CBD or cannabidiol is a component of the Cannabis sativa plant, otherwise called cannabis or hemp. Over the past couple of years, CBD has become famous for its natural properties in treating common ailments. CBD is one of the hundreds of chemical components in the cannabis plant. However, unlike THC or tetrahydrocannabinol, CBD is not a psychoactive element. Therefore, using CBD doesn’t lead to getting high, a feeling commonly associated with cannabis.
The non-psychoactive element of CBD makes it a popular choice for those wanting a pain reliever without any mind-altering impact of cannabis. To make the CBD oil, CBD is extracted from the cannabis Sativa plant and mixed with a carrier oil like hemp seed or coconut oil. CBD oil is a common ingredient in many dietary supplements, drinks, skin care products, and food.
While CBD has many health benefits, do your due diligence before incorporating it into your diet or wellness routine.
Why CBD oil is so popular and commonly used
Counters the effects of anxiety and depression
One of the main reasons why CBD is so popular and effective is its positive impact on mental health disorders and their symptoms. Anxiety and depression impose long-lasting health risks. Pharmaceutical drugs to treat anxiety and depression have a range of side effects like insomnia, agitation, headaches, and drowsiness. Also, psychoactive drugs like benzodiazepines may cause dependence and lead to addiction.
Many often employ water soluble CBD products to avoid the side effects of psychoactive drugs for mental health treatment. For example, CBD effectively reduces anxiety symptoms and treats insomnia and post-traumatic stress disorder. In addition, since CBD is a more natural approach than psychoactive drugs, users are less likely to become dependent.
Relieves Pain
It is not the 21st century that introduced cannabis as a natural pain reliever. According to some sources, cannabis has been a pain reliever since 2900 BC. The human body produces natural cannabinoids through its endocannabinoid system. It helps regulate sleep and the immune system and relieve pain. CBD oil mimics the function of endocannabinoids and reduces chronic pain and inflammation. CBD is also helpful in treating back and nerve pain, though it’s considered most effective when used with THC.
A combined dose of CBD and THC helps treat neuropathic pain caused by multiple sclerosis (MS), arthritis, and certain types of cancer. A study investigated the use of CBD on MS patients and concluded that patients showed improvement in walking and felt relieved from pain and muscle spasms. Other studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of CBD oil in pain relief for patients with fibromyalgia and arthritis.
Alleviation of cancer symptoms and pain
Since CBD is known for its pain-relieving properties, it also helps treat pain from cancer procedures. In addition, it also alleviates cancer-related symptoms like nausea, pain, and vomiting. A few studies have discussed the effectiveness of a combined dose of THC and CBD in relaying cancer-related symptoms and pain. Some reported a significant reduction, whereas others showed no relevance of CBD with cancer pain.
There are mixed results regarding the effectiveness of CBD in treating cancer-related pain. However, some have shown a decrease in cancer-related reduced appetite and nausea.
Improves Sleep Hygiene
CBD oil’s effectiveness in alleviating pain and treating anxiety symptoms is linked with its ability to improve disturbed sleep patterns. In addition, a few studies have linked the usage of CBD oil with a reduction in insomnia symptoms. Therefore, most research suggests that CBD is more effective than THC for improving sleep and treating insomnia.
Most pharmaceutical drugs for treating insomnia and sleep disorders can make the user dependent on them. That’s not the case with CBD oil. Studies investigating CBD oil’s efficacy concerning cancer and anxiety showed that pain relief is linked with improved sleep scores over time. If consumed in appropriate amounts, CBD oil can improve sleep quality.
Protection against neurological disorders
CBD is known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which are crucial in treating neurological illnesses. Research has shown that antioxidants can prevent or delay the onset of neurological disorders, thereby making CBD effective for neuroprotection. Although it’s a relatively less-studied topic, CBD has shown that it helps treat MS, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s.
CBD reduces muscle spasticity, which is the increase in muscle stiffness. Muscle spasticity is common in people with MS, and CBD helps reduce muscle spasms. Other studies have shown CBD to be effective in reducing the occurrence of seizures in children with Dravet syndrome.
Improvement in heart health
Similar to mental and neurological health, CBD is linked with improvement in heart health. Among other benefits, CBD is known for regulating blood pressure, and high blood pressure is associated with heart attack and stroke. High blood pressure patients find CBD helpful in reducing their resting blood pressure and arterial stiffness.
Reduces arthritis symptoms
Arthritis is the deterioration of tissues around and inside your joints. Though there are various types of arthritis, the common symptoms are pain, loss of motion, and stiffness. The primary treatment plan for arthritis includes pain relief and joint support. Studies have shown that besides pain relief, CBD improves sleep quality and movement of joints for arthritis patients.
CBD is useful in treating arthritic pain in the knee and joint area. In some studies, patients stopped consuming other medications for treating joint inflammation after experiencing the pain-relieving effects of CBD.
Treatment for acne
CBD has crucial antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, which help treat acne. A study found that excessive sebum production on the skin can cause the formation of comedones. Comedogenic acne is the most common form of acne and can lead to skin inflammation.
CBD inhibits sebum production and the activation of inflammatory cytokines. As a result, topical CBD treatment helps treat acne spots and problematic areas. In addition, prolonged and regular use of CBD in skincare may prevent future breakouts. However, more clinical trials are required to prove its effectiveness.
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Conclusion
Many studies have proven the effectiveness of CBD in improving human health and wellness. CBD has vital antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties essential in fighting neurological and autoimmune diseases. Few studies have noted side effects of CBD, like mood irritability and nausea. Nonetheless, it’s hard to ignore its effectiveness in alleviating pain, regulating anxiety symptoms, and treating illnesses like arthritis.
