While almost everybody knows about the medical benefits of THC (the active psychoactive compound in cannabis), few people know about another compound found in cannabis that actually has dozens of medicinal benefits.
This compound is called cannabidiol, or CBD. New research suggests that CBD may have dozens of medicinal and recreational uses and over 17 states currently use CBD to treat a variety of medical conditions. So what is CBD and what are the health benefits of CBD?
What is CBD?
CBD is one of at least 85 active compounds found in cannabis. Medicinally, it often used in oil form since that is the easiest way to extract CBD from cannabis. CBD is not psychoactive in any way, which means it will not cause you to feel “high.”
CBD can be derived from either marijuana or industrial hemp, although some manufacturers of CBD specifically grow cannabis that is specifically grown with a high CBD content.
Health Benefits of CBD Oil
CBD has been a huge topic of debate over the past few years because of its’ apparent health benefits. CBD is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, flavonoids, and several other types of phyto-chemicals that help support the overall health of the body.
There are many documented research studies regarding CBD oil, although some data is still very preliminary. However, from the data we do have, CBD may be a viable option to treat certain health conditions such as:
- Anxiety
- Nausea
- Chronic Pain
- Arthritis
- PTSD
- Stroke
- Schizophrenia
- Diabetes
- Alcoholism
As of right now, CBD oil is used medically to treat children who suffer from epileptic seizures. Fourteen states in particular currently have CBD oil approved for this exact purpose and many states have upcoming bills that will further enable the use of CBD oil to treat children suffering from seizures.
Other research that was just recently published suggests that CBD might be able to suppress cancerous tumors. The study, conducted at the California Pacific Medical Center found that CBD could effectively suppress cancerous tumors in mice.
Although no human studies have currently been conducted for this purpose, researchers are hopeful that this study is the first step towards seeking for an alternative treatment for cancer.
Finally, there is a significant amount of data that shows that CBD oil has several antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects on the body due to the dozens of phyto-chemicals found in CBD.
Does CBD Oil Really Work?
CBD oil is still a fairly new compound in the medical world and the science behind CBD is still very preliminary. It is estimated that up to 30 “fairly common” health conditions may be treated with CBD oil. Researchers are hopeful that government agencies will de-regulate cannabis to enable future CBD research.
From what we can tell, CBD is fairly effective to treat numerous conditions, and it is most effective when used with THC. Since CBD oil inhibits the psychoactive effects of THC, researchers are hopeful the perfect ration of CBD to THC can be discovered to maximize the dozens of health benefits of CBD.
Final Thoughts
CBD is still technically available for purchase in the United States, although it is still labeled as a schedule I prohibited drug. Still, several supplement manufacturers sell CBD oil and claim to ship to all 50 states.
CBD may still be fairly new to the public, but interest in CBD is growing rapidly thanks to the dedicated research around the world. As cannabis regulations become more lax and more people have access to CBD, we will likely discover just how incredibly CBD can truly be and how beneficial CBD can be for the wellness of the human body.