For thousands of years, people have used cannabis for treating health problems, but this trend has gained more popularity in recent years. As science is uncovering evidence that cannabis can, in fact, have health benefits, an increasing number of people are looking into cannabis products as a way to improve their overall health.
Cannibidiol, also known as CBD, is a chemical substance naturally occurring in cannabis plants. To gain its full benefit, it is extracted from cannabis plants to isolate it from other potentially harmful substances.
A lot of study has been done on the benefits of CBD in treating a large variety of medical conditions. Many of these studies report positive feedback and uphold CBD as a good option for managing certain conditions. In this Blog post you will learn more about the countless benefits of CBD.
Benefits of CBD
Why Is CBD Beneficial for Your Health
Cannabidiol is one of many naturally occurring cannabinoids.
A cannabinoid is defined as any group of closely related compounds which include cannabinol or the active constituents of cannabis.
Anything chemically similar to the active constituents in cannabis can be classified as a cannabinoid – regardless of whether it occurs in cannabis plants or elsewhere in nature.
This is where the human body comes in. In the 1990’s, it was discovered that the human body actually produces compounds similar to the “active ingredients” in cannabis. Meaning that the human body naturally produces cannabinoids, and that these cannabinoids serve a purpose within the body. Researchers named the system responsible for producing, releasing and breaking down cannabinoids, the endocannabinoid system.
The endocannabinoid system is present throughout the body and appears to affect almost all areas of health in some way. It appears that the endocannabinoid system plays a role in regulating mood, pain, memory, sleep, fertility, temperature and immune function (among other things).
Knowledge regarding the endocannabinoid system introduced the concept of cannabinoid therapy, which is the use of cannabinoids for treating certain health conditions. However, in order for cannabinoid therapy to be effective, “good” cannabinoids had to be isolated from potentially harmful ones. Cannabidiol was found to be a “good” cannabinoid and has since been included in various products with the aim of improving overall health.
Benefits of CBD – Cannabidiol
A lot of studies have been done supporting the use of cannabidiol for conditions related to the endocannabinoid system. Although not all research is equally convincing, there’s at least some evidence that the use cannabidiol could be beneficial for the following health problems.
1. Diabetes and Obesity Prevention
Because the endocannabinoid system plays a role in regulating appetite, using a cannabinoid supplement such as cannabidiol could be helpful in preventing diabetes and obesity.
Interestingly enough, a 2011 study found that cannabis users actually had lower rates of obesity than people who don’t use cannabis. However, using cannabis isn’t a good way to maintain weight, which is why researchers are interested in learning how cannabidiol can produce the same effects.
In 2006, a study regarding CBD and diabetes prevention was performed on lab mice to establish the prevalence of diabetes in mice when treated with CBD. It was found that mice treated with CBD were significantly less likely to develop diabetes than mice that didn’t receive any CBD treatment.
2. Cardiovascular Benefits
Research published in 2012 indicated that CBD could have beneficial effects when used as a means to prevent or treat heart disease. This corresponds well to other research in the area of CBD and heart disease, which has shown that CBS can improve cholesterol profiles, lowering the “bad” LDL cholesterol while increasing the level of “good” HDL cholesterol.
More research still needs to be done to establish the effects of CBD on the cardiovascular system, but so far, the prognosis seems very promising.
3. Enhancing Cancer Treatment
Studies have shown that CBD has potentially beneficial effects in treating cancer. It’s believed that the use of CBD can actually inhibit tumor cell growth, which could possibly help to control the spread of cancer. These studies advocate for using CBD alongside other cancer treatment in order to obtain better results. However, the researchers believe that further study is needed to develop a CBD cancer treatment that’s optimal.
In the meantime, it’s worthwhile to take note that using CBD products could be beneficial. Hopefully, further study is done in order to develop a cancer treatment involving CBD.
While cancer treatment involving CBD isn’t yet a reality, CBD can be used for cancer prevention. Many studies support that cannabinoid therapy can impair cancer development.
4. Depression and Anxiety
The use of cannabidiol for treating depression and anxiety is becoming more common. In fact, CBD is even being studied as a possible treatment for post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It’s been found that patients using CBD for treating PTSD experienced reduced stress, less flashbacks and an overall decrease in anxiety.
Most depression and anxiety disorders aren’t as acute as PTSD, but this research could show a correlation between using CBD and effectively treating depression and anxiety.
5. Pain Management
Many medical experts believe that using cannabidiol can help in managing almost all forms of chronic or recurring pain. Regardless of whether pain is caused by migraines, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia or even an old injury, CBD could potentially offer benefits in relieving – or at the very least managing – pain.
6. Improved Sleep
Another interesting finding in the study relating to the use of CBD for treating PTSD, is that candidates reported better sleep. Some researchers also support the idea that using CBD could be beneficial in treating conditions such as sleep apnea and excessive daytime sleepiness.
However, there’s also research that suggests that the use of CBD makes no difference to sleep quality. This could indicate that CBD isn’t actually effective in treating sleep related disorders. Seeing as the information on CBD for treating sleep disorders is conflicting, more research is necessary in this area.
7. Arthritis and Joint Pain
Currently, 1 in 5 adults worldwide are are diagnosed with some form of arthritis. In research regarding the use of CBD for treating arthritis, researchers reported:
“The data presented suggests transdermal CBD is a good candidate for developing improved therapies for these debilitating diseases.”
Another study has also supported that the use of CBD can be beneficial in treating pain related to osteoarthritis.
The most likely reason why cannabidiol is effective at treating arthritis and joint pain is because of a combination of its anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects – helping to sooth and relieve pain, while combating inflammation.
8. Acne and Skincare
There are many potential benefits to using CBD, but most people wouldn’t expect skincare to be one of them. Despite this, researchers decided to test the effectiveness of CBD in treating acne, and the results were promising.
As with arthritis, CBD works for acne because of its anti-inflammatory effects. However, this might not be the only reason. Some experts also speculate that using CBD helps regulate the amount of oil produced by the skin, helping to reduce the risk of clogged pores and acne.
But acne isn’t the only skincare problem that can be treated using CBD. Cannabidiol also has antioxidant properties, making it as good choice for fighting aging and wrinkles.
Does Cannabidiol Really Work?
The benefits of CBD certainly look good – but perhaps a little too good. How could one substance offer such a broad range of health benefits?
In reality, medical professionals are still uncertain regarding the benefits of cannabidiol. Many admit that cannabidiol treatment is promising, but cannabidiol isn’t recognized as an alternative to conventional treatment for many medical conditions at this stage.
While it’s uncertain whether CBD can work for you, it’s definitely still worth trying. For a wide range of potential benefits, CBD hasn’t been shown to have any serious side-effects. Studies that have been conducted on the safety of cannabidiol, have shown that adults tend to tolerate the substance well in varying doses.
How to Use Cannabidiol?
Cannabidiol oil is the most common form of cannabidiol available on the market. However, cannabidiol oil isn’t the only way in which CBD can be used. CBD comes in a range of different products such as tablets, moisturizers and even foods and drinks.
Any CBD products can be used according to instructions on the label, or according to instructions given by a health care practitioner with special knowledge in cannabidiol treatment.
But although cannabidiol is good for aiding treatment in certain conditions, it should never replace other treatment altogether. Never leave medications prescribed by your doctor and replace it with cannabidiol. If you’re uncertain whether or not you can use cannabidiol along with your current medications, consult a healthcare professional before starting CBD treatment.
Should You Use CBD?
At this stage, using CBD is an option that some people will find more attractive than others. If you’re considering CBD, there’s no guarantee that it will work for whatever health problem you are hoping to treat.
The best way to know whether or not CBD can work for you is to try it for yourself. When starting CBD, keep track of your health and monitor whether it’s improving or remaining the same. Also keep track of what might be potential side-effects.
After using CBD for some time, decide whether or not it’s working for you and make a final choice regarding whether or not you’ll continue to use it. With so many people reporting that CBD has helped them to manage or improve their health condition, it’s almost a certainty that you won’t be disappointed.
