20 Benefits and Uses of CBD Oil (Cannabidiol)
As scientists continue to discover CBD’s potential benefits, more people are turning to this natural product for relief. Unlike popular drugs, CBD interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system by providing it with what it needs for the body to achieve homeostasis. Because of CBD’s ability to supplement this important bodily system, there are numerous benefits and uses for it for which we will touch upon here shortly.
CBD’s potential to treat common ailments has made it extremely popular among natural enthusiasts. According to medical researchers, CBD can be taken daily without putting the user at risk of physical dependency. Additionally, it’s widely believed that CBD’s side effects are minimal.
Below, you’ll discover twenty uses for CBD oil. For those who do not know, CBD oil is a highly concentrated CBD product that is potent and known to be highly effective.
Benefit #1: Relief from Anxiety
One of the most widely known benefits of CBD is its unique effects on anxiety. Countless studies have demonstrated how CBD combats anxiety and severe stress. Because of the terpenes in CBD, it can calm the nervous system while promoting a calm state of mind.
Unlike many popular anti-anxiety medications that doctors prescribe, CBD is not known to be addictive. Therefore, countless anxiety sufferers have turned to CBD for daily relief.
Benefit and Use #2: Relief from Depression
Thanks to CBD’s unique effects on the endocannabinoid system, it boasts the ability to regulate serotonin levels in the brain. In fact, various studies have confirmed that CBD has anti-depressant properties.
For decades, it’s been widely accepted that depression is the result of low serotonin levels. When this hormone is depleted, a person struggles to feel optimistic and energized. CBD naturally restores our ability to secrete serotonin thanks to the way in which it interacts with the brain’s neurotransmitters.
Benefit and Use #3: Sleep Aid
CBD combats insomnia in a variety of ways. For one thing, CBD supplements the endocannabinoid system. This system is responsible for regulating our sleep cycle. When this system is depleted, our bodies can lose the ability to secrete the hormones that are necessary for us to fall asleep. CBD also calms the nervous system, making it easier to fall asleep after a stressful day.
Many studies have demonstrated CBD’s ability to act as a natural sleep aid. Best of all, compared to popular sleep medications, CBD is less likely to leave a person feeling drowsy the next day.
Benefit and Use #4: Analgesic
Thanks to the unique way in which CBD interacts with the receptors in the brain, it can act as a natural analgesic. CBD reduces pain throughout the body by blocking pain signals from reaching the brain through the nervous system. For this reason, many people rely on CBD to treat chronic pain conditions.
Benefit and Use #5: Anti-Inflammatory
CBD is well-known for its incredibly powerful anti-inflammatory properties that come from its unique chemical composition. Because of its anti-inflammatory activity, CBD is often sold as a topical pain reliever. When taken internally, however, it has the potential to treat a wide range of chronic inflammatory conditions.
Benefit and Use #6: Treatment for Brain Injuries
Currently, CBD is being researched for its potential to reverse the damage caused by traumatic brain injuries. Currently, there is no known treatment for a concussion. However, CBD may have neuroprotective properties, meaning that it actually protects the neurons in the brain that are damaged when the head is injured.
Benefit and Use #7: Dementia Prevention
Because of its potential neuroprotective properties, CBD is currently being studied for its ability to prevent dementia. Many researchers believe that CBD can prevent brain cells from dying prematurely. CBD can also act as a treatment for dementia sufferers thanks to its ability to boost cognitive function while reducing symptoms of depression.
Benefit and Use #8: Anti-Seizure Properties
Thanks to various studies on CBD’s ability to possibly prevent seizures, the FDA has approved its first CBD-based drug. This drug treats children who suffer from epilepsy. Its ability to prevent seizures comes from its unique effects on the neurotransmitters within the brain.
Benefit and Use #9: Anti-Nausea Aid
CBD can reduce nausea and vomiting thanks to its ability to calm the digestive tract. In fact, many studies have confirmed that CBD is a powerful anti-nausea aid.
Benefit and Use #10: Appetite Stimulant
Those who struggle with a lack of appetite can benefit from using CBD. Besides boosting appetite, CBD can make eating more pleasurable. There are many conditions that cause a person to lose their appetite, putting them at risk of losing a dangerous amount of weight. CBD’s ability to stimulate appetite can help a person reduce the risk of becoming unhealthily underweight.
Benefit and Use #11: Benefits for Pets
Studies have confirmed that all mammals have an endocannabinoid system. Therefore, CBD can benefit cats and dogs. If your pet has chronic pain, anxiety, seizures or digestive troubles, CBD may be an excellent natural treatment. Today, many CBD brands make CBD products that are specially formulated for pets.
Benefit and Use #12: Relief from Side Effects Caused by Cancer Treatments
Cancer and popular cancer treatments can come with a wide array of side effects. CBD has the potential to treat many of these side effects thanks to its various health benefits. For instance, CBD can stimulate appetite in those who are receiving chemotherapy. It can also fight chronic pain, depression and anxiety.
Currently, CBD is being tested for its ability to kill cancer cells. At present, however, researchers cannot confirm whether or not CBD can act as a cancer treatment.
Benefit and Use #13: Combats Drug-Resistant Bacteria
As we speak, scientists are researching CBD’s potential to kill drug-resistant bacteria. Currently, medical researchers are trying to come up with a solution to the growing problem of bacteria that is resistant to commonly prescribed antibiotic medications. One study found that CBD has the potential to treat MRSA, a potentially life-threatening bacterial infection.
The potentially powerful antibacterial properties of CBD come from the antimicrobial activity that exists within the terpenes of the plant. Scientists believe that these antimicrobial properties act as the plant’s natural defense system against bacterial infections that could cause the plant to die.
Benefit and Use #14: Reduces Psychosis
We’ve already discussed many ways in which CBD positively affects the neurotransmitters in the brain. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that CBD has the potential to reduce instances of psychosis as well as the severity of individual psychotic episodes. This means that CBD may act as a natural treatment for those who suffer from schizophrenia. One study found that CBD was able to reduce symptoms of schizophrenia without any side effects.
Benefit and Use #15: Treatment for ADD and ADHD
According to medical researchers, both ADD and ADHD are caused by elevated cortisol levels and decreased dopamine levels in the brain. CBD, therefore, has the potential to treat both of these conditions thanks to its natural ability to lower cortisol levels while increasing dopamine levels.
One study found that adults with ADHD found relief after consuming CBD. Another study stated that CBD may be a useful and safe treatment option for children with ADD and ADHD.
Benefit and Use #16: Quitting Cigarettes
If you’ve been trying to kick the habit, CBD may be what you need. According to one study, those who take CBD regularly smoke less cigarettes. Scientists believe that this is because CBD reduces activity in the part of the brain that is stimulated when a person craves nicotine.
Benefit and Uses #17: Fights Free Radicals
CBD is known for its high level of antioxidants. These antioxidants fight cell damage by preventing free radicals from causing oxidative stress. Antioxidants are known to prevent cancer because of their ability to protect the cells in the body.
Benefit and Use #18: Helps with Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome
Because of its powerful anti-inflammatory properties, CBD can treat IBS. CBD is considered relatively safe to consume in large doses, meaning that a person can ingest enough CBD at one time for its anti-inflammatory properties to drastically reduce inflammation along the digestive tract.
Benefit and Use #19: Skincare
Many believe that CBD has a promising future in the skincare industry. For one thing, its high level of antioxidants means that it can fight the physical signs of aging by preventing premature death of skin cells. Plus, its anti-inflammatory properties can reduce skin conditions caused by inflammation such as acne and eczema.
Benefit and Use #20: Heart
CBD may have the ability to boost cardiovascular health. One study found that CBD improved the cardiovascular systems of diabetic mice. It’s believed that this has to do with CBD’s antioxidant properties as well as its ability to lower stress levels that can be taxing on the heart.
From beating inflammation to lowering stress levels, it seems like CBD can do it all.
With such an enormous range of benefits and uses, we hope that CBD becomes more widely accepted as a natural alternative to a wide array of popular medications.