Does CBD Cream Help With Arthritis Pain?

Yes, CBD cream may help ease arthritis pain in the joints where you apply it. In a 2022 University of Virginia study, adults with arthritis at the base of the thumb rubbed a CBD cream on the joint twice a day for two weeks. They reported less pain and better hand function than when they used plain shea butter, with no side effects. To get the most from a CBD cream, use it on a regular schedule and stay active. Keep your joints warm as the weather turns cold and damp, and talk with your doctor before you start.

What is arthritis, and how common is it?

Arthritis is a group of about 100 conditions that affect the joints and the tissues around them, and about 53.2 million U.S. adults have been diagnosed with it.

That's about 1 in 5 adults, according to a 2023 CDC report, and nearly half of U.S. adults with arthritis are 65 or older. Osteoarthritis is the most common type. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune type, which means the body's immune system causes inflammation in the joints.

Dogs get arthritis too. Our guide to CBD for dog arthritis and joint pain covers the veterinary research.

What is CBD cream?

CBD cream is a lotion or balm made with cannabidiol (CBD), a compound from the hemp plant. You rub it into the skin over a sore joint or muscle.

CBD will not get you high, according to the Arthritis Foundation. Creams, lotions, and balms go right on the skin over the area that hurts, so you can focus on spots like your knuckles or knees.

What do experts say about CBD cream for arthritis?

The American Society for Surgery of the Hand calls topical CBD promising for short-term relief of hand arthritis symptoms. The Arthritis Foundation notes that people in a few trials of CBD applied to the skin reported less hand pain.

The hand surgeons' society based its view on recent research, including the University of Virginia study. The Arthritis Foundation also points out that animal studies and some human studies suggest CBD has pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties.

Many people with arthritis already use CBD. In a 2019 Arthritis Foundation survey of more than 2,600 people with arthritis, 29% said they were using CBD to manage their symptoms. About 3 out of 4 of those users said it was effective or very effective for several symptoms.

What does the research say about CBD cream for arthritis?

A human study and several lab studies suggest topical CBD may ease joint pain and swelling.

Researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine studied 18 adults with arthritis at the base of the thumb. For two weeks, each person rubbed 1 mL of a cream containing CBD (6.2 mg per mL, mixed with shea butter) onto the joint twice a day. For another two weeks, they used shea butter alone, with a one-week break in between. Neither the participants nor the researchers knew which cream was which. During the CBD weeks, people reported bigger improvements in pain and hand function scores than during the shea butter weeks, with no side effects. The study was published in The Journal of Hand Surgery.

Here's how the main studies compare:

How might CBD work on sore joints?

CBD may work through the endocannabinoid system, a network of receptors involved in pain and inflammation that researchers have found in joint tissue and joint nerves.

Your body makes its own cannabinoid-like compounds, called endocannabinoids, and has receptors that respond to them. A 2008 study found two of these receptors, CB1 and CB2, in the synovium (the joint's lining) of people with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The researchers also found two endocannabinoids, anandamide and 2-AG, in these patients' joint fluid, and concluded that this system may be an important target for easing arthritis pain and inflammation.

Dalhousie University's McDougall Lab, which studies arthritis pain, was the first to show that CB1 and CB2 receptors also sit on nerves inside the joint.

Why do arthritic joints feel worse in cold, damp weather?

Research links humid, windy, low-pressure days to more joint pain, and colder temperatures may add to stiffness.

If your knees seem to know when a storm is coming, you're not alone. About three in four people with arthritis believe the weather affects their pain, according to researchers at the University of Manchester.

Their study, called Cloudy with a Chance of Pain, used a smartphone app to track daily pain for 2,658 people with chronic pain over 15 months. Each report was matched to the local weather. On damp, windy days with low air pressure, the chance of a more painful day was about 20% higher than average, and high humidity mattered most. The link held even after the researchers accounted for mood and physical activity. The results were published in npj Digital Medicine.

Cold temperatures may play a role, too. Doctors at Cedars-Sinai explain that the fluid that lubricates the joints may thicken as the weather cools. A drop in air pressure may also cause muscles and tendons to expand and put extra stress on crowded joints. Citing the Arthritis Foundation, they add that frigid weather may heighten pain sensitivity, slow blood circulation, and cause muscle spasms. If you live somewhere with long, damp winters like we do in Michigan, it may help to have your joint routine in place before the cold sets in.

Is CBD cream or CBD oil better for joint pain?

A CBD cream targets the joint that aches, while a CBD oil taken under the tongue works throughout the body, and many people with arthritis use one or both.

The Arthritis Foundation describes topicals as lotions and balms applied to the skin over a painful joint. That makes a cream an easy choice when one or two joints are the main problem. Creams also skip the digestive system. The authors of the 2016 rat study note that applying a compound to the skin bypasses digestion and the liver's first pass, which may keep levels steadier in the body. CBD oil held under the tongue goes straight into the bloodstream, and the Foundation notes its effects may be felt within 15 to 45 minutes.

Both formats are popular. In the Foundation's 2019 survey, 62% of respondents used a liquid form of CBD, and 55% used a topical product on their joints. Some people keep a cream for the joints that ache most and add a daily CBD tincture for whole-body support. Our guide to CBD roll-ons vs. creams can help you pick a topical, and how long CBD takes to work covers timing for each product type.

How do you use CBD cream for arthritis in your hands and knees?

Rub a CBD cream into clean skin over the sore joint and use it on a regular schedule, such as the twice-a-day routine from the University of Virginia study.

1.    Check with your doctor first, especially if you take other medications.

2.    Start with clean, dry skin. Apply the cream over your knuckles, the base of your thumb, your knee, or whichever joint aches.

3.    Massage it in until it's absorbed. Follow the directions on your package for how much to use.

4.    Stay consistent. Apply it at the same times each day, such as morning and evening, for at least two weeks.

5.    Keep a simple symptom diary. The Arthritis Foundation suggests writing down your symptoms and how much you use so you can see what's changing.

6.    Wash your hands afterward if you applied the cream to another joint, and keep it away from your eyes.

What else may help arthritis pain in winter?

Regular low-impact exercise, staying warm, and keeping a healthy weight may all help your joints feel better through the colder months.

•       Keep moving. The CDC reports that adults with arthritis can decrease pain and improve function by about 40% by being physically active. Walking, biking, swimming, and water exercise are all joint-friendly, with a goal of 150 minutes of moderate activity a week.

•       Dress in loose layers. Loose layers trap body heat and keep joints warm during cold-weather exercise, according to the Arthritis Foundation, which also recommends warming up for a few minutes before you head out.

•       Stay warm at home. Cedars-Sinai calls staying warm the best antidote when your joints don't like the winter chill. Gloves, warm layers, and a heating pad are easy places to start.

•       Make your CBD cream part of the routine. It's easy to apply after a walk or workout, and our outdoor recovery guide shows how.

What should you look for in a CBD cream for arthritis?

Look for a CBD cream made in the U.S. from U.S.-grown hemp, with the amount of CBD clearly labeled and a certificate of analysis (COA) from an independent lab.

Those are among the shopping tips the Arthritis Foundation gives adults with arthritis. Also check whether the CBD amount on the label is for the whole container or for one application. Our guide to reading a certificate of analysis explains what a lab report shows.

Urban Roots topicals are made in Michigan with USA-grown hemp and are third-party lab tested. You can see example reports on our Lab Results page or contact us for the report that matches your product's lot number.

•       Freeze Cream: a cooling CBD cream in a 5 oz squeeze tube with 500 mg of CBD per tube and an alcohol-free formula. It's made with hemp-derived CBD and menthol and designed for areas like sore muscles and stiff joints.

•       Travel Freeze Cream: the same cooling cream in a 2 oz tube for your bag, desk, or glove box.

•       Body Butter: an Arbor & Shore body butter with 300 mg of CBD in a 3 oz jar, plus magnesium and plant-based lipids (fats). It's a good pick if you like a rich, moisturizing feel on dry winter skin.

Comparing cooling creams? Our CBD freeze cream buyer's guide explains what to look for, or you can browse all of our CBD topicals.

Should you talk to your doctor before using CBD cream for arthritis?

Yes. Your doctor can confirm which type of arthritis you have and help fit CBD cream into the care plan you already follow.

The Arthritis Foundation recommends going over what has worked for you before, planning a trial run, and setting up a follow-up visit to check your results. Tell your doctor about any other medications or supplements you take. If you have rheumatoid arthritis or another inflammatory type, keep your prescribed treatment in place and think of CBD cream as an add-on. Bringing the product and its lab report to your appointment can make the conversation easier. Our guide on how to talk to your doctor about CBD has more tips.

Frequently asked questions about CBD cream for arthritis

Does CBD cream work for arthritis?

Early research suggests it may. In a 2022 University of Virginia study, people with thumb arthritis who used CBD cream twice a day reported less pain and better hand function within two weeks.

How long does CBD cream take to work on arthritis?

Give it at least two weeks of regular use, the length of time people used CBD cream in the University of Virginia study. Our guide to how long CBD takes to work covers timing for every product type.

How often should I apply CBD cream for arthritis?

Twice a day, morning and evening, is a good place to start, since that's the schedule used in the 2022 University of Virginia study. Always follow the directions on your product.

Can CBD cream help arthritis in the hands?

Research on hands is encouraging. People with thumb arthritis reported less pain with a CBD cream in a 2022 study. The American Society for Surgery of the Hand also calls topical CBD promising for short-term relief of hand arthritis symptoms.

Can CBD cream help with knee arthritis?

Animal research is encouraging. In a 2016 study, CBD gel rubbed on the skin reduced swelling and signs of pain in rats with knee arthritis.

Will CBD cream make me feel high?

No. The Arthritis Foundation notes that CBD will not get you high.

Can I use CBD cream with my arthritis medication?

Talk with your doctor first. The Arthritis Foundation recommends reviewing CBD with the doctor who treats your arthritis, especially if you take other medications.

Why does arthritis hurt more in cold weather?

Research links humid, windy, low-pressure days to more joint pain, and doctors at Cedars-Sinai say cooler weather may thicken joint fluid and slow blood circulation.

The bottom line on CBD cream for arthritis

Early research and survey results suggest CBD cream may help ease arthritis pain, especially in the hands. It pairs easily with the habits that help joints through winter: staying active, keeping warm, and working with your doctor. Use it twice a day on your sorest joints, give it at least two weeks, and track how you feel. When you're ready, explore our CBD topicals, made in Michigan with USA-grown hemp and third-party lab tested.

This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Talk with your doctor before trying a new supplement or topical, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medication. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Urban Roots products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.