Health Benefits Of Cannabinoids
The latest research shows that somewhere in the neighborhood of 6 million UK residents have used cannabidiol (often shortened to CBD) at some point in the last year.
You might not be part of this group right now, but are you thinking about joining? Have you heard talk about CBD and other cannabinoids? Are you wondering what they have to offer and whether they’re right for you?
Before you jump on the CBD bandwagon, it’s important to do some research. You’ll find answers to all your questions explained down below.
All over the world, people have started using and touting the benefits of various CBD products, from oils and edibles to topicals and vapes. It can be intimidating to get started with CBD and other cannabinoid-containing products, though, especially if you aren’t sure what’s in them or how they work.
To minimize your confusion and help you feel empowered when you begin shopping, let’s take a step back and review the basics of cannabinoids.
Cannabis plants contain hundreds of compounds. A small percentage of these compounds are cannabinoids.
Your body contains receptors for cannabinoids. They are aptly named “cannabinoid receptors”. These receptors accept cannabinoids from plants, but they also accept cannabinoids that your body makes itself (these are called endocannabinoids). The receptors and endocannabinoids come together to make your endocannabinoid system.
It’s not essential for you to know the name and function of every single cannabinoid. New ones are being discovered every day, after all, so you’d constantly need to be updating your cannabinoid Rolodex if you did this.
A better use of your time is to learn about some of the most well-studied and well-known cannabinoids. This includes the following:
Until recently, most people who knew anything about cannabinoids were only familiar with tetrahydrocannabinol (usually shortened to just THC). THC causes the “high” feeling that people often experience when they consume cannabis.
You won’t find THC in most CBD products, at least not in significant quantities. Legally, as a matter of fact, the quantity of THC in CBD oil or other products cannot exceed 0.3 per cent.
When THC degrades, it becomes cannabinol. Cannabinol, or CBN for short, is best known for its sedating properties. It won’t cause you to feel high, but it can help you to feel more relaxed. This explains why it’s present in a lot f CBD products that are marketed toward folks struggling with anxiety.
Cannabidiol is the real star of the show these days. It offers many of the same health benefits as THC, such as reduced inflammation, pain relief, and relaxation.
CBD is special because, while it offers similar effects as THC, it does not cause a person to feel high. This makes it a safe, but still effective, alternative for folks who don’t enjoy this sensation.
If you look up cannabigerol, you’ll likely find it referred to as a minor cannabinoid. This reference has to do not with its effects, which are quite noteworthy, but rather with the quantity in which it’s found in most products.
It doesn’t take a lot of cannabigerol (abbreviated as CBG) to make a difference. CBG is most well-known for improving blood flow, which makes it helpful for those who suffer from glaucoma.
Cannabichromene is a cannabinoid that similar in many ways to CBD. Most notably, it can reduce inflammation and provide pain relief.
When researching CBD products, it’s common to come across the terms “full-spectrum” and “isolate”. What do these terms mean? Which product is better? Is there any difference at all?
Isolate products only contain CBD. No other cannabinoids are present. Full-spectrum products contain CBD, other cannabinoids, and other plant compounds like terpenes, which give a plant its scent, and flavonoids, which contain antioxidant properties.
There’s a good chance you’ll see more improvements from a full-spectrum product compared to an isolate. The reason for this can be summed up in three words: The Entourage Effect.
It’s a generally accepted rule in life that there is strength in numbers, and cannabinoids are not an exception to this rule. CBD, by itself, offers benefits, certainly. CBD combined with CBG, CBN, and a variety of flavonoids and terpenes, though, will often be much more powerful.
The Entourage Effect describes the fact that cannabis plant compounds can do more together than they can separately. If you want to see good results from your CBD product, you might be better off choosing a full-spectrum one.
If you’ve been intrigued by CBD oil and CBD products, chances are you’ve also wondered what benefits they have to offer you. The list is lengthy, but the following are some of the most frequently reported benefits that you might experience when you bring CBD and other cannabinoids into your routine:
Often, the symptom that brings people to CBD’s door is pain. If you experience chronic pain or have a condition like fibromyalgia, cannabinoids can be a lifesaver. Because many cannabinoids, including CBD, of course, reduce inflammation, they can minimize pain in the body and improve your quality of life in a significant way.
Lots of people also turn to CBD oil for anxiety relief.
If you struggle with an anxiety disorder, consuming CBD and other cannabinoids can help to eliminate the physical symptoms of anxiety, such as shaking hands, sweating palms, or a racing heartbeat. When these symptoms are alleviated, it’s easier to get to teh root of what’s causing your anxiety and work to reduce stress across the board.
Insomnia is a common complaint among folks in the UK. It affects almost one-third of people nationwide.
Cannabinoids can help to address this problem. Consuming them before bed can calm racing thoughts and bring the body into a state that’s more conducive to deep, restful sleep.
Seizure disorders like epilepsy were one of the first conditions to be treated by CBD. Experts aren’t exactly sure why, but cannabinoids do a great job of reducing the frequency and severity of seizures in people with these conditions.
Because CBD products aren’t mind-altering and contain little-to-no THC, they’re a safe option for kids with seizure disorders, too.
It makes sense that cannabinoids can lower blood pressure since they have relaxing effects. If you’re plagued by chronically elevated blood pressure, the introduction of cannabinoids could be helpful, especially if that introduction is combined with other health-promoting activities (regular exercise, a healthy diet, etc.).
When your blood pressure, stress, and sleep are under control, your heart health improves, too. Using cannabinoids to address these various factors could help to minimize your risk of developing heart disease as you get older.
Do any of these benefits appeal to you? If they do, you’re probably eager to pick up CBD oil for pain or another symptom and give it a go.
Before you proceed, take a second to learn about the product you’re buying. Ask yourself these questions to determine whether or not it’s one worth using:
Make sure you’re either buying CBD oil or hemp oil. Don’t purchase hemp seed oil. This product is not made from the same part of the plant as the former two oils. It won’t provide the kind of results you’re after.
It’s worth it to invest in a high-quality product, especially when you’re trying to control symptoms like pain or inflammation. When shopping, find out how the product is made and whether or not it’s tested. Read reviews to learn about others’ experiences with it, too.
It’s not just about what you choose. It’s how you use it that matters as well. These tips will help you see the best results from your CBD product:
Cannabinoids are not exactly fast-acting. You need to consume them consistently so that they can accumulate in your body. By doing so, you’ll bring balance to your endocannabinoid system and experience improvements to your symptoms.
Use your CBD oil or other product consistently for at least a few weeks. That means no skipping days!
Ease your way in, too. CBD oil is not addicting, but it could cause side effects like fatigue if you take too much too soon. To avoid this, start with about 5-10 milligrams. After a few weeks, if you don’t notice any changes, increase your dosage by another 5-10 milligrams.