritis, including “statistically significant improvements in pain on movement, pain at rest, and quality of sleep.”
The science is strongly in support of medicinal cannabis to treat arthritis symptoms. But that doesn’t mean that you have to take up smoking for the first time – or again. Additionally, the process of smoking or vaporizing can be difficult if your hands are suffering arthritic pain. Thankfully, the medicinal cannabis industry is constantly innovating and there are many alternatives to smoking that many patients rely on.
The most common offering is oils, offered by the majority of cannabis producers like Tilray and Peace Naturals. These products are orally-ingested oils that take all the smoking out of your medical routine. An in-depth extraction process turns the flowering plant into easy-to-use oils. But increasingly, cannabis lotions have been making their way onto the market. For example, MedReleaf now offers a topical cream solution. This could be especially useful for you if you are suffering from arthritis, as you’ll be able to directly apply the cream where there’s inflammation.
It’s not just the medicinal cannabis industry that champions cannabis for arthritis. The Arthritis Society is a leading advocate for research into the use of cannabis for medical purposes. The question now isn’t whether or not medicinal cannabis can help those suffering from this condition. The question is what specific routine may be right for you.
