The research surrounding cannabinoids has made exciting strides in recent years. Groundbreaking studies are reshaping our scientific and medical communities, opening new pathways previously unknown. In one such line of study, researchers from various groups studied the impact CBD can have on bone health.
In an article published in July 2020, researchers note, "Cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 are expressed in bone and regulate bone homeostasis in rodents and humans. CBD treatment was shown to enhance fracture healing in rats. Recent studies in mice indicate that strain, age, and sex differences dictate the skeletal outcome of the EC activation."
The importance of our endocannabinoid system's impact on our health has given researchers cause to look at using CBD, which is known to have anti-inflammatory properties, as part of treatment routines.
In a May 2020 study published in Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine, "Recent pre-clinical studies have demonstrated that cannabinoid use and the endocannabinoid system (ECS) has an important role in bone healing and bone homeostasis. There is data that suggests that the use of cannabidiol (CBD) may increase bone healing, whereas the use of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), the major psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, likely inhibits bone metabolism and repair."
While research is still preliminary, CBD and its corresponding cannabinoids offer exciting new routes for the scientific and medical communities. The legal hemp market has helped fuel research by providing biomass for trials, allowing for more in-depth examination. Despite the many answers we still need when it comes to cannabinoids and our bone health, the path has been cleared and research is making amazing strides towards answering them.