It seems that nothing caused so much debate and controversy lately as the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Although it is widely believed that the use of this herb is illegal because of the abuse and psychoactive properties it has, cannabis opponents are slowly losing their power.
Official science almost daily brings new knowledge about the benefits of cannabis, i.e., its most popular breeds – marijuana and hemp. As seen on CBDMethods.com, CBD is the most potent compound of these plants. For centuries, medical science knows about its properties in relieving pain, preventing neurodegenerative disorders, recovering after chemotherapy, and so on.
But there are many other benefits of CBD, which are not familiar as those mentioned above. Research on benefits of medical cannabis products has gone in several directions, and so far only positive developments have been shown.
The mechanisms of action of CBD vary depending on the condition being treated. In most cases, this compound brings relief of symptoms; in others, CBD slows the course of the disease, while in some diseases, it can affect a complete cure.
Cannabidiol Skin Treatments
CBD oil-based skincare products are a novelty in the cosmetics world, but they seem to be slowly but surely gaining their ‘audience.’ It is already known that this component has anti-inflammatory effects. CBD-made products are ideal for use on oily and problematic skin with acne and superficial inflammatory processes.
Also, this component has shown some anti-age effects. Regular use of CBD creams, serums, and lotions can reduce puffiness around the eyes, dark circles, but also smooth out fine wrinkles around the eyes. If we consider its antioxidant properties, CBD topicals are great for cleansing pores and solving the acne problem we already mentioned.
In addition to skincare, we can apply CBD topicals as additional treatments for skin disorders such as psoriasis or eczema. These conditions cause pain, itching, and tightness on the surface of the skin. Targeted lubrication of these products can significantly alleviate pain, reduce irritation, and relieve inflammatory processes in the epidermis.
Memory Boosting
Many may confuse many when they read this since the effects of marijuana on the central nervous system are generally negative. Depending on our reaction to THC, which is the main culprit for this condition, cannabis usually makes us high. That means we feel overexcited or tired or sluggish or sleepy, and so on.
With CBD, this is not the case. Since this is a nonintoxicating component of cannabis, it has no adverse effect on our central nervous system (CNS). Besides, CBD was extracted and separated from the rest of the plant. The chance of finding THC traces in it is minimal; even if there’s any, this amount is negligible and without affecting our CNS. So, these products won’t make us stoned – just relaxed, rested, and more motivated.
CBD can act as a nootropic, i.e., a cognitive enhancer. However, unlike these drugs, it doesn’t affect the brain itself but reduces the negative factors that reduce our cognitive, learning, and working abilities, such as anxiety, stress, and fatigue. For people suffering from these conditions, regular use of CBD products (oils, edibles, or tinctures) helps improve sleep quality. When we sleep better, our brains are more rested, and they function better over the next day.
Speeding up Bone Healing
Over the last decade, scientists have been researching the effects of CBD on diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Many conditions cause pain and discomfort, especially in older patients with advanced osteoporosis and osteoarthritis.
Osteoporosis makes bones brittle because it prevents the formation of new bone cells. Chronic arthritis is a common inflammatory condition that affects the joints. Both diseases make our bones debilitating and our movements limited. What we can do to improve our bone health, check on this link.
CBD is a natural remedy for these conditions. Unlike synthetic medicines, you can use it any way you want – in the form of pills, edibles, oils, topicals for targeted healing, and so on. In osteoporosis patients, CBD sourced from the plant stimulates the endocannabinoid system to metabolize bone tissue. People with arthritis will experience the anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of these products. They will reduce pain due to swelling of the joints and the inflammatory processes causing it.
Quit Smoking
Manufacturers of CBD products are working to raise awareness of this beneficial natural component. Among other positive things, one of the benefits of this compound is that it can help with reducing nicotine addiction. The idea here is not to replace cigarettes with weed but to replace them with CBD products in the form of vapor. If persistent enough, that will eventually lead to getting rid of this bad habit.
CBD manufacturers are proposing to vape or inhale CBD oils as one of the best ways to quit smoking. By using a vaporizer, you do smoke, but in a much healthier and beneficial way. Studies conducted on this topic are quite extensive and show positive results. Still, scientists cannot claim the full effectiveness of cannabidiol in treating nicotine addiction.
Treating Drug Addiction
Since the application of CBD shows good results in the treatment of addiction, its use in heavy drug addicts is also being tested. Although it may sound contradictory (because CBD is derived from cannabis), this component treats anxiety and reduces the craving for illicit substances.
Drugs make our brain addicted to them, not our body. Due to its non-opioid effects and non-addictive properties, there is a high potential for CBD to become one of the conventional methods of treating drug addiction. The world certainly needs more detailed research on this topic, but it seems the science is on the right path.
Marijuana still has some bad reputation. Not because it has no purpose, but because of people using it in a wrong way. Abusing cannabis can cause many damages to human health, but inadequate use is the only trigger for this. Educating people on how to apply it in the right way may change the wide-known misunderstanding of medical marijuana as a bad thing.