From pain-relief benefits to risks, here’s everything you need to know about CBD oil

Cannabis comes with a wide range of effective compounds out of which some are even useful as medical treatment. CBD is one such cannabinoid or compound found in the cannabis plant, which researchers all around the world have been utilising for therapeutic purposes.

While THC (also a cannabinoid) is best-known as the most active constituent capable of creating a mind-altering “high” when a person smokes or cooks it, CBD, however, is not psychoactive. Though it may produce significant changes in the body, and it even shows significant medical benefits.

Marijuana farmers selectively breed their plants to contain high levels of THC. However, hemp farmers rarely modify the plant and that’s where CBD oil comes from.

CBD oil comes with an array of benefits
A research called “A Cross-Sectional Study of Cannabidiol Users” conducted in 2018 claims cannabidiol to be an aid for arthritis or joint pain, anxiety and depression, sleeping disorders, migraine, other headaches, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), nausea, allergies or asthma, epilepsy and other seizure disorders, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and even cancer. Here are some other benefits of CBD oil:

1. Pain relief and anti-inflammatory properties
CBD oil is a natural pain relief solution. The non-psychoactive compounds in marijuana like CBD have the potential to be the new alternative for curing chronic pain.

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CBD oil is said to reduce inflammation by preventing the release of compounds that trigger inflammation in the body at the first place. It can be applied on the skin to reduce inflammatory skin disease and scarring.

2. Helps quit smoking

Previously conducted studies have found that smokers who used CBD-infused inhalers smoked fewer cigarettes than usual and stopped craving nicotine. It is understood that the relaxing effect induced by CBD oil is what does the trick.

Not only that, CBD has been found effective with opioid addiction disorders as well. It reduces some symptoms associated with substance use disorders including anxiety, pain, and insomnia.

3. Epilepsy treatment
Approved by FDA in 2018, Epidiolex—drug for epilepsy treatment—is a purified form of CBD oil. It is useful in treating Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome, rare forms of epilepsy that involve seizures. These are difficult to control with other types of medication. There is no better synthetic alternative to it, that can treat the seizures without the sedating side effect.

4. Treatment for anxiety
THC can trigger or amplify feelings of anxiousness and paranoia and hence doctors ask people with chronic anxiety to avoid cannabis. However, CBD helps reduce anxiety. It reduces anxiety-related behaviour like in conditions such as PTSD, general anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

5. Reduces the risk of type-1 diabetes
When the immune system attacks cells in the pancreas and causes inflammation, that leads to type-1 diabetes. There is evidence that CBD oil may help ease this inflammation and provide protection against the onset of type 1 diabetes.

However, CBD oil comes with its own share of risks…
CBD oil may react with supplements and other drugs that you might be taking. And it is impossible to know if it is safe and effective for everyone to use, alike.

CBD oil could cause adverse effects like liver damage, compromise in the mind’s ability to focus, gastrointestinal problems and loss of appetite, mood swings, irritability and irritation.

Using CBD oil during pregnancy can affect the foetal development of neurons, and it is advised that you do not to use CBD during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.