Is CBD an Anti-Inflammatory?

The answer is complicated. Studies have shown CBD's positive affects the pathways that cause colon inflammation in mice. Other animal studies suggest topical CBD is effective for reducing arthritis inflammation. While the animal study results are promising, more study on human inflammation is necessary to provide a definitive answer. However, there are many regular CBD users who believe it helps with their inflammation. 

There are a number of medications that can help fight inflammation, but many of the over the counter and prescription-strength pharmaceuticals are filled with ingredients some people would prefer not to ingest. CBD is a naturally occurring remedy that appeals to many people. 

But what is inflammation is and how anti-inflammatory drugs work? 

What Is Inflammation?

Inflammation is what happens when your body’s white blood cells react to protect you from infection. Inflammation naturally happens when you have an injury. It is usually temporary until your body heals, unless it is chronic. Physical trauma, cuts, bruises, burns or infections within the body can cause inflammation. Some people even suffer inflammation when they eat certain foods. 

Chronic inflammation is long-term inflammation that lasts for prolonged periods of time, from several months to years. The extent of inflammation and the side effects of chronic inflammation vary depending on how the injury was sustained. 

What Are the Signs of Inflammation?

When your body is experiencing inflammation it will show signs, such as redness around the infected area, swelling, heat or pain. Inflammatory responses can be caused by a number of things. Some of the signs that you are suffering from chronic inflammation are:

• Fatigue
• Fever
• Mouth sores
• Rashes
• Abdominal pain
• Chest pain

Symptoms would depend on where the inflammation is happening in the body and the root cause. When untreated, chronic inflammation can be a contributing factor in some diseases, such as:

• Heart disease
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Type 2 diabetes
• Obesity
• Asthma
• Alzheimer's disease

There are many more side effects when chronic inflammation goes unnoticed and undiagnosed, which is why it is important to detect and gain control of it.

Traditional Ways Inflammation Is Treated

Reducing inflammation is greatly reliant on each individual body’s ability to heal and repair itself. Sometimes your white blood cells simply can’t do it all on their own. An anti-inflammatory is often necessary. 

Inflammation is currently treated in a number of ways, but two drugs are primarily relied upon for chronic inflammation relief, including:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Steroids

NSAIDs are over the counter drugs such as Advil, Motrin or Aleve. They relieve pain from conditions caused by inflammation by stopping a certain kind of enzyme in the body from working. They also reduce swelling, lower fevers and prevent blood from clotting. Steroids work in the same way but are often administered as an injection. Neither of these medication types treat the root cause of inflammation, they only reduce the effects. 

More natural ways that can help reduce inflammation include supplements and eating an anti-inflammatory diet. Natural anti-inflammatory foods help to reduce your risk for developing some the diseases linked to chronic inflammation. They can also help reduce inflammation you may currently be experiencing from an injury, illness or disease. 

There are also foods that are linked to higher rates of inflammation. These include: 

• Refined carbohydrates

• Processed meats and red meat 

• Fried foods

• Shortening, margarine and lard

• Beverages sweetened with sugar

How CBD Studies Can Help With Inflammation 

Many studies have shown that CBD has the potential to be a natural remedy for inflammation. CBD oil has reduced joint inflammation in some animal studies

Other studies have shown that the CBD is an antioxidant, which means it reduces oxidative stress caused by inflammation. CBD studies have suggested the compound may possess beneficial properties that can relieve inflammation and pain without pharmaceutical intervention, and there are many other suspected positive effects that are being further tested. 

Reduction of swelling anywhere in the body could help a person’s body heal faster, relieve a person of chronic inflammation symptoms and prevent conditions from escalating. 

Everyone heals in different ways and their body may react differently to CBD, which is why CBD comes in many different forms. What works for one person may not work for you. Always talk to your doctor before trying CBD oil, edibles, vapes, topicals or other CBD products. 

To learn more about the top CBD products out there check out our list!