With the rise of medicinal cannabis as an alternative method of treatment to traditional forms of medicine, CBD, also known as cannabidiol, also started to gain a lot of popularity.
Thing is, although many people have started to benefit from it, and even pet owners have used it to help their pets with a selection of health conditions, a lot of people are unaware of its benefits and advantages.
They might have, however, heard that CBD could be an excellent, solid alternative for sleeping disorders and anxiety, whereas others might have heard of its capabilities when it comes to reducing inflammation, and alleviating pain.
In this article, I will try to guide those who are interested in cannabidiol as a method of treatment, and answer some of the most frequently asked questions about it.
What is Cannabidiol?
These two are probably the most frequent questions I’ve been answering over the last couple of years. Tons of people relate the word cannabidiol to the cannabis plant, which is, to no surprise, a plant with a bad reputation among a lot of regular citizens. For most, cannabis is still a plant that is related to drugs, bad behavior, addiction, and drug traffic.
A lot of people are unaware that cannabis is much less addictive than cigarettes and alcohol, that it can be used for medicinal purposes, that it has been legalized in many countries all around the world, and that it has also been legalized for recreational use. I dare to say that consuming marijuana is much healthier than cigarettes and alcoholic beverages.
Still, medicinal cannabis has one weak point, and it is that, regardless of how you use it, there’s a chance that you end up getting high. This is because of a compound found in the plant known as THC, which, simply put, is the compound providing the plant with its psychoactive capabilities.
But cannabidiol, although present in the cannabis plant, cannot get you high. That is why researchers started to rely on a familiar of the cannabis plant that contains low levels of THC, enough for it to be harmless, and benefit people from the potential of CBD without getting you high.
How it Works
Now, cannabidiol and THC, also known as tetrahydrocannabinol, work pretty similarly. They work along several neurons and neurotransmitters, including a compound of neurotransmitters known as the endocannabinoid system, to achieve several benefits, including:
- Mental and physical relaxation
- Reduction of inflammation
- Pain relief
- Reduction of epileptic seizures
- Sleeping Aids
Thanks to the previously mentioned benefits, some other benefits are possible as well. A good example is how, thanks to cannabidiol-based products being THC free, they can be used in pets.
Pets, during their senior age, start to lose some of their mobility due to joint complications, common in dogs and cats. Thanks to the pain relief and the reduction of inflammation, they can recover some of their mobility. This is also the case for pets that suffer from cancer or kidney complications. It is also very common in older people as well.
Of course, there are other benefits to consider, and you can learn more about them over here: https://www.healthline.com/health/cbd-oil-benefits.
Main Reason for Its Popularity
Although the benefits are present, up until now one thing has been unclear: Why would people prefer to use CBD-based products instead of using regular forms of medicines, such as pain relievers, sleeping pills, among many other choices?
Well, the reasoning is simple and straightforward: because in comparison to said forms of treatment, the side-effects caused by CBD are harmless.
While cannabidiol can cause some side-effects like diarrhea, nausea, headaches, vomiting, and liver damage, the probabilities of suffering from them are very low, and these probabilities can be greatly avoided by reducing the amount consumed.
On the other hand, drugs tend to cause nasty side-effects, especially in the long-term run. Some of the side-effects include depression, liver damage, kidney problems, lack of motivation, mood swings, and insomnia.
These conditions can greatly affect someone’s performance during their daily life activities, which is not the case for CBD products.
Oil, Edibles, and Flowers
The most common presentations of CBD-based products found in the market are oils, but you can still find edibles and flowers, also commonly referred to as CBD-strains. Each one has its own advantages and disadvantages, but all of them work perfectly for medicinal purposes.
Oils, for example, are good to consume very specific dosages, and they can be used along with different things, like tea or beverages. With that said, they are better used on their own. This healthy oils website provides different variations of oils, for different people. Overall, they are cheaper than edibles, easier to find, and last for longer.
Edibles, even though they are much tastier than oil products, can be more expensive, and have to be consumed during a set period of time before they spoil. Still, they can be much more discreet because of their nature, and if you are someone who needs to consume their dosage during work hours (or during similar situations), edibles might be the best choice for you.
Strains, on the other hand, are the less discreet product of the list, but the quickest to act. This one is recommended if you are free to consume your dosage whenever you can, and you don’t have any respiratory problems. These act quickly, which is a very big plus for those with pain-inducing conditions.
