Everyone seems to be talking about the wonderful health benefits of CBD oil! Even though people are having great success with it for many different kinds of health concerns, it’s really more of a food than a medicine.
What exactly is CBD?
CBD stands for cannabidiol, one of the many chemical compounds found in hemp or cannabis. CBD oil is typically derived from hemp, as hemp does not contain the chemical compound tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, which is the psychoactive or euphoric chemical that is known for getting you “high.” Since CBD does not contain THC, there are no psychoactive/euphoric effects, and that also means it’s legal in all 50 states.
Why does CBD seem to be effective in treating almost every aliment?
So much research has been done on CBD in the past decade that we now understand that literally every cell in the human body contains CBD receptor sites. This may be the reason that CBD seems to treat so many different aliments in humans, including pain, nausea, epilepsy (for which it is one of the best treatments known if you can get the dosing right), and digestive disorders. Why would nature so completely prepare the human body for cannabidiol compounds if it weren’t meant to be a perfect medicine?
Different substances fit into different receptor sites on cells much like a key fits into a lock; when the key fits perfectly, it tells the cell to perform some action. When pain is involved, research studies suggest that cannabidiol seems to turn the pain receptor sites off, which alleviates the pain from headaches, migraines, arthritis, fibromyalgia and cancer, just to name a few. Some of the best studies found that a tolerance didn’t develop for cannabidol compounds, which means higher doses were not needed and dependence did not develop.
There have been many successful research studies using cannabidiol for psychological issues such as anxiety, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and even post-traumatic stress disorder. More tests and studies are warranted, but considering that CBD has few to no negative side effects, you may want to speak to your physician or psychiatrist about it if you’re seeking relief.
CBD also seems to have a beneficial effect for patients suffering from inflammatory issues, and, in fact, almost all disease can be linked to inflammation. Specifically, cannabidiol works with certain receptors in the gut that help digest fats, which can be helpful in treating IBS and insulin resistant diabetes.
CBD has also been linked to improving sleep, especially when insomnia is related to stress.
Hemp is also good for the environment. The plant is fast growing, like a weed, and it puts many nutrients back into the soil that can also assist future crops to thrive. In addition to being used as medicine, hemp can also be used as building material, fiber, fuel – it literally has more than 25,000 uses!
How do you know if CBD is right for you?
This article is meant to be an overview of CBD and its uses; please consult with your physician to determine if CBD is the right treatment for you.
Also be aware that if you have a job that requires periodic drug screening, you will test positive for cannabis if you use CBD oil. This is not because CBD contains THC, but because the tests used are just not very specific.
If you are nursing, pregnant or planning to become pregnant, please do not use CBD oil until further testing is done to insure its safety for you and your baby.
Please feel free to stop in at Nature’s Medicinary to learn more.
Blessings and good health! QCBN
By Dr. Susan Godman
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