You’ve probably heard of CBD oil from friends and family. Even your doctor or alternative healthcare practitioner may have mentioned its benefits.
The reasons this novel hemp extract has gained popularity in recent years are multi-fold.
It’s being used for everything from ingestible oils to pillow sprays to help people with various health concerns improve their lives.
As noted by Cannabiva.com, hemp extracts like CBD are being taken daily by millions of people to aid with stress relief, reduction of pain sensitivity, improved intimacy, and even gym-goers seeking to boost their workouts.
Clinical studies show that cannabidiol (CBD), along with other hemp-based compounds like cannabinol (CBN), cannabigerol (CBG), and cannabinchromene (CBC), are safe, non-toxic, and may provide new solutions for wellness as integrated medicines in the healthcare field.
Here are some simple ways to use CBD and other hemp extracts to transform your life.
Stress Relief
The cannabinoid compound known as CBD works by interacting with endocannabinoid and neurotransmitter sites in the central nervous system. This system is responsible for stress management and is what the body uses to respond to situations that may cause emotional distress, such as anxiety, nervousness, and mood imbalance.
When you ingest CBD in the form of an oil or CBD softgel, the cannabidiol is absorbed into the bloodstream and aids the central nervous system receptor sites that produce neurochemicals in response to stressors.
Studies suggest that even a single dose of cannabidiol may aid in stress relief, and taking it for a period of several weeks in optimal CBD dosage amounts could significantly reduce anxiety in users.
Less Pain
Medical cannabis has long been known to aid with relief for those suffering from a number of conditions that cause pain sensitivity.
Researchers believed that it was the cannabinoid THC found in marijuana that was primarily responsible for relieving pain by those who take medical cannabis.
But new studies show that THC doesn’t act alone. When combined with other cannabinoids, namely cannabidiol and cannabigerol, the effects of cannabis are that much stronger for reducing the pain experienced by those who take hemp extracts for relief.
Taking CBG oil, in particular, has been shown to have an anti-inflammatory effects and may be an effective new compound that soon finds its way into wellness plans for many sufferers of health issues that include arthritis and migraines.
Better Workouts
The anti-inflammatory effects of hemp extracts like CBG and CBD may also support better workouts.
From pre-workout cognitive enhancement to post-workout muscle recovery, full spectrum and broad spectrum CBD oils that contain synergistic blends of cannabinoids are increasingly being used by body builders and fitness enthusiasts.
It is believed that the anti-inflammatory action helps to not only reduce recovery time, but also the pain associated with heavy workouts.
Moreover, because of the relaxation effects of cannabinoids like cannabinol (CBN), taking an evening dose of hemp extract oils may help enhance restful sleep, which ensures workout longevity by boosting protein synthesis and muscle mass.
Improved Skin
Clinical studies show the therapeutic potential of hemp extracts and CBD oil for improving skin irritation and inflammation related to various skin disorders.
Cannabidiol has been used successfully by individuals suffering from eczema and psoriasis. It is believed that the mechanism of action for CBD’s effectiveness in those with these skin conditions is the cannabinoids’ interaction with the CB1 and CB2 endocannabinoid receptor sites in the epidermis and cutaneous nerve fibers.
Those suffering from acne may also benefit from CBD and other hemp cannabinoids like CBG. Acne is, in part, the result of imbalances in the skin’s microbiome. While researchers aren’t quite sure why it works just yet, CBD-infused oils applied to acne-prone areas appear to restore the biome and reduce the incidence of acne.
Gut Health
Nutritionists will tell you that a well-functioning gut and a healthy gut biome are critical to overall bodily health and life extension.
There is a deep connection between the brain and our gut health, as the bacteria present in our stomach and intestines communicate directly with the brain via neurotransmitters.
CBD works in several different ways to promote better gut health.
First, it relieves stress and anxiety, which sends signals to the gut to lower the production of certain neurotransmitters that may cause us to feel nervous or anxious. This has the benefit of reducing that queasy stomach feeling we experience when we’re stressed.
Second, CBD’s well known anti-inflammatory properties may directly impact inflammation related to gut-related conditions such as ulcers. In fact, some studies show that ulcer sufferers who take CBD report feeling better, and stomach linings appear to improve following dosage.
Hemp and Your Health
While cannabis sourced medicines may still have a stigma associated with them due to the psychoactive effects of marijuana, hundreds of clinical studies make it clear that the compounds found in the hemp plant can help with a variety of common ailments. And not all of these compounds possess the intoxicating effects of THC.
Whether it’s stress, anxiety, pain, skin care, our guts, or better overall fitness, emerging plant-based medicines like cannabidiol, cannabigerol, and cannabinol may be critical pieces to solving the broader puzzle of better health.