Is CBD Weed and Who Benefits the Most From It?
Cannabidiol is commonly known as CBD, and it comes in everything from body butters to sublingual oils. Taking CBD medically has been making waves on the news, in convenience stores, in social circles and even in medical offices. It’s a common misconception that CBD and marijuana are the same thing, but they don’t actually come from the same plant. Pure CBD has different benefits from medical weed, and it’s widely available. Who benefits the most is a subjective question that can only be answered by the consumer.
It’s Not Weed
Before buying CBD, it’s important to understand that it is not weed. CBD is one of the active compounds in marijuana, and it is well-known because medical marijuana growers enhance the concentration of CBD in plants for medicinal purposes. THC is the compound that gets people high and has a psychoactive effect. CBD is harvested from hemp plants unless it comes from a highly regulated medical dispensary. If you’re choosing CBD from a dispensary, you must ask about the plant origins if that is a concern for you.
Treatment For Seizures
While CBD-containing products have been touted to be a cure for everything from cancer to insomnia, they don’t actually cure anything. One of the most promising uses of CBD is for treatment-resistant seizures. It’s so beneficial that the FDA approved a CBD medication in order to treat these seizures that don’t respond to medication. Children are the surprising population benefiting most from CBD-containing products because no other medication can treat the condition. Severe forms of epilepsy that start in childhood can lead to early death if seizures are not controlled, so it’s easy to see why CBD would be an attractive and popular option for desperate families everywhere.
Anxiety Sufferers
CBD is also touted as a treatment for anxiety. Not everyone who has anxiety wants to take the typical course of treatment for the condition. Benzodiazepines have significant risks and long-term use concerns. While CBD doesn’t have enough research backing efficacy for anxiety, people are still talking about the relief they feel when they take it for anxiety. If your medical options aren’t appealing, trying a CBD supplement may be a helpful route to treat your anxiety.
Depression
No one would advocate stopping antidepressant medications in exchange for CBD oil, but you should consult with your doctor if you want to consider it in conjunction with your current treatment.
Chronic Pain
As the war on opioids continues, chronic-pain patients are looking for natural options that are effective and don’t cause as many symptoms as narcotic medications. CBD-containing supplements are all of the buzz for chronic pain. CBD is the compound in medical marijuana that makes it helpful and tolerable for people with serious conditions like cancer. It makes sense that people would feel a benefit from taking only CBD. Topical CBD butters are helpful for tense muscles and joints, and there are tons of other products with CBD that aim to relieve pain.
Be Informed
Much research needs to be done in order to determine if there’s evidence to support use of CBD for medical conditions that people claim it helps. Supplements sold over-the-counter aren’t FDA regulated, and some of those products are deceitful and don’t contain the compound at all. Be informed about what you’re buying, and always be sure to check with your doctor before trying CBD.