What Does CBD Do for The Body?

What’s all the buzz about CBD? Why is CBD the newest player to take center stage among the medical community? To begin, CBD stands for Cannabidiol and is one of the most prominent of the over 100 chemical compounds found in cannabis or marijuana plants. And as you’re probably well aware, it has been gaining a ton of popularity in the media and among medical professionals for all its potential health benefits. 

So, why is everybody talking about this natural remedy and what does CBD do for the body? Here are a few of the main health benefits of CBD that are backed by scientific studies. 

Doesn’t get you “high”

Before we move forward to what CBD can do for the body, it’s important to mention what it doesn’t do: it doesn’t give you the “high” feeling. Although it comes from the cannabis plant, CBD doesn’t have psychoactive effects, meaning that it can’t get you “high.” In fact, what gives the high feeling to cannabis users is the THC compound, another prevalent compound in the marijuana plant. 

Yet CBD-based products do not contain THC. And even if there might be a small amount of THC found in CBD products, it’s typically not enough to induce the euphoric effects associated with marijuana.

Can relieve pain

It’s no surprise that CBD is associated with pain relief, as the marijuana plant has been used to treat pain for centuries, maybe even millenia. Yet recent studies have found out that only certain components of the marijuana plant have pain-relieving effects, including CBD. 

Our bodies contain a specialized system that is known as the endocannabinoid system. This system is involved in a number of functions in our bodies, such as sleep, appetite, pain, and our immune system’s responses. Thus, our body produces endocannabinoids, which are neurotransmitters that can combine with cannabinoid receptors that exist in the nervous system. 

Several scientific studies suggest that CBD may help alleviate chronic pain by interacting with the endocannabinoid receptor activity in our bodies. By doing so, CBD can reduce inflammation and interact with neurotransmitters in our bodies. 

Can help reduce anxiety and depression

Suppose you are one of the 40 million adults in the US who struggle with anxiety disorders. In that case, the chances are that you’ve heard about CBD and its potential benefits to reduce anxiety before. In several scientific studies, CBD has shown promise as a natural treatment for mental issues such as anxiety and depression. Studies suggest that thanks to its ability to act on the brain’s receptors for serotonin, the neurotransmitter in our body that regulates mood and social behavior, CBD has antidepressant-like properties. 

So far, mental health conditions like depression or anxiety were treated with pharmaceutical drugs such as benzodiazepines. Yet all these drugs can have severe side effects including addiction, agitation, insomnia, or drowsiness. So a natural alternative for treating anxiety and depression is definitely good news for those who live with these disorders. 

May reduce acne

Did you know that over 9% of the global population struggles with acne? If you also struggle with this skin condition, the good news is that CBD may help you thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties. Acne is typically caused by a number of factors such as genetics, bacteria, underlying inflammation, or the overproduction of sebum. Recent scientific studies suggest that CBD may have anti-inflammatory properties and the ability to reduce sebum production, which can solve your acne problem if the cause behind it is related to inflammation or overproduction of sebum. 

Might have neuroprotective properties

Scientific studies have also shown that CBD may have neuroprotective properties and can help treat neurological disorders such as epilepsy and multiple sclerosis. However, research in this area is still relatively new and needs more studies to understand whether or not CBD can be a promising treatment for such disorders. However, so far, studies have suggested that CBD can significantly reduce seizure activity in children suffering from Dravet syndrome and spasms in people with multiple sclerosis. 

Can improve heart health

CBD has also been linked with heart health thanks to its ability to lower high blood pressure. People at risk of stroke, heart attack, or metabolic syndrome may benefit from using CBD to lower their high blood pressure. In fact, its ability to lower blood pressure is also associated with its potential benefits for reducing stress and anxiety.