The Magic That is CBD

CBD Oil – Cannabidiol is increasing in popularity as natural remedy used for many common ailments and there are several benefits and uses of CBD Oil. CBD oils have been shown to offer a range of health benefits that could potentially improve the quality of life for patients around the world. Better known just as CBD, it is one of the 100+ chemical compounds known as cannabinoids found in the cannabis or marijuana plant, Cannabis sativa.

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the main psychoactive cannabinoid found in cannabis, and causes the sensation of getting “high” that’s often associated with marijuana. However, unlike THC, CBD is not psychoactive. (meaning it does not produce the ‘high’ associated with cannabis use), making it a safe and effective option for patients who may be concerned about the mind altering effects of other cannabinoids such as THC. This quality makes CBD an appealing option for those who are looking for relief from pain and other symptoms without the mind-altering effects of marijuana or certain pharmaceutical drugs.

CBD oil is made by extracting CBD from the cannabis plant (preferably industrial hemp), then diluting it with a carrier oil like coconut or hemp seed oil (hemp seeds do not contain CBD). The exact concentrations and ratio of CBD to THC can vary depending on the product and manufacturer. Regardless, CBD oils have been shown to offer a range of health benefits that could potentially improve the quality of life for patients around the world. Let’s start with the largest benefits benefits of CBD oil for some of the most critical ailments.

CBD for Pain Relief

One of the most celebrated health benefits of CBD oil is its analgesic (pain relieving) effects. Marijuana has been used to treat pain for thousands of years dating back as early as 2500BC. More recently, scientists have discovered that certain components of marijuana, including CBD, are responsible for its pain-relieving effects. It’s thought that CBD interacts with receptors in the brain and immune system to reduce inflammation and alleviate pain The human body contains a specialized system called the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is involved in regulating a variety of functions including sleep, appetite, pain and immune system response. The body produces endocannabinoids, which are neurotransmitters that bind to cannabinoid receptors in your nervous system. These act as “keys” to either blocking or actually assisting in the transport of CBD to relieve pain. Studies have shown that CBD may help reduce chronic pain by impacting endocannabinoid receptor activity, reducing inflammation and interacting with neurotransmitters.

For example, several human studies have found that a combination of CBD and THC is effective in treating pain related to multiple sclerosis and arthritis. An oral spray called Sativex, which is a combination of THC and CBD, is approved in several countries to treat pain related to multiple sclerosis.In a study people with multiple sclerosis, those treated with Sativex for one month experienced a significant improvement in pain, walking and muscle spasms, compared to the placebo group. Another study found that Sativex significantly improved pain during movement, pain at rest and sleep quality for people with rheumatoid arthritis. CBD, especially in combination with THC, may be effective in reducing pain associated with diseases like multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. The key is CBD and for the best CBD rich oils, industrial hemp is proving to perform very well and with THC levels less than .3% the psychoactive issues are eliminated compared to THC.

CBD for Anxiety and Depression

Studies, news and evidence has shown that depression is the single largest contributor to disability worldwide, and even anxiety disorders are ranked sixth. While CBD is most commonly used to treat physiological symptoms, there’s a growing body of research that indicates it can also be used in the therapy of a range of mental health conditions, including anxiety. One of the core noticeable treatments that CBD shows a strong benefit is directly related to reducing stress – anxiety and the affects it has with certain anxiety induced sleep disorders. Several studies exist that show how CBD significantly reduces subjective anxiety, leading investigators to conclude, “These results suggest that CBD reduces anxiety (social anxiety disorder) and that this is related to its effects on activity in limbic and paralimbic brain areas.” Anxiety and depression are usually treated with pharmaceutical drugs, which can cause a number of side effects including drowsiness, agitation, insomnia, sexual dysfunction and headache. What’s more, medications like benzodiazepines can be addictive and may lead to substance abuse.

Still, studies are somewhat limited in the United States, due to the laws and stigma against marijuana, but the studies that have been conducted have shown a lot of promise. Not only is CBD thought to treat inflammation, but other issues as well. Among these other issues are anxiety and depression. According to research, CBD appears to affect our nervous system in several important ways. It has been known to regulate mood by interacting with Seratonin, GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid) and certain types of neurotransmitters. Keep in mind, the evidence for this is anecdotal. However, CBD oil has shown promise as a treatment for both depression and anxiety, leading many who live with these disorders to become interested in this natural approach. Studies have shown that people with social anxiety disorder who received 600mg (note: this is significant dosage) of CBD or a placebo before a public speaking test; the group that received the CBD had significantly less anxiety, cognitive impairment and discomfort in their speech performance, compared to the placebo group.

• CBD oil has even been used to safely treat insomnia and anxiety in children with post-traumatic stress disorder.
• CBD has also shown antidepressant-like effects in several animal studies.

These qualities are linked to CBD’s ability to act on the brain’s receptors for serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates mood and social behavior.

CBD May Reduce or Alleviate Cancer Related Symptoms

Long discussed and very controversial in the community is whether CBD treats cancer or even can CBD cure cancer. It has been shown though that CBD may help reduce symptoms related to cancer and side-effects related to cancer treatment, like nausea, vomiting and pain. Further and ongoing research indicates that CBD is valuable in the treatment of cancer in a number of different ways. CBD as well as some of the other compounds found in cannabis have an antitumor effect and can amplify the death of tumor cells in both colon cancer and leukemia by shielding healthy tissue (basically “starving” the tumor. In addition, investigations have shown that CBD can be used to stop the spread of cancer cells in cervical cancer cells. It is important to note that the vast majority of CBD and cancer studies are pre-clinical, meaning they’re not conducted on human or even mammalian test subjects, and the findings – while promising – should not be construed as conclusive proof that CBD can cure cancer. Several studies have looked at the effects of CBD and THC in people with cancer-related pain who did not experience relief from pain medication.Test subjects treated with an extract containing both compounds of CBD and THC experienced a significant reduction in pain compared to those who received only THC extract. CBD may also help reduce chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, which are among the most common chemotherapy-related side effects for those with cancer. Though there are drugs that help with these distressing symptoms, they are sometimes ineffective, leading some people to seek alternatives. Whether or not CBD cures cancer or if CBD treating cancer is accepted, that is a lengthy discussion. Backed by some science and some anecdotal evidence, studies still need to conducted and journals reviewing CBD and cancer need to be published.

Chemotherapy Patients

Studies on people undergoing chemotherapy found that a one-to-one combination of CBD and THC administered via mouth spray reduced chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting better than standard treatment alone. Additional test-tube and animal studies have even shown that CBD may have anticancer properties. For example, one test-tube study found that concentrated CBD induced cell death in human breast cancer cells.

Breast Cancer Studies

Studies show that CBD inhibited the spread of aggressive breast cancer cells in mice. However, test-tube and animal studies, can only suggest what might work in people. More studies in humans are needed before conclusions can be made. Even Though CBD has been shown to help reduce symptoms related to cancer and cancer treatment, and may even have cancer-fighting properties, more research is needed to assess its efficacy and safety. In other words it is important to note that the vast majority of CBD and cancer studies are pre-clinical, meaning they’re not conducted on human on a large-scale – while promising – should not be construed as conclusive proof that CBD cures cancer.

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