CBD Health Benefits To Consider
Cannabidiol, often abbreviated as CBD, is a derivative of the hemp plant — in the same family of plants as marijuana. CBD doesn't cause the same "high" associated with marijuana use and is legal, in varying degrees, in many U.S. states. According to the World Health Organization, there are few, if any, adverse reactions related to the use of CBD in a clinical capacity. More importantly, there is no association between CBD and the potential for abuse.
The real question on the minds of many, though, is what health benefits does CBD offer. The answer is that there are many potential health benefits and promising insights. While government regulations have hampered many studies in the past, studies are now being conducted to determine its effectiveness for treating a multitude of conditions, including those listed below.
CBD and Pain Management
For those who suffer from chronic pain due to illness or injury, CBD oil is commonly used to help manage and treat pain. In fact, it works by binding to pain receptors in your nervous system and reducing inflammation. Current studies are focused on determining the effectiveness of CBD in treating other pain-related conditions, such as arthritis and multiple sclerosis.
Protecting the Brain
While that sounds very general, one specific way CBD helps the brain is by protecting it from diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease. While this is exciting news in its own right, there are theories circulating that CBD can also correct damage done to the brain from conditions such as Parkinson's disease.
While studies at this point are in early stages, there is a lot of hope within medical and scientific communities that CBD may be able to greatly improve quality of life for Parkinson's patients in addition to helping prevent the onset and progression of Alzheimer's and dementia.
Easing Sleeplessness and Anxiety
Sleeplessness and anxiety often go hand in hand, with one aggravating the other. CBD oil has been widely used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) because of its ability to help regulate mood and behavior without the negative side effects of many antidepressant medications.
Of course, there are other ways CBD is used to improve health and change lives, such as:
- Improving heart health
- Reducing inflammation
- Lowering blood pressure
- Easing nausea (especially in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy)
- Providing skincare benefits
- Treating epilepsy
There is even preliminary evidence that CBD can be used to help reduce hyperactivity and reduced attention spans associated with ADHD, though further study is warranted to support those claims.
Ultimately, there are many reasons to consider exploring the benefits of a CBD shop or hemp store in your community to discover the many conditions and ailments it may relieve.