Study: Cannabinoid Treatment May Help Manage Pain From Osteoarthritis

Recognized as the most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis (OA) is typically caused by aging joints, obesity, or injury. It is a degenerative condition that often becomes more problematic as time goes on.

As we know, past studies have suggested a link between cannabis and rheumatoid arthritis. A group of researchers from China recently published a study that suggests cannabinoid treatment may help inhibit the growth of cells involved in inflammatory processes.

Research Suggests Relationship Between Osteoarthritis & Cannabis

Following suit, another study published in the journal European Journal of Neuroscience sheds additional light on the matter. It suggests that cannabis could be beneficial in the management of osteoarthritis.

As mentioned by the Spanish researchers, the methods currently used to treat osteoarthritis have shown little efficacy. No drugs exist that control the disease’s progression and the available topical solutions have limited results.

“Preclinical studies support targeting the endocannabinoid system as a potential therapeutic target for osteoarthritis pain.”

With this in mind, the research team conducted a literature study to compile the research that has been done on osteoarthritis and cannabis.

According to their results, preclinical studies support targeting the endocannabinoid system as a potential therapeutic target for osteoarthritis pain.

“The ubiquitous distribution of cannabinoid receptors, together with the physiological role of the endocannabinoid system in the regulation of pain, inflammation and even joint function further support the therapeutic interest of cannabinoids for osteoarthritis,” the researchers concluded.

The mountain of preclinical evidence in favor of cannabinoid treatments for osteoarthritis is clear. Nonetheless, the Spanish research team notes that clinical research has been lacking. Of course, they are not alone in recognizing this issue, as various top researchers have demanded clinical trials about cannabis in recent weeks.