For centuries, CBD oil has been part of many people’s health and wellness routines. Only recently have the benefits of CBD oil come into the conversation about our health. As a result, many patients are now opting for the natural relief of CBD oil over traditional western medicine.
What is CBD oil?
CBD oil is made from cannabidiol, the non-psychoactive, powerfully medicinal chemical in weed. Pure CBD oil is made without THC, the psychoactive compound that gets you high. CBD oil is a great place to start for discovering the health benefits of cannabis without getting stoned.
CBD oil works by activating receptors in the body’s endocannabinoid system. These are linked to everything from hormone regulation and mood to appetite, sleep, memory, and cognition. Therefore, many common symptoms of illnesses are minimized by CBD.
Pure CBD is available in many forms. Concentrates can be added to food or directly ingested, pills can be taken daily, and topical salves can target pain points. Here are a few of the reasons why many patients love CBD oil.
CBD oil for pain and inflammation
CBD is most commonly used as a natural form of pain and inflammation relief. In a 2012 study in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, CBD was found to significantly suppress chronic inflammatory and neuropathic pain in lab rats without a tolerance build-up. Cannabinoids also inhibit neuronal transmission in pain pathways, which is why many patients use CBD oil for the pain of headaches, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and other chronic illnesses.
Inflammation can lead to a heap of illnesses including cancer, stroke, diabetes, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s. It may seem hopelessly difficult to manage inflammation yourself, but CBD makes a great assistant.
CBD oil for stress and anxiety
40 million adults in the United States suffer from an anxiety disorder, which also makes it challenging to control stress. Chronic stress can contribute to many different problems in the body, most of all inflammation. Several studies have shown favorable results for patients suffering from generalized social anxiety disorder who opted for CBD as a form of treatment.
CBD helps with anxiety by binding to the serotonin receptors in the brain. These receptors slow the pulse and respiratory rates when activated, reducing stress and anxiety as a result. Read more about this in our post on the connection between CBD and anxiety.
CBD to reduce medication dependency
Many patients who try CBD are using it for symptoms that are reduced by Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Aleve, and especially relevant – opioids. When taken for long periods of time these medicines can lead to addiction, dependency, and stomach issues.
For a study published by the Brightfield Group and HelloMD, 2,400 HelloMD members were questioned about their CBD usage. 42% of those surveyed claimed to have replaced traditional medicines with cannabis due to the benefits of CBD.
Perhaps the even larger study to note on CBD and drug use is a report on recreational weed and opioids published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence. According to the study, states with recreational cannabis saw opioid-related hospitalizations drop an average of 23%. Overdose hospitalizations also dropped an average of 13%. These laws have even allowed some rehab facilities to use cannabis as a tapering method for addicts suffering from withdrawal. Rather than act as a gateway drug, cannabis is used to help addicts reach the other side.
How has CBD oil improved your well-being?
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