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Unless you’ve been living in a cave for the past 5 years or so, you’ll most likely have come across CBD. It’s available in various forms from oils and capsules and featured in a range of different products and services including everything from CBD capsules, lattes and coffees to beauty and facial treatments.
CBD is something that has literally taken over the wellness market, and is an industry that has seen substantial growth over the past decade, where it has gone from being something that many people thought was simply a renamed illegal substance for getting high, to something that has proven to have a number of healing and health properties.
It is projected that by the year 2025, the CBD industry will be worth over $15 billion in the United States along. It’s an industry that is expected to thrive over the coming years with more and more companies staking their claim in the market.
Health Benefits – What is CBD ?
CBD is the shortened name for cannabidiol, which is a chemical compound that is derived from the Cannabis sativa plant, more commonly known as marijuana. It is a substance that is produced naturally and is used in a variety of products that focus on wellbeing and relaxation.
It’s important to point out that CBD is not psychoactive, unlike its close relative, THC (delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol) which is actually the main ingredient in marijuana. CBD will not produce any effects such as euphoria or highs, as it comes from the non-psychoactive part of the plant.
What are the health benefits?
It is believed that the cannabis sativa plant was first used for medicinally purposes, or for forms of rituals, as far back as 750 B.C.
Today, CBD is advertised as being a form of medication that can help to provide relief for a number of conditions including depression, anxiety and other forms of pain relief such as arthritis. It is also claimed that CBD can help people who may suffer from sleep disorders. The medication can come in a range of forms such as CBD capsulesand liquid.
In the United States, up until the end of 2019, there was only one CBD medication that has been approved by the FDA, which was Epidiolex that offered help to individuals who suffered from epilepsy.
Any FDA approved?
Even though the number of FDA approved medication can be counted on a single hand, which several digits left to spare, it hasn’t stopped it from being used by individuals all over the US, as well as the rest of the world, to treat a number of different conditions ranging from backache to cancer.
Below we will take a look at some of the health benefits of CBD.
Health Benefits – Reduce Depression and Anxiety
Two of the most devastating mental health conditions are depression and anxiety, which affect millions of individuals all over the world. The impacts that they can have on an individual’s wellbeing and health are huge.
The WHO have said that the biggest contributor to disability throughout the world is depression, with anxiety conditions ranked slightly lower in sixth position. That statistic alone goes to show the effects that mental health has on individuals the world over.
The main treatment for these mental health conditions are pharmaceutical drugs, and though effective, can cause a wide range of side effects such as insomnia, headache, agitation and sexual dysfunction. Some of the medication can also be highly addictive, such as benzodiazepines, which in turn can lead to substance abuse.
Studies carried out involving CBD as a form of medication have shown that they can have a positive effect on the brain’s receptors for serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter that can control social behavior and mood. Research has also shown that CBD oil can be used in the treatment of children, with PTSD and anxiety being two conditions that can be safely treated.
Health Benefits – Relief from pain
Our bodies have what is known as the endocannabinoid system, which plays an important role in the regulation of bodily functions such as pain, appetite and sleep. It also helps the response of our immune system. Endocannabinoids are produced by our bodies and are neurotransmitters that connect to cannabinoid receptors that are found in our nervous systems.
CBD has been shown in a number of studios to have an impact on the endocannabinoid receptor activity, which can help reduce chronic pain by reducing the levels of inflammation.
In one study that was taken with individuals who suffered from multiple sclerosis, it was found that after a month of taking an oral spray that was a combination of CBD and THC, there were improvements in the levels of pain they experienced, along with a reduction in muscle spasms.
A similar study also found that the levels of pain were reduced during the movement of an individual, as well as a better quality of sleep for people suffering with rheumatoid arthritis.
Can Reduce Cancer Related Symptoms
A number of studios have shown that CBD treatment has helped to alleviate a number of symptoms that are related to cancer and its treatments, such as nausea and vomiting.
A number of studies were carried out with animals and also test tube experiments, that lead to the claims that CBD may contain anticancer properties in addition to helping to slow down the spread of breast cancer cells in mice.
It is still much too early to know for sure if there are any definitive health benefits for cancer patients through the administration of CBD medication, but the signs do look positive, even if we may have to wait many more years for better confirmation.
Other Health Benefits
There are also some other health benefits from CBD that are worth mentioning. Some people who suffer from acne have reported that CBD oil has helped their condition. This is most likely due to the anti-inflammatory properties that CBD have, as well as the ability of CBD to control the production of sebum in the sebaceous glands.
Some recent studies that have taken place have shown that there are potential benefits to the heart from CBD. High blood pressure is one of the most common and serious conditions all over the world, and research has shown that CBD may be able to help with maintaining a healthy blood pressure level.
Again, it must be stressed that much more research and study is needed to understand the full impact that CBD can have on our health, but from the various studies that have already taken place by doctors around the world, it does look like CBD is going to be a very important form of medication for future generations.
