Gout is a very common form of inflammatory arthritis. The disease causes severe pain in joints and can lead to a severe form known as flares or gouty arthritis. Only self-management strategies and medicine can cure this health condition as there’s no treatment available. The condition usually develops instantaneously and can last days or weeks. However, before the body experiences flares, there’s a long period of remission, a stage in which symptoms are not visible, which lasts weeks, months, and sometimes, years. The condition starts developing in joints initially, usually found in the big toe, and then leads to lesser toe joints, ankle, and knees. The areas around the affected body part start experiencing intense pain and swelling. It becomes red and generates heat. A condition is known as hyperuricemia, in which our body is filled with extra uric acid, which causes gout.
Uric acid is produced by the body when it breaks down purines. Purines are found in food and our body. The extra uric acid in the form of uric acid crystals gets stored in joints, fluids, and tissues. In the stage of remission, this health condition does not cause harm but can affect if it causes gout. CBD oil for gout is being proposed as an effective remedy. So many people are benefiting from the regular use of CBD oil in joints experiencing inflammation. What’s the truth behind it? How effective is the therapy? In this article, we shall explore all this.
Let’s get started!
CBD Oil and Gout – What Does Research Day?
There are no big studies that have been on humans, which suggest that CBD oil is effective against gout. However, some animal studies have been done that point towards the fact that CBD oil may provide a solution against conditions and symptoms related to gout. In 2015, an animal study was conducted on rats using CBD gel. It significantly improved arthritis pain in them. Their joint swelling was improved after some time and their overall posture was improved as compared to the controlled group. Another similar study, which was conducted in 2017 on rats, reduced inflammation and pain. The rats with the gout condition called osteoarthritis also saw lesser chances of nerve damage. There are many more animal-based studies that also point towards useful benefits of CBD oil against gout, though randomized controlled trials with humans should also be conducted to fully understand its impact.
CBD Legal Status and CBD Oil
Hemp-derived CBD containing less than 0.3 percent of THC or Tetrahydrocannabinol, a psychoactive compound that causes high, is legal across the US. The federal government had passed a landmark Farm Bill in 2018, which paved the way for legal farming and processing of hemp and hemp-based products. This makes the production and the use of CBD and CBD-based products fully legal if you live in the US. The legal status of CBD depends on the country you are living in. Practically, every country on earth has a different law governing cannabis and allied products. As the name suggests, CBD oil is a product made by combining CBD with oil.
CBD or cannabidiol is extracted from hemp, and sometimes, from cannabis, using a specific extraction method. Once extracted, CBD is combined with a carrier oil, like coconut or hemp oil. Some producers also use alcohol with CBD, which is slightly different from oil so it’s called a tincture. One can use CBD oil in different ways. While you can use it on a specific part of your body to get instant relief from all kinds of pains, others may use it to get internal relief so they take it in, under the tongue.
How Effective Is CBD Against Gout?
Most people know how effective CBD is against all kinds of pains and inflammation issues. A 2017 preview conducted to understand the impact of CBD oil on the endocannabinoid system, also known as ECS, showed that since CBD can interact with ECS, it’s most likely that regular use of CBD in areas experiencing gout can improve the health condition. No human study has been conducted so far when it comes to the condition of gout. A few studies, however, explore the effects of THC on inflammation and gout.
A 2021 randomized controlled trial done in Australia showed oral CBD wasn’t very effective against relieving lower back pain. This was a small group study done on 100 people, which is relatively a small size to conduct trials. Another study done in the year 2021 studied CBD use among fibromyalgia. Of the total participants, 60 percent who used CBD said the cannabinoid provided “much” and “very much” relief from pain. These studies are small and do not necessarily prove that CBD oil is effective against gout but they provide strong hypotheses and it’s a strong reason for stakeholders to conduct trials on humans on a bigger scale.
How Gout Develops and Treatment Method?
The gout condition is most prevalent among males, especially those who are obese. Certain health conditions, including diabetes, kidney problems, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, hypertension, and congestive heart failure can make the condition severe. Those into alcohol, consuming water bills or eating food high in sugar also develop gout. Consuming purine-rich food such as red meat, organ meat, and seafood regularly can aid the development of this health condition. Health experts diagnose gout by assessing your symptoms and doing a physical examination, including by conducting X-rays and lab tests. The condition is curable only when joints experiencing pain are red hot, and swollen, and an x-ray finds uric acid crystals in joints.
The best way to manage gout is by applying self-management strategies in your life. You can bring certain changes in your lifestyle, including losing weight, limiting alcohol use, and eating less purine-rich food. You also need to control uric acid levels in the blood. So, you should eat a healthy diet and learn self-management skills and get physically active. CBD is an organic chemical compound. You can use it regularly in areas experiencing pain. Even if it does help, it’ll not cause any side effects to your body.
