Four Ways that CBD Can Help Improve Your Daily Life
Everywhere you look, CBD shops and cannabis dispensaries that sell CBD products are popping up all over the country. One of the big reasons for the sudden increase in these types of businesses is because of the increasingly lenient regulations of cannabis at the state level. Although cannabis is still considered a Schedule I substance at the federal level, many states allow for the sale of legal cannabis as well as CBD products.
What is CBD?
The designation of CBD refers to cannabidiol, which is the oil that is extracted from the cannabis plant. Unlike delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD does not produce any of the mood altering or euphoric effects that are most associated with marijuana. In fact, CBD products cannot legally contain more than 0.3 percent THC. This is why many businesses in the cannabis accessory industry have been able to effectively manufacture, market, and sell CBD products in their state.
Because CBD does not cause impairment nor does it possess any addictive properties, it is largely viewed by state lawmakers as a non-dangerous substance compared to other cannabis products that contain THC. In fact, many members in the scientific community are praising CBD for its various health and wellness benefits. Although research is still in the very early stages, CBD is proving to be a holistic alternative to many over the counter and prescription medications.
What Are CBD Receptors?
The science behind how CBD biologically affects us is linked to two separate receptors. The first – referred to as a CB1 receptor – is present all throughout the body, but more specifically in the brain. The CB1 receptor helps coordinate things like pain, emotions, movement, cognition, appetite, memories, and other functions.
The second receptor is known as the CB2 receptor, which is most closely associated with the immune system. The CB2 receptor specifically affects inflammation and pain in the body.
How CBD Products Can Be Used as Holistic Treatments
To help provide a little bit more insight on how CBD is being used from a treatment perspective, here are the top four ways that doctors and researchers are testing it with various conditions.
#1 – CBD Has Shown to Be Able to Reduce Pain in Some Patients
According to the CDC, roughly one in five Americans suffer from chronic pain. Historically, dealing with chronic pain means being put on some variety of prescription pain medication to help reduce the symptoms.
However, prescription medications for pain can oftentimes be addictive and have a propensity to be abused. The current opioid epidemic has proven this much. Considering the potential dangers of prescription pain meds, it only makes sense that medical experts would seek a holistic alternative.
This is exactly where CBD comes into play. Scientists have recently discovered that certain components of cannabis – which includes CBD – have pain-relieving effects. Their initial studies have shown that CBD may help reduce chronic pain by influencing endocannabinoid receptor activity.
However, CBD seems to work best with certain types of pain. For instance, people with chronic nerve pain or back pain tend to be better candidates for CBD. It’s even shown positive results in treating people with arthritis, fibromyalgia, and multiple sclerosis.
Keep in mind, the results of studies that use CBD to treat chronic pain are still preliminary at this point. More research is needed to determine which specific conditions CBD works best for as well as the dosage amount.
#2 – CBD Oil Has Shown Positive Results in Treating Mental Health Conditions
Anxiety, depression, and other mental disorders have generally been treated using pharmaceutical drugs and/or talk therapy. However, similar to prescription pain medications, pharmaceutical drugs used to treat mental disorders come with their own variety of side effects that can affect daily life and inhibit the way a person functions.
For instance, pharmaceutical drugs can cause side effects such as agitation, inability to sleep, headaches, drowsiness, and other issues.
Although using CBD to treat mental disorders is still in the early stages, studies have shown that it is beneficial in relieving or significantly reducing anxiety, insomnia, depression, and PTSD.
Of course, the challenge with CBD is finding the correct dosage. Using CBD oil to treat mental disorders is nowhere near as precise yet as with pharmaceuticals. However, early results thus far look promising.
#3 – CBD is Helpful to Those with Cancer
Unfortunately, cancer patients experience a wide variety of unpleasant symptoms that reduce their quality of life. These include vomiting, nausea, and ongoing pain that continually needs to be managed. Additionally, chemotherapy has its own list of side effects that may add stress to the patient.
Although there are plenty of pharmaceutical avenues that cancer patients can take to help combat their symptoms, some are turning to CBD products due to their holistic nature. Early studies have shown that CBD is effective in helping cancer patients reduce feelings of nausea and pain. Additionally, some studies show that CBD products can help with the uptake of certain cancer drugs.
However, much like the previous two examples, much more testing needs to be done to confirm just how much of an effect CBD has on cancer patients. The early results are promising, though.
#4 – CBD Has Shown to Help Relieve Certain Skin Conditions
Although you probably won’t hear your dermatologist recommend topical CBD oil, early studies have shown that it can be a beneficial treatment for those who are suffering with acne, psoriasis, and other inflammatory skin conditions.
The science behind this is that CBD oil holistically helps lower the amount of sebum that the body produces, which is one of the chief causes of acne. Additionally, CBD’s anti-inflammatory effects have proven to be effective with other skin conditions that usually cause redness, itching, and swelling. In fact, some ointments and skin creams are using CBD as one of their main ingredients.
How to Find CBD Products in Your Area
Finding CBD products is pretty easy in most states. A quick Google search for “CBD products near me” should bring up the closest dispensary or other retail shop that sells these products. You can also buy a wide variety of CBD products online. They come in oils, gummies, capsules, and topicals.
The best way to find CBD products that are best for you and your health goals is to be specific with your search queries. For instance, you can search “best CBD products for psoriasis” and you should see numerous topical CBD products that treat that specific condition.