Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a natural remedy that’s quickly gaining popularity thanks to its long and varied use of benefits. CBD is just one of the 104 chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant. These compounds are known as cannabinoids, and they do many great things within the body.

#1 Organic Pain Relief

No need for aspirin. According to time-tested practices, CBD can help relieve pain throughout the body. In fact, marijuana (which contains CBD) has been used to treat pain since as early as 2900 B.C. Cannabidiol products, such as CBD capsules or topicals like CBD creams, are able to treat pain without the psychoactive side effects of Marijuana. That’s because CBD is a separate compound from THC, which causes the side effects we associate with marijuana.

Interestingly, CBD and other compounds in the cannabis plant directly interact with the ECS, or endocannabinoid system, within the body. The ECS is responsible for regulating appetite, sleep, immune system response, and pain. The body naturally produces endocannabinoids, which are neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters can bind to the receptors in your nervous system and they change how you feel, determine when you’re hungry, and help you relax.

By impacting the receptor activity of your ECS, CBD can help reduce chronic pain. It can also reduce inflammation. This is backed by many studies, including a study that used CBD injections in rats and recorded a reduced pain response when the rats were subjected to a surgical incision. Another study found that rats had reduced sciatic nerve pain and inflammation when given an oral CBD treatment.

#2 Escape Anxiety and Depression

The potential mental health effects of CBD are among some of its greatest advantages. Many studies point that CBD could help to reduce anxiety and depression – two disorders that directly impact well-being and overall health. According to a 2014 study on CBD impacting brain receptors found both anti-anxiety antidepressant and effects. With depression being the single largest contributing factor to disability around the world, according to the World Health Organization, and anxiety being the sixth, these are two major epidemics facing our society.

Usually, pharmaceutical drugs are used to help cover up the side effects of depression and anxiety. Such medications come with a number of negative side effects, including agitation, insomnia, drowsiness, sexual dysfunction, and headaches. CBD, however, has little to no known side effects. CBD is also not addictive, unlike some medications.

In studies, CBD has shown promise for treating anxiety and depression. One such study took 24 people who were suffering from social anxiety disorder and gave them either a placebo or 600 mg of CBD prior to a public speaking test. The group with CBD recorded significantly less anxiety, discomfort, and cognitive impairment than the group without.

#3 Reduce Symptoms of Cancer

While there is still no known cure for cancer, research continues into ways to help extend the lives of people with cancer and improve their well-being as they fight it. CBD is one method being researched for its ability to help reduce the side effects of cancer and cancer treatment.

Some of the ways in which CBD may help reduce the symptoms of cancer and treatment is through reducing vomiting, nausea, and pain. One study measured the results of THC and CBD for 177 people with cancer-related pain. These people could not get relief through pain medication, but those treated with both compounds saw significant pain reduction. Those who only received THC experiencing minimal pain reduction.

It’s also thought that CBD can help to reduce nausea and vomiting that comes with chemotherapy. With these two things being among the most common side effects for people receiving chemotherapy, this makes CBD a top area of research for cancer professionals. While there are other drugs to help minimize these distressing symptoms, some prove ineffective for certain people.

#4 May Lessen Acne

Acne is commonly associated with puberty, but people of all ages can suffer from acne. In fact, acne impacts more than 9% of the population and although caused by many different things (including bacteria, genetics, underlying inflammation, and so on), recent studies show that CBD may help to reduce acne thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties. It may also be able to reduce the production of sebum, which is an oily secretion caused by the sebaceous glands in the skin.

It’s also thought that CBD can help prevent the activation of “pro-acne” agents, including inflammatory cytokines. One study concluded that CBD could prevent sebaceous glands from excreting excessive sebum and also worked to reduce inflammation, meaning it may prove promising for reducing acne in cases where these are the causes of acne.

#5 Enjoy Neuroprotective Properties

The ability of CBD to act on the ECS in the body and impact other brain signalling systems may make it beneficial for those suffering from neurological disorders. In fact, neurological disorders are one of the most studied areas for CBD treatment thanks to its unique ability to naturally impact the brain’s functions. Regardless, the research area remains relatively small as we still measure how CBD impacts the body.

Sativex is an oral spray that uses both CBD and THC and studies have proven it safe and effective for people with multiple sclerosis. It helps to reduce muscle spasticity for this group of individuals, especially individuals who are resistant to medications. Another study saw a 36.5% reduction in seizures when CBD was given to people with severe epilepsy. Other studies have also proven CBD to be effective for children with Dravet syndrome who suffer from seizures.

It is worth noting, however, that some sensitive individuals in these studies also experienced negative side effects, with some facing diarrhea, fever, and convulsions. Still, research continues into CBD and how it can positively effect those with neurological diseases. Several studies have proven it beneficial for those with Parkinson’s disease by helping to improve the quality of sleep and overall quality of life.

Plus, test-tube and animal studies have shown how CBD can reduce inflammation and prevent the neurodegeneration that comes with Alzheimer’s disease. Another study gave CBD to mice who were genetically predisposed to Alzheimer’s disease and noted that mice who received CBD experienced benefits, including how it prevented cognitive decline.

Conclusion

As you can see, there’s a multitude of reasons to bring CBD oil into your life. We carry a wide variety of CBD oil products, including isolate, broad spectrum and full spectrum varieties. If you think CBD oil might be right for you, please make sure to visit our CBD dosage guide for suggested use guidelines.