Medical marijuana is becoming a more mainstream alternative to over-the-counter and prescription drugs, and as its healing benefits become more widely known, more people are choosing to opt for it instead. 

CBD is a cannabinoid—a chemical compound—found in the cannabis plant. It’s a non-psychoactive compound, meaning it doesn’t give you that “high” feeling that is commonly associated with marijuana, but it does have many health benefits to both the body and mind. CBD is extracted from the cannabis plant into an oil and is usually diluted with a carrier oil like hemp oil or coconut oil.

You can take CBD in many different forms, including gel capsules, supplements, tinctures, topical creams, wax, edibles, and sprays, but raw CBD oil is the most widely available form and usually has the most concentrated CBD amount. Cancalm CBD raw oil is one example of oil, and all you have to do is drop it under your tongue, so it gets absorbed into your bloodstream. The longer you keep it in your mouth, the more effective it will be, so try and keep it there as long as possible before swallowing. 

In terms of dosage, it depends on your individual needs. It’s always best to start with a microdose so you can properly gauge your sensitivity to it, and then increase the amount within the dosage range until your symptoms diminish. It’s never advisable to take more than the recommended dosage, especially if you’re fairly new to CBD oil. Depending on how you ingest it, the effects of CBD can last anywhere from one to eight hours and take about 30 to 60 minutes to take effect. Be sure to consult your doctor if you’re taking any other medicines so you can confirm it won’t cause any negative effects when mixed.

As far as CBD oil goes, you can discover everything you need to know about the health benefits of CBD oil, including a diverse range of CBD hemp flower products available here.

All the Health Benefits of CBD Oil
Images are for illustration. Note: Not actual CBD oil depicted here.

CBD As A Preventative Medicine

Scientific research is still being conducted on the preventative effects of CBD, but there have been some studies that suggest it can work to help prevent some diseases. 

One study in particular shows that people who regularly use cannabis have a lower body mass index and a reduced risk of obesity and diabetes, but this includes both CBD and THC. When testing CBD on its own on lab rats, the number of rats with diabetes decreased, prompting further trials using CBD to treat diabetes. Of course, because this has only been seen in animal testing, it isn’t completely conclusive that it will work in humans, although there is great promise that CBD may help prevent diabetes. 

NOW READ  How Modern Lifestyles Drive The Need For Relaxation

Similar results were found for breast, bladder, and colon cancer, where CBD use decreases the likelihood of developing these types of cancers. There is also evidence to suggest that CBD use may also help protect against bone disease and brain degeneration, and can protect the skin from acne and environmental pollutants, thanks to its sebum-regulating properties. 

CBD For Anxiety And Depression

The effects of CBD have been shown to lessen anxiety, stress, and depression, as it affects the part of the brain responsible for mood and social interaction. Doctors do advise people with chronic anxiety and severe depression to avoid THC, but CBD on its own can help people suffering from PTSD, OCD, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and substance abuse disorders. It also helps reduce depression by increasing the amount of serotonin signaling in the brain, which is what people with depression lack. 

CBD For Insomnia

For those who are suffering from disruptive sleeping habits or ailments, CBD might be helpful. Just under 75% of American cannabis users surveyed say they use it to help them sleep, and if that’s indicative of overall cannabis users, it’s quite a large percentage of people who use it for that. There’s a reason for it too, as CBD has been shown to improve insomnia and help people sleep more without using sleeping pills. Some studies suggest that CBD helps people fall asleep faster and gives them a better quality of sleep. 

CBD For Epileptic Seizures

Cannabidiol is most known in the medical community for its effects on epileptic seizures. CBD has been proven to successfully treat children aged two and over, as well as adults, who have drug-resistant types of epilepsy. CBD is effective when the other treatments are not, and one study, showed a decrease in the frequency of seizures by 23%. It’s effective for reducing the number of seizures people have, and can also help treat the complications that come from having epilepsy, including neuronal injury and neurodegeneration. 

CBD For Chronic Pain

One of the main properties of CBD is its effective anti-inflammatory properties, which can be used to treat chronic pain and prevent the degeneration of the nervous system. It’s so effective that in Canada, it’s been approved for the treatment of cancer pain and multiple sclerosis pain and is prescribed by doctors. CBD significantly reduces inflammation and pain for people suffering from fibromyalgia, arthritis, sciatica, and migraines.

Featured photo by Caleb Simpson on Unsplash.

Published by Mike

Avid tech enthusiast, gadget lover, marketing critic and most importantly, love to reason and talk.