If you were told that there is a cannabis derived product that is safe to use in nearly all situations, including with children; that there is a product that doesn’t cause any “high”, anxiety or paranoia, and that there was a product that is legal all over the world including the United States - would you believe it? With all the hype around medical marijuana these days, this question might even pique your interest, because medical marijuana is demonstrating some substantial results as an alternative medicine. The question posed above is not hypothetical, because there is another naturally occurring cannabinoid found within cannabis that is legal, non-psychoactive and just as beneficial - it’s called cannabidiol or CBD.
How can this be true? It’s because in the world of cannabis, there is a labyrinth of confusing language which is often misused, to describe all the different varieties and formats. Generally speaking, the term cannabis is meant to describe the plant genus that all the various kinds stem from. Its scientific name is cannabis sativa. Depending on strain, it may have differing levels and combination of cannabinoids, including the most famous one THC and the new up-and-comer CBD. The term marijuana is typically used to describe THC heavy strains, which can be for medical or recreational use, and are differently regulated depending on location. While other marijuana strains contain low levels of THC in favor of CBD, these are still classified as a Schedule I drug at the federal level if they contain anything over 0.3% THC. The final form of cannabis described here, is hemp. Hemp is grown for other parts of the plant than the buds, and must contain less than 0.3% THC in order to be legally imported, grown, or sold within the United States. It is from hemp that CBD is legally procured both within the US and in many countries around the world.
Cannabidiol is a healthy daily supplement that can be safely taken by everyone in the family, and it can be used for both acute medical issues as well as for more general daily wellbeing, like other supplements. While these more acute medicinal applications are well discussed in other articles, the potential for daily use is often overlooked perhaps because the results are only expressed accumulatively and tend to be less dramatic. These results are nevertheless powerful, and can have huge benefit as a daily supplement.
Daily CBD Oil Effects
Current research shows that CBD is an effective anti-inflammatory agent, and is high in antioxidants. It also shows that it may prove to be a new and exciting treatment option for a myriad of serious illnesses like cancer, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's, depression, epilepsy and many, many, more. What doesn’t make the headlines is the quieter effects it can have on a day to day basis, for overall health and wellbeing. Because it doesn’t trigger any unwanted psychological side effects such as euphoria, paranoia, anxiety or any other “stoned” feelings, it has far wider therapeutic applications than medical marijuana. It can be used daily, even during work hours, and can be used for all ages.
1. Maintains Healthy Skin
As an antioxidant, CBD can help keep healthy cells functional for much longer than without. It will keep free radicals in check, which while naturally occurring are attributed to exposure to oxidative stressors within the environment, within the water we drink and within the air we breathe. They contribute to the aging process, meaning that when they are left unchecked, they speed up the internal and external appearance of aging. Free radicals are the root cause of many age related illnesses as well. A daily dose of CBD is theorized to have benefits on slowing down the signs of aging due to its high concentration of antioxidants. CBD oil effects could also benefit those suffering from oily, acne-ridden skin. Cannabidiol has been found to inhibit the production of sebum, which is at the root of oil production. It also has anti-inflammatory effects that can help reduce skin irritations.
2. Effective Pain Killer
Inflammation is often the root cause of muscle and joint pain, whether it’s a relatively mild twinge or longer term chronic pain. Cannabidiol is an extremely powerful anti-inflammatory, and has interestingly been found to operate within many of the same areas that are typically triggered by opioid painkillers. Because of these analgesic effects, it can help reduce inflammation around high impact areas that are stressors for many people on a daily basis, such as knees, ankles and the upper back and neck.
3. Rich NeuroProtectant
Some of the ways that CBD is thought to offer our brains a bit of extra protection from degenerative illnesses is the way it inhibits glutamate production. Glutamate is a neural toxin that could potentially lead to illnesses such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer's and others. While perhaps not the most immediate concern for most people, especially for those under a certain age, CBD offers great protection over time and is thought to either slow the onset, or at least offer significant protection as we age.
