This is probably one of the most conflicting aspects of medicinal cannabis use. Some schools of thought say that cannabis is great for osteoporosis and can increase bone density, others say the opposite. That makes it a bit tricky if you are someone with bone troubles looking to see if weed could help. What we do know is that there is a definite relationship between the endocannabinoid system and your bones. Either way, there is an effect. So today we are going to have an in-depth look into how weed is thought to affect bone health and see if we can’t weigh up the pros and the cons.
Bone Density
For starters, we should talk about what is meant by bone density. Bone density measures the minerals in your bones that relate to their strength and overall health. So if your bone density is high your bones are much stronger than others which makes them harder to break or fracture and reduces the chances of joint issues or osteoporosis. If you have low bone density then you are far more likely to run into these issues especially as you get older. When we age our bones become more porous and don’t hold vitamins and minerals as well. So it is very important that we look after our bones as we age.
The Endocannabinoid System
Let’s take a look at the endocannabinoid system and how cannabis can affect our bones. This system is also why cannabis gets us high, reduces pain, makes us hungry, and so on. There are different receptors that affect different parts of the body. It is a large part of the central nervous system so of course, it can have a pretty intense effect on the body. The endocannabinoid system is linked to mood, appetite, sleep, heart rate, stress, skin, liver, memory, inflammation, reproductive system, motor control, pain, metabolism and all sorts of other stuff.
The aspects of this system match compounds found in cannabis which is why weed works the way it does. The CB1 receptor is likely the reason that cannabis could reduce the density of the bones and encourage osteoporosis. But then there was further research done into the CB2 receptor that suggested targeting it specifically could have the opposite effect. The change could be to do with how heavy a strain is in CBD or THC. There is quite a lot to suggest that CBD, the therapeutic compound, could be excellent for bone density because it triggers the CB2 receptor.
THC vs CBD
So now we need to have a look at the difference between CBD and THC when it comes to bones and the endocannabinoid system. THC is the most powerful aspect of cannabis when it comes to recreational use. It bonds to both the CB1 and CB2 receptors and alters a number of aspects of the endocannabinoid system. This is why THC changes our perception of time and space, makes us feel foggy or focused, giggly or sleepy. CBD is a little more of a mystery but we know that it has something to do with the endocannabinoid system. It is well known for its medicinal uses and reduces pain, improves appetite, helps with inflammation and lots of other things.
How Does Weed Affect Bone Density?
Honestly, the jury is still out on this because there is a mixture of research happening. As I said some people think that cannabis affects it negatively and some things positively so let’s look at the base evidence on both sides. One thing that we do know is that people who regularly smoke cigarettes tend to have a lower bone density as they age. Off the back of this, there were studies that showed heavy cannabis users had even lower bone density. This was based on people who smoked continually every day. Though this seemed like a pretty damning study for weed, scientists have admitted that there is not a cause and effect relationship between cannabis and bone density. When the studies went further into the endocannabinoid system the story changed. This is when we come back to CB1 and CB2 receptors. Though it may be possible that those who have constant THC going through their body could have lower bone density, there is a lot to suggest that CBD improves bone health. One study used CBD to help heal fractures and that it promoted bone health. So it looks as though the studies showing THCs reduction of bone density may have some truth to it due to the CB receptors that THC clings onto. However, it also seems that high CBD strains, which are usually used as medicinal strains, could actually improve bone health. So if you suffer from low bone density or osteoporosis a high CBD strain could be an excellent way for you to improve your health. Probably find a less damaging way to ingest the CBD like vaping, eating or using tinctures.
How Else Can You Improve Bone Health?
So while you are using CBD high cannabis to look after your bones you should also make sure that your lifestyle is also supporting your bone health. We know for a fact that your bones will be affected by your diet and how much you exercise. Whether you smoke high THC or high CBD strains it is important that you look after your bones to avoid issues later in life. We all know that plenty of calcium is a great way to maintain healthy bones. You should also make sure you’re getting plenty of vitamin D, magnesium, vitamin B, and vitamins C, K and E. Exercise such as weight training and aerobics can also be fantastic for your bones and your joints. As I said earlier, smoking tends to reduce bone density as does caffeine and alcohol. As usual, you need to do all the annoying healthy stuff and less of the fun bad stuff if you want to keep your bones nice and healthy. If you have a history of low bone density in your family try to follow all of these steps and it looks like a high CBD strain could definitely have a positive long term effect.
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