Have you read the science behind CBD? Most of the research on CBD seems to promote its use in treating pain and anxiety; but there is much more to this wonder drug, and this article takes a look at some of the other less mentioned conditions that may be treated using CBD.
What Science Says About CBD
The first thing we should mention is that there is a history of centuries (perhaps longer) of people using cannabis for all sorts of reasons including medical purposes. Cannabinoids have been used to treat everything from headaches, injury, pains, lack of appetite, sleep disorders, period pain, and many more conditions.
Currently, scientists support the use of CBD (one of the compounds in cannabis) for the same conditions that cannabis was used for in ancient cultures; and the good news is that we now have more groundbreaking studies that reveal its ability to treat conditions that are far more severe than headaches or back pain.
The clinical studies that are available on the internet may be insufficient for really determining how valuable cannabidiol is to human health, but it’s not easy to dismiss the impact the compound has had on the lives of the people who use it for everything from sleeping problems to weight management.
For us to fully understand the way CBD works in people and how else we can use it to advance health and fitness, we must give it at least another decade to allow for longer, more comprehensive studies to be carried out.
What Are the Benefits of CBD?
Even as we talk about the health benefits found in CBD, we must consider that regulatory bodies such as the FDA or even the World Health Organization (WHO) haven’t fully endorsed CBD as a medicine that can be used in place of regular pharmaceutical products.
This is why we won’t ask anybody to stop taking regular meds in favor of CBD. But we should mention that the WHO has described CBD as being valuable to human health, and free of serious side effects. The DEA has assigned cannabidiol to its lowest ranking (Schedule 5) meaning they don’t consider it particularly dangerous or addictive.
Here is what we now know about the health benefits of CBD
– Relief From Chronic Pain & Inflammation
CBD is now one of the most sought-after treatments for pain, especially among sports people who deal with pain and inflammation on a daily basis. When used to treat muscle soreness and inflammation, CBD can make it easier to manage intense workouts, and it may also increase energy levels. Similarly, CBD oil can be used to treat chronic pain and may help increase quality of life.
– Benefits for Sleeping Disorders
Sleeping problems caused by pain or anxiety may be managed quite effectively with CBD by minimizing pain and discomfort, and also by regulating the hormone melatonin, which is responsible for causing sleep. Any deficiency in sleep hormones or disruptions to the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) may cause sleeping difficulty.
– Epilepsy and Other Neurological Issues
Studies looking into the effect of CBD in the brain, and in particular, the hippocampus region, have shown indication of cellular regeneration and neural protective effects in cannabidiol. This is big news for scientists looking to use CBD for treating neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s, epilepsy, and Alzheimer’s disease.
– Drug Withdrawals
Cannabidiol holds great promise for its ability to minimize the effects of drug withdrawal in people with drug addiction. The soothing effects of CBD seem to extent beyond pain relief and may involve the broader function of the endocrine glands; such as regulating hormones and creating better conditions for homeostasis. Processes such as mood and depression can be targeted through the endocannabinoid system; and this may help explain why CBD oil is used to manage withdrawal.
– Diabetes/Obesity
When you think about the number of cases where processes such as mood and anxiety cause people to overeat and gain weight, it makes it ever more important to address those internal processes that impact on our ability to make healthy choices. CBD oil helps us maintain proper functioning in the Endocannabinoid System, but it also has a high fiber content, which may be useful in weight loss. Furthermore, CBD oil fires up metabolism and leads to higher conversion of fat into energy. This makes it an important tool for preventing obesity and diabetes.
The Bottom Line
CBD oil can be taken everyday to improve human health and in some cases, to help manage ailments. Cannabidiol works within your body’s endocannabinoid system in the same way that natural human-produced cannabinoids work. Always speak to your doctor about using any kind of supplements, including CBD, and watch for drug interactions if taking other medication.
