Marijuana tends to get a bad rap these days, even with countries starting to legalize its use on a medicinal and in some cases, recreational basis. It is still viewed as generally bad for our health – at least it is viewed that way by politicians who like to turn a blind eye to science.
Anyone who has done any scientific analysis on marijuana knows that it is not all bad and is nowhere near as dangerous as vintage films like Reefer Madness portray it to be. That said, there are safe and unsafe ways to consume this plant and reap the benefits of it.
I hate to disappoint the smokers out there, but smoking weed is not the healthiest way to consume the herb. In fact, this method tends to do irreparable damage to the lungs, just like smoking a cigarette.
Additionally, the THC side of marijuana (the side that provides the euphoric high feeling) does not actually offer any health benefits. Why is marijuana viewed as being healthy then? Because it has another side. Cannabidiol (also known as cannabidiol oil) extracted from the plant is responsible for all of the touted health benefits that you may have heard about.
If THC is almost completely useless on a health level, you might be asking why medical marijuana has it and is meant to be smoked. The answer for that is simple: the euphoric high caused by THC tends to soothe the symptoms of whatever health condition the user is going through. Let’s say cancer for instance.
The euphoric high dulls pain receptors which means the person suffering from cancer does not have to deal with the severe pain caused by their latest radiation treatment. And since it is synthesized by medical experts, the THC content is at a safe enough level to not be detrimental to one’s health.
Now that we have that out of way, we can put our focus squarely on cannabidiol oil.
Positive Effects Caused By Cannabidiol Oil
I want to preface this by stating that cannabidiol oil is for those of you are solely chasing the health benefits associated with cannabis, as opposed to those chasing the high.
Consuming cannabidiol oil will not give you any euphoric feeling because it is not THC and does not contain any THC.
Eases The Symptoms Of Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder that causes one to have seizures often. Unfortunately, many of the official treatments for it are ineffective and can cause various dangerous side effects. This is where cannabidiol oil comes in. There is a lot of scientific evidence supporting the fact that consuming cannabidiol oil can greatly reduce the symptoms associated with epilepsy, especially seizures.
In fact, cannabidiol oil has even been proven beneficial in fighting epilepsy in people whose bodies have developed a resistance to typical epilepsy medications. This is an especially useful benefit since those people would be screwed otherwise and have to deal with the seizures and other symptoms of epilepsy since the prescribed medications would no longer work.
On top of reducing the frequency of seizures in epilepsy sufferers, cannabidiol oil has eased other symptoms of epilepsy in young people such as tiredness and grogginess. It has also been shown to greatly improve focus and concentration, as well as helping epilepsy sufferers get a better night’s sleep.
Eases Pain
It turns out that the euphoric high caused by the THC content in marijuana is not the only thing that dulls pain. Cannabidiol oil has been proven to be a very potent pain relieving agent, which is another reason why cancer patients are prescribed medical marijuana to deal with their pain.
And unlike other common pain relievers, cannabidiol oil has proven to ease persistent pain as well, whereas other pain relievers are only good for temporary pain. Cannabidiol oil’s anti-inflammatory properties contribute to this benefit.
Boosts Blood Flow
Cannabidiol oil has been shown to make blood passageways throughout the body dilate, allowing more blood to be able to flow through. This ensures that all of your organs are getting sufficient blood to operate properly.
This is especially beneficial for your heart health and brain performance. When your blood flow is not optimal, it will cause your blood pressure to rise, which puts you at a great risk of developing heart disease and / or having a heart attack.
Clears Up Acne
Interestingly, a handful of people take advantage of cannabidiol oil’s aforementioned inflammation-fighting properties to help them clear up their stubborn acne breakouts.
Treats Neurodegenerative Disorders
Boosting the blood flow to your brain allows your brain at a higher level for a longer time, lessening your risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s. However, that is not the only contribution that cannabidiol oil makes to your brain health.
You see, these neurodegenerative disorders are, in a large part, caused by oxidation damage done to the cells in your brain. Cannabidiol oil functions as a potent antioxidant, which as you can guess, protects your brain cells from this oxidation damage. And no damage means no development of dementia and Alzheimer’s.
What’s The Catch?
All of these health benefits make cannabidiol oil sound like the miracle cure that doctors and scientists have been spending centuries looking for. And in many ways, it sort of is. It is a very versatile substance that can be used to treat all kinds of conditions. However, it is not without its faults. There are some side effects from using this substance.
Cotton Mouth
I am sure we all have experienced this at least once in our lives. Whether it have been caused by something we ate or just by not drinking enough water on a hot day, our mouth dries up and it gets to talk and swallow and do much of anything with it. It is an uncomfortable feeling, but it is harmless and can be easily dispatched of.
That said, I still think it is worth mentioning that using cannabidiol oil can lead you to experience this feeling. Cannabidiol oil is particularly dehydrating, so always make sure to have a bottle of water handy when you use it.
Low Blood Pressure
You are probably thinking, “Now hold on, didn’t you say that high blood pressure is bad and that cannabidiol oil is good for lowering it?” And you are right. When you have high blood pressure, it is very good to take steps to lower it.
However, what about when you are at a healthy blood pressure level? What happens when you take cannabidiol oil then?
The blood pressure reducing effects do not just disappear. Your blood pressure will drop from healthy levels to unhealthily low levels. Low blood pressure is just as much of a problem as high blood pressure.
This effect is greatly amplified if you are taking prescribed medications to lower your blood pressure as a result of having a condition such as hypertension. This can plummet your blood pressure to dangerously low levels. Therefore, it is always a best practice to talk to your doctor or a trusted medical expert before taking cannabidiol oil. Even if you are not taking any meds for hypertension, you should still go to the doctor and get a blood test done to see what your blood pressure situation is.
Tiredness
This is a rare side effect that most users will not experience. In fact as I already mentioned, those with epilepsy have experienced their feelings of tiredness dissipate as a result of taking cannabidiol oil. However, I would be reckless to leave out mentioning this side effect since some people have experienced tiredness caused by taking cannabidiol oil. I would not be too worried about this one, though.
Potentially Harmful For Sufferers Of Parkinson’s Disease
This side effect came as a shocker to me and probably comes as a bit of a shock to you as well. Considering how well cannabidiol oil has proven to be in the fight against other neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s and dementia, you would imagine that Parkinson’s disease would be no different. And you would be wrong for thinking that.
In fact, sufferers from Parkinson’s Disease have experienced worsened tremors and muscle spasms as a result of taking products that contained cannabidiol oil. However, it is believed that these worsened effects are a result of consuming too much cannabidiol oil.
Science has shown that taking healthy dosages of the oil has no detrimental effects on those suffering from Parkinson’s disease and can help provide some of the same benefits it provides to sufferers of Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Potentially Harmful When Taken With Other Medications
Drugs and chemicals react in many ways. And many of those reactions can be hugely detrimental to the body. I already mentioned earlier how people with hypertension who are taking medication for their condition should stay away from cannabidiol oil. This is because it amplifies the blood pressure reducing effects of their hypertension and would cause their blood pressure to plummet to unhealthy levels.
However, cannabidiol oil has not proven to be dangerous when taken with a handful of common medications. It is a natural substance that does not contain volatile chemicals. That said, always ask a doctor or trusted medical expert before taking cannabidiol oil if you are taking any other medication. There may be no risk at all, but flying blind is not the way to go so make sure to get an expert’s opinion.
Can I Take Cannabidiol Oil While I am Pregnant?
This is a very common question that, unfortunately, does not have a definitive answer at this point. Research and studies are still being done to analyze the effects, if any, of pregnant women using cannabidiol oil.
However, considering the relative safety of cannabidiol oil as opposed to other drugs and chemicals that are deemed safe for pregnant women to take, I would expect that they find cannabidiol oil to be safe as well.
Again though, nobody should fly blind and any pregnant woman wanting to take cannabidiol oil should get an expert’s opinion first. And that expert might tell you not to take it because there is hardly any information about cannabidiol oil’s effects on a pregnant woman or the baby inside. That would be my opinion as well. Wait until your baby is out before using cannabidiol oil if you must.
Cannabidiol Side Effects Wrap Up
As you can see, cannabidiol oil functions as a very potent treatment for some of the most debilitating diseases that the human race has to deal with. However, it is not without some faults and while they may seem insignificant, they are still worth mentioning and considering when you are deciding whether or not to take cannabidiol oil.
Now you have all the information that you need to make an educated decision. Good luck!
