After decades in the shadows as a result of its illegal status in most countries around the world, cannabis is finally being recognized for its medicinal properties. Among cannabis’s various active ingredients, CBD is the one which is exciting the medical profession above all others. Lacking the psychoactive effects that people commonly associate with cannabis, CBD is known to serve a wide range of medicinal uses. Read on for a list of the conditions that the compound is known to have success in treating.
1. Chronic Pain Relief
Despite cannabis having been used to treat chronic pain for around 5,000 years, the long prohibition of cannabis in the Western world had long curbed research into the pain-relieving properties of CBD. In recent studies, however, CBD has been proven to reduce pain through its interaction with the endocannabinoid system in the body.
2. Anxiety and Depression
Studies have shown that CBD can successfully alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression. It actively impacts the brain’s serotonin receptors, which are known to regulate mood. The effectiveness of CBD in this area of medicine and the lack of side-effects could lead to the phasing out of synthetic antidepressants in the future.
3. Symptoms of Cancer Treatment
Cancer patients are often required to undergo chemotherapy. The treatment can have some unpleasant side-effects, including vomiting, nausea and pain. Studies have shown that patients to whom CBD is administered report fewer of these side-effects than patients in control groups.
4. Neurological Disorders
Suffers of epilepsy who undergo CBD treatment have been known to experience fewer seizures. Due to CBD’s interaction with the endocannabinoid system, suffers of other neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis also tend to report an amelioration of their symptoms.
5. Blood Sugar and Blood Pressure
CBD is known to help the body to regulate insulin. It is also understood to significantly reduce strain on the circulatory system. As a result, it is useful as part of a treatment plan for both diabetes and high blood pressure and could reduce the risk of heart attacks.
6. Acne
New research suggests that CBD may be an effective treatment for people who suffer from acne. Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, the compound has been shown to be successful at reducing the production of sebum, one of the key causes of the condition.
7. Substance Addiction
Studies performed on rats have demonstrated that CBD can alter interactions between the circuits in the brain that are responsible for the cravings experienced by drug addicts. While still in its infancy, evidence suggests that CBD may have a key role to play in addiction treatment in the future.
The liberalization of cannabis prohibition laws has paved the way for more experiments into the benefits of CBD in the future. The healing potential of CBD has only recently discovered, and new properties of the compound are being discovered all the time. If you suffer from any of the conditions mentioned above, consult your physician to explore the possibility of starting your own CBD treatment plan.