Most of us by now know what cannabidiol (CBD) is and
the main product types that are out there.
However, there have been several clinical studies that seem to point to
the fact that CBD could help with an enormous range of common ailments. Below,
you’ll find a list of all of the benefits of CBD that seem to live up to the
hype.
Study #1: Potential Pain Relief Properties
For centuries, civilizations around the world have
been smoking cannabis in order to treat all types of physical pain. In fact,
you probably know several people who smoke this herb in an attempt to deal with
their own pain levels. Up until recently, many believed that it was cannabis’
psychoactive effects that helped the brain forget about pain by altering a
person’s state of consciousness.
Now that CBD can be extracted from the cannabis plant,
we’re seeing more people rave about the pain-relieving abilities of this
chemical compound. Because CBD is not psychoactive, we can see that this
chemical compound may actually have the potential to treat pain without
altering a person’s state of mind.
Many would
be surprised to learn that our body possesses something called an
endocannabinoid system. This system consists of neurotransmitters that travel throughout the nervous
system in order to tell the brain when the body is in pain based on
inflammation levels throughout the body. Recent studies have found that CBD may be able to reduce pain by
interfering with these neurotransmitters and blocking pain receptors in the
brain.
In fact, some
researchers
have been able to isolate what it is within CBD that’s capable of blocking
these pain receptors. These researchers have found that CBD has analgesic
properties thanks to its interaction with a3 glycine receptors. In other words,
CBD can stop the brain from receiving the message that the body is in pain.
This same
study claims that
CBD can suppress the inflammatory response. By testing CBD’s pain-relieving
abilities on mice, the researchers found that CBD can decrease inflammation
throughout the body. Another fascinating discovery was that regular CBD intake
doesn’t seem to lead to a resistance against its pain-relieving effects.
Another piece of research showed that CBD may be a promising pain reliever thanks to
its high levels of analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. This is
especially exciting news as we are becoming more and more aware of the
dangerous effects of taking popular pain medications over long periods of time.
For instance, opiates have been found to be lethal in high doses as well as
highly addictive. Even common anti-inflammatory drugs that are sold at local
pharmacies can lead to kidney and liver troubles if taken too frequently.
Meanwhile, CBD has no known side effects other than mild drowsiness.
Study #2: Potential Relief from Anxiety
CBD’s reputation for reducing anxiety and stress
levels is renowned. We all know that many people are regular marijuana users
because of the herb’s ability to calm the mind. Now that we can isolate CBD and
examine its composition, researchers are capable of determining what it is
about CBD that has this sedating effect on the nervous system.
In one study, patients who suffered from social anxiety disorder were
administered CBD prior to engaging in public speaking. Researchers were amazed
by how a single dose of CBD dramatically reduced nervous system activity in the
subjects who were tested. The study concluded that CBD may be a highly
effective treatment for anxiety disorders of all kinds thanks to its profound
effects on the nervous system.
Study #3: Treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease
Various
studies have suggested a link between CBD and Alzheimer’s Disease. Because of
CBD’s unique effects on the endocannabinoid system, many researchers believe
that CBD can slow down the atrophy of brain tissue that occurs in Alzheimer’s
patients. Similarly, various studies show that CBD can be an effective
treatment for depression. Many Alzheimer’s patients develop depression as a
result of their reduced quality of life.
A particular study found that cannabidiol can reduce symptoms of Alzheimer’s
in a variety of ways. According to the study, Alzheimer’s patients were
administered small doses of CBD over a long period of time. The study found
that their cognitive function improved overall as the result.
One particularly fascinating finding showed that cannabinoid deficiency
can lead to enhanced cognitive impairment in Alzheimer’s patients. Therefore,
there is reason to believe that supplementing this deficiency with CBD can
reduce cognitive impairment when taken regularly.
Another study found that Alzheimer’s patients who were regularly
administered CBD experienced less anger and agitation.
Study #4: Prevention Against Heart Disease
Recent studies have shown that CBD can even benefit your
heart. For one thing, CBD has been found to potentially treat anxiety. Part of
CBD’s ability to treat anxiety has to do with its unique effect on cortisol
levels.
Cortisol is known as the stress hormone. When a person is
experiencing high levels of stress over a long period of time, they are at a
higher risk of developing heart disease. Excessive cortisol in the bloodstream
can increase blood pressure, triglycerides and heart cholesterol.
Besides its ability to lower cortisol levels, CBD may also
drastically reduce blood
pressure levels. In one study, healthy subjects
were administered a single dose of CBD. The results of the study demonstrated
that CBD lowered their blood pressure levels by reducing vasoconstriction.
Therefore, the researchers concluded that in addition to its effects on stress
which indirectly benefit the heart, CBD is capable of directly improving
cardiovascular health in a variety of ways.
In another study, researchers found that CBD may improve cardiovascular
health thanks to its high level of antioxidants. The researchers also
determined that CBD can greatly benefit those who have cardiovascular problems
due to diabetes.
Study #5: Prevents Seizures
More
recently, researchers have been uncovering a link between CBD and epilepsy. Amazingly, a study found that CBD reduced the instances
and severity of seizures. In fact, these studies have influenced the FDA’s
incredible decision to approve a CBD-based drug for the first time.
Although
just how CBD prevents seizures is still being researched, all that matters is
that it seems to be highly effective. Additionally, CBD can be administered to
epileptic children without putting them at risk of dangerous side effects..
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