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As people pay more attention to health, CBD has gradually entered the public eye. Nowadays, CBD is very popular among people for its numerous benefits.
What is CBD oil?
Cannabidiol, or CBD, is an all-natural ingredient extracted from the cannabis plant. It can be supplied as CBD oil. CBD oil has many benefits. It can be used as an anti-inflammatory drug. It can treat anxiety and insomnia. At the same time, CBD oil can also protect the nerves to a certain extent.
CBD Oil Benefits
The benefits of CBD are numerous. Some of the most common effects are listed below.
1. Pain relief
One of the reasons for the popularity of CBD is its role in treating chronic pain.
There is a growing understanding of the role of CBD in pain management. Researchers have conducted numerous animal studies. This evidence suggests that CBD works with receptors in the brain to block the transmission of pain signals, thereby relieving pain.
According to related research, CBD can treat a variety of body inflammatory conditions.
In addition, it is an excellent alternative to severe pain medication prescribed to patients.
2. Mental health
CBD can make people feel relaxed and calm. Therefore, this is one of the reasons for the popularity of CBD.
The researchers conducted related experiments. The people involved in the experiment were afraid of public speaking. Researchers set up two control groups in this experiment. One group took a placebo, while the other group took CBD.
The results showed that those who took CBD experienced significantly lowered levels of anxiety during public speaking. For those who took the placebo, the effect of reducing their anxiety was not so obvious.
Therefore, from the experimental results, CBD can indeed help people reduce anxiety and promote mental health.
3. Cancer symptom relief
Research shows that CBD can help relieve some cancer-related symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and pain.
At present, there are relevant studies showing that CBD can indeed reduce some cancer-related symptoms. However, a lot more research is needed before CBD can be used on a large scale.
Cancer patients have been plagued by some of the symptoms of cancer. The advent of CBD brings at least some hope to cancer patients.
4. Neuroprotection
CBD can protect nerves to a certain extent. It can reduce damage to the brain and nervous system. CBD protects the brain by acting on the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and other brain signaling systems.
Studies have shown that CBD can bind to ECS receptors and stimulate the production of dopamine. This helps treat Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease is generally caused by insufficient dopamine secretion with aging. Therefore, stimulating the production of dopamine can alleviate the symptoms of the disease.
Moreover, CBD also boosts brain adenosine levels. Adenosine reduces inflammation and protects nerves.
5. Heart health
Heart disease is the number one killer that threatens human life and health. Cardiovascular disease ranks first in the world’s mortality rate for a long time. At the same time, it is one of the major diseases that threaten the health of people in the whole world.
In recent years, researchers have discovered that CBD can boost heart health. This is because CBD can lower blood pressure. CBD works to protect the heart by treating oxidative stress and reducing inflammation.
6. Alzheimer’s disease
As mentioned earlier, CBD can play a role in protecting nerves. Alzheimer’s is a disease of the nervous system. Therefore, CBD can also help treat Alzheimer’s disease.
The progressive atrophy of the hippocampus is a major cause of short-term memory loss in Alzheimer’s disease. Using CBD can boost blood flow to the brain. And CBD can increase cerebral blood flow to areas critical for memory processing, particularly the hippocampus. And CBD will play an important role in it.
This identifies the potential therapeutic mechanism of CBD. That is to say, CBD can effectively treat diseases including Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
7. Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a disease of the central nervous system. The patient’s brain activity becomes abnormal, leading to seizures or unusual behavior. Patients also sometimes lose consciousness.
CBD products under the Epidiolex brand are effective in treating epilepsy. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the brand to manufacture CBD products.
The researchers conducted related experiments. Several patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome or Dravet syndrome received Epidiolex or placebo. After participants took Epidiolex, the frequency of seizures was significantly reduced. But the participants who took the placebo were less effective at suppressing their seizures.
8. Type 1 diabetes
Globally, the number of people with diabetes is increasing year by year. Diabetes seriously affects people’s health and life. Although lifestyle changes and medication can often help stabilize blood sugar levels. However, many are considering CBD as an alternative.
People develop type 1 diabetes because the immune system attacks the cells in the pancreas, causing inflammation. Research shows that the use of CBD can relieve this inflammation. It can also prevent or delay the onset of type 1 diabetes.
In fact, some studies suggest that CBD may help control blood sugar, reduce stress and anxiety, and promote cardiovascular health. These benefits are important for people with diabetes. Other research suggests that CBD may help people prevent type 1 diabetes.
9. Acne
The anti-inflammatory properties of CBD can provide relief from a variety of skin conditions, including eczema.
The findings suggest that CBD has anti-inflammatory properties. This property can interact with cannabinoid receptors to produce various physiological effects. Therefore, CBD helps to regulate pain and itching.
These properties and interactions help suppress sebum production and reduce acne breakouts. As a result, it helps to treat acne and fight inflammation to reduce irritation.
Possible CBD Oil Side Effects
Numerous experiments have shown that CBD can be safely absorbed by the human body. The World Health Organization has also recognized it as a safe ingredient. Even so, CBD may still have side effects for a small number of people. Common side effects are as follows:
- Diarrhea
- Reduced appetite
- Drowsiness and fatigue
CBD can also react with some types of Western medicines. So if you are taking other medicines, it is best to consult your doctor. It’s best to check with your doctor if there is a problem with mixing them up.
How to use CBD?
Common uses of CBD are:
Oral: capsules, foods, concentrates, etc.
The most common way to use CBD is orally. It means swallowing capsules or consuming edible CBD.
After CBD is swallowed, it is absorbed into the digestive system. After being processed by the liver and other digestive organs, only a portion of the CBD passes through these organs into the bloodstream. Only then can it be utilized by the endocannabinoid system.
Sublingual: tinctures, sprays, etc.
The method involves placing the CBD under the tongue for 30 to 60 seconds.
Humans have veins under the tongue called sublingual glands. When CBD is placed in the sublingual gland, some will be absorbed directly into the bloodstream through the sublingual gland. The rest of the swallowed portion is digested by the liver just like the oral method.
Intranasal use: e-cigarettes, vaporizers, etc.
Inhaling CBD is the more common way. This method of administration is where CBD goes directly into the bloodstream.
After inhaling CBD, it can enter the bloodstream from the lungs almost immediately. This method allows it to spread and bind to appropriate endocannabinoid receptors throughout the body. Currently, pulmonary inhalation is the most effective way of ingesting.
Topical use: mask, lotion, etc.
Applying cannabidiol directly to the skin is another popular way to use CBD. There are many CBD masks, lotions, essential oils and other topical products on the market. People use these products to relieve some symptoms, including pain and skin problems.
The mode of dermal delivery is particularly useful for pain management of chronic inflammation. In addition, this method of administration is more comfortable than other methods. Therefore, many patients with such diseases are more likely to use dermal delivery.
What CBD Oil Can Interact With?
1. Medications
Cytochrome P450 mainly exists in the liver, referred to as CYP450. It metabolizes toxins and drugs. Before a doctor prescribes a drug, the appropriate dose is usually calculated based on how the drug is metabolized in the CYP450 system.
Research has shown that CBD inhibits CYP450 from metabolizing drugs, increasing the time it takes to metabolize. Drugs stay in the body longer, resulting in high levels of the drug in the body. This therefore creates a possible side effect, namely overdose.
Blood thinning drugs
CBD prolongs the metabolism of such drugs, allowing the drug to stay and act longer in the body. This will increase the risk of bleeding. Therefore, taking CBD with this type of drug should be under the close watch of a doctor.
Tranquilizer
CBD can interact with neurotransmitter receptors in the central nervous system to produce a calming effect. When CBD is used with tranquilizers, it enhances its effects and does not directly cause adverse side effects.
But the effects of CBD on sedatives are unclear. So to be on the safe side, people should avoid using of them both.
Antiepileptic drugs
CBD is known to the general public for its anti-epileptic effects. A 1992 study found that low doses of CBD did not exert anti-epileptic effects. On the contrary, it also inhibits the P450 enzyme to degrade other antiepileptic drugs. This can increase seizure intensity.
Therefore, if you are taking anti-epileptic drugs at the same time, you should consult your doctor about the appropriate amount of CBD.
2. Herbs and supplements
CBD has the potential to interact with many other products, including over-the-counter, herbal products, and prescription drugs.
Certain medications should never be taken with CBD. You may need to modify or reduce your use of other medicines to prevent serious problems.
Therefore, if you use or consider using CBD, be sure to consult your doctor or pharmacist.
3. Foods
Grapefruit and CBD have similar effects on the drug in the body. However, grapefruit has a bigger impact.
Therefore, if your medication directions have a grapefruit warning, you should avoid CBD. This warning states that people taking the drug should avoid eating grapefruit or grapefruit juice.
This is because consuming grapefruit while taking these types of drugs can lead to higher levels of the drug in the blood. It can also cause side effects or even an overdose.
FAQs
Is CBD Oil Legal?
CBD oil in America is federally legal only if it derives from industrial hemp, which by law can only contain less than 0.3 percent THC. And because of the 2018 Farm Bill, industrial hemp was removed from the national Controlled Substances List as a Schedule I drug.【1】
Are CBD oil and hemp oil the same?
THC and CBD are the two most important and common cannabinoids. However, they are completely different.
CBD is a substance similar in structure and function to endocannabinoids. It relieves related neurological diseases in patients by regulating signaling pathways and related receptors.
Unlike THC, CBD not only has no hallucinogenic effect, but also has great application value in reducing inflammation, pain, anxiety, mental illness, epilepsy, etc.
Is it possible to overdose on CBD oil?
The dosage of taking CBD varies from person to person. Although there are some side effects of overdose, it does not cause death. However, for the sake of your own health, you should still use CBD scientifically.
You can conduct an experiment based on your own health condition. You can start with the lowest dose recommended based on weight and age. After that, you can gradually adjust the dose until the best results are obtained.
Does CBD Oil show in a drug test?
Typically, CBD does not show up in drug tests.
However, it depends on the amount of THC in CBD. Many CBD products contain trace amounts of THC, the main active ingredient in cannabis. If there is enough THC in CBD, it will show up in drug tests.
This means that in rare cases, the use of CBD may result in a positive drug test.
How old do you have to be to buy CBD oil?
The age limit for purchasing CBD oil is affected by a variety of factors, such as the state you live in, your purchase channel, etc.
Typically, if you want to buy CBD oil, the law says you must be 21 or older to buy it.
Most dispensaries do not sell CBD products to minors. Reputable online providers also perform age checks as required by law.
