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What is CBD oil? Everyone is talking about it. Despite the raised eyebrows and the confused looks, CBD oil is becoming increasingly popular, especially amongst the youth. One in seven Americans is now using CBD.

Celebrities are talking about it too. From the queen of social media, Kim Kardashian, to Jennifer Aniston to Olivia Wilde, everyone has hopped on the bandwagon.

 “I feel like if you don’t want to get high, this is a project specifically just to get rid of discomfort.” – Whoopi Goldberg

People take CBD oil for various reasons. The article highlights the pros and cons of CBD oil and how it can help you. But, first, let’s talk about what CBD oil is.

“CBD helps with pain, stress, and anxiety. It has all the benefits of marijuana without the high.” – Jennifer Aniston

  • What is CBD?

CBD is one of 120 compounds extracted from the cannabis plant. CBD oil, or cannabidiol, is an oil that contains CBD. The concentration of CBD present in the oil is variable.

Medical Marijuana contains CBD. The most active component of marijuana, however, is delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. While medical marijuana contains both CBD and THC, both compounds differ in nature and effect.

THC is the marijuana component that gets you “high”. CBD, on the other hand, is non-psychoactive, i.e., it does not alter your state of mind after use.

While CBD is unable to get you high, it does come with other significant health benefits.

PROS OF CBD OIL

  • Non-psychoactive

Contrary to popular opinion, CBD oil does not get you high, i.e., it does not induce the same psychoactive effects as cannabis.

Moreover, CBD oil does not make you giddy, dizzy, disoriented, anxious, or nervous. It does not increase your appetite or mentally impair you.

Therefore, when used in the proper amount, it will only do you good.

  • Treats Anxiety

CBD oil has been clinically proven to help treat anxiety.

According to a 2015 research study, CBD oil can be used to treat an array of anxiety-related ailments, such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder (SAD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as panic disorders.

Another 2011 study investigated the effect of CBD oil for treating stage anxiety in public speakers. The results of the study noted that the subjects administered with CBD oil were able to perform better on stage as they felt more confident and less anxious.

  • Treats Inflammatory Disorders

Inflammation is the root cause behind various ailments such as vasculitis, allergies, gout, and arthritis. Research suggests that CBD oil can help reduce internal inflammation.

CBD oil works by affecting the body’s endocannabinoid system. Therefore, CBD oil use can benefit those suffering from inflammatory disorders.

CBD oil also plays a role in preventing and treating ailments like diabetes, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s disease as they too stem from inflammation.

A 2014 publication in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease noted that CBD oil could help prevent social recognition deficit in Alzheimer’s patients.

  • Treats Acne

Acne results due to the inflammation and overactivity of the sebaceous glands in the skin. Excess sebum, an oily substance secreted by the skin, results in pimples and breakouts.

A study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease states that CBD oil helps reduce sebum production, which leads to reduced breakouts.

  • Treats Autoimmune Disorders

Autoimmune disorders are a result of inflammation. Think of them as your body attacking itself.

CBD oil aids the treatment of multiple autoimmune disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, lupus, inflammatory bowel disease, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and psoriatic arthritis.

  • Relieves Pain

Research suggests that CBD oil is an excellent analgesic, i.e., a painkiller. Unlike conventional pain medication such as NSAIDs and opioids, CBD oil harbors no serious side effects.

Statistics by NCBI claim that 97% of cannabis users take CBD primarily for pain relief.

Additionally, cannabidiol can be used to treat headaches of all sorts. These include migraines and cluster headaches.

Moreover, CBD oil can be used to aid pain associated with osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia.

  • Combats Cancer

Evidence in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology notes that CBD oil can help prevent the spread of cancer by suppressing cancer cell growth and subsequently promoting their destruction.

  • Easy to Use

Medication, although effective, is not exactly user-friendly. While some of us might be comfortable with pills and needles, others might not be very fond of them.

CBD oil is very user-friendly because you can consume it easily. It is tasteless, odorless, and mess-free. You can apply it topically as it is lipid-soluble. Some people even mix it with their food to make it easier to ingest.

Such methods do not normally work with other drugs and therefore make conventional meds quite difficult in terms of use.

You might be wondering, “Where can I buy CBD oil near me?” While CBD oil is readily available almost everywhere now, a great place to look is online.

Now that we have discoursed the benefits of CBD oil, let’s shed some light on its cons.

CONS OF CBD OIL

  • Contains only Traces of THC

THC is frequently subjected to significant criticism for its psychoactive properties. CBD oil contains traces of THC, which ideally makes it good for you. However, in some cases, the lack of THC can be a problem.

THC possesses certain benefits that CBD oil cannot provide.

THC increases your appetite. CBD oil, on the other hand, does not. Therefore, CBD oil is of no benefit to those who need to put on weight. THC is known to especially help those fighting eating disorders like anorexia, bulimia, etc.

Additionally, THC is effective for the treatment of seizures. CBD oil, owing to its minimal THC content, does not help treat seizures.

In 2018, however, the FDA approved the use of CBD oil for the treatment of two rare forms of epilepsy, namely Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) and Dravet syndrome (DS).

  • Induces Drowsiness

CBD oil is an effective tool for treating insomnia. If you think of it, this is one of its benefits for those fighting insomnia or struggle with sleep in general.

However, if you are struggling to stay awake, you should steer clear of CBD oil. CBD oil can induce drowsiness if used in a higher dose.

If you are new to using CBD oil, you should start from the lowest possible dose and work your way up. Newbies should avoid driving and operating heavy machinery after ingesting cannabidiol.

  • Variable Effect

CBD oil works by altering the workings of your endocannabinoid system. Therefore, its effect varies from person to person.

For this reason, every person requires a different dose of CBD oil to get the desired results. This makes it very challenging to determine how much is enough.

In the initial phases, it is important to undergo a little trial and error. While it sounds risky, fortunately, CBD oil harbors very few side effects and thus is not dangerous.

  • Increases Liver Toxicity

CBD oil has the potential to disrupt an enzyme known as the cytochrome P450 complex. The destruction of cytochrome P450 complex can hinder the liver’s ability to break down toxins, thereby increasing the chances of liver toxicity.

  • PARTING THOUGHTS

CBD oil continues to be a hot topic for debate. However, it is safe to say that the pros outweigh the cons.

CBD oil is more than a trend. It is incredibly helpful for those battling a multitude of ailments; research backs up the claims. No, it does not get you high, nor does it come with an array of side effects.

Yes, more research is needed to fully understand CBD oil’s impact on the human body as well as its use in medicine.

Regardless, the evidence presented by previous studies should be enough to convince you to try it out. Who knows? CBD oil might be the solution to your problem.

michellejoe
About Michelle Joe: Michelle Joe is a blogger by choice. She loves to discover the world around her. She’s well known for writing about home improvement, health, business and travel. She likes to share her discoveries, experiences, and express herself through her blogs. You can find her on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook