CBD is an increasingly popular trend that has captured the attention of those seeking to relieve pain, anxiety, or even depression. Despite its popularity, CBD’s controversies stem from a lack of rigid regulations. When a drug is not regulated, users have no guarantee of quality or if the product contains harmful additives. Unfortunately,
opportunistic manufacturers in unregulated markets exploit consumer demand to make a quick buck by selling sub-par and often dangerous products.
Additionally, consumers need to be wary of regulated products that contain insufficient amounts of CBD to have any genuine effect on the body. Just because a product is regulated does not necessarily mean it contains a sufficient amount of CBD to help a patient or consumer’s issue.
That said, thorough research should always be undertaken before using any new drug or medicine, and in the case of CBD, we should understand the many different ways it affects the body, so let’s dive into those:
There are several different receptors for cannabinoids (compounds found in cannabis) in the human body. These range from receptors for appetite, mood, and pain. CBD, one of many discovered cannabinoids, attaches to some of these receptors and can reduce inflammation and pain of the joints and back. Consumers can chose from pills, oils and
creams – the latter of which can be applied directly over the inflamed area to target pain precisely. Reputable sellers like CBDMEDIC produce such products that are easily applied to the skin to treat inflammation and pain – importantly, the company’s
products are easily available to purchase over-the-counter in thousands of pharmacies around the country.
CBD’s interactions with mental health greatly differ from its psychoactive cousin, THC – the main cannabinoid found in
marijuana that induces a ‘high’. Numerous studies into CBD have shown that while most brain functions remain unchanged, receptors that induce panic are toned down resulting in overall reduced anxiety. This is an important breakthrough for patients suffering from anxiety seeking natural means to quell their worries without venturing into murky marijuana territory.
Also, chances are that if you have anxiety, you
will also have difficulty sleeping. While there is no research yet proving CBD ability to solve sleeplessness directly, its general calming effect and its ability to reduce pain and inflammation certainly encourages a healthy night’s sleep.
When consuming CBD products, it is vital to
check if there will be any adverse interactions with your existing medication. In high doses, CBD can interact negatively with common medicines. The chances of these adverse effects occurring only increases in those taking more medicines.
CBD has been shown to increase the effects of blood-thinning medicine, like Warfarin, meaning patients must understand that their prescribed dosage will not be accurate if taking CBD
simultaneously. While many medications cause others to become ineffective, the opposite occurs with CBD which enhances the absorption rate of many medicines. Consumers
should be aware of over absorption of the prescription medication, keeping in mind also that CBD may effect metabolism generally.
Knowing the side-effects of medication and drugs helps us stay prepared. In the case of CBD, a small number of cases, nausea, diarrhea and fatigue have been reported when CBD is taken in high
dosages..
It is important to understand that when taking CBD in conjunction with THC (i.e when consuming marijuana/cannabis),
anti-anxiety and sleeplessness benefits can be reduced given THC’s psychoactive properties that have unpredictable effects on users. I
To fully understand CBD is a matter of in-depth researching and sourcing trusted producers. It is never a good idea to try any new drug or medication without knowing the risks and projected side-effects. While CBD has been boasted as a miracle drug in recent years, more research is needed to establish exactly how, and in what dosage, it can treat certain ailments. That said, from what we know already, it is certainly an effective and natural way to treat pain, inflammation, and anxiety.
Jeremiah Owyang is an online entrepreneur and a marijuana advocate.