Recently declared legal in the US, CBD oil is becoming an alternative to many traditional medications prescribed by physicians, believed to be somewhat of a cure-all for everything from anxiety to Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). This is exciting news for people who suffer from daily aches and pains, social anxiety, and the natural effects of aging. We all want to perform at our best, no matter how old we are, and now, CBD oil can help us with that. Whether you have a serious medical condition or just want to get a better night’s sleep, trying CBD oil could make a big difference in your life, helping you to enjoy every moment that life has to offer. We’ll talk about what CBD oil is, the potential benefits for managing pain, and how to know if it’s right for you.
What is CBD Oil?
CBD is the acronym for cannabidiol, which comes from different cannabis plants, usually referred to as hemp or marijuana. It comes in varied strengths depending on how it is made, and people can use it in different ways. One advantage of CBD oil is that people don’t develop an immunity to it, so there’s no need to increase dosage over time. It can often be confused with other cannabinoids, like tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which produce a “high” by sending dopamine to your brain. CBD oil does not have this euphoric effect because it doesn’t affect the same receptors as THC according to Medical News Today’s article “Does CBD oil work for chronic pain management?”. Everyone has an endocannabinoid system (ECS) in their body that receives and translates signals from cannabinoids. The ECS helps regulate sleep, pain, and immune-system responses. Though not enough research has been done to determine whether or not CBD oil is perfectly safe, it has been shown to help the ECS in human bodies perform better.
Benefits of CBD Oil
Though just recently legalized in the US, people have been using CBD oil all throughout history to manage their pain with little to no side effects. The medical community is just now starting to take the potential benefits seriously and has seen CBD oil have a positive effect on the following:
Arthritis pain
A study in the European Journal of Pain used an animal model to see if CBD could help people with arthritis manage their pain. The placed a topical CBD containing gel on the rats that had arthritis for 4 days and noticed a distinct decrease in inflammation and pain, with no additional side effects. Some people who have arthritis have been helped by CBD oil, but more human studies need to be performed to deem it officially helpful.
Multiple sclerosis
MS affects the entire body, causing pain in the nerves and the brain. People with MS commonly experience muscle spasms, and this can be the source of constant pain. One report discovered that short-term use of CBD oil could reduce the levels of spasticity a person feels. More studies on humans are also needed to verify these results.
Chronic pain
Chronic pain has also been helped through the work of researchers who collected the results of multiple reviews of several different trials and studies. They concluded that there is a significant amount of proof that CBD oil can help relieve chronic pain and inflammation in adults.
Epilepsy
Medical marijuana and epilepsy is a topic that many are hearing more about. Epidiolex, an FDA approved, plant-based formulation of CBD, has been shown to treat seizures in people who suffer from certain types of epilepsy and who are 2 years old or older.
Other
CBD oil has the potential to help people with a number of other things, including helping with drug withdrawal symptoms, quitting smoking, migraine treatment, anxiety treatment, decreasing some Alzheimer’s effects, combating acne, epilepsy, type 1 diabetes, and even cancer.
Could CBD Oil Be Right for You?
It can be difficult to know if CBD oil is the right option for you. Many people have found relief through its use and CBD success stories are not hard to find online. It’s best to do your own research and talk to your doctor about your options. You and your doctor know your body and personal condition the best. Trust your doctor’s opinion and your own research as you move forward. Sometimes nature’s cure is better than modern medicine, we just don’t always know about it because of the way other, more profitable drugs are marketed to doctors and healthcare facilities. No one wants to live a life full of pain and suffering and if CBD oil can help you live a fuller, happier life, it may be the answer.
References and Resources:
Comments