What Are the Benefits of CBD?
What Are the Benefits of CBD?
CBD oil is one of the CBD products on the market, but some might still be unfamiliar with how it interacts with the body. This article discusses all you need to know about CBD, what the cannabinoid does to the body, the side effects of CBD oil and its various forms.
The demand for CBD products is rising daily; CBD is in the news, and people seem to be talking about it every time. CBD oil is one of the most popular products of CBD; however, if you have not heard about it, then you are lucky, and we will discuss all of it. CBD oil is extracted from the hemp plant and packaged in a bottle. It has a wide range of benefits, which has made it so popular. Let’s have a deeper look at what CBD oil is and what it does to the body.
What is CBD?
The cannabis plant has two variations that differ in the concentration of cannabinoids: Hemp and Marijuana. CBD, or in full Cannabidiol, is one of the over 100 compounds that are found in the cannabis plant;people are, however, much more familiar with THC, which is another cannabinoid. THC is more dominant in the marijuana plant than any other cannabinoid and is usually responsible for the 'high' effect that Cannabis smokers feel. On the other hand, the Hemp plant has a low amount of THC and a higher amount of CBD, which is why most companies that look to exploit the benefits Cannabidiol offers prefer the Hemp plant.
CBD doesn't have psychoactive properties; instead, the compound has several benefits that include helping with pain, inflammation, anxiety and depression.That is why you can find several products in the market infused with CBD to offer these benefits; you can find CBD edibles, topicals and oil.
What Does CBD Oil Do?
CBD has a wide range of benefits, and because Cannabidiol oil is infused with it, you might expect that it works to give these benefits.
CBDOil for Pain
According to Überall (2020), CBD has properties that help those suffering from chronic pain get relief. The human body comprises a complex cellular system called the endocannabinoid system responsible for regulating bodily functions such as sleep, pain, and appetite and how the body’s immune system responds. It's believed that the ability of CBD to work with the endocannabinoid system gives CBD its ability to have these various effects.
CBD Oil for Mental Health Disorders
Although there are several pharmaceutical medications for mental health disorders, these medications might not be a great choice as these medications might cause side effects such as drowsiness, agitation and sleeping problems. CBD has some properties that might be used to treat several health disorders, such as anxiety and depression.
CBD is thought to affect the way the body produces serotonin by interacting with serotonin receptors. According to Sales et al. (2018), the antidepressant effect of CBD is usually dependent on the serotonin levels in the brain. Low serotonin levels are generally associated with depression, while a higher serotonin level is associated with periods of extreme happiness.
CBD for Seizures
According to Reddy (2023), CBD can have properties that might help control seizures in children and adults with refractory epilepsies. Several types of research have been going on on the possibility of CBD in reducing seizure attacks; recently, the FDA approved a prescription-only drug called Epidiolex for treating rare forms of epilepsy. However, the issue of CBD being used to treat epilepsy remains a delicate matter, as more research is still required in this area. Some might, however, find the existing studies and analyses compelling enough to try CBD to help reduce the frequency of seizures.
CBD for Insomnia
According to Suraev (2020), CBD might have sedative properties that might help those with a problem falling asleep or staying asleep. CBD oil usually has a traceable amount of THC; these two compounds are generally thought to help those with insomnia when combined, although more research is being done on this subject. Because CBD relieves some causes of insomnia, such as stress, anxiety and depression, it might just be what you need to help you deal with your insomnia.
Side Effects of CBD Oil
Although CBD might have several benefits, it has its side effects. CBD is usually considered to be safe for consumption. However, some report feeling some side effects, such as; -
Diarrhoea.
Dry mouth
Fatigue
However, most of these side effects are usually tolerable and don’t happen to all users of CBD. Because there are a few cases of CBD interacting with some of the pharmaceutical drugs used for treating diseases, you should seek advice from your health adviser before taking CBD to avoid any interaction with your medications.
Forms of CBD Oil
There are three primary forms of CBD, Full spectrum, broad spectrum and isolate CBD. Broad spectrum refers to products with some but not all compounds of the cannabis plant, while CBD isolate contains pure CBD of about 99%. Full-spectrum CBD oil has all the compounds of the cannabis plant and is usually thought to be more powerful. According to Nahler, Jones & Russo (2019), all the compounds in full-spectrum CBD combine to give a more powerful effect than experiencing each product independently.
Conclusion
CBD oil is one of the most popular CBD products in the market; it's usually extracted from the Hemp plant and has several benefits. CBD is generally known for various benefits, such as relief from pain, inflammation and anxiety, to name just a few. The ability of CBD to interact with the endocannabinoid system is thought to be responsible for the various effects CBD has on the body; Cannabidiol oil is believed to affect a person's mood by interacting with serotonin receptors in the body. Although more research is being done, many find the available evidence and research to be enough to try CBD products.
References
Nahler, G., Jones, T. M., & Russo, E. B. (2019). Cannabidiol and contributions of major hemp phytocompounds to the “entourage effect”; possible mechanisms. J. Altern. Complementary Integr. Med, 5.
Reddy, D. S. (2023). Therapeutic and clinical foundations of cannabidiol therapy for difficult-to-treat seizures in children and adults with refractory epilepsies. Experimental Neurology, 359, 114237.
Sales, A. J., Crestani, C. C., Guimarães, F. S., & Joca, S. R. (2018). The antidepressant-like effect induced by Cannabidiol is dependent on brain serotonin levels. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, 86, 255-261.
Suraev, A., Grunstein, R. R., Marshall, N. S., D'Rozario, A. L., Gordon, C. J., Bartlett, D. J., ... & Hoyos, C. M. (2020). Cannabidiol (CBD) and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) for chronic insomnia disorder (‘CANSLEEP’trial): protocol for a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, proof-of-concept trial. BMJ open, 10(5), e034421.
Überall, M. A. (2020). A review of scientific evidence for THC: CBD oromucosal spray (nabiximols) in the management of chronic pain. Journal of pain research, 13, 399.
