Lots of people still don’t know what CBD is for. How many ways could you say you’ve used CBD? How do you incorporate it into your life? With new developments happening daily, even CBD fans can’t keep up.
Here’s a general idea of what it’s about and what it’s used for!
Cannabidiol, or CBD for short, is the non-psychoactive component of the Hemp Cannabis plant. One of the many cannabinoids, or chemical compounds, found in marijuana and hemp.
You’re probably already familiar with THC, which is another compound found in the cannabis plant. But unlike THC, CBD is not psychoactive. In other words, it’s not what gets you stoned. That is also up for debate, as studies have also shown that it can cause psychoactive effects in some people.
With more legalization policy in place, we will be learning about Mary Jane for many years to come.
These are not limited, but some of the key reasons Cannabis users are always searching for great quality CBD supplements for everyday wellness!
Seizure Control
Medical research has reflected decreased seizures to none in some patients after continued CBD use. In 2019, the FDA approved treatment called Epidiolex, (Cannabidiol) as an add-on anticonvulsant treatment. With use, it cut convulsive seizures nearly in half among children with Dravet syndrome. (a dose-ranging phase III placebo-controlled study found.)
Dravet syndrome is a severe type of epilepsy characterized by prolonged seizures that begin in the first year of life. It is a rare condition that affects one in 20,000 to 40,000 people worldwide.
UNC School of Medicine researchers found CBD may alleviate seizures and normalize brain rhythms in Angelman syndrome, a rare neurodevelopmental condition.
A separate study in the Journal of Experimental Medicine supports these results. This research suggests that using CBD can reduce pain and inflammation.
The Endocannabinoid System is the only endogenous system of chemical signals that is involved in everything.
Vincenzo di Marzo
Sleep Aid
CBD is commonly used to relax and help you sleep a bit better. I’ve heard people I know who use it also say it keeps them up, so everyone’s experience might not be the same. Some choose to combine their CBD use with known supplements used for sleep like Valerian Root, Lavender, or Melatonin.
CBD helps to reduce symptoms of anxiety & stress, both of which can cause insomnia.
Stress Management
Stress is known to cause various forms of Cancer, diminishing conditions, and overall lower your quality of Life.
CBD can help restore Balance to the Endocannabinoid System by boosting your body’s Production of Endocannabinoids.
What is the Endocannabinoid System?
Endocannabinoids communicate with the Endocannabinoid System (ECS), a complex network of enzymes and cell receptors found in the central and peripheral nervous systems, gastrointestinal tract, and on immune system cells. Unlike other important systems we’ve known about for centuries, the first Endocannabinoid receptors weren’t discovered until the 1980s, and there is still much to learn. But we do know is that the ECS is vast, intricate and important.
“The Endocannabinoid System is the only endogenous system of chemical signals that is involved in everything,” says Vincenzo di Marzo, Canada Research Excellence Chair in the Microbiome-Endocannabinoidome Axis in Metabolic Health (Université Laval) and leading researcher with the National Research Council of Italy.
The ECS is involved in regulating a range of functions, including fertility, digestion, memory, learning, immune and inflammatory response, pain response and more. Because of its impact on multiple systems, it affects our overall health.
Pain Relief
Through research published online from studies conducted there’s information to support it as effective treatment for chronic pain in adults.
CBD appears to have analgesic properties but more so anti-inflammatory making it possible for the body to recover.
Some researchers think that CBD interacts with a core component of the ECS — Endocannabinoid receptors in your brain and immune system.
Receptors are tiny proteins attached to your cells. They receive signals, mostly chemical ones, from different stimuli and help your cells respond.
This response creates anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects that help with pain management. This means that CBD oil and other products may benefit people with chronic pain, such as chronic back pain.
CBD can offer an alternative for people who have chronic pain and rely on medications, such as opioids, that can be habit-forming and cause more side effects.
Kristeen Cherney, HEalthline.com
These are a couple of widely known uses for CBD:
- Helping cut back Smoking
- Drug Withdrawal
- Anxiety Treatment
- Treat the effects of Alzheimers Disease
- Anti-Psychotic Effects
- Promising future developments with Cancer/Diabetes/Acne
Possible Side Effects documented by those who use CBD:
- Changes in Weight
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- CBD May cause adverse effects if used while using the following:
- Birth Control
- Dietary Supplements
- certain over-the-counter drugs (OTC)
- Prescriptions you might be on
Takeaway
If you don’t normally have any issues with medication or trying new things, you could start using CBD in small doses as you would with any supplement. If you do, its recommended to speak to a doctor first before doing so.