5 Health Benefits of CBD that Sneak Under the Radar

cbd health benefits

For years, cannabis has incurred a negative stigma based on the unfair illegalization of the product. The reason? THC, one of the 120+ components in cannabis, stimulates the production of endorphins and can cause people to feel “high.” Despite the fact that there are more than a hundred other components of cannabis, many of which have strong healing properties, THC has been so villainized by policymakers that to this day, most people associate cannabis use with druggies looking for a quick high rather than with the millions of people suffering very real illnesses that can be relieved or even cured with cannabis.

Today, we’re going to take a look at a different component of cannabis: CBD. Unlike THC, CBD can’t get you high and is only used for medicinal purposes. And some of the things CBD can do are pretty amazing. In fact, CBD360 has tons of scientific studies regarding CBD use. Here’s a summary of just five of those miraculous benefits.

Treats Severe Epilepsy

Believe it or not, the FDA has approved a CBD-containing drug called Epidolex. The drug is used to treat two severe forms of epilepsy: Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome and Dravet Syndrome. Both of these forms of epilepsy start in early childhood and can have drastic consequences for the person suffering from them. In the past, both of these forms of epilepsy have been resistant to treatment, but initial studies regarding the use of Epidolex are promising.

Normally, drug-resistant forms of epilepsy will respond to new treatments initially. This period is known as the honeymoon period of treatment. However, with most of the existing drugs on the market, epilepsy symptoms return after the honeymoon period, and doctors are forced to keep increasing doses of the medication until the medication’s side effects become more dangerous than the epilepsy itself. But with Epidolex, two-thirds of patients with drug-resistant epilepsy continue to receive benefits from the medication after the honeymoon period and don’t have to increase their dosages. This is an amazing boon for people who would otherwise spend their childhoods combatting epilepsy instead of just being kids.

Reduces Anxiety

Severe anxiety disorders can cripple your life, making you unable to enjoy everyday things from driving cars to hanging out with friends. One common treatment for anxiety is to focus on serotonin levels in the body using selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Zoloft and Prozac. CBD is an alternative to SSRIs as it affects endorphins rather than serotonin.

Though studies are still in their infancy, CBD is shown to help patients with generalized anxiety, social anxiety disorder (SAD), and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Relieves Chronic Pain

Of course, one of the most well-known uses of medical marijuana is the relief of chronic pain. But CBD isn’t just an alternative to common over-the-counter medications like Tylenol and Advil. CBD can be used to treat chronic pain for people suffering from conditions like fibromyalgia and even cancer.

The best part about using CBD for chronic pain is that it has fewer side effects than other pain management drugs. CBD is also not shown to be addictive in any way, which is a huge boon over the opioids that are commonly used to treat long-term pain.

Reduces Symptoms of Arthritis

Another huge boon to CBD is the cannabis component’s anti-inflammatory properties. By both reducing inflammation and improving pain levels, CBD can drastically reduce the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

This can allow people who would otherwise struggle to play with their kids or grandkids to have a new lease on life. It can also improve the quality of living of arthritis sufferers by returning their independence to them. Where they might otherwise have been reliant on other people to open pill bottles or even tie their shoes, with the relief granted by CBD, they can do these things for themselves again.

Heals Skin Conditions

Conditions from psoriasis to eczema can be unsightly and uncomfortable. In fact, despite the intense itching, many eczema sufferers don’t talk about their condition because they feel ashamed of the dry, red patches that flare up across their body. Fortunately, CBD not only reduces the look of these patches but also treats the itching and makes sufferers feel more comfortable.

CBD can help other skin conditions as well. For example, acne is often caused by inflammation and oil secretion. CBD reduces both of these elements, which means that topical CBD creams are a great way to reduce chronic acne. This, in turn, can improve the confidence of people suffering from these conditions.

The Future of CBD

Currently, you can purchase CBD in a variety of formats, from topical salves to oil-infused lattes. However, the future of CBD is largely dependent on the pressure voters put on their constituents to continue legalizing cannabis in more locations and to fund cannabis research. The more we learn about the many components of cannabis, the more we can help millions of sufferers get relief from a slew of symptoms.