Provide Long-Term Pain Relief to Patients Suffering from Ankylosing Spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis is characterized by inflammation on the spine and in the joints where the ligaments and tendons are joined to the bone. It is experienced mostly by men compared to women. Also, it is common in teenagers.

Cannabidiol, commonly known as CBD, is a compound derived from hemp and cannabis Sativa. It is widely used for its therapeutic and medical benefits. Among the major reason for capturing many people's interests is its ability to relieve pain. CBD is not medically proven for use except for epidiolex, used to treat uncommon epilepsy diagnosed in childhood. It has been used in the US for two years, and research suggests that patients exhibited a significant reduction of seizures after using CBD compared to a placebo. CBD can provide long-term pain relief to patients suffering from ankylosing spondylitis.

What Is Ankylosing Spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis is a health condition that affects the spine. It is characterized by inflammation not only in the pine buts also in the joints where the ligaments and tendons are joined to the bone. Ankylosing spondylitis is experienced mostly by men compared to women. Also, it is common in teenagers.

Change in the HLA-B gene, responsible for moderating the immune system protein production, is associated with ankylosing spondylitis. Scientists show that almost 90 percent of patients with this condition have a variation in the gene; however, some believe different environmental factors can trigger it.

The disorder has different symptoms, which range from mild to severe. Some patients might experience back pains which might improve with time, but others can worsen. To the extreme, ankylosing spondylitis can cause permanent damage to the spine. Ankylosis is the loosing of flexibility and mobility of the vertebrae. Other symptoms include swollen joints, fatigue, and pain in the buttocks, eye inflammation, and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Due to unbearable pain, the patient can have a poor sleep pattern. Learn more about try cbd for fibromyalgia

Ankylosing Spondylitis Treatment

Exercises and physical activities tend to relieve ankylosing spondylitis; keeping fit with workouts, daily stretches, and massages can be effective for the condition. Those patients who might need additional pain relievers can use painkillers, including opioids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and disease-modifying drugs.

However, most drugs tend to have side effects, especially long-term use. For example, opioids can be addictive. Many people have turned to potential natural remedies to ease pain and help treat health conditions. Learn more about tinnitus and cbd: will it help?

Does CBD Help Ankylosing Spondylitis?

 There is no research done on CBD’s effectiveness for ankylosing spondylitis. However, related studies in rheumatoid arthritis have shown its effectiveness. Pellati et al. (2018), showed that CBD has an anti-inflammatory effect and can help ease the pain and reduce inflammations associated with the ankylosing spondylitis health condition.

 How CBD Works

The human body has endocannabinoid receptors that link medicine with the immune system, body senses, and appetite control systems. Cannabinoid receptors are found in the skin, brain, and nerves. According to Überall (2020), CBD binds with the CB1 and the CB2 receptors to provide relief from pain and inflammation.

How to Use CBD for Ankylosing Spondylitis

There are many ways of taking CBD; it is infused in many products, and thus choosing the best product for the condition can be hard. Here are some ways of taking CBD for ankylosing spondylitis.

Oral Consumption

CBD can be taken into the body through oral ingestion, such as oil capsules and edibles like gummies. The cannabis derivatives are absorbed into the body after breakdown through digestion. Edibles stay in the body system for a long although their impact does not manifest immediately after consumption. When CBD last longer in your system its compounds help to ease symptoms associated with ankylosing spondylitis.

 However, oral ingestion of CBD has low bioavailability as some active compounds are lost during metabolism. The approximated percentage of compounds used in the body through oral consumption of CBD is 6%; the rests of the cannabis components are excreted.

 Inhalation

CBD can be taken into the body through vaping or using CBD inhalers. Both involve inhaling the content through the lungs and then absorbed directly into the bloodstream. CBD taken through inhalation has a high bioavailability; most of the compound is absorbed into the body and actively used for pain and inflammation. According to Darabseh et al. (2020), CBD vaping is healthier than smoking; smoking subjects the compound to a full combustion which puts the lungs at high risk of damage.

Topical Application

CBD topicals are designed to be applied directly to the skin. They include creams, balms, and lotions. They are the best pain relief since they can be applied directly to the affected area. Topicals allow absorption of the compound through the skin other than subjecting it to a fast-pass process.

 Topicals are not effective for ankylosing spondylitis since the symptoms are experienced in diverse areas of the body; applying the topicals to all areas of pain may not be economical.

 Choosing the Best CBD for Ankylosing Spondylitis

 There are three CBD types: full spectrum, broad spectrum, and CBD isolates.

 The full spectrum CBD contains all the plant's compounds, including THC. Watt & Karl (2017), the full spectrum CBD product, provides more health benefits on the body.

The isolate is the purest form of CBD, while the broad-spectrum contains all compounds in the full-spectrum except THC.

 Conclusion

CBD has many health benefits, although the study is still in the infancy stage. It works for ankylosing spondylitis, which is characterized by pain and inflammation. The cannabis derivative is taken orally through inhalation or topical for ankylosing spondylitis. Before using CBD for the condition, you should seek medical advice to determine the best spectrum for your pain. While CBD is relatively safe for consumption, it may adversely affect the body.

 References

Darabseh, M. Z., Selfe, J., Morse, C. I., &Degens, H. (2020). Is vaping better than    smoking for cardio respiratory and muscle       function? Multidisciplinary respiratory medicine, 15(1).

Watt, G., & Karl, T. (2017). In vivo evidence for therapeutic properties of cannabidiol       (CBD) for Alzheimer's disease. Frontiers in pharmacology, 8, 20.

Pellati, F., Borgonetti, V., Brighenti, V., Biagi, M., Benvenuti, S., & Corsi, L. (2018).            Cannabis sativa L. and nonpsychoactive cannabinoids: their chemistry and role         against oxidative stress, inflammation, and cancer. BioMed research       international, 2018.

Überall, M. A. (2020). A review of scientific evidence for THC: CBD oromucosal spray             (nabiximols) in chronic pain management. Journal of pain research, 13, 399.