10 Benefits of CBD You Should Know About
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a chemical compound called cannabinoid that exists in the Cannabis sativa plant. CBD is more popular among the scientific and medical communities for its potential therapeutic benefits without delivering intoxicating effects to users, unlike its sibling THC. The products containing CBD are sold in many different forms but they’re popular as oils, capsules, sprays, or lotions. It can also be added to food and drinks or to personal products such as cosmetics.
What makes CBD so popular? Now, let’s take a closer look at its benefits!
Key Takeaways
- Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-intoxicated cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant.
- CBD products vary including oils, capsules, lotions, and more.
- CBD plays a big role as a medication to help with several medical conditions.
- The health benefits that CBD delivers are helping with drug addiction, insomnia, chronic pain, and mental health such as depression and anxiety.
10 Benefits of CBD
- Pain Relief
There are some pieces of evidence that cannabidiol (CBD) has modest benefits for chronic pain according to the National Centers for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) together with another 2003 study revealed that CBD treatment could reduce pain on a visual analog scale of patients suffering from chronic pain caused by multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, limb amputation, and brachial plexus injury. CBD can also help with neuropathic pain caused by nerve damage which typically happens when individuals have herniated discs or shingles.
- Seizures and Epilepsy
CBD can help prevent some types of seizures, like Lennox-Gastraut, Dravet syndrome, and tuberous sclerosis complex which patients with these diseases usually face difficulties in daily activities. The efficacy of CBD has been noted by the World Health Organization (WHO) in treating epilepsy and the Epidiolex CBD oral solution was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2018 to treat seizures.
However, the results of using CBD for seizure treatment depend on the person, it may help full seizure control in some patients, some only find CBD to reduce seizure frequency, and some may experience no improvement at all. Besides, cannabidiol does not cure the underlying cause of the epilepsy as well.
- Cancer
Cannabidiol is NOT a cure for cancer, however, scientists have recently reported that CBD has the potential to slow growth or destroy certain types of cancer cells or both. Cannabinoids may also slow growth and reduce the spread of some forms of cancer as suggested in some animal studies.
- Reduce Side Effects from Chemotherapy
Some patients who are on chemotherapy treatment for cancer may experience undesirable effects such as nausea and vomiting – the most common side effects. Cannabidiol can counterbalance these side effects as it has antiemetic, analgesic, and sleep-enhancing properties.
- Anxiety and Depression
Several studies have been done associated with anxiety and the use of CBD, most studies give similar results. A 1993 study discovered that people who take CBD are less likely to have anxiety when performing a public speaking test. Another study published in 2019 stated that CBD showed a better result in teenagers with social anxiety than a placebo.
Doctors are often prescribed the same medication to treat depression as anxiety meaning that they might be affected by similar brain processes. CBD might improve both anxiety and depression symptoms by interacting with receptors in the human brain which some affect serotonin levels – a brain chemical that controls mood.
- Drug Addiction
The wide use of prescription opioids and heroin to help with acute pain can highly lead to opioid addiction. One study found that there’s a reduction in craving heroin after receiving a dose of CBD medication which usually lasts approximately for one week. In animal models, the study also suggests that cannabidiol may help decrease cravings for other addictive substances such as alcohol, cannabis, and stimulants.
- Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. A 2019 study revealed a promising result where CBD could help suppress factors that cause Alzheimer and it might be even more effective when paired with THC, while another study from 2021 mentioned that high doses of CBD in late-stage Alzheimer’s patients boosted proteins that are essential for plaque removal in the brain.
- Insomnia
Having difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep at night are the symptoms of insomnia caused by an overactive stress reaction. Cannabidiol, in fact, can help you from no or less sleep by working with the brain’s hypothalamus, which helps you manage to sleep, to control the stress hormone from being overactive.
- Cardiovascular System
According to researchers, CBD may be beneficial to people with high blood pressure which links to higher risks of several heart problems, including stroke, heart attack, and metabolic syndrome by widening blood vessels.
- Diabetes
With the tests on human cells, the results revealed that CBD helps reduce the effects of high glucose levels which can develop into diabetes and other health complications. As a consequence, researchers stated in further studies that CBD could have potential benefits for treating patients with diabetes, diabetic complications, and plaque buildup in artery walls. Another small review found that CBD assists the body in regulating insulin-related hormone levels which could serve as a natural treatment.
Bottom Line
Cannabidiol, or CBD for short, is a popular cannabinoid that plays a big role in the medical industry with its wonderful properties for several health conditions. It’s an alternative for medical cannabis patients who seek treatment without intoxicating effects. Some of CBD benefits are pain relief, alleviation of seizure frequency, and also helping with side effects from chemotherapy such as nausea and vomiting.
