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CBD
two of the most difficult types of chronic pain
to treat.
As the compounds that activate this system,
many suggest that cannabinoids like THC or
CBD could help improve endocannabinoid
system function and in so doing, help to
enhance mood and memory, and reduce
sensory perceptions such as pain.
As such, CBD is most commonly used to
treat pain and inflammation, restlessness,
sleeplessness and anxiousness. People are
also finding that CBD is useful in instances
where they may not have responded well to
conventional treatments, or as an alternative or
adjunct to certain pharmaceuticals.
Are these claims proven?
A study published in the European Journal of
Pain showed via an animal model that CBD
applied on the skin could help lower pain and
inflammation related to arthritis.
Another study, published in the Journal of
Experimental Medicine in 2012, demonstrated
the mechanism by which CBD inhibits
inflammatory and neuropathic pain, which are
Other studies have shown that CBD may
help reduce chronic pain by impacting
endocannabinoid receptor activity,
reducing inflammation and interacting with
neurotransmitters. Furthermore, several human
studies found that a combination of CBD and
THC effectively treats pain related to multiple
sclerosis.
How do I take CBD?
To create CBD products, like the wide range
available to your local Dis-Chem, CBD is
removed from plants during an extraction
process and manufactured into oils, tinctures
or capsules.
CBD oil is made by mixing a CBD extract from
a cannabis plant into a base like hemp seed
oil or alcohol, respectively. Isolate CBD oils are
And CBD oil has shown promise as a treatment
for both depression and anxiety. For instance,
a study conducted on 57 men in Brazil, who
received either oral CBD or a placebo 90
minutes before they underwent a simulated
public speaking test, found that a
300mg CBD dose significantly
reduced anxiety during the test.
A 2010 study conducted
by German researchers also
reported in the peer-reviewed Cell
Communication and Signalling journal
that CBD stimulates the growth of
new brain cells (neurogenesis) in adult
mammals.
Further research is, of course, needed to
confirm all the benefits linked to CBD, but there
is already significant support for various uses.
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