10 Unique Uses For CBD Oil
There are many amazing health benefits associated with CBD oil. Click here to discover 10 unique uses for CBD oil so you can take advantage of them. CBD oil is shaping up to be big business. Experts predict that within 3 years, the market will be worth over $2 billion!
It isn't hard to understand why. As the properties of cannabis are studied more and more, new uses are constantly being discovered. Some uses, like for pain management, are pretty widely documented and well known. New uses are emerging that are still pretty unknown, which makes them all the more exciting.
We've got ten great uses for CBD oil that you've probably never heard of. Read on to find out even more things that CBD can do for you.
Table of Contents
1. CBD Oil Can Help You Quit Smoking
Smoking is a tough addiction to kick. Even if you are determined to quit, nicotine's highly addictive properties make it extremely tough. Over 70% of smokers want to quit, but less than half of them succeed.
CBD oil can make quitting easier. In one study, former smokers were asked to use an inhaler every time they felt the urge to smoke. Some were inhaling CBD oil. A test group just had a placebo.
The ones who were inhaling CBD were way less likely to smoke cigarettes during the test period. They reported feeling fewer cravings as well. This trend even continued a bit after the study ended. Once it has had more study, it is possible that CBD oil could become a future alternative to nicotine patches!
2. Use As An Antibiotic
Have you ever heard of superbugs? They are strains of bacteria that are becoming resistant to regular antibiotics, which will likely become a huge health risk in the future. These are being formed because of traditional antibiotics being used.
Scientists are looking for alternative antibiotics and CBD oil might just be the answer they are looking for. CBD has been shown to be effective in fighting a number of common bacterial strains. It is still being studied to see what other types of bacteria it can be a useful cure for.
3. Take Care Of Skin Conditions
CBD oil is actually incredible for your skin. It can be used to help heal skin issues such as acne and psoriasis. Psoriasis is a skin condition where the sufferer gets painful and itch scale-like patches of skin. These usually appear on the limbs, or lower back. This can sometimes occur alongside acne, making both conditions even harder to treat.
CBD is anti-inflammatory, meaning it can help reduce redness and swelling. This makes the acne less noticeable. Plus, the anti-inflammatory properties can reduce the size of the itchy areas for psoriasis sufferers.
CBD controls the endocannabinoid system which helps regulate cell growth. It also helps manage cell differentiation, which makes cells change to become more or less specialized. When it comes to acne and psoriasis, this contributes to healing.
It also limits the development of certain compounds that contribute to acne, such as arachidonic acid. Keratinocytes, which are skin cells that cause psoriasis to spread, are also slowed down by CBD.
To take advantage of these effects, generally, the oil is applied directly to the affected skin. In the future, you might see more and more skin creams that contain CBD.
4. Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a serious and painful chronic condition. Sufferers have muscle and body pain throughout their body. It also causes fatigue, sleep issues, and problems with memory and mood. There is no cure for fibromyalgia, but there are many treatments to help reduce the symptoms, especially the pain.
CBD oil has already been proven as an effective treatment for pain, sleep disorders, and mood issues. For those that suffer from fibromyalgia, this can help them treat all their symptoms at once. This reduces the need to take a bunch of different pills with different side effects. Fewer pills and side effects mean the treatment is easier for the sufferer to manage in their day to day life.
It also reduces the risk of serious addiction. This is because fibromyalgia sufferers are often prescribed opioids to manage their symptoms. Unlike cannabis, opioids carry the risk of addiction and overdose, especially since fibromyalgia sufferers need to use them consistently throughout their life.
CBD is a safer alternative treatment to help manage the symptoms of fibromyalgia.
5. Bone Growth And Healing
Some preliminary studies are suggesting that CBD oil can promote bone growth and healing. This is big news for people who suffer from osteoporosis or even just have a recent fracture.
The endocannabinoid system regulates bone growth. One study showed that using CBD to stimulate the endocannabinoid system helped bones rebuild. Even more importantly, it stopped them from losing more mass.
Another study showed that CBD promoted healing in broken bones. Rats that were given CBD after a bone fracture healed much faster than rats that didn't get it.
Stopping bone mass loss and helping to rebuild it is very important for those with osteoporosis. That is because osteoporosis does not have a cure. Treatments can reduce the effects and make them more manageable, but it will never go away.
Because of these promising effects, CBD oil may be the answer that people with bone damage have been waiting for.
6. Controlling THC's Effects
It might seem a bit counterproductive to use CBD oil if you want to control your excessive cravings for THC, or just tone down THC's effects. After all, aren't they both forms of cannabis?
Based on its chemical composition, cannabis isn't technically addictive. However, some people do come to be dependent upon the effects. Like any drug, reducing dependence can be difficult to do without help.
Plus, sometimes when you use THC, there are unintended and uncomfortable effects such as paranoia. This can be very uncomfortable. Luckily, these symptoms can be reduced.
That's where CBD comes in. It competes with THC for the same cannabinoid receptors in the brain. That means some of the receptors will pick up CBD instead of THC, reducing the latter's effects.
CBD lacks the intoxicating effects of THC, but provides many of the other benefits, such as pain and anxiety management. When CBD oil is used instead of THC, users have a reduced desire for THC, since their body is still getting cannabinoids without any of the intoxication.
7. Managing Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a tricky condition. That is because there doesn't appear to be any physical cause. However, the effects are very real and very distressing for people with IBS. Because there isn't a physical cause, it makes it very difficult to treat. IBS is not curable and can be a lifelong condition.
IBS's symptoms can vary, but often include abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, and general discomfort. There is also generally chronic inflammation. These symptoms can be difficult to manage, even causing difficulty in social situations.
CBD can help reduce the inflammation associated with IBS. It is also theorized that problems with the endocannabinoid system, such as cannabinoid deficiency, might be a factor that causes IBS.
Increasing the number of cannabinoids in the body by consuming CBD oil has been shown to help control and reduce the symptoms of IBS.
8. Cardiac Health And Heart Attacks
A healthy heart is key to a healthy body. Heart attacks and other cardiovascular diseases are some of the most common health concerns in North America.
CBD is shaping up to be a major player in the cardiovascular health world. With cardiovascular issues being such a major concern for so many people, this could be a major health revolution in the coming years.
Hemp oil can help with the prevention of thrombosis and atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is when fatty materials or plaque builds up inside the arteries. Thrombosis is when there is a blood clot in the circulation system.
Both of these conditions can lead to strokes, as well as other heart diseases. The Omega-3 fatty acids in CBD oil helps break down plaque buildup in the arteries, preventing atherosclerosis. It lowers blood cholesterol levels.
It also has been shown to reduce vascular tension and protect the arteries from damage caused by sugar. This further reduces the chances of damage to the arteries and thrombosis.
All of these preventative benefits can help reduce certain types of heart attacks. Atherosclerosis is a major cause of heart attacks, since the heart isn't getting the blood flow it needs to function.
A Note Of Caution On Heart Health
It is important to note that it isn't all good news when it comes to CBD and heart health. Consuming CBD does increase your heart rate temporarily, especially in new users. This contributes to feelings of anxiety, but may also be dangerous for those at risk of heart attacks.
The increase in heart rate is similar to that after consuming caffeine. In high-risk situations, a cup of coffee is just as dangerous.
More study is needed to know which times CBD oil can be a beneficial treatment, and in which situations is could be the wrong prescription.
9. Concussion And Other Brain Injury
A few decades ago, most people probably didn't think that concussions were that big a deal. We are now coming to better understand how complicated concussion and other serious brain injury recovery really is.
Brain injury recovery takes a holistic approach. When it comes to the brain, mental healing a huge part of physical recovery. Things like stress, anxiety, and insufficient sleep can seriously impact recovery. Studies have already shown that cannabis can help with managing these issues. More study is needed to determine how CBD specifically interacts with these problems for brain injury recovery.
There is one big part of brain injury recovery we know that CBD can help. CBD's antioxidant properties help with the brain's production of neuroprotective agents. These are chemicals that help the brain protect its structure and functioning.
CBD also increases blood flow within the brain, which contributes to normal functioning and healing. It allows more oxygen to get to the parts of the brain where it is needed most after traumatic brain injury.
A lot of attention has been given to how cannabis can help alleviate the anxiety associated with many disorders, from general anxiety disorder to post-traumatic stress disorder. CBD is a lifesaver for people with social anxiety issues. It can help people manage extreme anxiety before going into social situations, especially things like giving speeches or presentations.
Social anxiety is more than just nervousness. It is a mental health condition. It can affect all aspects of a person's life, from going to work, to going to the grocery store. In some extreme cases, the sufferer doesn't feel they can even leave the house.
CBD can help control this anxiety in a way that lets them participate normally. Unlike THC, there is no intoxication or mental impairment while under the effects of CBD. This means that their performance in the social situation will not be impaired.
CBD will help keep their anxiety under control, without any intoxicating effects that would be inappropriate for the situation. While intoxication is okay at a party, it certainly wouldn't go over well at a business meeting.
CBD is also incredibly useful because people with social anxiety often self-medicate. Commonly, alcohol is used. This seriously impairs their ability to function in those social situations, which can cause a vicious spiral, making their social anxiety even worse. It can also lead to serious drinking problems and alcohol addiction.
Because it helps control anxiety without intoxication or the risk of addiction, it is a great medication to help manage social anxiety.
10 Uncommon Uses for CBD Oil Wrap Up
CBD oil is exciting because there are already so many useful ways it can be used, and more are being discovered each year. While it is too early to start calling it a “miracle drug” as many are tempted to, it is encouraging to see how it can help so many people.
This is especially true when it comes to non-curable conditions like osteoporosis, fibromyalgia or IBS. It can help people manage their conditions and increase their quality of life.
The uses of cannabis oil that we have talked about here are only some of the many medical uses. Check out our blog to find out more about CBD oil and its many health benefits.
