Wellness

What Is CBD Oil For? The Top Benefits of Using CBD Oil

posted by Chris Valentine

CBD is something that we hear a lot about these days. However, because it’s so popular and new, there’s also a lot of misinformation out there. Because CBD and THC are so closely related, there are a lot of people out there who assume that they are one and the same.

However, this couldn’t be farther from the truth. CBD is non-intoxicating and offers a variety of benefits.

But what is CBD oil for? Continue reading and we’ll walk you through everything you need to know.

What Is CBD?

CBD comes from the Cannabis Sativa plant. It’s a chemical compound and the second-most present cannabinoid found in Cannabis Sativa, following THC.

CBD stands for cannabidiol is most present in hemp, which is a variety of Cannabis Sativa. The other variety is the marijuana plant, which contains high amounts of THC but low levels of CBD.

THC, which stands for tetrahydrocannabinol, is the main active ingredient in marijuana. It’s also the chemical compound that’s responsible for giving users the classic “marijuana high.” CBD, on the other hand, won’t get you high and it won’t impair your motor skills or mental clarity.

There are also a plethora of benefits that CBD can offer to users that are worth knowing about. Let’s dive deeper into them below.

1. Anxiety Relief

CBD oil is often used as a way to manage anxiety. CBD is able to change the way your brain’s receptors respond to serotonin, which is a chemical that’s associated with mental health.

Receptors are essentially little proteins that are connected to your cells. They receive chemical messages and assist your cells in responding to different stimuli. CBD is able to help relieve anxiety by reducing stress.

It can also decrease the physiological effects of anxiety, such as an increased heart rate. CBD can also help treat insomnia in some people and improve symptoms of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).

2. Anti-Seizure

Perhaps the most promising benefit of CBD is its ability to prevent seizures. In fact, the only FDA-approved prescription drug that uses pure CBD oil as its main active ingredient is used to treat epilepsy.

The most famous case of CBD’s effects on seizures is the one of Charlotte Figi. She was a young girl who would experience multiple seizures daily. After taking CBD oil, those seizures were reduced to a few times a month.

3. Neuroprotective

CBD might also be able to help people who suffer from neurodegenerative disorders. These are complications that lead the nerves and the brain to deteriorate over time. The specific receptor that is affected by CBD is known as CB1.

CBD may be able to treat multiple sclerosis (MS), strokes, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease.

CBD oil is also useful because it’s able to reduce the amount of inflammation in the body. And inflammation is known to make the symptoms of the neurodegenerative disease even worse.

4. Pain Relief

The effects that CBD oil has on the brain’s CB1 receptors means that it also might be able to help the user manage pain. This is especially true when it comes to treating people who are experiencing negative side effects of chemotherapy.

CBD can also help with joint relief and arthritis. Other areas where it may be able to manage pain include spinal cord injuries, muscle pain, pain from MS, and chronic pain.

Sativex (Nabiximols) is an MS medication that’s made from a combination of CBD and THC and is used to treat MS pain. However, it’s only approved in Canada and the United Kingdom. It’s believed that rather than attacking the pain itself, CBD attacks inflammation, which is usually the cause of the pain.

5. Anti-Acne

As we’ve already mentioned, CBD is able to reduce inflammation. And this counts for inflammation throughout the body. Because of this, CBD oil might be able to provide benefits in the area of acne management.

CBD oil has been shown to prevent activity in the sebaceous glands. These are the glands that are known to make sebum. Sebum is a natural and oily substance that hydrates the skin. However, when your body produces too much sebum, you can end up with acne.

Before you decide to take CBD oil to treat acne, though, you should first consult with your dermatologist.

6. Cancer Treatment

Although more research needs to be done, it’s believed that CBD might be able to stop the growth of cancer cells. This is because CBD oil can moderate inflammation and even influence how cells reproduce.

How to Use CBD Oil

When we say CBD oil, we don’t specifically mean a tincture. A tincture is an alcohol-CBD solution that you drop under your tongue. CBD oil is also known as vape juice and is used in CBD vaporizers.

There are different types of CBD vapes that range from mods to pens to premium CBD cigarettes. Because there are so many different ways to consume CBD, it’s important that you experiment to find the method that works best for you.

The Importance of Knowing What Is CBD Oil For

As we can see, there’s a lot of benefits to using CBD. However, you shouldn’t replace your traditional medication with CBD without first speaking with your doctor. Either way, you hopefully now feel that you have a better understanding to the question, “what is CBD oil for?”

Are you interested in reading other helpful health articles like this one? If so, check out the rest of our blog today for more!

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