Millions of people worldwide suffer from foot pain and joint pain in the human body. It can be incredibly debilitating, whether it's caused by an injury, arthritis, or plantar fasciitis. Traditional treatments for foot pain include surgery, prescription medications, and physical therapy.
CBD oils have been touted by many websites as helping to relieve pain related to foot problems and aching muscles. However, there is a lack of evidence connecting CBD to foot pain relief. Here's what we know about CBD.
What Is CBD?
Short for cannabidiol, CBD is a compound found in cannabis plants. CBD does not contain psychoactive properties, unlike its cousin THC, and will not get you high. Initial studies indicate a possibility for CBD to show potential for illnesses ranging from high blood pressure, mental health, to chronic pain. Most of these studies are of small sample size and need repeated studies before they will be accepted by the scientific community.
CBD products can be extracted from marijuana and hemp plants, though most products available are hemp-derived CBD.
There are three main options in CBD products: full-spectrum CBD, broad-spectrum CBD, and CBD isolate. Full-spectrum CBD contains all of the compounds found in the cannabis plant, including the psychoactive properties of THC. Broad-spectrum CBD also contains all of the plant's compounds but has had the THC removed. CBD isolate is pure cannabidiol CBD. There are no other cannabinoids or compounds present.
Anti inflammatory properties
In a 2018 study, CBD oil showed potential properties as an anti-inflammatory. We have a long ways to go from these early tests in vitro to understanding how it works in the human body.
Types
Full-Spectrum CBD
Full-spectrum CBD products contain all of the compounds found in the cannabis plant, including THC. The THC content is usually very low, less than 0.3%. This is generally not enough to produce psychoactive effects at low doses. However, full-spectrum CBD oil products may still appear on a drug test.
Broad-Spectrum CBD
Broad-spectrum CBD products also contain different cannabinoids and compounds to contribute to relieving pain. Some of which are cannabichromene (CBC) and cannabinol. CBD products also contain notable terpenes like myrcene, limonene, or pinene. Broad-spectrum CBD normally does not contain THC, but some products do.
CBD Isolate
CBD isolate contains 99% pure CBD. It has no other cannabinoids, compounds, or plant matter. What separates CBD isolate from other types of CBD is that it's the only one guaranteed to contain no THC.
CBD isolate is made by extracting CBD from the cannabis plant and then separating it from other cannabinoids. The resulting product is a powder that can be used to make various CBD products, including oils, edibles, or even a topical application like CBD foot cream.
Will CBD Make Me High?
No, CBD will not make you high. CBD is non-psychoactive. THC is an active molecule with psychoactive effects and produces the "high" associated with marijuana use.
Plantar Fasciitis
Have you ever experienced sharp pain and inflammation in the arch of your feet? This pain is actually very common, and it is called plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis occurs when the strong, thick band of tissue (fascia) that supports the arch of your foot deteriorates.
The plantar fascia is a web-like ligament that connects the heel of your foot to your toes and absorbs shocks when you walk or run. This ligament, after overuse, can tear and become damaged, which leads to irritation and inflammation.
The inflammation will cause swelling, stinging, and needle-like pain that varies by the person and can happen throughout the day. Plantar fasciitis is also called tennis heel or policeman heel because these jobs require standing for so long, which contributes to the stress on the feet.
Some people mistake their heel pain for heel spurs. In contrast, heel spurs are calcium buildup that develops around the heel bone. To find out if you have heel spurs or plantar fasciitis, you would need to get a doctor to examine your foot problems.
Seek a provider to diagnose the pain correctly. If you have arthritis, it can also affect your ankle and the joints of your feet. A doctor will start by checking how tender the heel is and seeing how far they can straighten your foot before the pain and inflammation is too much. Then, the doctor will have an ultrasound, X-Ray, or MRI done on your foot to diagnose your pain properly.
Plantar fasciitis can occur for various reasons, such as wearing footwear that does not give support, consistent running, or standing for too long. Other factors contributing to the decline are your age, weight, and shape of your foot (high arches or flat feet).
Traditional Plantar Fasciitis Treatments
How can we treat plantar fasciitis? Most of the time, plantar fasciitis can be treated without going through surgery, with at-home remedies. Simple stretching is one of the easiest at-home exercises you can do to strengthen and improve the flexibility of the plantar fascia ligament. You can also apply ice twice a day for a few minutes on your foot for temporary relief.
If these treatments are not effective, your doctor may recommend wearing compression bandages or sock splints around the foot to support it at night while you sleep, keeping your foot in the proper position. You can purchase orthotics or supportive footwear with an extra cushion or thick soles for temporary relief while walking and standing. An option for a quicker pain relief is to take pain-relieving nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs) medicine such as ibuprofen.
In most cases, plantar fasciitis will go away after consistent at-home treatments. Still, suppose it becomes chronic foot pain, meaning more than a year with the pain. In that case, your doctor may suggest medical alternatives such as corticosteroid injections, shockwave therapy, or surgery where the ligament is cut to release tissue stiffness.
Diabetic Neuropathy
Diabetic neuropathy is pathological pain caused by nerve damage, as a result of diabetes. High blood pressure resulting from diabetes can damage the nerves throughout your body, whereas diabetic neuropathy focuses on your legs and feet. This can cause multiple foot problems like bone and joint pain, infections, and deformities.
While diabetes is the leading cause of diabetic neuropathy, people who are obese, have kidney disease, or smoke is also at risk of neuropathy. Once again, the link between CBD and diabetic neuropathy has not been established.
CBD Eases Arthritis and Heel Pain
Arthritis is a condition characterized by pain and inflammation of the joints, which can lead to stiffness and swelling. Finding treatments to aid in reducing pain for your body can become overwhelming.
Gout is another form of arthritis. It's the result of uric acid buildup in the bloodstream. Eventually, the uric acid build-up will crystallize in the joints and cause intense pain, especially around your big toe. While gout can be inherited, other factors like obesity, diabetes, and even stress can contribute to the formation of gout.
Arthritis research and CBD is still in the animal study phase.
Choosing A CBD Oil or Foot Cream
When choosing a CBD oil or CBD cream, you must select a high-quality product made from organic ingredients. You may also want to choose a foot cream that contains other beneficial ingredients such as essential oils, shea butter, or vitamin E. It is also important to choose a CBD product that conducts third-party testing and comes with a Certificate of Analysis (COA). This ensures that the CBD cream, CBD lotion, or CBD oil contains the amount of CBD listed on the label and has been tested for contaminants.
CBD foot cream can be applied topically to the feet in CBD lotion or oil. CBD can also be taken orally in capsules, gummies, or tinctures. When taking CBD orally, it is important to start with a low dose and increase as needed. CBD oil can also be added to a warm bath and enjoyed as a relaxing foot soak.
The TNFarmaceuticals Difference
We pride ourselves on 30 years of experience in the cannabis or botanical fields. We have been helping our customers with pain-related behaviors through our CBD products. Don't just take our word for it. Our CBD oils have gone through third-party testing and have been GMP quality certified. Please also look at our COA here.
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