Benefits of CBD Oil Part 2
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Treating Neurological Disorders
In discussing CBD treating neurological related disorders, we have to look at cannabis and the derived cannabinoids as a whole. Numerous physical, psychological, and emotional benefits have been attributed to marijuana since it was first reported roughly about 2,600 BC. The phytocannabinoids, cannabidiol (CBD), and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (big words for THC), the most studied extracts from the cannabis sativa subspecies, include hemp and marijuana (remember that, two separate species). What studies have been conducted; show CBD being successfully utilized as an adjunctive treatment for malignant brain tumors (due to cell protection properties). Studies show uses for CBD alone or with THC, emphasizing its neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory benefits when applied to various clinical situations.
Researchers have realized and believe that CBD’s ability to act on the endocannabinoid system and other brain signaling systems may provide benefits for those with neurological disorders. In fact, one of the most studied uses for CBD is in treating neurological disorders like epilepsy and multiple sclerosis. Though research in this area is still relatively new, several studies have shown promising results. Studies have found that CBD oil significantly reduced seizure activity in children with Dravet syndrome, a complex childhood epilepsy disorder, compared to a placebo. However, it’s important to note that some people in have experienced adverse reactions associated with CBD treatment, such as convulsions, fever and diarrhea. CBD has also been researched for its potential effectiveness in treating several other neurological disorders. It has been shown that treatment with CBD improved quality of life and sleep quality for people with Parkinson’s disease, PTSD, RLS and several sleep related neurological disorders directly as well. Additionally, animal and test-tube studies have shown that CBD may decrease inflammation and help prevent the neurodegeneration associated with Alzheimer’s disease, a common and tragic neurological disorder in humans. Although CBD has also shown promise in reducing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease in test-tube and animal studies but human research has been limited due to the political climate restricting access to CBD and CBD production.
Promising Views on CBD and Treating Neurological Disorders
Recently (April 2018), the FDA found that the benefit-risk profile of cannabidiol is favorable for the treatment of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) and Dravet syndrome (DS) in patients 2 years of age and older. This has gone onto the approval of the first CBD drug to be approved (limited) to treat certain neurological conditions. The downside is that commercializing CBD into the pharmaceutical industry will have knock on effects of control, cost, availability, which may very well restrict access. However, it will also lead to greater awareness will lend credence to research so it is a double-edged sword. Most producers of CBD oil know the benefits, strains, proper production techniques and cultivation so they themselves need to stay involved.
CBD Oil and Heart Health
Recent research has linked CBD oil with several benefits for the heart and the body’s circulatory system, including the ability to lower high blood pressure. In support of heart health and CBD, a 2017 paper published within the journal “JCL Insight” investigated the blood pressure-lowering effects of CBD on humans. As well known, high blood pressure is linked to higher risks of a number of health conditions, including stroke, heart attack and metabolic syndrome. It is also common knowledge that high blood pressure can be directly linked to stress and anxiety. As such it has been demonstrated and documented that CBD is capable of reducing the blood pressure response to stress.
Although stress is often perceived as a mental health issue, it can have profound physiological consequences in the long-run. Heart health, blood pressure and coronary disease can be tied back to stress factors such as social isolation, low socio-economic status, work life, and anxiety. Not to be left out is a poor diet, smoking and even prescription medications (not an exhaustive list). Cannabinoids help with some of the underlying issues for all of those.
Heart Disease – Stress and Cannabinoids
Numerous research papers and studies point towards CBD’s anti-anxiety effects. Because anxiety is a contributing factor to stress, and stress lends t0 cardiovascular diseases, this could be another mechanism by which CBD benefits the cardiovascular system. So if you melt it down and look at the core issue for heart health, stress contributes to cardiovascular disease is by causing an elevation in blood pressure. The chronic release of stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol, may also be contributing factors. Research has shown that stress can change the way blood coagulates, increasing the risk of heart attack. CBD reduces resting systolic blood pressure (the maximum arterial blood pressure during heart contraction) and reduced stroke volume (volume of blood pumped per beat). These results have important implications considering that high blood pressure is a contributing factor to ischemic heart disease. Another independent study treated 10 healthy men with one dose of 600 mg of CBD oil (not a trivial dosing level it should be noted) and found it reduced resting blood pressure, compared to a placebo. The same study also gave the men stress tests that normally increase blood pressure. Interestingly, the single dose of CBD led the men to experience a smaller blood pressure increase than normal in response to these tests. Researchers have suggested that the stress and anxiety-reducing properties of CBD are responsible for its ability to help lower blood pressure. Also Cannabinoids can have a direct effect upon the vascular system since CBD is capable of inducing vasorelaxation, or a reduction in the tension of blood vessel walls. Additionally, several animal studies have demonstrated that CBD may help reduce the inflammation and cell death associated with heart disease due to its powerful antioxidant and stress-reducing properties. CBD, cannabinoids in general take a large load off mitigating heart disease when it comes to stress alone. That in itself, is a great health message.
CBD and Diabetes
Limited studies exist to support for treatments involving CBD and diabetes, but it has been demonstrated that CBD may reduce the risk of diabetes, at least in people most susceptible to it. One of the main reasons many are reluctant to fully support this theory is because most well-known studies were actually conducted on animals and not humans. Like many other links between CBD and treatments for other diseases, research commercially or published has been limited due to the lack of access to resources, material and study subjects. However, people with diabetes who use CBD do exist and in the ears of others whisper of the successes. Although research needs to focus more on CBD and diabetes and how effective it is, the core properties of CBD, hemp oil and cannabinoids in general have a combined efficacy to treat a broad range of diseases.
CBD and Diabetes Type 1
As of this writing, there is sadly, no known cure for type 1 diabetes. People with type 1 diabetes do not produce insulin, so it must be regularly injected into their body. Some people take injections into the soft tissue, such as the stomach, arm, or buttocks, several times per day.
I want to be clear that this is not a clinical writing about diabetes (a horrible disease) as a whole so it will be brief on the disease from a scientific medical perspective. However, we will place focus on cannabinoids (especially full spectrum) and it’s natural ability to treat some of the effects (maybe not the causes as much since more needs to be known) and downstream impact(s) of diabetes. First, type 1 diabetes is caused by the body not producing insulin and the disease develops very quickly it usually is uncovered in the early stages of life (hence the term juvenile diabetes). Many of the symptoms between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are the same but they may appear in different ways and escalation which means CBD and other cannabinoids could have a positive impact at different stages between the two.
If you look at what CBD, cannabinoids and the known parts of the endocanibinoid system and what triggers it supports, the uses of CBD in the treatment of diabetes symptoms is relatively clear as what is possible. Whether or not cannabinoids can cure diabetes is an argument better solved with clinical research and beyond the scope of this writing. Anecdotal evidence for using CBD in relation to type 1 diabetes, show CBD can help with reducing irritability, mood changes, appetite and overall depression associated with the swing in insulin levels in the body. Since insulin is required (the body does not produce insulin the case of type 1 diabetes) to be injected or introduced into the body; how the body uses the foreign insulin can cause anxiety and stress. Even something as simple as skin disorders as a reaction to insulin and the disease itself can be alleviated by the use of topical CBD crèmes, balms, salves which in itself is a benefit.
One aspect that would be of interest in the possible use of CBD in treating type 1 diabetes lies in what causes type 1 diabetes. The difference in type 1 and type 2 diabetes is the cause itself. The body’s immune system is responsible for fighting off foreign invaders, like harmful viruses and bacteria. In people with type 1 diabetes, the immune system mistakes the body’s own healthy cells for foreign invaders. The immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. After these beta cells are destroyed, the body is unable to produce insulin. Researchers don’t know why the immune system attacks the body’s own cells. It may have something to do with genetic and environmental factors, like exposure to viruses. Research is ongoing. However, cannabinoids show promise in actually “tweaking” the body’s immune system (fixing it) as well it has cell protection properties that also appear to be viable in CBD treating cancer. Although more research has to be conducted, these factors themselves open the door to promising treatments and perhaps prevention.
CBD and Diabetes Type 2
People with type 2 diabetes don’t respond to insulin as well as they should and later in the disease often don’t make enough insulin. People with type 2 diabetes have insulin resistance. The body still produces insulin, but it’s unable to use it effectively. Researchers aren’t sure why some people become insulin resistant and others don’t, but several lifestyle factors may contribute, including excess weight and inactivity. Other genetic and environmental factors may also contribute. When you develop type 2 diabetes, your pancreas will try to compensate by producing more insulin. Because your body is unable to effectively use insulin, glucose will accumulate in your bloodstream. Either way, both types of diabetes lead to blood sugars increasing which in the simplest of words, makes the blood thick and as such the cells in the body are starved and damaged.
Using CBD to treat and perhaps prevent type diabetes shows promise. Using CBD can possibly help the causes of type 2 diabetes purely from the fact that it is a healthy supplement. Like anything else, your bodies immune system is enhanced by CBD and if you look at one of the possible causes of diabetes being diet related, it only makes sense that using CBD as a supplement before hand and a healthier lifestyle as a whole can possibly prevent type 2 diabetes. Stress and anxiety (discussed in part 1) can lead to poor diets, neurological issues, inability to cease smoking, the list goes on all of CBD is proven to help with. The endocannibnoid system being activated and the cell protection properties of cannibinoids themselves make for a roadmap of health, which alone could possibly help with certain causes of type 2 diabetes.
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