While roughly 4% of Americans suffer from Gout in one form or another, many get no relief from conventional pharmaceutical drugs given by their doctors. That could be why some Gout sufferers are turning to CBD instead.
Healthy lifestyle, eating foods that aren’t too fatty, doing regular exercise. All of these measures are useful when it comes to treating the pain from Gout. However, Gout is an excruciating condition, and sometimes there’s no choice other than to use prescription medications.
The problem with these medications though is that many drugs are toxic, addictive, and come with other nasty side effects. We’re taking a closer look at Gout and how CBD is being used by many people to treat it.
Gout Explained
Gout is a specific type of inflammatory arthritis which is triggered by abnormal levels of uric acid in the bloodstream. Gout’s medical name is Arthrothapy, and it affects people who overeat red meat, seafood, fructose, and alcohol. Over time, the excess uric acid in the blood forms into crystals which build up between the joints.
In turn, those sharp-edged crystals cause inflammation, which leads to periodic attacks of Gout. As any Gout victim will tell you, life is no picnic, and the pain that comes from these accumulated crystals is often severe. Characterized by pain, swelling, tenderness, redness, and heat, some people are left bedridden by Gout for days at a time.
Even though Gout can hit any joint in the body, the most common place for it is in the big toe. Intense pain follows weeks of recovery, and most of those experiencing Gout will have more attacks as the years go by. While some people are more prone to Gout genetically, it is a condition which is heavily influenced by diet in particular.
Another factor is that Gout affects more men than it does women, and usually affects people with a family history of the condition. Obesity, diabetes, and kidney issues also play a role in Gout, and at least 8 million Americans suffer from it at some time in their lives.
Conventional Gout Treatments
Unfortunately, Gout is a “chronic condition” meaning that there’s no known cure for it. It can be appropriately managed in some patients, but that’s often a case of trial and error more than anything else. The right balance of lifestyle changes and drugs can help many people with Gout.
However, prescription medications for gout often come at a price, and that’s not just in terms of money. Pain killers and corticosteroids can alleviate Gout when it’s at its worst, but those drugs have side effects, primarily if used long-term or in high doses.
Gout patients are told as a matter of course, not to drink too much alcohol and to stay away from fruit packed with sugar, red meat, and other fatty foods. Remaining hydrated and keeping in shape also helps greatly when it comes to Gout.
Sure, these medications and lifestyle changes help to manage the symptoms of the Gout for a while, but they are seldom a long-term solution. That could be the reason why so many people suffering from Gout are turning to CBD as their go-to remedy, in favor of visits to the doctor and prescription medications.
CBD For Gout
CBD is a compound inside cannabis and hemp, known for its medicinal and therapeutic properties. Some people use CBD to treat anxiety, others to treat insomnia. However, as CBD is a known, natural anti-inflammatory, it’s also successful in treating Gout for many patients.
While scientific studies and medical research are yet to delve into the connection between CBD and Gout in any substantial way, there’s plenty of studies showing that CBD can be useful in the treatment of arthritic conditions. Being a type of arthritis, Gout can also be treated by the right amount of concentrated CBD for some sufferers.
Cannabis and specifically the CBD compound, influence something called the endocannabinoid system found in the body. This system operates by an intricate network of receptors located in the organs and brain. These receptors, called CB1 and CB2 receptors, are responsible for managing daily human processes such as mood, appetite, and memory.
This system also plays a role in regulating pain and inflammation. Furthermore, CBD works to increase levels of anandamide in the body effectively. This compound binds with the CB1 receptors and blocks pain signals from the brain.
Best CBD For Gout
CBD comes in a variety of different forms and delivery systems. However, not all delivery systems are equal, and that principle also applies to CBD (depending on how it was extracted and other factors). CBD oil tinctures are a great way of taking CBD for conditions like Gout.
This is down to the fact that when CBD is taken in the right dosage, via the stomach, it offers slow-release and well-rounded effects. For immediatte relief from acute pain from inflammation, vaping CBD E-liquid or smoking CBD flowers is a good option. This surrounds the fact that when CBD is taken via the lungs, the effects are felt immediately and potently.
When taking CBD for Gout, it’s best to start low and take it slow. Some experts recommend a starting dose of 20-30mg of CBD per day, but some CBD products come with dosing recommendations on the bottle. CBD also comes in topical cream form, and that is much-loved by some arthritis and Gout sufferers. CBD topicals can locally relieve the area affected by the inflammation, while the CBD oil has a chance to work its way through the stomach and into the bloodstream.
Final Thoughts
For Gout sufferers, life can be a daily struggle. When the inflammation starts and the pain sets in, many people resign themselves to weeks or even months of ongoing and debilitating pain. Eating healthily, staying away from red meat, lobster and beer is advisable, as is regular exercise. However, sometimes people have no choice but to go to their doctor to get some pain killers when the inflammation gets too much to handle.
Fortunately, CBD is becoming an increasingly popular way for Gout sufferers to treat their condition and is also safer and often more cost-effective than prescription medications. When buying CBD for Gout, always ensure you purchase products from reputable CBD vendors only, and check for any third-party lab results carried out on the product you’re interested in.
