What is CBD that everyone’s talking about and what are its benefits

The history of

CBD

goes back thousands of years. Derived from hemp, a type of cannabis plant, it may seem that CBD too is an intoxicating substance like marijuana that can make you high, but it’s not. CBD has very little THC (usually less than 0.3%), the primary psychoactive element of cannabis, and has medicinal properties. No wonder, in ancient Chinese and Indian civilizations, it was extensively used for pain relief, reducing inflammation, and treating indigestion.

Cannabis plants with THC concentrations greater than 0.3% are considered marijuana.
CBD, short for

cannabidiol

, finds mention in the Atharva Veda, an ancient Indian text, written in 2000-1400 BC, where it was considered as one of five sacred plants, and its leaves housed a guardian angel. The

medical cannabis

is also mentioned ancient Chinese medical texts. Another ancient Indian text Sushruta Samhita suggests the use of cannabis plant extract for treating respiratory ailments and diarrhoea.

Uses of CBD

In modern times, CBD is extensively used in oils, extracts, patches, vapes, and lotions. It’s also the active ingredient in Epidiolex, the first medication made from a marijuana ingredient approved by the FDA to treat epilepsy.

Benefits of CBD

Sleep issues

While the research on cannabis is still in nascent stages, traditional wisdom and some early studies suggest that CBD may help with insomnia, either alone of mixed with equal quantities of THC, as per journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research. Sleep Foundation says CBD has pain-relieving effect and may help people with chronic pain sleep better.

Arthritis

Cannabis is known to provide pain relief in arthritis as it can control inflammation related to arthritis as per the journal of Arthritis Care & Research. Ayurveda suggests

CBD oil

to be applied externally as well as internally to soothe the body. However, a review in the journal BMJ found that the effect of CBD and placebo was the same in pain relief. More research is needed to understand if CBD really works in relieving arthritis symptoms.

Digestion

CBD can help relieve digestive issues like nausea and vomiting and improve overall gut health. Traditionally it has been used to resolve IBS, which is associated with elevated anxiety. In case you are considering this to address your digestive trouble, you can start with 20 to 40 mg a day after consulting with their healthcare expert.

Mental health

Used since ancient times for relieving anxiety by Ayurvedic practitioners, even in modern times, CBD is being used in specific formulations for conditions related to mental well-being like depression and anxiety. In a study published in The Permanente Journal, people who used

CBD for anxiety

and sleep issues noticed a difference after about a month. So if you are using it for relieving mental health issues, patience is the key.

Heart health

Cannabis not only relieves stress but can also work wonders for the blood pressure. Research suggests that CBD oil may improve some heart-related symptoms. It is known to prevent blood pressure spikes related to stress in people without heart conditions.