There's a lot of talk aboutCBD oil and its supposed effects. Between the convinced and the fervently opposed, it's not easy to take a stand - especially if you don't know much about it. So I, Mama, propose to share my knowledge with you. I'll explain how CBD oil could be useful, do you follow me?
CBD oil may have an anti-inflammatory effect
You've probably heard of temporary or chronic inflammation, and maybe even experienced it yourself. It's not pleasant, but CBD oil is said to have an anti-inflammatory effect. I'll explain how and why, but first - what is inflammation?
Inflammation, or inflammatory responseInflammation, or inflammatory response, is your body's own immune response to aggression. There are two types of inflammation: short-term inflammation, which indicates that your body is protecting itself, and chronic inflammation, which is either the response or is implicated in certain serious diseases (cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, etc.).
Inflammation is a complex process involving various pathways within the body. So we won't go into detail today, but I'll try to explain things to you in a simple and pictorial way. Through what are known as eicosanoids, the body signals and triggers an inflammatory response. CBD, especially when supplemented, inhibits an enzyme related to eicosanoids (the COX2 enzyme), which is exactly what Aspirin or Ibuprofen do. CBD also appears to reduce the effects of pro-inflammatory cytokines, helping to lower inflammation in the body.
CBD oil may help you sleep better
Promoting sleepSome of the most commonly cited benefits of cannabidiol - or indeed of cannabis in general - include helping you to fall asleep and improving the quality of your sleep. You've probably already met someone who's told you that cannabis makes you " soft " and relaxed.
Firstly, when it comes toCBD's effect on sleep, and whether CBD oil could help you sleep better, you need to know that our bodies are equipped with an endocannabinoid system. This system plays an important role in many of our body's functions, including appetite, pain sensation and emotional regulation.
CBD molecules have the ability to land on the receptors of this endocannabinoid system, the CB1 and CB2 receptors to be precise. So, if the 2017 study Cannabis, Cannibinoids, and Sleep is to be believed, CBD could reduce sleep apnea in the short term and could help you sleep longer.
Consuming CBD flowers, for example, before going to bed would also help regulate sleep phases by promoting the transition from REM sleep to deep sleep, which is a more restorative phase.
CBD oil may have a relaxing effect
As I've just explained, taking CBD oil may help you sleep better, but it's also due to its potential relaxing effects. Indeed, cannabidiol promotes mental and muscular relaxation. The anti-stress and relaxation properties of cannabidiol are mediated by two mechanisms and systems in our body.
On the one hand, CBD supplementation activates our receptors for serotonin, the hormone that manages emotions. On the other, CBD increases the activity of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), the main neurotransmitter responsible for relaxation. Supplementation with cannabidiol helps GABA to bind to its receptors, thus promoting relaxation, both mental and muscular, in the immediate response to stress, but also, in the long term, against so-called chronic stress.
Sure, CBD oil might have a relaxing effect, but how do you consume it? Nothing could be simpler: it's ready to use! Just place the desired amount (starting with around 30 mg and gradually increasing if necessary) under your tongue, wait a minute before swallowing, and leave it to work for a few minutes. That's all there is to it!
Where is the research on the benefits of CBD oil?
Used by mankind for thousands of years, cannabis is described as an essential plant for the future of medicine. Indeed,cannabidiol is attracting growing interest among biomedical researchers. What's the current state of research into the benefits of CBD oil? Well, it's worth noting that many serious studies are still underway.
However, we're already starting to draw some interesting conclusions about the benefits of CBD. In fact, since 2017, the World Health Organization (WHO) has concluded that CBD produces no side effects.
It is therefore, a priori, a safe substance to consume. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of studies conducted on the subject. In 2021 alone, 632 studies with cannabidiol as the main subject have been reported. There are also a growing number of clinical studies focusing on serious illnesses such as :
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD);
- Cancer;
- Parkinson's disease;
- Bipolar disorders;
- Alzheimer's disease;
- Etc.
So, although the results are very convincing, we still can't use the expression "medically proven" when referring to the effects of CBD. Indeed, for a drug to receive this stamp, it must have undergone all the stages of clinical trials - and to date, the only cannabidiol-derived drug to have passed this stage is Epidiolex. Stay tuned, however, as things change very quickly!
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