CBD oil is increasingly common as a treatment for a diverse array of physical and mental health conditions. People use it to treat many symptoms associated with cancer, for example. Cancer treatment itself also has side effects that CBD oil can treat.
Moreover, people also use this oil to treat chronic pain, stress, depression, anxiety, and other issues. That said, it’s crucial to understand the pros, cons, and limitations of CBD oil.
Just because you can buy it over the counter doesn’t mean it’s the right way for you to treat your symptoms.
Get as much information as possible when considering this treatment option.
3 Benefits of Using CBD Oil
CBD oil comes from plants. There are many plants that contain cannabinoids. Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of those types of cannabinoids. Unlike many of the other types, such as cannabis, it doesn’t have any psychoactive effect.
In other words, you don’t feel “high” when you take CBD oil.
It has limited side effects and may have certain benefits. The three most common benefits are pain relief, seizure/spasm reduction, and relief from certain mental health symptoms.
1. CBD Oil Eases Pain
One of the most common reasons that people seek CBD oil is for help managing chronic pain. Medical News Today reports on several studies that indicate it does successfully treat pain. The human body has an endocannabinoid system. The plant works with our own system.
In particular, CBD oil offers chronic pain relief for conditions linked with inflammation.
For example, people with arthritis report reduced pain after using this treatment option. People with cancer sometimes rely on CBD oil for pain management. As American doctors have reduced opiate prescriptions, people who previously relied on opiates may turn to CBD oil for pain relief.
Studies indicate that there is no tolerance buildup. In other words, you don’t have to take more and more of it over time to continue feeling pain reduction. Therefore, pain relief is one of the primary benefits of CBD oil.
2. CBD Oil Reduces Symptoms of Stress and Anxiety
There are some very promising studies that indicate that CBD oil can provide relief from both stress and anxiety. One study published by the NIH found that the oil helped with stress and anxiety symptoms across a number of activities in the brain, because it:
- Decreased autonomic arousal
- Decreased conditioned fear expression
- Increased the extinction of fear
- Prevented the “long-term anxiogenic effects of stress”
This suggests that CBD has potential benefits for reducing anxiety symptoms related to general stress as well as anxiety disorders including phobias and PTSD.
3. CBD Oil for Depression
Some studies have shown that using this oil can help ease depression. Its most promising benefit is help with insomnia.
Insomnia is part of a vicious cycle in both depression and anxiety disorders. The conditions make it hard to sleep but then lack of sleep worsens the conditions. Interrupting insomnia can play a key role in depression and anxiety treatment.
Additionally, signs indicate that CBD may work with serotonin in the brain to help relieve some forms of depression. In fact, a 2018 study shows potential for CBD to work as a fast-acting antidepressant, which can provide great relief for those suffering from acute depression symptoms.
It’s important to work with your mental health professionals if you’re trying CBD for depression treatment. There have been some reports that CBD oil can actually cause or worsen depression. Further tests are necessary, and every individual may have their own reactions and experiences.
Side Effects and Concerns for CBD Oil Use
One of the most important things for you to be aware of when it comes to CBD oil is that there are many different options out there. Makers breed their plants differently, extract in various ways, and add CBD to different oil bases. Strengths vary greatly from product to product.
Most importantly, you have to recognize that CBD oil is different from CBD with THC. With more and more states legalizing marijuana, combined THC/CBD oil is increasingly easy to access.
While THC may have some benefits and can enhance the benefits of CBD for certain people, it also comes with a lot of risks.
In particular, people with certain mental health issues, including schizophrenia and bipolar depression, are at risk of troubling symptoms when choosing CBD with THC. Even though you can get CBD over the counter (and in some places can also get THC), it’s important that you work with your doctor and mental health provider to find the symptom relief solutions that are right for you.
In addition to these big concerns, there are some potential CBD oil side effects. Weight change, tiredness, liver damage, diarrhea, and unknown hormonal changes over time are all potential concerns.
