Medical marijuana seems to be the hot topic of this year. As of this year, 30 states have legalized medical marijuana containing the chemical with the chemical THC that makes you feel high.
But did you know that cannabidiol extracts and oil products are legal in almost all states, not just ones that have legalized medical marijuana usage? Cannabidiol, aka CBD, is another chemical found in weed that provides many of the medical benefits of weed without getting you high.
Because it can’t get you high, CBD extract is commonly used regularly, even daily, for its many medical benefits. Let’s look at 7 of the most common uses for CBD oil.
1. Reduce Anxiety
CBD’s ability to calm anxiety is one of its most lauded properties. Over 40 million people suffer from anxiety in the United States alone. Many treatments for anxiety include addictive medications with dangerous and negative side effects.
CBD has few side effects and huge benefits for anxiety sufferers. CBD interacts with a receptor in our brain called CB1. It’s thought that this interaction alters how our brain releases and absorbs serotonin, which leads to calming and anti-anxiety effects.
One study showed that patients using CBD oil had a significant reduction in their feelings and symptoms of anxiety. It’s even been shown to help particular anxiety disorders like PTSD and OCD.
2. Pain Relief
Another common use for CBD is for pain relief. When CBD oil is taken or applied topically, the chemical interacts with pain receptors to reduce pain and decrease inflammation (a common cause of pain).
CBD extract can be used to treat pain ranging from muscle soreness to intense chronic pain to migraines. Classic pain treatments usually involve medications that can be extremely addictive, like opiates or benzos.
CBD has been shown to be as (and more, in some cases) effective as classic pain treatment methods. It has applications for chronic pain, chronic conditions like arthritis and nerve pain, as well as for muscle soreness.
Try applying it via oils, lotions, creams, or even bath salts. Check out your options on this site.
3. Acne Treatment
Acne isn’t just a teenage annoyance, over 50 million people deal with acne at some point every year. CBD oil can be applied to acne to provide relief.
It’s thought that CBD helps reduce inflammation that leads to acne. One study also showed that CBD can reduce the amount of sebum (aka the oily stuff that causes acne) made by your skin, which also can reduce acne.
4. Anti-Seizure Properties
If you’ve ever seen those viral videos of young children having intense seizures suddenly calmed by the administration of a medical marijuana oil, it’s almost guaranteed that they were given CBD oil. Since CBD oil and extract doesn’t contain any THC (the stuff that gets you high), it can be used on patients of all ages.
One study showed that patients using CBD reduced epileptic patients’ seizure activity by almost 37%. Another study showed that patients taking CBD has a significant reduction in seizure length and duration compared to patients not taking CBD.
Not only can CBD reduce seizures, but it can generally reduce convulsions as well. This has great applications for those suffering from disorders like multiple sclerosis (MS). One study showed that CBD reduced spasms in MS patients by a whopping 75%.
5. CBD as an Antidepressant
When we spoke about using CBD for anxiety, we mentioned that it’s believed that CBD interacts with serotonin pathways in the brain allowing for more serotonin to be released and absorbed.
Low levels of serotonin are linked to depression. Boosting and influencing serotonin pathways via CBD can help reduce feelings and symptoms of depression.
Multiple studies have shown the antidepressant effects of CBD which makes it a common choice for treatment, especially since classic treatment methods usually involve addictive drugs with negative side effects.
6. Anti-inflammatory
Inflammation is a natural physical response that’s supposed to help us defend against invading pathogens, heal wounds, and fight off infection. However, excessive or improper inflammation can lead to pain and has been linked to chronic disease, including:
- Arthritis
- Heart disease
- Colitis
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Chronic pain
Reducing inflammation can help reduce your risk of developing these diseases, provide pain relief, and reduce symptoms caused by chronic inflammation. Using a cannabis oil pill, topical CBD oil, and other CBD extracts has been shown to reduce inflammation.
We’ve also already mentioned some other benefits of CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties: acne treatment and pain relief, just to name a few.
7. Antioxidant Properties
And last, but certainly not least, are the amazing antioxidant properties of CBD. When the body is under stress, molecules called “free radicals” or “oxidants” are created. These can then cause major damage to your DNA and your cells, which can lead to a number of disorders, including:
- Cancer
- Reduced immune health
- Cardiovascular disease
- Respiratory issues
- Diabetes
- Decline in vision due to age and/or disease
- Autoimmune disease
Since all of these things are linked to oxidative stress and the oxidants produced by it, you’ve probably heard all of the hype about getting enough antioxidants. Antioxidants work to neutralize any oxidants that are generated in the body before they can damage your cells and result in disease or illness.
CBD has antioxidant properties that can help protect you against the damaging free radicals. Studies show that CBD can not only reduce oxidative stress, but also potentially prevent disorders that are the result of oxidative stress as well.
Uses for CBD Extract: Wrapping Up
There’s no such thing as a miracle medicine, but CBD extract comes pretty darn close. It can help your anxiety, depression, acne, inflammation, and chronic pain all in one go. Not too shabby for a natural product with only a few side effects, right?
If you want to know more about this topic, check out our other articles on the topic. You can also look up some more information about health and wellness on our website, or simply contact us with any further questions!
