CBD can be beneficial in treating various conditions, including pain, anxiety and dystonia – muscle disorder in which muscles contract without control – in addition to helping with depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Choose products made by companies with Good Manufacturing Practices (a requirement for pharmaceutical drugs but optional for supplements) that perform rigorous quality and safety testing on each batch, testing every batch to ensure quality and safety. Look for certificates of analysis linked directly from product pages.
1. Relieves pain
CBD interacts with neurotransmitters to relieve chronic pain from arthritis or nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy). Studies indicate it may also reduce muscle spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis; an FDA has approved CBD-THC product known as nabiximols for this use.
Research on CBD shows it may help with both inflammation and discomfort associated with other conditions, like cancer or HIV, while simultaneously decreasing nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy treatments.
CBD products come in pill, edibles, sprays and oils forms. While edibles contain too much sugar and may negatively impact health, sprays and tinctures are easy to consume sublingually and quickly absorbed by your bloodstream.
2. Reduces anxiety
CBD has been shown to significantly decrease anxiety in multiple studies, making it possibly more effective than medications. CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system to control mood and stress, and also influences neurotransmitters in the brain, seemingly improving your emotional well-being by decreasing physiological responses such as heart rate and cortisol levels – this may also help with sleep quality or combating depression.
Implementing CBD therapy for anxiety and depression requires careful experimentation in order to find the most appropriate dosage and frequency. You should always consult your doctor first when trying anything new, particularly if you take blood thinners or other medicines requiring stable levels in your blood; some CBD products could potentially interfere with these medicines and lead to false positive drug tests.
3. Helps with sleep
CBD acts on the body’s endocannabinoid system, which is a neural network responsible for managing functions such as sleep, appetite and pain control. Studies have demonstrated its efficacy at improving insomnia for people living with chronic pain and anxiety as well as helping those who struggle to fall or remain asleep at night.
CBD has also been found to decrease nightmares among those with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), though more research needs to be conducted in this area. One study discovered that CBD may help with schizophrenia symptoms by decreasing positive psychotic symptoms like hallucinations and delusion.
CBD should always be taken under medical advice and in consultation with a doctor, to avoid interactions. CBD may interfere with how your liver metabolizes certain drugs and should only ever be taken if your physician approves.
4. Lowers blood pressure
High blood pressure can be caused by many different factors, including stress, diet and genetics. While CBD may not cure hypertension entirely, it can help ease its symptoms and promote overall wellness.
CBD can directly impact blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels and decreasing heart rate. A study published in 2020 demonstrated how CBD reduced resting blood pressure as well as stress tests (mental arithmetic, isometric exercise, cold pressor test).
Research must still be completed to confirm these findings, so until then those taking blood pressure medications should consult their physician before adding CBD into their regimen. CBD may interact with some medications by competing for liver enzymes that break them down; this could affect those taking blood thinners, antiepileptics or immunosuppressants among others.
5. Reduces inflammation
CBD can help many people manage the symptoms of chronic inflammation. Unlike glucocorticoids, which act by suppressing inflammation responses, CBD induces production of anti-inflammatories called lipid mediators by the body itself.
Reduce inflammation and pain for an attractive alternative for athletes looking to reduce delayed-onset muscle soreness while improving recovery times after workouts.
Studies demonstrate that CBD helps those struggling with substance misuse disorders reduce drug cravings, while potentially prolonging life for those diagnosed with glioblastoma cancer.
