Benefits of CBD
Currently, CBD research by different groups of experts from different parts of the world has produced an arsenal of widely validated and corroborated scientific information. The many, many studies have not only focused on the ways in which the body receives and interacts with CBD, but also on its therapeutic properties.
Since 2900 BC, humans have used cannabis for therapeutic purposes, from Chinese civilization to the present day. In modern times, CBD was initially investigated for its potential benefits in reducing joint swelling, reducing anxiety, and improving sleep.
Through the years and thanks to highly rigorous clinical studies it has been possible to demonstrate with ample evidence that CBD can help treat chronic pain, nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy and in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Along with these benefits, studies have been published showing that CBD is effective in improving sleep in individuals suffering from disruptions due to obstructive apnea and fibromyalgia. Many studies have also found evidence that different doses of CBD can help treat different forms of epilepsy. Furthermore, CBD in its oil form is more potent, and 100% natural, compared to anti-inflammatory drugs (without steroids).
As information of great importance for the average consumer, scientific research on CBD has generated evidence that the consumption of CBD does not cause any type of public health problems, that is, that there is no danger if CBD is consumed and activities are carried out everyday life like driving or working.
Here is a list of the therapeutic benefits and properties evidenced by clinical studies and endorsed by experts in the relevant fields of science:
- anti-inflammatory
- neuroprotective (neuron protection)
- anticonvulsant
- analgesic
- antioxidant
- antitumor
- anti-nausea and antiemetic
- anxiolytic
- antipsychotic
- heroin, cocaine and alcohol dependency reducer
- immuno-modulator
Pain management: a detailed explanation
One of the most popular uses of CBD is for pain management. Our bodies are equipped with a specialized system found in the brain and other organs and tissues of the human body.
This system is called the endocannabinoid system and in essence it is in charge of the body’s homeostasis: maintaining its health and balance. The functions of this system include many aspects of neural functions, such as learning, emotion, memory, and addictive behavior. The endocannabinoid system is also involved in the regulation of sleep, appetite, metabolism, the immune system, and pain. This magnificent system naturally produces compounds (endocannabinoids) that are essentially neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters are produced by a neuron upon receiving a stimulus; hence endocannabinoids bind to specific receptors that we have in the cells of the nervous system (these receptors are called cannabinoid receptors). Binding with these receptors produces a signal that tells the nerve cell that it has just “received” the endocannabinoids not to make a specific type of neurotransmitter. This is how different processes related to pain, memory, food and the others previously mentioned are regulated by the endocannabinoid system.
CBD helps us reduce chronic pain by interacting with the natural neurotransmitters we produce, thereby reducing inflammation and pain. In essence, CBD perfectly mimics the endocannabinoids that we all produce and when it enters our body it is recognized as one of the body’s own molecules, thus generating the same natural balance and health effects (homeostasis).
Brain benefits: the latest in CBD research
Studies carried out in recent years have shown that the endocannabinoid system of our body has an important role in stimulating neurogenesis, that is, the generation of new brain cells.
Along with these promising studies, others have reported with evidence that CBD modulates the expression of genes related to Alzheimer’s disease, that is, that it has a role in the probability that a person has of developing this disease or not if there is a predisposition genetics. Together, these clinical studies indicate a possible future in which CBD-based therapies will be used to treat brain diseases. Furthermore, a preliminary study showed that CBD improved the quality of life of patients with Parkinson’s disease. Recently, the United States FDA approved a CBD-based treatment to treat two rare forms of epilepsy in children, Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), both of which typically do not respond to anti-seizure medications. In many studies, CBD was able to reduce the number of seizure episodes, and in some cases they were stopped completely when the child had used CBD. Vida Blue Zone strongly recommends talking with your doctor and specialist when dealing with minors, since our company does not intend to give recommendations for medical treatments for illnesses for children, but rather to share information from clinical studies and their results.
Regarding the benefits to maintain brain health, science reports that CBD:
- protects the brain against diseases such as dementia as it prevents free radical damage
- reduces inflammation
- protects brain cells making it extremely beneficial for people with seizures
- promotes general brain health by having anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective and antioxidant properties (more than vitamins C and E)
Heart health and blood pressure
A 2017 study published by the American Society for Clinical Investigation reports that CBD can be used as a natural and effective treatment to lower blood pressure.
Another study revealed that CBD did indeed reduce systolic blood pressure as well as heart attacks in patients exposed to high levels of stress. Additionally, the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of CBD help prevent heart disease.
Support for cancer patients
Studies have shown that patients who were on chemotherapy and used CBD saw its side effects significantly reduced, specifically nausea, pain and general discomfort.
Insomnia and anxiety
CBD is widely used to treat daytime anxiety, poor sleep, and trouble sleeping (entering the sleep cycle and / or staying asleep).
This is because CBD works as a natural antidepressant: it has the ability to act on receptors in the brain that receive serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter that regulates mood and social behavior. For these uses, you should always buy products without traces of THC and only with CBD, since THC can increase anxiety.
Skin health: the largest organ of the human body
Recent studies indicate that CBD has important properties for maintaining healthy skin. Specifically, CBD has been clinically proven to be effective in treating inflammation and its ability to reduce sebum production and prevent the activation of secretory proteins called cytokines.
It has also been reported to reduce redness on the skin and help with many allergies. This is why CBD is highly recommended for treating acne, psoriasis, eczema, and rosacea.
In addition to its benefits for these skin conditions, several studies have shown that the endocannabinoid system is critical for the life cycle of basal cells, which make up 90% of the skin. CBD acts in this system helping to generate an efficient generation of new cells and to discard the old ones, thus rejuvenating our skin. To these benefits must be added the aforementioned role of CBD in anti-inflammatory processes: the main reason why skin ages is low-grade inflammation. For all this, CBD is reported by science as an important and powerful natural tool to help keep our skin healthy and radiant.