CBD oil is an extract of the compound cannabidiol from Cannabis indica or Cannabis sativa plants. This oil has only become more available has increased with legalization, and many people are turning to CBD products like it for some much-hyped therapeutic properties.
What’s behind this hype? Here are five helpful uses for CBD oil and how it may help you in your everyday life!
Preventing Seizures In Certain Forms Of Epilepsy
One of the most prominent examples is how it might help those with certain kinds of epilepsy. It’s a condition in the brain that causes seizures, which are brief, severe changes in brain activity. CBD has been shown to reduce or eliminate seizures for certain forms of epilepsy in clinical trials.
The Epilepsy Foundation says that laboratory studies, anecdotal reports, and small clinical studies offer early evidence that CBD could help control seizures in conditions that don’t respond well to conventional seizure medications. The American Federal Drug Administration has approved the use of Epidiolex, a purified CBD oil extract, for treating seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, Dravet syndrome, and tuberous sclerosis complex in patients as young as one (though it is not approved by Health Canada).
Of course, always talk with your doctor before adding CBD oil or changing up prescriptions. Always be very careful with how you use CBD in your life!
CBD Oil May Improve Sleep
One of the more common conventional uses for CBD oil is as a sleep aid. Many studies show how CBD can positively affect sleep, but we’re not sure how it works yet. Research shows it does affect the sleep cycle, and it might be due to how it interacts with the receptors on the endocannabinoid system.
Regardless of the hows, many studies back up CBD oil’s power as a sleep aid. One 2017 review shows that CBD could potentially treat insomnia and excessive daytime sleepiness. Earlier research found that CBD improved the symptoms of a condition called “REM sleep behaviour disorder,” or RBD. People with RBD act out their dreams, and it often comes with nightmares and poor sleep patterns.
It’s Well-Known For Combatting Anxiety
Many people turn to CBD oil for anxiety disorder, social anxiety, panic disorder, or phobias. It doesn’t have to be an actual clinical diagnosis, though – some take CBD oil to soothe their everyday worries, too! A lot of substantial research backs up its effectiveness.
Some studies show that CBD may change how the brain’s receptors respond to serotonin, a chemical that stabilizes mood and creates feelings of happiness and well-being. The research suggests that getting the therapeutic effect for anxiety means taking high daily doses of CBD (between 150 and 600 mg).
CBD Oil Can Help People Manage Pain
Managing chronic pain is a challenge for patients and their doctors alike. CBD oil is a promising potential therapy for clinical pain management, as the effects of CBD oil on receptors in the brain may help for both relief and addiction management.
One medication approved for use in Canada, Sativex, is for multiple sclerosis (MS); it’s made from a combination of THC and CBD to treat MS pain. Even though marijuana contains psychoactive compounds, scientists think that CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties may be contributing more than simply reducing pain.
It May Work As A General Anti-Inflammatory
The effects of CBD on receptors in the immune system may help reduce inflammation in the body. One study, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, found that CBD oil prevented activity in the glands that produce sebum, an oily substance that naturally hydrates the skin. When these glands produce too much sebum, it can lead to acne. It’s something you can bring up with your dermatologist!
CBD oil, if bought from a reputable source, is safe to take. It generally does not contain THC, though you might find trace amounts in products sold on unregulated markets. You must also be very careful about the claims made by some CBD sellers – while many people benefit in the ways listed above, some companies go too far in the claims they make!