One of the reasons we see a surge in popularity for CBD due to the widespread legalization of cannabis. While many people might be nervous about the THC in cannabis, CBD products have made the benefits of cannabis more accessible without having to ingest THC. In addition, many consumers understand that smoking is not good for your health, so the fact that CBD is available in easy to ingest and apply products is another reason for the boost in popularity. And most recently, the pandemic has caused widespread anxiety, stress, and depression, and people have been turning to CBD as a means to alleviate those symptoms. Here is a range of other reasons why society is turning to CBD:
1. CBD Doesn’t Produce A Psychoactive High
The fact that CBD, on its own, doesn’t produce a psychoactive high is good news for medical users. To experience the medical benefits that CBD has to offer, patients had to contend with THC-induced effects like “couch lock”, altered perceptions, and lethargy.
By isolating the CBD or even just decreasing the THC, medical users can now get the CBD benefits without the psychoactive high that is most often associated with marijuana use. This is great news for medical users who need to take advantage of marijuana’s medical benefits during the day and don’t have time to stop to let the “high” wear off.
2. CBD Has Few or No Side Effects
Perhaps one of the biggest CBD benefits is that it doesn’t have any side effects. We won’t go so far as to say that CBD is completely safe—science hasn’t reached that conclusion yet—but numerous studies have shown that the only thing you may experience from CBD is a dry mouth.
One thing to keep in mind when considering whether or not to use a high-CBD product is that CBD interferes with liver enzymes that help us break down the ingredients in most drugs. Because of that, CBD can cause interactions with certain drugs and even go so far as to render them ineffective. Be sure to talk to your doctor before starting CBD if you are taking prescription drugs for other disorders.
3. CBD Counteracts The Intoxicating Effects Of THC
Another CBD benefit is that it counteracts, or lessens, the reality-altering power of the THC found in marijuana. THC, of course, is well-known for its psychoactive effects. But with the good psychoactive effects comes some pretty severe bad psychoactive effects. Chief amongst those negative effects are paranoia, memory loss, and drowsiness.
CBD essentially acts as a “chaperone” of sorts to the THC found in marijuana. CBD keeps the THC from running unchecked through your body where it can cause the previously-mentioned negative side effects along with a whole host of others. This is why high-THC products may not be the best choice for those seeking medical benefits. High-THC products often have the CBD (and other cannabinoids) bred out of them in order to produce extreme psychoactive effects.
4. CBD Inhibits Cancer Cell Growth
One new and exciting CBD benefit is its use as an antitumoral. Studies have shown that CBD inhibits certain functions within the body and prevents cancer cells from spreading. Other evidence suggests that CBD may interfere with cancer cell growth and even induce tumor cell death. Though these studies have only been conducted in mice and rats, the results are promising enough that human studies can’t (and probably shouldn’t) be far off.
5. CBD Mediates Psychotic Disorders
The last ten years have seen an uptick in studies confirming CBD’s benefits as an antipsychotic. One such study out of the University of Cologne in Germany compared the efficacy of the pharmaceutical antipsychotic amisulpride with that of CBD.
According to the study’s authors, “Either treatment was safe and led to significant clinical improvement, but cannabidiol (CBD) displayed a markedly superior side-effect profile. Moreover, cannabidiol treatment was accompanied by a significant increase in serum anandamide levels, which was significantly associated with clinical improvement. The results suggest that inhibition of anandamide deactivation may contribute to the antipsychotic effects of cannabidiol potentially representing a completely new mechanism in the treatment of schizophrenia.”
That’s a rather significant step in the right direction for brain-based disorders that are notoriously difficult to treat.
6. CBD Suppresses Seizure Activity
At their most basic, seizures are disruptions in the brain’s electrical activity that can result in violent shaking and loss of body control. Because seizures originate in the brain, they can be difficult to treat. Studies into the effectiveness of CBD as an anticonvulsant have shown that individuals who tried cannabis with high ratios of CBD to THC have reported a significant decrease in seizure frequency.
Even prominent doctors such as Sanjay Gupta have begun advocating CBD for the treatment of seizures. Most notable is Dr. Gupta’s interview with CNN, in which he relates the case of Charlotte Figi, a young child who suffers from Dravet syndrome. Using CBD, Charlotte went from having 300 seizures a week to just one or two a month.
7. CBD Combats Anxiety And Depression
CBD’s benefit as an antidepressant/anti-anxiety medication (generally referred to as anxiolytics) has been growing in notoriety for the past five years. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 18% of the U.S. adult population suffers from some form of anxiety. Anxiety can also lead to depression which only serves to increase the percentage of adults who suffer from a mental disorder.
A study conducted by the American College of Neuropharmacology showed that CBD was effective at significantly reducing anxiety and cognitive impairment in patients who suffered from social anxiety disorder (SAD). The CBD administered interacted with the adenosine receptors in the brain to help them work properly. This lessened the anxious, paranoid feeling so common with these types of disorders.
CBD benefits have also been shown amongst the serotonin receptors. The presence of CBD in the brain activates a specific class of serotonin receptors that produces an antidepressant effect. Combined with the CBD benefits brought about by the activation of the adenosine receptors, CBD is a promising treatment for a wide variety of mental disorders.
8. CBD Relieves Pain And Reduces Swelling
Another neural receptor that experiences CBD benefits is the vanilloid receptor. The vanilloid receptors regulate pain perception and bodily inflammation. As such, when CBD interacts with the vanilloid receptors, pain and inflammation are decreased significantly.
Because of its pain-reducing effects, CBD may be a viable treatment for disorders like fibromyalgia. One study reported that of the 28 participants who were given CBD as opposed to more traditional methods, all 28 reported a significant reduction in their symptoms and pain. This is in contrast to the other 28 participants who were given the traditional methods. Those latter 28 didn’t report much improvement.
9. CBD Stimulates Appetite And Eases Nausea
A lesser but still important CBD benefit is its use as a digestive aid. When present in the brain, CBD in higher amounts interacts with cannabinoid receptors that scientists believe play an important part in stimulating appetite and regulating feeding behavior. In addition, CBD also eases nausea in much the same way that it stimulates appetite: by binding with certain neural receptors in the brain.
These two CBD benefits can be particularly important for patients being treated for cancer. Some disorders (and even treatments) decrease appetite and increase nausea. This decrease in appetite and nausea that results from even a little food can, in turn, prevent the body from healing correctly. CBD works to counteract these two problems.
10. CBD Tempers Neurodegenerative Disorders
Along with all its other major benefits, CBD works as an antioxidant. While we think of antioxidants as something associated with the health of our body, they also play a major role in the health of our brain.
