When we talk about medical cannabis, the first thing that comes to mind is CBD or cannabidiol. CBD is one of over 100 cannabinoids present in the cannabis plant. It is a non-intoxicating extract from cannabis that does not produce psychoactive effects like THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). THC is another cannabinoid present in the marijuana plant that has psychoactive properties. It causes the sensation of getting “high” associated with cannabis. You can get your MMJ card after a 420 doctor evaluation in Garden Grove. This card allows you to buy medical cannabis to manage the symptoms associated with your medical condition.
CBD has gained a lot of popularity in recent years as more and more U.S. states are legalizing cannabis. Medical cannabis is known as a natural remedy used for various health conditions. The fact that CBD is not psychoactive like THC makes it even more appealing to people. Many people use it for getting relief from pain and other symptoms without worrying about the mind-altering effects of cannabis. To make the CBD oil, CBD is extracted from the cannabis plant, and then it is diluted with a carrier oil, such as coconut or hemp seed oil. CBD is gaining more and more momentum in the health and wellness world. Scientific studies show that it can help in treating pain, reducing anxiety, and stimulating appetite. In fact, in 2018, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a CBD oral solution, Epidiolex, to treat certain rare forms of epilepsy in children under the age of two. I have prepared a list of some of the top health benefits and uses of CBD oil for you. Let’s go through the list and learn more about it.
Benefit 1: CBD Oil Can Help in Reducing Pain
People have been using marijuana to treat pain for centuries. And now the scientists have found out certain components of cannabis that are responsible for its pain-relieving effects. One of the main components is CBD.
Every human body has a specialized system known as the endocannabinoid system (or ECS). This system has involvement in various functions of the body. Some of these are appetite, sleep, pain and the response of the immune system.
There are many cannabinoid receptors in your nervous system. The endocannabinoids, or neurotransmitters, produced by the body bind to these cannabinoid receptors in the nervous system. Now, the studies show that CBD can help in reducing Chronic Joint Pain. It impacts the activity of the endocannabinoid receptor. This helps in reducing inflammation by interacting with neurotransmitters. A study done on rats found that CBD injections helped in reducing pain response to surgical incision. One more study showed that oral CBD treatment reduced sciatic nerve pain and inflammation to a significant amount.
A few human studies show some more promising results. They show that a combination of CBD and THC is helpful in treating the pain associated with multiple sclerosis. One study even showed that participants experience improvements in walking, pain, and muscle spasms after taking Sativex after one month. Overall, we can say that CBD, especially when combined with THC, is very effective in reducing pain. This is especially beneficial for people suffering from pain associated with illnesses like multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Benefit 2: It is Beneficial in Reducing Anxiety And Depression
Anxiety and depression are two of the most common mental health issues. These two can also have devastating impacts on the sufferer’s health and well-being. According to the reports of the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is the largest distributor to disability worldwide. Anxiety disorders are also not behind, they rank sixth. So, it becomes important to deal with anxiety and depression well. Usually, pharmaceutical drugs are used to treat anxiety and depression. But these drugs can cause various side effects that include – drowsiness, insomnia, headache, agitation, and sexual dysfunction. One more negative side effect of these drugs is that they can be very addictive and may also lead to substance abuse.
But CBD oil can be the solution to all these problems. It is known to be a promising treatment for both anxiety and depression. Many people in the U.S. use CBD to deal with depression and anxiety, as it’s a more natural approach. Even the studies show that CBD is very effective in reducing anxiety. And CBD oil can also be beneficial in treating insomnia and anxiety in children suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. Several animal studies also show the antidepressant properties of CBD. CBD has the ability to act on the receptors for serotonin in the brain. It is a neurotransmitter that is responsible for regulating mood and social behavior.
Benefit 3: CBD Can Alleviate Symptoms Associated With Cancer
CBD can also be helpful in reducing symptoms associated with cancer. It can also help in dealing with the side effects of cancer treatment. These side effects include nausea, pain, and vomiting. A study was done to look at the effects of CBD and THC in 177 cancer patients suffering from pain. These patients were not experiencing any relief from pain medication. The study showed that an extract that had both CBD and THC significantly reduced pain.
CBD can also help in reducing nausea and vomiting induced by chemotherapy, a common treatment for cancer. These two are the most common side effects of chemotherapy. There are certain drugs that can help in dealing with these symptoms. But they do not turn out to be effective sometimes. This makes some people look for alternatives.
A study found that a one-to-one combination of THC and CBD helped in reducing nausea and vomiting related to chemotherapy. A few test-tube and animal studies also show that CBD may have anticancer properties. One test-tube study showed that concentrated CBD is able to induce cell death in human breast cancer cells. CBD can also hold back the spread of cancer cells. However, more research is needed on this before making any conclusion and to assess its safety and efficacy.
Benefit 4: CBD May Reduce Acne
Acne affects more than 9 percent of the population, making it a common skin condition. There can be various causes for this condition, such as –
- Genetics
- Bacteria
- Overproduction of sebum. It is an oily secretion that is made by sebaceous glands in the skin.
- Underlying inflammation
Recent scientific studies show that CBD oil can be helpful in treating acne. CBD has anti-inflammatory properties along with the ability to reduce the production of sebum. A test-tube study showed that CBD oil is able to prevent the secretion of excessive sebum from sebaceous gland cells. The study found that CBD was able to exert anti-inflammatory actions and prevent the activation of “pro-acne” agents including inflammatory cytokines.
One more study found similar results. The study concluded that CBD can be a safe and efficient way of treating acne. The main reason behind the effectiveness of CBD is its remarkable anti-inflammatory properties. However, more research is required to explore the effects of CBD on acne.
Thus it becomes quite beneficial to get a 420 evaluation done from a cannabis doctor and get their Medical Marijuana recommendation for using cannabis as a source of medicine for your medical aliments.