The rapid growth of CBD products is one of the biggest wellness trends of the 20th century. A number of consumers are using products like CBD oiltomanage a variety of conditions from pain to insomnia.
The sheer number of people using CBD products is a testament to their effectiveness.One Gallup poll found that 14% of American adults use CBD. That figure probably wouldn’t be so high if CBD was completely ineffective.
But just how effective is CBD, really?Some people believe that it is a miracle cure for every health problem under the sun. Others are still skeptical about its benefits.
The truth lies somewhere in the middle. As with any product, CBD users need to do their research and be informed.
Research on CBD benefits is encouraging, but not conclusive
Peter Grinspoon, a professor at Harvard Medical School and former Associate Director for the Physician Health Service at the Massachusetts Medical Society wrote a blog post about CBD. Grinspoon provided a very balanced analysis of the CBD products on the market.
He pointed out that there is a growing body of evidence that CBD can be used to treat certain ailments. The most compelling evidence of the benefits of CBD pertains to its effectiveness in treating childhood epilepsy. Grinspoon pointed out that this is a serious and painful disease, so it is encouraging that research supports the argument that CBD can be used to treat it.
He also went on to explain that CBD can be used to treat anxiety, insomnia and pain caused by arthritis. These are some of the most common reasons that people use CBD.
However, existing research on the health benefits and risks of CBD are still limited. Existing findings need to be taken with a grain of salt, until they have been thoroughly pure reviewed. Follow-up studies may need to improve the methodology of some of the existing research on the topic. For example, one major study on the use of CBD for treating anxiety yielded hopeful results. However, it was an uncontrolled study, so another study with a control group could be necessary to affirm the findings.
While the research is promising thus far, it is important to be cautious about the claims of any advertiser. Some CBD companies have gotten into trouble for making unrealistic claims about the benefits of their products.
As a consumer, you could recognize that there is scientific evidence supporting the benefits of CBD. However, you need to also recognize that more research is neededbefore we can be too confident in the findings.
What types of issues can CBD help with?
Although CBD products are not a “cure-all” for every known ailment, there are health issues that it appears to help with.Some of the most common uses for CBD are listed below.
Anxiety
Anxiety disorders are very common in the United States. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 40 million American adults have an anxiety disorder.This figure appears to be even higher during the COVID-19 crisis, since so many people are worried about their financial stability,their health and their love ones.
Many people that suffer from anxiety don’t want to use psychotropic medication.Fortunately, there are alternative treatments for anxiety, including CBD products.
The body of research on the efficacy of CBD for treating anxiety is growing. A 2015 study from the New York University School of Medicine evaluated 49clinical, epidemiological and pre-clinical studies on the use of CBD.This research showed strong evidence that CBD can treat anxiety disorders. Also, the authors concluded that CBD was highly safe and had minimal sedative effects.
Pain management
CBD products can also be used for managing pain. Some people use CBD as analternative to conventional painkillers, becausetheir bodies don’t respond well to pharmaceuticals. People with serious stomach ulcers have found that aspirin can be very uncomfortable to consume, which has forced them to find more natural alternatives.
Fortunately, CBD products appear to be effective at treating various types of pain.Even many cancer patients have started using CBD as part of their pain therapy.
Some types of pain that CBD can treat include:
- Many types of chronic pain
- Pain caused by arthritis
- Pain caused by severe migraines
Although CBD oil is legal, experts are still debating the exact impact of CBD on various types of pain. However, most medical experts agree that there is strong evidence that it offers some form of pain relief. It is unclear whether it should beconsidered the best form of pain relief, butit clearly seems to be helpful.
Sleeping disorders
Over 50 million Americans have afull-blown sleep disorder.Up to 80 million Americans have some sleeping problems, even if they don’t all meet the clinical standards to be diagnosed with an actual disorder.
Many people are wary about using conventional sleeping medication. They are concerned about the side effects and risks of addiction. Psychological addiction is a major concern for anybody using pills to curb their sleep disorder.
Many people with sleeping disorders are more interested in natural remedies, such as Valerian root and CBD.There is strong evidence that CBD products can help improve sleep. Theextent of the benefits and the types of sleeping disorders that it can treat still need to be determined with additional research. However, studies have been promising so far.
CBD is a promising treatment even if it is not a cure-all
The use of CBD is a surprisingly polarizing topic. Some people insist that there are no benefits of using CBD to treat any condition. Advocates on the other extreme argue that CBD is one of the besttreatments available and is far more effective than any modern medication.
As with most topics, neither side is accurate. Research does show that the best CBD oilis useful for treating various medical issues. However, it is not a cure-all. It is just another treatment to consider for people that might be anxious about using pharmaceuticals.
CBD users should always be cautious when making a purchase. They should be wary of manufacturers making outrageous, unfounded claims about the benefits of their products.
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