Four CBD Benefits You Need To Know - Blog
CBD products are all the rage in the wellness industry right now and for good reason. Research shows that CBD has a range of potential benefits from relieving inflammation and pain to helping you sleep at night.
Read below about why YOU should try topical or edible CBD.
BENEFITS? COOL! ... WAIT, WHAT IS CBD AGAIN?
Many people get confused about where CBD is actually derived; CBD comes from Cannabis, which produces varieties of hemp and marijuana. Hemp and marijuana come from the same plant family but are different in function, cultivation and application. While CBD is present in marijuana, when utilized as a legal health supplement, it is extracted from industrial hemp.
Hemp has been cultivated by humans for over 10,000 years and is grown in many parts of the world. It is also an earth-friendly plant that is highly sustainable and renewable. Hemp is more often used in dietary supplements, skin products, clothing, and paper and contains a negligible amount of THC, the psychoactive compound; however, it is high in CBD. Marijuana is used for medicinal or recreational purposes and generally has a high level of THC and also has CBD. CBD does NOT contain THC, meaning CBD will not get you high and is legal in all 50 states.
FOUR CBD BENEFITS
Sleep
CBD helps to regulate cortisol, a stress hormone, which has a significant impact on part of your sleep cycle (non-REM sleep cycle). Research indicates that CBD helps you fall asleep and stay asleep. CBD is also known to regulate the body’s sleep/wake cycles, helping to promote wakefulness during daytime and relaxation at night.
Pain
Topical and edible CBD is used to relieve pain and combat inflammation. Research suggests that CBD interacts with a core component of our ECS (endocannabinoid system) called endocannabinoid receptors in the brain and the immune system; these receptors which are expressed throughout the nervous system, are tiny proteins attached to your cells that receive signals from different stimuli and help your cells respond. When CBD interacts with these receptors, anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects result. This means that CBD may benefit people with chronic pain conditions such as:
Fibromyalgia
Multiple Sclerosis
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Muscle Pain (Back, Neck, Shoulders etc.)
Anxiety & Depression
Anxiety and depression are usually treated with pharmaceutical drugs, which while often are necessary (it is very important to seek medical help for mental health conditions) can take weeks to start working and can cause a number of side effects including drowsiness, agitation, insomnia, sexual dysfunction, and headache. CBD is an alternative method that starts working immediately and can be extremely effective and safe, with fewer, less severe side effects if any. Experts believe that CBD’s potential benefits for anxiety and depression are related to its positive effect on serotonin receptors in the brain.
Inflammatory Skin Conditions
Since the skin has its own endocannabinoid system to which the CBD cannabinoid binds, it is effective in a wide range of skin problems. CBD has become an increasingly popular natural remedy for skin problems since several studies show how it decelerates skin cell division, reduces the formation of sebum in sebaceous tissues, and also soothes itchiness and redness. CBD’s anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties are said to help with a number of skin conditions such as:
Psoriasis
Acne
Dermatitis
Eczema & More
A NOTE ON CBD
While the wonders of CBD are profound I want you to be aware of CBD Misconceptions that you may come across when scouring for new products. Also do your homework to make sure there are sufficient levels of CBD in the products that you are buying; do a little digging into CBD sourcing if possible. There are many brands boasting the benefits of CBD in their products, when in fact:
The product actually contains very low levels of CBD mg
The product is not derived or sold from a reliable source
The product does not work synergistically with CBD, not leading to real benefits
Pellegrino Healing Center does extensive research about CBD sourcing and quality before introducing a product to our patients. We only serve up the best of the best so that our patients receive maximized benefits from CBD. Shop our choices for CBD products HERE.
If you are purchasing CBD products outside of our center be sure to look for organic, non-GMO, paraben free CBD that does not have questionable oils, fillers or additives.
You can read about how to choose a high-quality CBD product here.
Written by Michelle Eggink
Nutritional Therapy Practitioner
Meditation & Mindfulness Teacher
Graphics Created by Susan Spellman
Pellegrino Healing Center Staff Member