CBD interacts with receptors in your body that regulate serotonin levels, potentially helping reduce stress and anxiety while also lessening symptoms associated with posttraumatic stress disorder and insomnia.
Consume CBD through pills, capsules and edibles such as gummies or cookies; however, experts advise using sprays or tinctures instead as these contain less sugar and allow you to dose with precision.
1. Relieves Pain
CBD interacts with receptors in your ECS to alter how your brain processes pain signals. These receptors send messages that reduce pain intensity, helping you relax and rest comfortably.
CBD also reduces muscle soreness after an intensive workout by decreasing cortisol production – as high levels of cortisol inhibit muscle growth and increase recovery times.
Furthermore, CBD contains anti-seizure properties, making it a popular choice among those suffering from two rare forms of epilepsy. Studies have also revealed its ability to help those struggling with addiction reduce drug cravings.
2. Decreases Stress
CBD interacts with ECS receptors to relieve stress by increasing neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine release, improving mood and making sleep easier – key elements for managing overall stress levels.
CBD may help alleviate anxiety and depression by stimulating the activity of your brain’s reward and pleasure centers, which in turn may alleviate their symptoms such as changes to appetite, decreased interest in activities, fatigue and difficulty sleeping.
CBD products come in various forms, including capsules and edibles. However, for optimal results experts advise using either a spray or tincture to get direct effects on the body.
3. Improves Sleep
CBD could be just what’s needed if you struggle to sleep well at night. With its anxiety-reducing properties, it may make falling asleep easier, reduce insomnia symptoms, and extend sleep duration.
CBD may also prove helpful for those living with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who experience nightmares and insomnia, by decreasing activity in their amygdala – the area of their brain responsible for panic reactions and paranoia.
CBD has proven effective at treating rare childhood epilepsy syndromes such as Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut, while studies are ongoing into its ability to treat other forms of seizures.
4. Decreases Cortisol Levels
CBD has been demonstrated to reduce cortisol levels, and thus stress, in animals. This effect occurs through inhibiting FAAH and increasing CB1 and CB2 receptor signaling; furthermore it also increases 5-HT1A receptor-mediated neurotransmission reducing stress effects.
CBD can be an invaluable aid for both athletes and non-athletes alike, providing much needed relief after workouts while aiding muscle healing more rapidly.
CBD may interact with certain medications, including blood thinners or those used to treat high blood pressure or schizophrenia. Before trying CBD for yourself if you take these drugs, consult with your physician first.
5. Reduces Appetite
CBD may offer some promising solutions when it comes to curbing appetite. According to a 2018 study, researchers discovered that CBD helped convert white fat cells into brown fat cells which have the ability to burn more calories and ultimately assist weight loss.
CBD may help curb appetite by blocking CB1 receptors. These are closely connected with food consumption and weight management.
Trials conducted using CBD have indicated its ability to reduce appetite. Results vary, as some studies showed no noticeable decrease while others reported an increase. Most of these trials included patients suffering from Dravet syndrome or Lennox-Gastaut syndrome taking antiepileptic drugs.
6. Improves Digestive Health
A properly functioning gut helps the body absorb nutrients and eliminate waste efficiently, eliminating discomforting digestive symptoms like bloating, constipation or diarrhea. CBD may provide relief by reducing inflammation and supporting an optimal gut microbiome.
CBD also affects the body’s natural endocannabinoid system, potentially helping restore balance when the gut becomes unbalanced. This may prove especially helpful for individuals suffering from leaky gut syndrome – an illness in which bacteria or other toxins enter the bloodstream and lead to serious health complications.
Always consult with a healthcare provider prior to starting any new supplement regimen, such as CBD. This is crucial because CBD may interfere with liver enzymes used to metabolize medications and alter how your body processes them.
7. Reduces Anxiety
CBD appears to reduce stress by engaging with the endocannabinoid system and modulating neurotransmitter systems such as serotonin. Furthermore, CBD can decrease physiological responses to stress such as reduced heart rate and cortisol levels.
Studies suggest that CBD may possess anxiolytic properties and help ease anxiety by impacting brain regions involved in fear responses, including the midbrain dorsal periaqueductal gray (DPAG), which regulates autonomic and behavioral responses to threat. Microinjection of CBD directly into DPAG reduced an acute increase in heart rate induced by restraint stress partially via 5-HT1AR activation.
Another study concluded that CBD significantly reduced nervousness of participants taking part in a four-minute public speaking test, in comparison to those receiving placebo treatment. More research needs to be completed in order to verify these findings.
