Have you ever asked yourself the question: what does the use of CBD do? We’ll take a look at the many health benefits of CBD oil and why more and more people choose to use it daily (we’ll discuss the potential CBD oil side effects too). If you’re new to CBD, have a look at our ‘What Is CBD?‘ beginner’s guide.
What are the CBD oil benefits?
Multiple Uses
At Quitnet, we like to keep it simple. Like medical marijuana, CBD oil is a simple solution for relieving aches, pain management, and treating several disorders including asthma, multiple sclerosis, PTSD, childhood epilepsy, depression, and epilepsy. With the versatility of CBD oil, there’s no need to complicate things by stockpiling a variety of medications. It seems like every day there’s a new study demonstrating the therapeutic powers of CBD.
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Readily Available
Thanks to the farm bill act, CBD oil extracted from hemp plants is legal in all 50 states (in the United States) as long as it contains little or no THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). This means that you can buy it just about anywhere. The best part is that you don’t need to go to a doctor and get a prescription to purchase CBD oil. You can even order it online (we’ve also researched the best CBD oils here).
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Easy To Use
Using CBD hemp oil is incredibly easy. There are no needles or complicated procedures necessary. It’s as easy as using a tincture to drip a few drops underneath your tongue, rubbing it on your skin, adding it to your vape pen, or incorporating it into your favorite recipes. You can even use CBD oil beauty products like lotion, skin cream, and lip balm. Our personal favorites are CBD drops and CBD oil capsules.
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Safe To Use
Studies show that side effects are rare and mild. We know that anything related to cannabis can seem scary, but there are practically no risks to CBD oil. There are no lethal overdoses with CBD, so you don’t have to worry about taking too much. We do recommend that you consult a medical professional first to make sure CBD is right for you.
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Natural Alternative
While you can get CBD oil with added flavors that are not natural, CBD itself is a natural extract from hemp (one of many cannabinoids). There are no harmful chemical additives or toxic preservatives. CBD is a natural alternative to sleep aids, painkillers, nausea medicines, epilepsy medicines, and plenty more. Full spectrum CBD oils are said to be even more effective, due to its enhanced effects when working with our Endocannabinoid system.
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May Have Neuroprotective Properties
Although studies are ongoing, research suggests that CBD may treat and protect against neurological disorders including MS, Alzheimer’s disease, Epilepsy, and Parkinson’s disease. One study showed a significant reduction in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease in animals. Human studies show a dose-related improvement in Parkinson’s disease patients who were given 100mg to 600mg of CBD each day over six weeks (1, 2).
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May Have Anti-tumor Effects
CBD oil effects have shown to reduce tumor size in animals. Research suggests that it might prevent the spreading of brain, colon, breast, prostate, and lung cancer. More testing needs to be done to come to a definite conclusion, but the research looks promising (3).
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Improves Sleep Quality
One of the most appreciated CBD benefits is its ability to treat sleep disorders. It has a natural calming and relaxing effect which reduces anxiety and makes it easier to get a good night’s sleep. It also reduces insomnia in those who have chronic pain since CBD also works as a pain reliever. Small doses during the day can help with alertness which helps keep you awake and promotes a healthy sleep-wake cycle.
Talking of sleep, we wanted to tell you about cbdMD. Here at Quitnet, we’re fortunate enough to regularly test the latest CBD products on the market. Out of all the products we’ve tested, cbdMD has always consistently shown the best results in our experiments, especially for helping with the quality of sleep.
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May Prevent Diabetes
A lab test on diabetic mice shows that CBD reduces the prevalence of obesity by 56% and significantly decreases inflammation. Chronic inflammation has long been known to be a key cause of diabetes. Experts believe that the anti-inflammatory effect of CBD improves diabetics’ metabolism (4).
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Improves Skin Health
CBD seems to work even better than vitamin C and E in preventing skin acne. The anti-inflammatory properties of CBD are believed to be the cause of the skin-clearing effects.
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May Benefit Your Heart
Recent studies on CBD show that it may be a natural treatment for high blood pressure. The calming effect of CBD may also contribute to heart health since chronic stress and anxiety can lead to heart conditions. Additionally, the anti-inflammatory effects of CBD may lower your risk of heart disease.
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Works quickly
This one is especially important for pain, seizure, and asthma relief. CBD oil can start relieving symptoms almost immediately after you use it. However, consuming CBD in an edible form will take longer than other methods. We recommend taking CBD sublingually or by inhalation for quick pain relief.
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Used For Anxiety
CBD oil can help with mild anxiety and even severe social anxiety (such as social anxiety disorder). Participants in one study showed a significant improvement when giving a speech while using cannabidiol. This is excellent news for those of us who dread getting on stage or giving a toast at a wedding.
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Relieves Nausea/Increases Appetite
In low doses, CBD reduces nausea and vomiting. Additionally, it may even increase hunger. This could help with eating disorders, general nausea, and even chemo-related nausea. However, at high doses, CBD oil was shown to increase nausea. So it’s important to experiment to find the right dosage.
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May Treat Depression
CBD may have an anti-depressant effect comparable to the common tricyclic medication imipramine. This is thought to be because of CBD’s ability to activate the brain’s serotonin receptors. These are the neurotransmitters that help regulate your mood, appetite, and sleep (5). Depression can be a rare side effect of CBD so consult a doctor before you try it as an antidepressant. Never stop taking an antidepressant without consulting your doctor first.
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May Treat Diseases
CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties can help improve symptoms of irritable bowel disease such as reduced appetite, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
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Helps With Addiction
Studies show that CBD decreases heroin-seeking behaviors. It also helps significantly reduce the craving for nicotine in smokers who are trying to quit.
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Does Not Cause Impairment
Unlike the psychoactive compound THC found in marijuana, CBD contains no impairing properties. This means you don’t have to worry about red eyes and impaired cognition or motor skills. You can enjoy the positive effects of CBD with a clear head.
Potential CBD Oil Side Effects
While there aren’t many side effects associated with CBD oil and it is generally considered to be a safe product, it can have adverse effects in some people. All of us at Quitnet believe that it’s important to get all of the information, not just the positive – so that you know exactly what you’re getting into.
Numerous small-scale studies have analyzed the effect of CBD dosage levels and the findings indicate that the vast majority of adults can handle even high amounts of it without any negative effects. There isn’t proof of any adverse impact on, mood, vital signs, or the central nervous system.
Some rare cases have found CBD oil to cause:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Drowsiness
- Dry mouth
- Change in appetite and weight
- Diarrhea
The side effects of CBD are typically mild, and not everyone experiences them. The lack of research on children and long-term users makes it difficult to say if there are any other potential side effects. The current information available shows us that, compared to many other drugs, CBD has a better side effect profile.
While there isn’t enough evidence yet for us to tell whether or not CBD has an effect on pregnant women and their breastmilk, it’s best to stay on the safe side and avoid CBD oil while pregnant.
A person taking CBD is unlikely to form a dependency.
Other uncommon side effects may include:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Reduced urination
- Infections
- Irritability
- Lethargy
Takeaway
We recommend that you start with small doses under supervision to be sure that you do not experience any problems. If no adverse symptoms appear, you can then increase to a standard dosage.
Like nearly every form of treatment, CBD oil can potentially have undesirable effects. However, CBD seems to be one of the safest treatments available for many ailments. If you’re looking to give CBD oil a go, we’ve created a list of the best CBD oil rankings here. We cover all the important details such as brand reputation, dose intakes, key features, affordability and more.
