Did you know that one of the most overlooked areas of the body when it comes to our health is the feet? That’s right, feet are vulnerable to all kinds of issues, ranging from inflammation caused by overexertion to fungal infections that occur due to the frequent wearing of socks and shoes. Most of us don’t begin caring for our feet until we’ve already developed an issue such as pain, infection, or itching.
What Specifically Can CBD Offer to the Feet?
Foot issues vary in origin, symptoms, and severity, but luckily, many of them may respond to the extremely user-friendly regular application of cannabidiol (CBD). CBD is a cannabinoid which attaches itself to cannabinoid receptors located everywhere in the body, including the tissue of the feet. This binding process allows cannabinoid receptors to regulate local processes including inflammation, skin function and pain sensitivity, thus making CBD a uniquely valuable product to incorporate into your foot routine.
#1: CBD May Offer Anti-Inflammatory Properties
One of the most studied properties of cannabidiol is its impact on inflammation which can minimize the impact that the inflammatory process has on muscle and joint tissue. Inflammation is the leading cause of pain as well as stiffness and lack of mobility, and the feet are particularly prone to inflammation due to the beating that they take each day, especially among those who work on their feet. CBD is known for attaching to cannabinoid receptors within the deep tissue that balance the inflammatory response, thus providing a strong potential to minimize inflammation-based discomfort.
#2: CBD May Have a Part in Aiding with Neuropathic Issues
Neuropathy is pain, tingling and other symptoms that come from a disturbance in the nerves. It can be caused by an injury that damages the nerve structure, or from more systemic issues that can come from poor diet, the use of certain medications of certain diseases that affect the nervous system. Neuropathy that affects the foot is most commonly caused by sciatica, an injury to the sciatic nerve that runs from the hip down to the bottom of the foot, which can cause the foot to tingle, go numb and experience pain.
CBD has been studied for its effects on neuropathy with promising results. Cannabidiol may attach to receptors in the nerves, including the nerves of the feet, producing a regulatory effect that ultimately aims to strengthen nerve function and integrity.
#3: CBD Might Be Useful Against Bacteria
It’s natural that the feet attract bacteria, as they’re most exposed to unclean surfaces throughout the day, and are commonly kept in a moist environment when we cover them in socks and shoes. Naturally, bacteria can develop into an infection, especially if there is an open wound. Meanwhile, hemp-derived cannabinoids like CBD have been shown to offer antimicrobial activity that scientists find to be particularly promising, as this property may play a role in the future of managing antibiotic-resistant bacteria. As of now, CBD has been shown in studies to potentially be effective against staph, which can lead to a serious bacterial infection of the skin.
#4: CBD May Have Antifungal Properties
A study recently found that cannabidiol may be effective against candida, an illness caused by an overgrowth of candida albicans, a fungus in the body. This implies that CBD has the strong potential to offer antifungal properties to the human body, and fungal infections of the feet are extremely common, again due to the moist environment to which are feet are exposed regularly throughout the day. While more studies need to be done to determine whether or not CBD offers potential agents against a broader variety of fungal infections, it’s clear that there is a lot of reason to be hopeful based on findings thus far.
#5: CBD Could Help Healing Wounds on Our Feet
Studies are emerging that show that CBD may aid in the process of wound healing that is carried out by the body. This would likely come from the way in which cannabinoids like CBD interact with cannabinoid receptors in the skin tissue that regulate all kinds of important processes carried out by the skin each day. Because cannabinoid receptors are regulators aimed at keeping bodily systems in equilibrium, it would make sense that wound healing would be a process that cannabinoid receptors can highly influence.
How to Use CBD for Foot Problems
If you’re interested in using CBD to address a foot-related issue, the first thing you need to do is speak with your doctor, since they have access to your medical records. From there, they might be able to make a proper determination, or possibly refer you over to a foot specialist for further input and next steps.
Now, if given the okay to use CBD from them, then we strongly recommend going with a topical formula over a formula that’s taken internally. CBD topicals are applied directly to the affected area to offer concentrated amounts directly to local skin, muscles, and joint tissue, meaning that they may offer more effectiveness when dealing with a localized problem.