Inflammation occurs when the body detects a threat and takes measures to defend itself against injury or illness. Inflammation is a vital part of the body’s healing process, but it can be harmful if left unchecked. In some cases, inflammation may cause a number of other conditions that can quickly spiral out of control.
Some conditions associated with chronic inflammation include:
Inflammation can fall into one of two categories: acute inflammation and chronic inflammation.
Acute inflammation is caused by direct trauma or injury to the affected area, and occurs as a measure to protect the body from further damage. This is the healthy kind of inflammation, and it’s an important part of the body’s ability to heal itself.
Chronic, or systemic inflammation is a long term issue that can be rooted in a number of different issues. For some people, chronic inflammation occurs when an infection isn’t entirely cleared up. For others, inflammation is the result of autoimmune dysfunction that attacks otherwise healthy tissue.
Whatever the cause, chronic inflammation can lead to an overall decrease in quality of life. Individuals affected by systemic inflammation may suffer from symptoms like fatigue, mouth sores, abdominal pain, skin rashes, joint pain, and even low grade fevers.
The cannabis plant contains various active compounds that can treat a variety of health disorders. One of these compounds, cannabidiol (CBD), is quickly on the rise as an effective way to treat chronic inflammation without side effects.
CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is responsible for maintaining homeostasis within the cellular structure. The ECS plays a key role in modulating regular functions like appetite, sleep, mood, and even the immune system. The body naturally produces its own endocannabinoids to feed the system, but outside cannabinoids can give the ECS a boost when treating issues like chronic inflammation with CBD.
One study in the European Journal of Pain used rats with arthritis to assess whether CBD for inflammation would be an effective treatment. Topical CBD gel was administered to problem areas for four days, during which inflammation and pain was found to be drastically reduced with no sign of side effects.
In another study from the University of Mississippi, researchers found CBD to be so effective at reducing inflammation that it even decreased the risk of long-term organ damage in the subject. In another case, CBD was also found to reduce the effects of inflammation caused by acute pancreatitis in lab mice, again with no side effects.
CBD products come in a variety of forms, allowing individuals to get significant relief from many different types of problems. These products contain little or no THC, and are not psychoactive; however, they do allow many patients suffering from chronic inflammation to get their lives back on track.
You can choose to ingest your CBD with an edible or tincture for inflammation relief. These methods provide long lasting effects with no side effects. Tinctures take effect a little bit quicker, while edible CBD can last for several hours. Both give inflammation sufferers a way to reduce symptoms and feel better.
For areas affected by painful inflammation symptoms, topical CBD can provide powerful analgesic relief. Rub a small amount into the inflamed area, and you should notice your pain levels start to decrease.
Whatever method you choose to use, you’ll want to make sure you take the same dose every day. When treating inflammation with CBD, consistency is key.
What that dose is, however, can widely vary from person to person. Each person’s CBD tolerance may vary based on a number of different factors, and it can take some trial and error to find the dose that works best to ease your symptoms.
That being said, experts do suggest going with a smaller dose in the beginning of treatment to establish a baseline. Start your CBD treatment with a dose of 10-20 mg, two to three times per day. If you haven’t noticed results within a couple of weeks, feel free to increase your dose by 5 mg at a time.
Once you find the dose that works for you, stick with it. CBD doesn’t create a tolerance, so your ideal dose should remain the same even after taking the supplement for years.
Inflammation may seem like a catch-all phrase, but it’s a very real condition that affects millions of people worldwide. CBD can help soothe systemic inflammation, and give your body a chance to function normally again.
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