What is CBD oil? Know the health benefits of this oil derived from cannabis

Cannabidiol oil, or CBD oil derived from cannabis, is a popular natural remedy for many ailments. CBD oil benefits include pain relief and relaxation without any mind-altering effects. According to data from more than 45,000 people who took the International Cannabis Policy Survey, CBD oil is the most popular way to consume CBD.

What is CBD Oil?

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is one of about 540 active ingredients found in the cannabis plant. CBD oil is made by extracting it from the cannabis plant and diluting it with a carrier oil like coconut oil or hemp seed oil. It’s one of more than 100 chemical compounds called cannabinoids that are found in the cannabis plant, Cannabis sativa. But the CBD oil used in most over-the-counter (OTC) products is extracted from hemp. Hemp is a word used to describe any cannabis plant that contains less than 0.3% THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol).

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the main psychoactive cannabinoid found in cannabis, which means it causes the sensation of getting high that’s often associated with cannabis. However, unlike THC, CBD is not psychoactive. CBD can be found in various products online and in stores, including dietary supplements, bath soaks, drinks, and food.

Uses of CBD Oil:

Many CBD-infused products boast of benefits ranging from relief of anxiety, pain, insomnia, and menstrual cramps to clearing your skin, staving off aging, and bulking up your bones. But scientific research is less clear on whether cannabis oil reliably provides these health boons. There are various ways of using CBD Oil, such as:

Swallowing CBD oil: CBD passes through the digestive system when swallowed, and is metabolised by the liver. This sends its active compounds throughout the body over several hours. One can consume CBD oil in drops, tinctures, and capsules, or added to foods and beverages, such as gummy candies and coffee. CBD can also be taken as a powder that manufacturers produce by removing all plant matter to create a crystalline substance that has no taste or odour.

Drops of CBD oil under the tongue: Another popular way to take CBD is to place a few drops of the oil or tincture, or a small bit of the powder, under the tongue and hold it there for several seconds. This allows the bloodstream to rapidly absorb the active ingredients into the bloodstream through the mucous membranes in the mouth.

Vaporizing and inhaling CBD oil: CBD can be inhaled by vaporizing the oil or by adding the oil to e-cigarettes or tobacco and smoking them. Inhaled CBD enters the bloodstream rapidly through the lungs, avoiding the digestive system. Due to this reason, “vaping” has been a popular way of using CBD.

Applying CBD oil to the skin: One can rub CBD-infused products such as oils onto the skin, which may help relieve pain and reduce inflammation directly where necessary. Topical products include creams, salves, patches, shampoos, suppositories, lip balms, bath salts, and personal lubricants.

Benefits of using CBD oil:

Despite some side-effects, there are several benefits of using CBD oil, such as:

Pain relief: CBD may help with easing chronic pain. Cannabis has been used to treat pain for long. Researchers believe that components like CBD may be responsible for these effects. Not only can it help the pain itself, but it may also improve sleep and quality of life for people living with chronic pain. This is likely due to its anti-inflammatory effects. CBD may help reduce chronic pain by targeting endocannabinoid receptor activity, reducing inflammation, and interacting with neurotransmitters. Preclinical evidence also suggests that it may be effective on rheumatic diseases like fibromyalgia. Oral CBD may help prevent nerve pain caused by certain types of chemotherapy treatment. More in-depth research on CBD and nerve pain is ongoing.

Anxiety: Anxiety is one of the most common reasons people turn to CBD oil. In a survey of young adults, over 65% of participants reported using CBD for stress relief. There’s some evidence that CBD can help reduce anxiety related to pain as well as social and performance-related anxiety. There’s some evidence CBD doses under 300 mg may be less effective for anxiety. But responses may vary between people, and an optimal dosing regimen hasn’t been clearly established.

Depression: Apart from easing anxiety, preliminary studies on CBD suggest that it could be helpful for depression. Like antidepressant medications, it appears to alter serotonin levels in the brain.

Insomnia: Although early research shows CBD may help improve sleep in people with insomnia, the results of current clinical studies on CBD and sleep are mixed. It’s possible that CBD may be more likely to improve sleep issues related to an underlying health condition, such as anxiety or pain. Many of the studies showing a positive effect of CBD on sleep were based on patient surveys rather than clinical data. So it’s possible that CBD’s relaxing effects made people think that they slept better, even if their actual sleep patterns didn’t change.

Seizure disorders: Epidiolex is the only FDA-approved form of CBD. It treats certain types of seizures in adults and children. But Epidiolex isn’t the same thing as the CBD oil you can buy OTC. Epidiolex has strict manufacturing guidelines and clinically proven dosing information that can’t be applied to other CBD products. So these two products aren’t interchangeable.

Epilepsy: CBD is also being studied for other epilepsy and other seizure-related conditions — especially those that don’t respond well to prescription antiseizure medications.

Schizophrenia: Several small trials show that CBD may help lessen symptoms of psychosis with fewer side effects than most other antipsychotic medications.

Substance use disorders: Studies have found that CBD may help people with substance use disorders. CBD may reduce cravings for alcohol, opioids, and stimulants. It may also help lessen opioid withdrawal symptoms. However, trying to manage substance use disorders or withdrawal symptoms on your own isn’t typically the safest or most effective choice. A medical professional can help you choose the best treatments for your specific needs and help you incorporate CBD safely if they determine it’s a good option for you.

Inflammation and autoimmune conditions: CBD seems to have a powerful effect on inflammation. It also may help regulate immune system activity. This may make it a helpful treatment for conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, inflammatory bowel disease (although study results are mixed), and multiple sclerosis. However, as these are often complex health conditions, while CBD may help improve your symptoms, it’s not likely to be an effective treatment on its own. It is advisable to check with your prescriber to make sure it’s safe to take CBD with your other treatments before giving it a try.


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