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What’s The Best CBD:THC Ratio To Use For Arthritis?

CBD & THC are both commonly used for pain & inflammation from arthritis.

Here’s what you need to know about CBD:THC ratios for arthritis.

Article By
Daily CBD , last updated on May 27, 2022

The combination of CBD and THC won’t cure arthritis. However, research has shown that when taken together, these cannabinoids may help reduce pain, inflammation, and poor sleep in arthritis patients.

But what’s the best ratio to use for each?

Evidence suggests arthritis symptoms are best treated with a 1:1 CBD:THC ratio, which allows patients to experience pain relief from THC while getting the benefits of CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties.

Here’s everything you need to know about taking CBD:THC ratio products for arthritis.

Illustration of painful knee. Arthritis concept.

What Are The Benefits of CBD & THC For Arthritis Symptoms?

Arthritis is an inflammatory disorder resulting in pain and stiffness of the joints. The symptoms, causes, and types of arthritis range across patients, but one thing is clear for all sufferers: there is no cure for arthritis.

Living with arthritis often means taking heavy-handed pain medications, including narcotics, to deal with the intense pain as patients get older. These treatments often don’t work, leaving patients with refractory discomfort; plus they have high potential for addiction.

Enter CBD and THC.

While there’s not a lot of evidence that oral CBD (cannabidiol) alone can treat arthritis symptoms, the combination of these two cannabinoids has been proven an effective means to relieve arthritis pain [1].

Transdermal CBD, aka salves or topicals, has therapeutic potential for arthritis pain and inflammation [2]. However, the efficacy of both CBD and THC (delta 9 THC) skyrocket when taken in conjunction.

When taken at ratios of 1:1, meaning equal parts CBD and THC, the compounds have been shown to reduce arthritis pain, lower inflammation, and promote better sleep over time [3].

Although many cannabis studies use mice and rats to measure efficacy for arthritis, the science shows that THC interacts with the CB1 receptor while CBD interacts with the CB2 receptor — both endocannabinoid receptors responsible for pain pathway signalling [4].

While the CBD works to improve circulation, ease inflammation, and calm your nervous system, the THC works alongside it to promote pain relief and sedation for better sleep. When taken together, the entourage effect comes into play, allowing the patient to see the maximum benefits of both compounds.

There are early studies showing that CBD and THC may improve fracture healing in arthritis patients, too, but more clinical trials need to be completed first [5].

How CBD & THC Compare To Other Arthritis Medications

CBD and THC are not used to treat the cause of arthritis. However, they can be a wonderful alternative to the typical arthritis symptom treatments that come with a slew of side effects.

NSAIDs like aspirin and ibuprofen are often used to treat inflammation, but they come with many side effects over time like increased risk for heart attack.

Other common treatments for arthritis include steroids, which often cause weight gain and emotional distress, as well as narcotics, which can result in lifelong addiction and tons of negative side effects.

Because there’s no cure for arthritis, it’s important to find a medication that you can realistically take for the rest of your life. We’re certainly not advocating for replacing your current arthritis medication with CBD and THC.

However, taking these compounds together can treat the discomfort of arthritis with less side effects and no risk of addiction. CBD and THC can even be used to treat the side effects of your current medication by promoting weight loss, easing anxiety, and promoting better sleep.

Make sure to always check with your doctor before adding CBD and THC to your treatment plan in case of any interactions with other medications.

Best CBD:THC Ratio For Arthritis & How To Dose

The best CBD:THC ratio for arthritis symptoms is 1:1, meaning equal parts CBD and THC. In some trials, arthritis patients took 10 mg of CBD and 10 mg of THC — the same ratio used in the pharmaceutical cannabinoid product called Sativex — twice per day.

However, your CBD:THC ratio and how much you take are entirely dependent on your preferences. If you’re worried about getting high or haven’t used THC before, try a lower dose of both compounds to start.

Keep in mind that the psychological effects of THC can be lowered when it’s taken with CBD.

To dose your CBD:THC ratio for arthritis, use our dosage calculator to determine your CBD dose first. Then, match up your THC intake with the same mg.

If you’re using gummies or oils, it’s easy to dose this at home. You can also buy CBD:THC ratio products at your medical marijuana dispensary.

Other CBD:THC Ratios

The best ratio of CBD to THC is a hot topic lately. While we already have a lot of data available for the benefits of both these cannabinoids for certain conditions — there’s very little information about what the optimal ratio of each one is when used in conjunction.

As more research comes to light on the intricate synergy between these two compounds, scientists are uncovering insight into ways we can get even more effectiveness out of cannabis.

Here are some of the other optimal CBD to THC ratios based on the current evidence so far:

Final Thoughts: Best CBD:THC Ratio For Arthritis

The best CBD:THC ratio for arthritis symptoms is 1:1, with equal parts CBD and THC.

This allows the patient to enjoy the benefits of CBD and THC both, while also promoting efficacy by taking them together.

While CBD and THC won’t cure your arthritis, they can go a long way in reducing pain, improving your sleep, and lowering inflammation throughout the body. They may even help ease the side effects of other arthritis medications, but make sure to always ask your doctor about interactions first.

References

  1. Blake, D. R., Robson, P., Ho, M., Jubb, R. W., & McCabe, C. S. (2006). Preliminary assessment of the efficacy, tolerability and safety of a cannabis-based medicine (Sativex) in the treatment of pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology, 45(1), 50-52.
  2. Hammell, D. C., Zhang, L. P., Ma, F., Abshire, S. M., McIlwrath, S. L., Stinchcomb, A. L., & Westlund, K. N. (2016). Transdermal cannabidiol reduces inflammation and pain‐related behaviours in a rat model of arthritis. European Journal of Pain, 20(6), 936-948.
  3. Lafaye, G., Karila, L., Blecha, L., & Benyamina, A. (2017). Cannabis, cannabinoids, and health. Dialogues in clinical neuroscience, 19(3), 309.
  4. Miller, R. J., & Miller, R. E. (2017). Is cannabis an effective treatment for joint pain. Clin Exp Rheumatol, 35(5), 59-67.
  5. Gusho, C. A., & Court, T. (2020). Cannabidiol: a brief review of Its therapeutic and pharmacologic efficacy in the management of joint disease. Cureus, 12(3).

Further Reading

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Further Reading
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