Top 5 Benefits of CBD

Hardly a week goes by without the science headlines listing another benefit of CBD. What scientists once viewed sceptically, is now scientific wisdom: CBD is nothing short of a panacea. It improves a range of conditions from anxiety to chronic pain. So, it’s little wonder there are so many different ways to use CBD. No longer do you need to rely on the oil alone. An increasingly popular source is using CBD toothpaste and CBD mouthwash. By doing so, you get the full range of benefits.

But what are the reported benefits of CBD? And what is the evidence behind the headlines?

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol or CBD is an active ingredient found in Cannabis sativa. It is one of two main components: CBD and THC. These two compounds account for the vast majority of the effects of the cannabis plant. However, one of them is not like the other.

If you’re worried CBD will get you high, don’t be. It has no psychoactive properties, which are primarily attributable to THC. As such, it has none of the adverse effects of THC: paranoia, anxiety, and memory difficulties.

Instead, a growing wealth of research suggests CBD has remarkable effects on our health.

• It relieves pain

One of the primary areas of study involving CBD has been in treating chronic pain. By activating the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), CBD can mediate the pain response, soothing inflammation and dampening chronic pain.

An initial study in rats discovered that CBD injections led to reduced sciatic nerve pain and inflammation. An analysis of 18 clinical trials backed up such findings. It concluded that CBD reduced chronic pain for neuropathy, arthritis, fibromyalgia, HIV, and multiple sclerosis and even oral care issues such as gingivitis. Moreover, a review of 16 studies replicated the findings, describing CBD as having few if any, side effects.

• Helps with mental health

Anxiety and depression are increasingly devastating disorders worldwide. They ruin lives, damage health, and cause deep unhappiness. But it doesn’t have to be that way: CBD might be able to help.

One study involving ten healthy volunteers found that those receiving CBD report less anxiety following a public speaking event. Another study found a similar result in 24 patients after public speaking. In the latter study, patients also reported improved cognition.

Meanwhile, though the effects on depression are less understood, CBD has demonstrated antidepressant-like effects in animal studies. As a result, many believe it could be a suitable medication, as doctors already use it to treat post-traumatic stress disorder in children.

• Neuroprotective properties

By working on the endocannabinoid system and other brain signaling systems, CBD may also have neuroprotective properties. These effects are still being studied and focus upon an oral spray containing CBD known as Sativex. Similarly, CBD toothpaste and CBD mouthwash are also administered orally.

Two hundred and fourteen people with severe epilepsy were given CBD oil, in one study. Seizures dropped by over one-third, as a result. Furthermore, in 276 multiple sclerosis patients given Sativex, spasms reduced by 75%. Previously, they had been experiencing medication-resistant muscle spasticity.

But the effects of CBD don’t just treat existing neurological conditions.

Research on cells discovered CBD exposure reduced damage from toxic substances and oxidative stress. CBD intake in animals is associated with reduced brain-damage, improved cognition, and reduced beta-amyloid toxicity. Many of these are indicators of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

• Heals the heart

A surprising benefit of CBD is related to the heart. High blood pressure is a potential cause of heart disease. Over long periods, it adds strain to the heart and blood vessels, leading to heart attacks, stroke, and metabolic syndrome.

Now, early evidence suggests CBD can treat high blood pressure. In one study, men given CBD experienced a smaller increase in blood pressure after a stress test than normal. These blood-pressure-lowering properties have been connected to the effects on anxiety. So, you’ll live longer and happier.

Plus, a trial in diabetic mice with heart disease found CBD prevented heart damage. Such trials pave the way for future research. However, these early results are promising.

• Helps with cancer-related symptoms

Amongst all of CBDs benefits, the most well-known is perhaps for cancer. Headline after headline has heralded CBD as soothing cancer-related pain and dampening the nausea of chemotherapy.

What’s the evidence?

A trial involving 177 people with cancer-related pain found a significant reduction in pain for those who received both CBD and THC, compared to THC alone. The patients had previously found no relief from pain medication.

Furthermore, a small study of 16 people discovered a CBD and THC combination mouth spray reduced chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting. It was better than standard treatment alone.

But there is one more effect that is truly astounding. Miraculously, CBD inhibited the spread of aggressive cancer cells during a mice study. Similar test-tube studies have found similar effects on human breast cancer cells.

Conclusion

CBD is no fad. Nor is there fluff behind the headlines. CBD works, and the benefits are nothing short of amazing. From your head to your toes, almost every single part of your body can benefit. What is even more fascinating was that most CBD was given orally. However, swallowing drops of oil can be unpleasant. Instead, using CBD toothpaste or CBD mouthwash, you can integrate CBD into your daily routine. By doing so, you’ll be enjoying all of the fantastic benefits described above. So, are you going to invest in your future?