Over the past few years, we’ve seen CBD make its way into mainstream culture, you can even buy CBD products online at Area 52 or other online shops. There’s no wonder why, when new benefits of CBD are being found so frequently. But where is CBD in its ascendance in the Health Sector?
Here, we’ll discuss what CBD is, how it works, the benefits that we’ve seen and how it’s currently used in the health sector.
What is CBD?
CBD is the abbreviation of cannabidiol which is a component found in the cannabis plant. Unlike THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), CBD doesn’t get you high.
CBD is a non-psychoactive compound meaning it doesn’t alter your mind in the same way THC does, e.g., doesn’t give you the euphoric feeling. Whilst THC promotes the ‘high’ you associate with cannabis, CBD promotes well-being.
The Science Behind CBD
CBD works by interacting with the endocannabinoid system which is a complex network of cell receptors and neurotransmitters that maintain the nervous systems and immune system; basically, the endocannabinoid system improves the communication between all those systems.
The endocannabinoid system also controls a host of biological functions such as sleep, mood, temperature, immune response, pain perception, memory, and appetite.
CBD stimulates the endocannabinoid system to produce its own cannabinoids which affect your serotonin receptors, immune system, and more providing a range of different benefits.
The Benefits of CBD
Many studies around the world have shown that CBD can be used to treat a wide range of common ailments from chronic pain all the way to acne.
Pain
CBD has been seen to alleviate pain in certain conditions, whether that be chronic or acute. It’s been shown to treat pain due to multiple sclerosis, arthritis pain, and even menstrual cramps.
Anxiety and Depression
As we know, CBD works with neurotransmitters to regulate mood and behavior, treat insomnia and increase serotonin levels. By doing this, CBD can treat anxiety and depression with few side effects.
Cancer Treatment Symptoms
The side effects that come with cancer treatments like chemotherapy can induce side effects like pain, nausea, vomiting, and lack of appetite. Studies have shown that CBD can alleviate these symptoms.
Acne
As CBD is an anti-inflammatory, it has been seen to reduce excess oil production in the sebaceous glands which can cause acne when over-produced. The anti-inflammatory properties are also great at treating skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
Heart Health
CBD can decrease blood pressure based on its stress-reducing properties by increasing blood flow through the veins in the body. This therefore can help with heart-related issues like strokes, heart attacks, and metabolic syndrome.
Other Conditions
As well as the above, CBD has been shown to benefit other health issues like Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, psychosis, and substance abuse.
CBD in the Health Sector
The World Health Organisation has determined that CBD is an effective treatment for epilepsy including some rare epilepsy syndromes that don’t respond well to medications. As well as this, CBD has been used in certain medicines to alleviate chemotherapy symptoms and multiple sclerosis.
Whilst there is still some way to go in CBD being used in western medicine, there are many studies that give evidence of how CBD may be useful in managing certain common conditions. Scientific and technological advancements continue to bring developments in the CBD industry and there are many ongoing studies. Maybe one day we will see CBD more commonly prescribed for treating more issues.
