"Investing in joint health is the foundation for a vibrant and active life. Healthy joints contribute to flexibility, mobility, and overall well-being, enabling you to embrace each day with vitality. Whether you're an athlete pushing boundaries or someone cherishing daily activities, strong and well-maintained joints are the key to unlocking a pain-free, active lifestyle. "
Prioritising joint health today ensures a resilient foundation for tomorrow, allowing you to move, groove, and savour life's moments without the limitations that joint discomfort can bring.
While common joint support products contain research-backed ingredients such as hydrolysed collagen, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), glucosamine sulphate, chondroitin sulphate and calcium, cannabidiol (CBD) is another option to add to your joint support regimen.
Joint Health Explained
Joint structures facilitate human movement through complex interactions between bones, tendons, ligaments, muscles and the nervous system. Joints also contain tissues like cartilage, which covers and cushions bone ends, and synovial fluid, a lubricating substance within the joint capsule.
The coordinated function of these elements ensures joint stability, flexibility, and smooth motion, which ensures our bodies move efficiently and without discomfort.
However, over time, joint structures and function can deteriorate due to factors such as poor exercise technique, injury, overuse, age, and various chronic conditions.
Poor joint health and dysfunction can lead to discomfort, stiffness, reduced mobility, and even pain which is where joint support supplements can help.
CBD Supports Joint Health
CBD, a naturally-occurring, active non-psychoactive compound found in the cannabis or hemp plant's resinous flower, has been used for its natural medicinal and therapeutic benefits for thousands of years, but it is only recently that interest in its potential joint health benefits has emerged.
CBD is one of over 100 cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant, and it interacts with the endocannabinoid system in our bodies. This system plays a vital role in regulating various physiological processes, including pain perception and inflammation.
Here are 3 ways CBD may benefit joint health:
1. Pain Management
CBD has demonstrated analgesic (pain-relieving) properties in numerous studies, including joint-related conditions like arthritis.
By interacting with receptors in the endocannabinoid system, CBD may help reduce pain signals, offering relief to those suffering from joint discomfort.
A study published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine in 2012, demonstrated the mechanism by which CBD inhibits inflammatory and neuropathic pain, which are two of the most difficult types of chronic pain to treat.
2. Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Inflammation is a common culprit in joint problems, such as arthritis. CBD has shown anti-inflammatory potential, which can help mitigate inflammation in and around the joints, reducing pain and swelling.
Studies have shown that CBD may impact endocannabinoid receptor activity to reduce inflammation.
The antioxidant activity of CBD is another potential bulwark in the battle against inflammation as it helps to reduce the impact of excessive oxidative stress on the body, including connective tissue.
3. Cartilage Protection
Some research suggests that CBD might help protect cartilage from damage, which is a common issue in joint-related conditions like osteoarthritis.
One study determined that CBD regulates mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) biology, which may “enhance tissue engineering strategies aimed at cartilage repair”.
CBD Supplements for Joint Health
Given the potential benefits of CBD for joint health, adding a product like Biogen CBD Joint Recover and Repair to your existing joint health supplement stack may help to relieve joint pain associated with osteoarthritis and inflammation.
If you are considering CBD for joint health, consult with your healthcare provider, especially if you have an existing medical condition or are taking other medications.
References:
- Frane N, Stapleton E, Iturriaga C, Ganz M, Rasquinha V, Duarte R. Cannabidiol as a treatment for arthritis and joint pain: an exploratory cross-sectional study. J Cannabis Res. 2022 Aug 24;4(1):47. doi: 10.1186/s42238-022-00154-9. PMID: 35999581; PMCID: PMC9400326.
- Xiong W, Cui T, Cheng K, Yang F, Chen SR, Willenbring D, Guan Y, Pan HL, Ren K, Xu Y, Zhang L. Cannabinoids suppress inflammatory and neuropathic pain by targeting α3 glycine receptors. J Exp Med. 2012 Jun 4;209(6):1121-34. doi: 10.1084/jem.20120242. Epub 2012 May 14. PMID: 22585736; PMCID: PMC3371734.
- Atalay S, Jarocka-Karpowicz I, Skrzydlewska E. Antioxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Cannabidiol. Antioxidants (Basel). 2019 Dec 25;9(1):21. doi: 10.3390/antiox9010021. PMID: 31881765; PMCID: PMC7023045.
- Gowran A, McKayed K, Kanichai M, White C, Hammadi N, Campbell V. Tissue Engineering of Cartilage; Can Cannabinoids Help? Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2010 Sep 6;3(9):2970-2985. doi: 10.3390/ph3092970. PMID: 27713386; PMCID: PMC4034107.
