In today’s health and wellness marketplace, skepticism is a good thing. (Just as it is when watching the news.) The reason for this is fairly obvious, if you spend any time perusing the claims made by various “alternative wellness” promoters. No, kale will not bring about world peace; almond milk is not effective as a gasoline alternative; and CBD oil will not balance the federal budget. However, there is increasing evidence that certain health benefits of CBD oil can be measured – and are real.
For the purposes of this piece, we will largely ignore the differences between hemp-based and marijuana-based CBD oil. Yes, there may be differences in the methods of extraction, and there certainly are differences in their regulation by the FDA; yet, all things being equal, the benefits of either type of CBD oil are virtually identical. If you simply must know more about the differences, this article at MerryJane.com is a good place to begin your research.
No, It’s Not Magic
The legalization of medical marijuana, soon followed by recreational legalization, has advanced research into the efficacy of cannabis as a medicine by leaps and bounds. The profit motive has injected millions of dollars into areas of research that had been ignored for decades. That research is now showing dividends, as we begin to understand more fully the benefits of cannabis and its major components: THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol).
First, it’s the THC that gets you “high”, while the CBD tends to calm you. In fact, when isolated, CBD provides a natural anti-anxiety, anti-epileptic, and antipsychotic effect with virtually no psychoactive effects involved.
According to the latest research, cannabinoids like CBD interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system, a complex system that contributes to a variety of biological processes, like: inflammation responses, relaxation, sleeping, and appetite. By linking with the two main types of cannabinoid receptors, which are found on cells throughout the body, CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system, helping it in the regulation of homeostasis, which is the body’s natural state of balance. (HempMedsPX.com)
Benefits of CBD Oil
Because of the way that CBD acts in the body, it has many potential uses. CBD oil is taken orally, rubbed on the skin, and sometimes inhaled through vapor or used intravenously to produce its effects. (Keep in mind the profit motive is in effect for anyone claiming miracle status for CDB oil, too.)
- Pain relief
- Anti-inflammatory, including in Type-1 diabetes
- Withdrawal from tobacco and some drugs
- Seizure reduction in epileptics
- Treatment for schizophrenia
- Cancer treatment and reduction of treatment side effects
- Anxiety disorders, including PTSD
- Social recognition deficit (e.g., Alzheimer’s Disease)
- Acne relief
To date, and based on many small-scale studies that have considered the safety of CBD in adults, it is found to be well tolerated across a wide dose range, with no significant side effects (beyond occasional tiredness).
Have you had experience with CBD oil? What symptoms were you treating? Was it effective? Please share your comments below.
