Back in 2012 a CBD product was developed for a little girl suffering from hundreds of seizures a week. The product is called Charlotte’s Web (named after the girl) and it helped to manage the seizures more than any other medication did – but we should also mention that they used a combination of CBD, terpenes, and essential oils.
This isn’t to say that CBD is a guaranteed medicine for seizures, but from the look of things, the compound has some amazing medicinal value for treating neurological conditions. If you don’t believe me, check out this FDA-approved CBD drug for epilepsy.
CBD has been studied for its effects on pain, anxiety, depression, and a host of other conditions affecting millions of people today. The biggest selling point for CBD is the fact that it doesn’t make the user high; so naturally, it can be used by anybody and not affect your ability to work or remain mentally alert. (It doesn’t even show up on drug tests!)
How can I use CBD to manage my condition?
To understand some of the ways CBD can be useful as an alternative medicine, let’s take a look at some of the most common ailments, and the effect of the compound in the body.
1) CBD gets rid of period pain
If you’ve ever had those painful periods, or any cramping as a result of PMS, then using CBD oil can help to regulate hormonal function in a way that reduces period pain. There are many kinds of therapies used to manage period pain, but many of these treatments combine different methods such as essential oils to reduce pain and crumps; but what makes CBD more effective is the fact that it targets the hormones directly through the endocannabinoid system (ECS).
This is important because the endocrine system and the ECS are responsible for regulating mood, pain, sleep, hunger, cognitive function, and many other processes that are altered during PMS. By regulating the hormones, CBD is able to reduce many of the symptoms associated with PMS.
2) CBD reduces anxiety
Another major reason for people using CBD today is anxiety. As much as a third of the U.S. population has some experience with anxiety, and for many of these people, the challenge of finding effective medication through pharmaceuticals has led them to try alternative treatments.
For an anxious person experiencing anxiety in big groups or in a public setting, taking CBD an hour before such an event can reduce symptoms of anxiety significantly. It works by modulating the hormones associated with anxiety – so in the case of stress hormones like cortisol, CBD reduces the production of said hormones and triggers the endocannabinoid system to release more serotonin, which makes you feel calmer and more content.
3) CBD improves quality of sleep
With so many people dealing with stress and chronic pain, being able to sleep through the night can be challenging. Again, with a reduction of anxiety and stress levels, you’re more likely to sleep through the night. CBD regulates the production of melatonin, a sleep hormone that is often disrupted by stress, age, disease, and many more factors. Taking CBD about an hour before sleep can increase quality of sleep significantly, without causing any dependency (because CBD is anti-addictive).
4) CBD improves mood
One of the downsides of hormonal disruption is the fact that it causes a change in mood. When this happens, energy levels start to drop, and cognitive function is impaired. Productivity goes down, and any project that you’re working on; whether at home or work, is severely affected. Using CBD regularly can keep your mood levels normal and help to prevent conditions that may arise from it (such as depression).
Having that overall sense of wellbeing is important to our health, and what many people forget is the fact that hormones play a big role in maintaining our physical and mental health; and we must pay attention to any changes in the hormones in order to keep our health in check.
5) CBD prevents insulin resistance
Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes have the same origin: too much blood sugar. The human body uses insulin to regulate blood glucose levels, and when you eat, the pancreas produces a certain amount of insulin, which triggers the cells to take in glucose from the food to use for energy. Most cases of diabetes involve type 2 diabetes, which occurs when cells don’t respond to insulin.
This is what’s called insulin resistance, and it leads to too much glucose circulating in the blood, depriving the cells of essential energy. CBD oil may have a positive effect on insulin function and reduce the chances of acquiring type 2 diabetes in humans.
Although CBD is still being studied for its medicinal value, there’s plenty of data supporting its use in treating common ailments. We’ve outlined several CBD publications from renowned authorities at the bottom to give you a better idea of how CBD works, and how it’s used.
To learn more about how CBD works, and how it can improve your health, check out our articles on CBDCentral.com.
Sources:
https://www.healthline.com/health/cbd-ibd-research
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319475.php
https://www.livescience.com/65811-what-is-cbd.html
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jul/01/cannabis-medical-cannabidiol-cbd-uk-consumers
