CBD has been touted as something of a
wonder-drug, with some bold claims about what it can do for us and our health.
Here are five things that might just change the way we treat some ailments to
include CBD in the treatment plans.
Pain Relief
One of the most classic and well documented
uses of marijuana is its effectiveness in treating pain. Evidence of the use of
marijuana for pain management is at least two thousand years old. Now that the specific
components of marijuana have been isolated, scientists have been able to
identify the compounds that are responsible for this pain relief – and those
compounds include CBD. Usinggood quality CBD products purchased from a reputable manufacturer has the
potential to greatly aid in pain relief for a number of ailments like
arthritis, muscle and joint pain as well as some spinal cord injuries.
This one needs more clinical studies to
confirm the thoughts that CBD oil can act on your brain’s receptors to reduce
pain while others think the pain relief comes thanks to the anti-inflammatory
properties of CBD.
Positive Results on Acne
Acne
is the plague of the teenager, but it’s not exclusive to the younger population.
Studies suggest around 9% of the population suffer from acne, which in itself
has numerous causes, including genetics, bacteria and underlying causes like
the overproduction of skin oils like sebum.
Recent evidence suggests that CBD oils
could actually benefit those suffering from acne thanks to its effective
anti-inflammatory nature and an uncanny ability to affect the amount of sebum
produced. These tests have so far been confined to test tubes where in this
controlled environment it was even noticed that CBD oil even prevented the
activation of acne-causing natural compounds like cytokines. The investigation
into the positive results on acne are still in their infancy and more
human-based trials are needed to confirm this effect, but it looks promising.
Neuroprotective Properties
Some researchers working with CBD believe
that it has the ability to affect the endocannabinoid system amongst other
parts of the brain responsible for signalling and this can assist with the
treatment and prevention of some neurological disorders. This is one of the
studies that sees the most support thanks to the perceived effects of CBD oil
on disorders like epilepsy and multiple sclerosis. Like all research into the
effects of CBD, this area of research is very new with some early studies
having turned up some rather promising results.
Sativex is onesuch implementation of CBD for use in neurological cases, which is a mix of
CBD and THC and comes in the form of a throat spray. It’s found to reduce the
muscle spasticity of those suffering from multiple sclerosis, though some
patients did experience some side effects like fever and fatigue.
Anti-Seizure Effects
Along with its potential neuroprotective
effects, CBD might also be useful as an anti-seizure product for epilepsy. This is one of the
parts of research into CBD that is very much still in its infancy. The American
Epilepsy Society has stated that they have some hope that CBD research can be
helpful for those suffering from seizure disorders. In 2016, a study involving
over 200 people with epilepsy aimed to prove the efficacy of CBD as a treatment
by prescribing 2 to 5mg a day to each participant to be taken alongside their
existing medication. The researchers found that over the 12 weeks of the study
up to 36% of participants had fewer seizures per month, but there were some
adverse effects too.
Reducing Anxiety
Another promising area where CBD oils are
making themselves known is in the realm of anxiety and depression,which is a prolific problem in our modern society. Traditional medications
for anxiety like the benzodiazepines class are known to be habit forming and
can cause some significantly unpleasant side effects like drowsiness,
irritability and headaches. It’s for this reason that research into the effects
of CBD in anxiety cases has been looked at.
Once again, CBD finds promising early
results in these cases thanks to the ability for CBD to act on the brain’s
serotonin receptors – the neurotransmitter responsible for things like your
mood and social behaviour. CBD oil has been found to be useful for nerves and
anxiety in those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder too.
Before widespread adoption, there is
definitely a need for more research into the use of CBD in many different areas
of healthcare, but the writing is on the wall that it might just become an
essential part of our health care routine.