For many people, thoughts about cannabis bring to mind the young adults of the 1960s and 1970s getting high at music festivals. Since CBD comes from cannabis, some of those same thoughts come to mind. Yes, CBD and marijuana come from the cannabis plant but they aren’t the same. CBD oil provides potential mental and biological health benefits without producing the psychoactive high of marijuana.
Same Plant, Different Plant
CBD plants are not farmed equally. CBD oil comes from hemp plants that contain less than 0.3% THC. This makes the plant legal under United States federal law, although some states may not permit its sale. This low level of THC doesn’t produce a high effect.
Farmers have cultivated cannabis plants to contain higher levels of THC, thus producing marijuana. The level of THC causes the high when the plant is smoked or consumed in edible or pill form or ingested in some other way. Check your state for laws on marijuana and medical marijuana use.
Exploring CBD Oil Benefits
The non-psychoactive CBD oil has many potential benefits for individuals. CBD stands for the cannabinoids in the plant. Our bodies have receptors in the brain and in the immune system that cannabinoids impact, signaling the body to make more. The body’s cannabinoids are called endocannabinoids. These endocannabinoids can provide a variety of helpful benefits, including these five life-improving advantages:
Pain relief: studies have shown that it may reduce pain and chronic pain by reducing inflammation. More studies are needed.
Anxiety, depression, and PTSD reduction: A review and some studies show that it may help with behaviors related to anxiety and depression. There is also concern that it can aggravate some of these symptoms, although no solid evidence exists for this theory.
Cancer: some evidence has been reviewed on CBD’s potential positive effects including cancer cell growth prevention and improving cancer treatment through immune system response.
Additional research is being conducted on decreasing anxiety, commonly found in cancer patients, and decreasing chemotherapy side effects.
Epilepsy: a form of CBD oil has been FDA approved for the treatment of epilepsy in people 3 years of age and older because it prevents seizures without being a sedating drug. Researchers are studying why the effect occurs.
Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease: studies show promise in using CBD in slowing the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s symptoms and improvements in Parkinson’s symptoms and in other neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and schizophrenia.
Other health concerns that may benefit from CBD oil include sleep disorders, migraines, cluster headaches, nausea, allergies, asthma, lung conditions, heart health, substance abuse, smoking cessation, diabetes, and acne development.
Every Substance Has Risks
There are common side effects like every other substance. These can include developing diarrhea or fatigue and experiencing appetite and weight changes. If you try it out and can’t tolerate it due to these common side effects, it may not be right for you.
It can interfere with certain medications. For example, have you seen an interaction warning for consuming grapefruit on your medication information? In that case, CBD may interfere with your medication as well. Check with your doctor or pharmacist and keep up with reputable sources online for this information.
The amount of research on various CBD oil benefits varies. Due to CBD’s potential, the body of research increases each year. Most CBD uses aren’t yet FDA approved either. Stay abreast of developments online and by consulting with your doctor or pharmacist.
The effectiveness of any substance, including CBD, depends on the person and what they’re treating. You may try CBD and it works wonders for your headaches. Your friend may do the same and not experience the same benefits. Also, it may work for you on some conditions and not others, just as with other medically-related products and treatments.
Is CBD Oil for You?
As with any substance you put into or on your body, consider the risk vs. benefit for yourself. For example, if you’re in great pain due to inflammation, don’t take any medications that CBD interferes with, and want to try it, go for it. If you’re unsure about CBD, consult your doctor before trying it. From there, consider if you’re feeling any of the common side effects. If not, continue taking it for a few months to determine if you’re feeling the benefits.
CBD oil is a natural product. Some brands produce premium organic CBD oil. It’s a benefit to many people to use a natural alternative for pain and other conditions. While the circumstances are different for each person and condition, in general, trying CBD oil is a low-risk way to create significant improvement in your daily life.
