CBD is now a very popular compound used for many ailments. But what can CBD therapy treat?
It seems like wherever you go, cannabidiol, better known as CBD, is being touted as a natural treatment for many different ailments.
You will find CBD in hundreds of drugs intended to alleviate pain and anxiety, and in lifestyle-enhancing items. Such as sports-recovery balms, lubricants, sleeping aids, and energy boosters that could hold you up all night, or even CBD pillows(?)…
Yes, we are still trying to figure out that one too!
Sadly, there are many CBD products on the market that do not have any scientific backing and are sold only to live up to the CBD hype.
However, high-quality science-based CBD products can tremendously improve people’s lives.
CBD has been researched for its possible role in easing the effects of many common health conditions, including anxiety, depression, acne, and heart disease. It may also provide a natural solution for pain and cancer symptoms relief for those diagnosed with cancer.
Research on the potential health effects of CBD is becoming increasingly popular and as more research is being done, additional medicinal applications for this natural treatment are likely to be found.
CBD is gaining popularity in the health and wellness community. Some clinical research suggests that it can be used as a CBD therapy for illnesses such as chronic pain and anxiety.
CBD therapy meaning that the full-spectrum CBD extracts are taken daily, for longer periods of time. This way the cannabinoids (such as CBD, CBDa, CBG, ..) build up in your system and help your endocannabinoid system (ECS) work more efficiently.
Pro tip: keep in mind that full-spectrum (whole plant) CBD extracts tend to be more efficient and potent than just isolated CBD alone!
That is because full-spectrum CBD products have all the naturally occurring compounds that cannabis (hemp) plants have – cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, vitamins, and vital omegas.
Interestingly, when all the naturally formed cannabis compounds are present together, they create more potent medicinal effects. This mechanism is known as an “entourage effect” – all cannabis compounds present together create synergistic effects.
Medical Conditions Which Can Be Treated by CBD Therapy:
1. Pain
Cannabis has been used to relieve pain since 2900 B.C.
More recently, scientists have discovered that some elements of cannabis, including CBD, are responsible for its pain-relieving effects.
The human body includes a specialized mechanism called the Endocannabinoid System (ECS), which is involved in the modulation of several functions, including sleep, appetite, pain, and immune system response.
The body develops endocannabinoids, which are neurotransmitters that bind to cannabinoid receptors throughout the nervous system.
Studies have shown that CBD can help relieve chronic pain (such as back pain) by influencing the activation of the endocannabinoid receptor, decreasing inflammation, and interfering with neurotransmitters.
A research of 47 individuals with multiple sclerosis published the results of taking Sativex for one month. The participants experienced changes in pain, walking, and muscle spasm. However, no control group was used in the analysis, and placebo effects could not be ruled out.
Another research showed that Sativex substantially improved discomfort during movement, resting pain, and sleep quality in 58 people with rheumatoid arthritis.
2. Anxiety and Depression
Hundreds of research have looked at how cannabidiol can be used to treat multiple neuropsychiatric conditions. One of the most current studies reported in Neurotherapeutics in October 2015 suggested that CBD has a “significant potential as a treatment for multiple anxiety disorders.”
Moreover, a report published in the Journal of the American Society for Experimental Neurotherapeutics in September 2015 showed that “preclinical evidence strongly supports CBD as a treatment for anxiety disorders,” including seasonal affective disorder.
3. Seizures
Many people say that CBD helps them with seizures even though nothing else was working for them. Analysis proves this: CBD can help alleviate seizures in people with epilepsy who do not respond to medications.
In the 2018 study, the FDA approved an oral CBD solution to treat two unusual cases of extreme epilepsy. This acceptance is based on reliable data from recent years of CBD studies but is limited to patients with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome and Dravet Syndrome.
In a 3-month evaluation of 23 children and young adults (3-26 years of age) with treatment-resistant epilepsy, substantially fewer seizures occurred in those who obtained a 98% pure oil-based CBD extract. The frequency of epilepsy reduced by half in 39% of participants.
In another trial of 214 children and adults with epilepsy, CBD was similarly associated with a decrease in seizures. The researchers concluded that CBD was harmless even at the highest dosage, twice as big of the previous report.
In one survey, parents of children suffering from treatment-resistant epilepsy and using CBD were asked about CBD’s benefits. 19 parents were included, 84% of whom said CBD decreased the occurrence of seizures. Two parents said that the CBD had fully resolved seizures. Parents have also reported increased alertness, sleep, and improved mood in their children. Any of the side effects identified were drowsiness and fatigue.
In 15 patients with epilepsy who did not respond to medications, after taking 200 – 300 mg of cannabidiol a day for 4.5 months, had fewer seizures. Of the 8 patients taking CBD, 7 progressed, while only 1 patient in the placebo category did.
4. Diabetes
While cannabis use may increase appetite and calorie intake, it has been associated with lower body mass index (BMI), lower obesity, and reduced risk of developing diabetes.
Several studies, including one published in the American Journal of Pathology in February 2012, indicated that CBD may play a role in improving conditions for people with diabetes. Observational tests have found that people who undergo CBD therapy have lower levels of insulin and measures of insulin tolerance.
In one survey of about 5000 participants, former and present users of marijuana had lower fasting glucose and insulin levels (by 16%), lower waist circumference and BMI(Body Mass Index), lower insulin tolerance (by 18%), and higher HDL-C(High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol) levels. All these causes are related to the development of diabetes.
5. Neurodegenerative Disease
In a small study of 5 people with movement problems, those taking CBD showed fewer uncontrollable muscle twitching. Higher doses had a more significant correlation. Patients got 100 to 600 mg CBD a day over a 6-week duration. However, 2 of the patients included with Parkinson’s disease experienced side effects (including worsening tremor) with doses above 300mg a day.
In a survey of 219 individuals with multiple sclerosis, fewer muscle spasms were regularly recorded by those taking a combination of CBD and THC.
Many studies are currently researching whether CBD can benefit people with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, and ALS. Early findings were mostly positive, but further studies are required.
6. Alleviate Cancer Related Symptoms
The emphasis on CBD for cancer treatment has been to alleviate nausea and vomiting frequently associated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
To this day two cannabinoid medications have been approved by the FDA to treat these side effects: Marinol (dronabinol) and Cesamet (nabilone). So we do know that cannabinoids do help with chemotherapy side effects.
More recently, researchers have discovered that CBD therapy can delay the growth of cancer cells, according to the American Cancer Society. So the centuries old question “Can cannabis help heal cancer?” might be answered soon!
7) High Blood Pressure
Researchers in England researched the impact of CBD on a small group of stable men aged 19 to 29 – all non-smokers who have never used cannabis. They found that a single dose of CBD lowered resting blood pressure by 6 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) which may potentially minimize the risk of stroke. The study, published in July 2017 in JCI Insight, concluded that the reaction could be due to anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) and analgesic (pain-reducing) effects of CBD.
8. Quitting Addiction
CBD therapy can be used to reduce anxiety and drug cravings in patients who are recovering from heroin addiction. While study researched heroin specifically, it would not be surprising that CBD could also reduce cravings of nicotine, alcohol and other legal drugs. Also, a variety of preclinical trials, including a study released in June 2017 in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Science, indicate that CBD therapy could be useful as a pain treatment in place of opioids.
9. Acne
Facial hygiene is a complex process that involves consideration and knowledge of the finest products for your skin. One of the most common skin conditions is acne, which effectively reduces self-esteem and might have social anxiety inducing effects. The study suggests that acne is a dermatitis disease and that CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties are an adequate remedy to treat it.
CBD therapy benefits for women:
CBD therapy has beneficial medical benefits for women. CBD’s effects are immense and can be used to alleviate menopausal complications, as pain reliever during menstruation, or as a hormone’s balancer. Let’s take a look.
10. Reduces PMS Symptoms
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) consists of physical, emotional, and psychiatric signs that manifest several days before menstruation. PMS accompanies women at the onset of menstruation. Women that go through PMS suffer debilitating cramps, gas, and mood swings that don’t make things any better.
Luckily, CBD tends to alleviate menstrual discomfort and help with most of the symptoms, as mentioned earlier. CBD is a natural painkiller with anti-inflammatory effects, so it makes a perfect substance to reduce PMS symptoms.
11. Fights Digestive System Discomfort
Not only women suffer from indigestion. However, studies have found that women are more likely to suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) than men. In the U.S. IBS influences twice as many women compared to men.
CBD can help relieve IBS symptoms and other digestive problems by controlling bowel movements and alleviating the digestive tract’s inflammation.
12. Hormonal disbalance
CBD can relieve women’s menopause and endometriosis symptoms. A study of women with endometriosis on their interactions with marijuana and cannabidiol (CBD) showed that half of them experienced improvements in pelvic pain.
Menopause is a period of significant changes in a woman’s body that typically starts around the age of 50. A quickly decreased levels of estrogen leads to a pause in menstruation. Women can also suffer painful symptoms such as hot flashes and reduced sex drive. CBD oil might help to alleviate pain and rehabilitate women’s well-being.
CBD therapy - worth it!
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid derived from cannabis plants. CBD has been approved by the FDA to treat two unusual cases of epilepsy. According to several early trials, it also has a potential to treat autoimmune diseases, anxiety, neurological disorders, substance use disorders, depression, cancer symptoms and more.
CBD is now being recognized as a perfect treatment for inflammation, sleep disturbances, and even anxiety and depression.
CBD could also help with digestion issues and can help relieve stressful cycles and mood swings during PMS. Endometriosis pain and hot flashes were found to be less intense in menopausal women after taking CBD.
If you’re interested in trying CBD, you can check out our CBD selection.
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