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THE
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY
PROPERTIES OF
CBD EXPLAINED
CBD is becoming very popular due to its many therapeutic properties
and non-intoxicating nature. Besides its antioxidant, antibiotic,
neuroprotective, anxiolytic, and anticonvulsant properties, CBD also
has high anti-inflammatory activity. Gregor Zorn explains why this
makes it incredibly useful, as inflammation is present in a wide variety of
different medical conditions.
What is inflammation?
Inflammation is an important mechanism of the immune system that protects our body and
increases healing. We can divide inflammation into acute and chronic. Acute inflammation
is beneficial – its onset is rapid and lasts only for a short period of time. It works to isolate
the damaged area, to mobilise protective cells and molecules to the damaged site and to
promote the removal of damaged tissues. If acute inflammation persists for a longer period
of time, then we talk about chronic inflammation. It can also be caused by nondegradable
pathogens, viral infections, persistent foreign bodies or an autoimmune reaction. Chronic
inflammation can last for months or even years, causing cell damage and tissue destruction.
Chronic inflammation and diseases
There is increasing evidence that chronic inflammation can also cause many chronic diseases,
such as obesity, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s
disease and schizophrenia. It is also estimated that about 15–20% of all cancer cases are
preceded by chronic inflammation, including lung, colon and pancreatic cancers. It becomes
very clear that reducing or preventing chronic inflammation is something most of us should
be actively doing.