What are the benefits of CBD?
Now more than ever, people are asking about the benefits of CBD as the industry is flourishing. CBD is being added to oils, mints, cookies, cheeseburgers, and even pizzas. CBD has been taken by users to help mediate chronic pain, anxiety, insomnia, depression, and more. Later we’ll dive into these further.
What does CBD stand for?
CBD is the abbreviation of cannabidiol. CBD is a natural substance found in marijuana and hemp plants. Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is the active ingredient in marijuana that stimulates the “high” that the user experiences. THC is psychoactive, while CBD has been argued to be non-psychoactive. Any cannabis containing 0.3 percent or less of THC is hemp and in 2018, it was legalized under federal law.
Does CBD relieve chronic pain?
It has been used to treat pain as far back as 3000 B.C. (1) Our human bodies produce endocannabinoids which are neurotransmitters that bind to cannabinoid receptors in the nervous system. Scientists researching CBD show that it reduces chronic pain by affecting endocannabinoid receptor activity, which thus reduces inflammation, interacting with neurotransmitters.
Has CBD been proven to help mental health disorders?
CBD could help reduce the symptoms related to some mental health disorders of humans today. Nowadays, mental health disorders are often treated with pharmaceutical drugs that can often come with hefty side effects including insomnia, headaches, drowsiness, and countless other side effects. CBD oil has shown a strong promise in improving anxiety disorders especially. A scientific study in Brazil took place giving 57 men either oral CBD or a placebo 90 minutes before a stimulated public speaking test. The 300-mg dose of CBD was found in the research to help significantly reduce anxiety during the public speaking test. (2) CBD has even been researched to help relieve PTSD-related symptoms in adults, a study shows in 2019. (3) Research is still ongoing for depression, even though people have found CBD to improve their symptoms. By April 2022, a study evaluating the effectiveness of 150-300 mg of CBD per day for 12 weeks for those with bipolar disorder is expected to be released. (4) In summary, CBD has been proven to relieve anxiety disorders and research is still ongoing as to how it may be used for the treatment of other mental health disorders.
What types of symptoms does CBD help with?
Just as CBD is being promoted to provide relief for anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder, it’s also being marketed to promote sleep. A good night’s rest is essential to the overall health and well-being of everyone. The recommended hours of sleep are seven to nine hours each night by experts in the field. As many as 70% of Americans are reporting that they are not sleeping the recommended hours. (5) So how can CBD help with sleep disorders? Research on CBD and sleep disorders is still limited and in the trial. Because people with chronic pain using CBD report sleeping better, it is still unclear whether they are sleeping better because of pain relief or because CBD directly affects their sleep. Reportedly, CBD has aided REM (rapid eye movement) Sleep Behavior Disorder, where patients verbalize and make aggressive movements during the REM stage of sleep. This is most common in diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. In a limited study, four patients with Parkinson’s disease had CBD manage their REM Sleep Behavior Disorder. Before the trial, symptoms occurred 2-7 times per week, and after the trial, using CBD< symptoms only occurred 0-1 times a week. As a trial with only four people cannot be proven conclusive, it suggests that it can be a possible treatment in the future.
Are there risks to taking CBD?
Research is still ongoing but there are potential side effects to be aware of that can be guided by your doctor. These effects include but are not limited to, changes in appetite and weight, fatigue, or even drowsiness. CBD does interact with medications which include pain medications, seizure medications, diabetes medications, and antidepressants. If you are taking any of these, it is always best to reach out to your doctor to make sure you avoid harmful interactions. Even though CBD is generally considered safe, it can cause adverse effects in some people.
Where can I find CBD products?
You can find various CBD products to fit your needs here at our shop or by calling us at (972) 805-9985. We are always happy to help with any questions!
Sources:
(1) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5549367/
(2) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30328956/
(3) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30543451/
(4) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7699613/
(5) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31390041/