With cannabis legislation becoming increasingly lenient and with our continually expanding understanding of the beneficial effects of various forms of cannabis, Cannabidiol — or CBD — has become one of the hottest cannabis trends for the past few years. And for a good reason: the therapeutic potential for this cannabis product is very promising. So, could CBD be right for you? This article will explain what CBD is and its potential medical benefits.
What is CBD?
CBD is one of many chemicals (called cannabinoids) in the cannabis plant. Cannabinoids interact with cannabinoid receptors in your body and produce several different effects. It is these interactions that enable potentially beneficial medical effects. THC, one of the most common cannabinoids, is responsible for the “high” you get from cannabis. It has a psychoactive effect. Unlike THC, CBD is not psychoactive and does not produce a “high.” But it does have many potential medical effects.
1 Reducing Inflammation
CBD is a natural anti-inflammatory and reduces muscle soreness. This means that it can help during the recovery process from sports injuries or other inflammation issues. If you are a strength training athlete, you may find CBD useful in helping you to recover from a big gym session since it also helps cell regeneration.
2 Managing Stress
From challenging jobs to family issues to worrying about money, sometimes everything seems stressful. Strategies to cope with stress is a whole other article, but CBD can be helpful on those extra stressful days. CBD has calming properties that let you relax and may decrease symptoms of anxiety. Microdosing with edibles may be especially effective for managing your daily stress. Edibles allow you to take CBD discreetly while providing a standardized dose, so you know how much you’re taking.
3 Improving sleep
Are you getting enough sleep? Almost a third of adults today are not getting the recommended amount of sleep, even though studies consistently show that sleep is one of the most important aspects of our health. CBD has a relaxing effect, not just on your mind, but also on your body. Taking any of these CBD products before bed can be a helpful way to ensure you can fall asleep. CBD drops are perfect for this — take a few drops on your tongue before bed, and they’ll start having a calming effect within a few minutes.
4 Quitting smoking and opioid addictions
Some studies have shown that CBD can help you quit smoking and other addictive substances like opioids. It does this by helping treat the withdrawal symptoms that you experience when you cut back on an addictive substance. For example, when you quit smoking after your body is used to nicotine, you experience some uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, depressive symptoms, and irritability. CBD’s calming effects can help counter those withdrawal symptoms and make it easier to keep from smoking. There is also evidence that CBD or these kratom products helps reduce the uncomfortable symptoms from opioid withdrawal and can help people kick addictions to some narcotics. Vaping may be an especially effective way to take CBD if you’re quitting smoking since it helps simulate the physical sensations of smoking.
5 Pain
The research on CBD is still quite limited, but several studies on CBD suggests that it can help with several types of pain, including arthritis and chronic pain. The best part? Unlike many pain medications, CBD does not seem to be addictive. And, it appears that your body does not build up a tolerance against it, meaning that you do not have to increase the dose needed for relief continually. There are several ways to take CBD for pain relief. Take oral CBD for chronic pain, or try this topical CBD product for joint pain and muscle soreness.
Final Thoughts
CBD has many potential beneficial effects. But, keep in mind that, like with any possible medicine, it’s best to talk to your doctor before trying it. Also, remember that the legal status of cannabis and cannabis derivatives, like CBD, is changing in many countries (including the U.S.). Avoid legal issues by ensuring that it is legal to get and to use where you are.
About The Article Contributor:
Ramsay Lewis is a writer and researcher currently based in Curitiba, Brazil. He is interested in health and technology issues and loves camping, samba, and learning Portuguese. Ramsay writes content for Crisp Text.
