Anyone into healthy living and herbal remedies will have heard about CBD, short for Cannabidiol. CBD is the non-psychoactive element in hemp and cannabis and – according to some – it can make your day go a whole lot better.
There’s a lot of fantastic and engaging information around these days when it comes to CBD. However, some of that information is actually misinformation, and when it comes to your health, there’s zero room for that. For a start, the CBD industry is not regulated, and that presents a bunch of potential problems. Secondly, there are so many different types of CBD in terms of the way it’s extracted; not to mention up to ten various delivery forms. So to cut a long story short, we are presenting some simple, easy-to-read information to show you how CBD could make your day go that bit better.
Due to being prohibited for decades, only limited research and clinical trials have been carried out on cannabis and hemp. The good news is that there are some robust clinical trials, on mice and humans, that give science-based evidence of the efficacy of CBD. CBD interacts with the Endocannabinoid System present in humans which regulates things like sleep, mood, and appetite. Many people across the world who suffer from things like anxiety, chronic pain, and insomnia, swear by CBD as their go-to solution. CBD is both non-toxic and non-addictive and can be taken on a daily basis safely and effectively.
Anxiety
Anxiety is a horrible thing to suffer from and can completely ruin a person’s quality of life. CBD is used by many anxious people or those who suffer from panic attacks as a go-to rescue remedy of sorts. After taking CBD, either by mouth or via the lungs, many users report a feeling of calm and relation – both mentally and physically. And there is science to back up the claim that CBD can work for anxiety.
A 2008 study, carried out by JR Nash Et Al. found that “Panic disorder is associated with reduced 5-HT(1A) receptor availability, which is also known to have a key role in depression.” Without going into the technical details of that study, it looked at the way CBD impacted selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). This study, as well as some other, have proved a connection between CBD and anxiety, but user experiences in this area are more compelling. For anxiety sufferers, CBD has to be a port of call that needs to be tried.
Insomnia
There are few things in life worse than insomnia. Human beings need the right amount of good quality to function properly and effectively during the day, and CBD can help with this. While prescription sleeping pills are highly addictive, lead to dependence, and are bad for health, some people simply have no choice but to take them. Those who have discovered CBD, however, are also able to enjoy a good night’s sleep but without any of the nasty pharmaceutical side-effects.
A 2003 study by Murillo-Rodriguez and colleagues, entitled “Anandamide enhances extracellular levels of adenosine and induces sleep” found some interesting conclusions about CBD and its effect on the sleep cycle. The basic conclusion was that “Anandamide increased adenosine levels in the basal forebrain and also increased sleep.” This was connected to the CB1 receptors inside human organs that actually receive cannabis compounds and direct them to the right part of the body.
Pain
For people with chronic pain, life is no picnic, and that’s an understatement. It’s near on impossible to be productive during one’s day when they are in the midst of a chronic pain attack, wherever it may strike. From sciatica to nerve damage, and through to back pain, it’s impossible to live life with such conditions and smile. That’s why many people use CBD for pain, and it’s all backed by science.
A fascinating 2006 study carried out by J. Manzanares Et al. looked at the “Role of the Cannabinoid System in Pain Control and Therapeutic Implications for the Management of Acute and Chronic Pain Episodes. the study found that “CB1 receptors are present in nervous system areas involved in modulating nociception and evidence supports a role of the endocannabinoids in pain modulation.” This suggests that even though more research is required, compounds in cannabis and hemp can work to relieve the symptoms of pain.
Final Thoughts
While the science might not be entirely substantial to date, there is reliable and compelling evidence that CBD and other cannabis and hemp compounds are useful in the treatment of things like pain, anxiety, and sleeplessness. Always ensure that the CBD you are buying is backed by bonafide third-party lab-results, showing its safety and potency.
