CBD has become an industry on its own despite being part of the cannabis industry. Products containing CBD, especially the oil itself, became popular in the health and wellness scene when researchers discovered that the compound is highly beneficial.
While everyone seems to be touting CBD, it’s normal to wonder if the oil is right for you.
As an individual, your decision to use CBD should be based on your own consideration. That can only happen if you know more about the oil and what it can do for you.
Let’s help you understand CBD oil so that you can decide if it’s right for you.
Page Contents
What is CBD Oil?
In short, CBD oil is an oil extracted from the cannabis plant. The origin of this oil is a compound known as Cannabidiol (CBD), one of the over a hundred cannabinoids present in the cannabis plant.
Let’s go into more detail.
The cannabis plant is divided into three categories: indica, sativa, and hybrids. One of the differences between indica and sativa is that indica has historically contained more CBD than sativa. That was before hybrids came into the picture.
Source: health.harvard.edu
These cannabis varieties are legally classified as marijuana due to their chemical composition. They contain another equally dominant cannabinoid like CBD, called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), known for its psychoactive effects.
Likewise, there are varieties of cannabis plants containing only trace amounts of THC and are legally classified as hemp if the THC content doesn’t exceed 0.3%. As you can see, the THC factor is what separates marijuana from hemp.
However, both plants contain CBD. And since hemp is federally legal, unlike marijuana, hemp-derived CBD is legal for sale and consumption anywhere in the country.
What Are the Benefits of CBD Oil?
Now that you know what CBD is, it’s equally important to know what it can do for you. That info will help you decide if the oil is right for you.
Pain and Inflammation
CBD is one of the cannabinoids that are heavily studied for possible health benefits. There’s evidence that the compound may relieve pain and inflammation.
The studies carried out on animals found that CBD oil works as an analgesic and contains anti-inflammatory properties.
Besides research, users continue to support the oil as a pain remedy, which has proven effective in managing chronic and cancer pain.
Stress and Anxiety
One of the superpowers CBD has is its calming properties. If you’re struggling with stress and anxiety, using the oil may help you relax.
Stress and anxiety usually affect sleep, mood, appetite, and thinking. CBD has a positive influence on these processes, making it a powerhouse when it comes to relieving emotional distress.
Source: ameliavirtualcare.com
Solid evidence supporting CBD’s anxiolytic properties suggests that the compound regulates mood by binding to one of the key receptors within the endocannabinoid System called the CB1 receptor.
Alzheimer’s Disease
Various studies looking into the effect of CBD on neurodegenerative diseases have shown promising results, especially on Alzheimer’s disease.
While there isn’t enough research to determine whether CBD may treat or even slow down the progression of the disease, experts suggest the compound may help manage behavioral symptoms associated with the disease.
However, the potential of treating Alzheimer’s disease using CBD was shown in one animal study where researchers suggested that the compound may help patients retain the ability to recognize faces.
Epileptic Seizures
CBD has made great strides in the treatment of epilepsy, resulting in the only FDA-approved CBD-based drug for specific forms of epilepsy.
The drug is called Epidiolex, and it’s now used to control seizures stemming from two severe forms of epilepsy known as Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
Diabetes
Source: endocrine.org
Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes patients may be able to benefit from CBD as it has shown promise in managing the diseases.
For patients with type 2 diabetes, CBD may be used to combat insulin resistance and regulate glucose levels in the blood.
Besides its role in insulin and blood sugar, CBD contains anti-inflammatory properties that would help treat inflammation in both cases of diabetes.
Conclusion
What makes CBD and even other cannabinoids highly promising in the health industry is the ability to interact with the endocannabinoid system, which is responsible for many processes in the human body, like metabolism.
Undoubtedly there’s a huge body of evidence supporting CBD’s health benefits. Hopefully, knowing more about it will help you determine if it’s right for you.
