Cannabidiol (CBD) is a compound from the cannabis plant that has become very popular in recent years for providing relief from pain, inflammation and anxiety.
The healing capabilities of CBD were realized many years ago but because it comes from the same plant as THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which is responsible for the psychoactive effects or “high” associated with marijuana, medical professionals didn’t embrace it.
However, researchers have been conducting studies on CBD since 1970 and discovered that this cannabinoid can effectively treat numerous health conditions without getting patients “high.” In fact, many believe that using CBD to treat chronic pain enables them to reduce their use of potentially addictive pharmaceuticals.
What Is Cannabidiol?
Cannabidiol is one of the main cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. Although it’s not considered psychoactive, many people use this hemp extract to help with anxiety and sleep disorders. Furthermore, CBD is typically used as an anti-inflammatory or painkiller that also boasts numerous other health benefits.
It was only recently legalized for medical use but there are already thousands of people who attest to its powerful healing properties. Aside from those suffering from chronic pain (which it has effectively relieved), cancer patients and others diagnosed with debilitating symptoms have reported how effective this treatment really is in treating their conditions.
CBD Benefits & Uses
Here are some of the most popular CBD benefits:
Pain relief – among the most common CBD benefits, research shows that cannabinoids can be a great option for those who are suffering from chronic pain. Many people have claimed significant relief after using this hemp extract.
Seizure and epilepsy treatment – in some cases, children with severe forms of seizures that don’t respond to pharmaceutical medications have found healing through CBD oil . Some parents also claim they’ve been able to stop using drugs such as heroin and methamphetamine thanks to the use of CBD oil for treatment.
Better sleep – the natural sedative properties associated with Cannabidiol make it an effective solution for helping you fall asleep easier or get a sounder sleep at night. This is ideal if you have insomnia, especially when it’s caused by pain issues or health conditions like anxiety disorders.
Anxiety treatment – for centuries, people all over the world have used hemp oil for anxiety treatment because of its calming effects on the brain and nerves. It doesn’t cause any sedative effects but rather helps promote a restful state to “reboot” your system so you can fall asleep faster and remain asleep throughout the night.
Depression treatment – this is another condition that CBD has been found very effective in treating . The anti-depressant properties are not as powerful as those from prescription medications but they are much safer to use. This solution also promotes better sleep which improves overall mood, thus reducing symptoms from both conditions even further.
Anti-inflammatory benefits – if you suffer from chronic inflammation or psoriasis, you’ll find that CBD can treat these conditions very effectively and without a strong reaction from your immune system. Skin issues are some of the most common side effects of long-term inflammation and scientific research has found that CBD can significantly reduce skin inflammation and related pain in many patients .
Anti-nausea benefits – CBD is also commonly used to help with nausea or other stomach issues such as irritable bowel syndrome, which causes abdominal pain and discomfort. It may not work for all people but it’s worth trying before resorting to drugs like chemotherapy for treating severe nausea.
Cancer treatment support – while research shows that cannabis does contain compounds that actively promote cancer cell death , this doesn’t mean using CBD will prevent from getting cancer. However, there have been studies which show that CBD oil can be used as an adjunct treatment to help treat symptoms for those who are already suffering with the disease and undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy. This is especially true for patients treated with conventional treatments like surgery or drugs.
As you can see, these are just some of the most common uses and benefits associated with cannabidiol products but it’s certainly not a complete list. There are specific reasons why people use CBD products including reducing inflammation, improving digestive health, suppress appetite (which in turn helps reduce obesity), treating anxiety disorders and insomnia, promoting heart health, fighting addictions such as alcoholism and drug abuse , preventing diabetes by slowing down absorption of glucose into cells… list goes on.
In regards to the question of whether or not CBD oil is safe, there’s no easy answer. One of the primary reasons for this is because the research regarding cannabidiol is still in its very early stages . While there have been many studies that have found various benefits associated with using CBD products, some research has also shown that it may be toxic and possibly even cancerous in high doses , so you’ll need to exercise caution when using it.
According to medications.com , a website dedicated to sharing information about prescription drugs with their users, “CBD has been studied as a treatment for epilepsy; however, scientific evidence suggests other seizure medications are more effective.” This means CBD oil won’t work for everyone as it may not be strong enough to help with your specific condition. Another example is the National Institute of Health’s research database, which states that “CBD oil is a controversial product and claims made by manufacturers conflict. There currently isn’t any scientific evidence that CBD oil helps with anxiety, cancer, nausea, pain or seizures.”
From this information we can see why many people are worried about cannabidiol products because they’re used as an alternative to prescription medication for an illness without professional advice. However, there have been numerous studies which show incredible results when using CBD products so again it’s important to note these are in their very early stages and more research will need to be conducted in order to determine if this treatment works for everyone or if there are some people who should avoid cannabidiol all together.
Drugs.com indicates that while CBD oil may not be the answer for everyone’s medical problems, it’s one of the safest natural remedies available and can be used as an alternative to prescription medications . In addition, there have been numerous studies and research which show positive results using CBD in regards to reducing pain, inflammation, anxiety , depression , nausea and other symptoms associated with serious or chronic illnesses such as epilepsy, diabetes, alcoholism etc.
CBD oil is being increasingly seen as having remedial purposes. While research is still ongoing, many studies have shown positive results and are finding more benefits associated with using CBD products. With that said, it’s important to exercise caution when taking this supplement because there may be some people who should not take cannabidiol at all due to their health condition or medical history.