Please note: the use of cannabis for medial or recreational purposes may be illegal in your country. Healthiack.com does not encourage the use of this substance.
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a naturally-occurring substance from cannabis. The therapeutic characteristics of CBD can help alleviate and treat several different symptoms and health conditions.
But unlike its cousin tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD has minimal risk of supplying mind-altering effects or “highs” to its users.
With that in mind, continue reading to know four health issues CBD may help improve or cure.
Chronic Pain and Inflammation
As per a study from the National Center for Biotechnology Information, chronic inflammation may lead to other ailments like Alzheimer’s disease, Type-1 diabetes, and heart disease.
Because of CBD’s ability to interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), this cell-signaling system has receptors that regulate different body functions like sleep, hunger, and pain. The body has two receptors that communicate with cannabinoids like CBD, which are the CB1 and CB2 receptors.
CB1 receptors regulate functions like movement, emotions, and pain. CB2 receptors, on the other hand, affect inflammation and pain response.
When CBD reacts with these receptors, the organic compound helps “tell” the body to stop signaling inflammation and pain signals. The result is a reduction in chronic pain and inflammation, which may lead to short-term or permanent treatments.
This characteristic of CBD may not only be useful in humans, but also animals as well. Aside from human consumption, CBD is now for dogs, cats, and other pets. But consult a veterinarian first if CBD is the correct treatment option in curing your pet’s inflammation and pain issue.
Anxiety
Aside from helping in the improvement and treatment of physical disorders, CBD may also play a decisive role in curing mental ailments. One psychological disorder wherein this naturally-occurring substance might help treat is anxiety.
A 2015 review published in the Neurotherapeutics journal states that CBD presents potent anxiety-relieving (anxiolytic) properties in animal research. As per the researchers, a low dose of CBD of about 10 mg per kg helped relieve or even treat anxiety symptoms.
The study also states that part of this response might be from the compound’s agonist traits, which means it triggers a different reaction when attaching itself to a receptor. Low doses of CBD may help trigger a positive agonist response that can reduce and potentially treat anxiety symptoms. High doses of this natural substance may also trigger improved effects, albeit this option might create a higher risk of users contracting adverse effects.
Epilepsy
Seizures, as well as loss of consciousness, are caused by epilepsy, which is a neurological disorder wherein brain activity becomes abnormal.
One research shows that CBD may help reduce seizures in epilepsy patients with bodies that don’t respond well with other medications. Also, the FDA stated in a 2018 announcement that it approves CBD for epilepsy as an oral solution for two rare forms of epilepsy: Lennox-Gastaut and Dravet syndrome.
CBD may also help cure complications and symptoms stemming from epilepsy. These ailments include neuronal injury, neurodegeneration, and psychiatric diseases.
Heart Ailments
As per a statistics report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. This health condition affects men and women in most racial and ethnic groups in the country.
The association suggests that a healthy diet and lifestyle can reduce heart disease occurrences significantly. But CBD may also fit into the healthy lifestyles of people trying to combat heart conditions.
A 2017 study published in JCI Insight stated that CBD could help reduce blood-pressure risks from stress. In the research, investigators gave 600 mg of CBD or placebo to nine male volunteers at peak health. The men who took the placebo showed small signs of progress in reducing heart disease risks. Conversely, the male participants who took the CBD had lower blood pressure, increased heart rate, and decreased stroke volume.
The researchers of the study also claim that CBD can help reduce:
- Cholesterol levels
- Blood pressure
- Artery blockage
- Stress-induced cardiovascular response
The different forms of CBD such as CBD tinctures may help reduce the risks of heart diseases. For example, you can use CBD essential oils in a diffuser to ensure you have nominal blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and heart rate while sleeping at night.
Conclusion
CBD can help fight, improve, and cure different health concerns like chronic pain, anxiety, epilepsy, and heart disease. But this organic compound may also help treat other health issues like diabetes, depression, and schizophrenia.
However, consult your doctor first before attempting to use this substance to avoid any unwanted adverse effects during consumption. It’s still crucial to practice safety when using CBD, especially if you want to improve the symptoms of a particular ailment.
