With continuing rising costs in the healthcare industry and an ever-increasing public skepticism about profiteers in health care, more people than ever are looking toward alternative health trends.
As part of that growing trend, millions of patients are looking at completely natural, plant-based solutions to everything from anxiety to pain. One of the places they are looking is at that oft-maligned cannabis plant.
For most of the 21st century, cannabis, commonly known as marijuana, was illegal in most of the United States and many other countries. Misinformation and paranoia about cannabis prevailed in the public mind as the government cracked down on cannabis use.
In fact, not only was cannabis prohibited but in many places, being caught with only a tiny amount of marijuana could get you sent to prison for decades. In fact, in some places, the penalty for cannabis possession was stiffer than the penalty for murder and violent crimes.
In the 21st century, attitudes toward cannabis have significantly changed, and legislation has followed public opinion. The public has shown more interest than ever before in the uses of cannabis and the health benefits of cannabinoids, or naturally-occurring chemical compounds in cannabis plants. Billions of dollars have been poured into researching the potential benefits and uses of cannabis. Around this diverse crop has sprung a thriving agricultural industry, with non-THC cannabis being used for everything from clothing to food to fuel.
With this shift in attitude toward cannabis, strains of the plant which yield THC, the psychoactive component which was responsible for prohibition, are also becoming legal in many places where they were previously forbidden. People are becoming widely aware of the health benefits of both THC and non-THC varieties of cannabis, and its therapeutic uses are only now being truly explored.
The therapeutic benefits of cannabis are found in its cannabinoids. Cannabinoids interact with neurotransmitters in the brain in many different ways. In fact, hundreds of cannabinoids are found in the cannabis plant. There are two main cannabinoids responsible for most of the therapeutic benefits of cannabis: THC and CBD. THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is responsible for the psychoactive effects on the brain. CBD, or cannabidiol, has many of the same health and therapeutic benefits as THC, but it has absolutely no psychoactive properties. This means CBD users can enjoy its medicinal benefits without feeling sedated or high.
CBD comes from the hemp plant. Unlike marijuana, which has been bred to create highly potent THC, industrial hemp is a plant which is grown for other commercial uses and can be used to create CBD oil. Industrial hemp produces nearly zero THC, but it is filled with CBD. High-quality CBD strains are known for their numerous health benefits with very few side effects.
CBD oil’s most widely known benefit is the treatment of epilepsy. In fact, in peer-reviewed studies, CBD has demonstrated clear evidence that it works to reduce seizures. Because it is also relatively safe, the US FDA approved the CBD-based medication Epidiolex for the treatment of two rare forms of epilepsy in children. For parents of children with epilepsy, they often claim CBD has changed their children’s lives.
While studies are less definitive in other areas, CBD is thought to be useful for all of the following conditions:
Another reason the hemp industry has seen such a dramatic increase in popularity is how easy CBD oil is to administer. For patients who come to rely on CBD oil for their daily health, there are many ways to take one’s daily dose. It can be taken as a capsule or used as the basis for a wide range of bath and body products.
CBD oil can be cooked into just about any food product. Many CBD users will take their daily dose in the form of gummies or food just like any other daily supplement. CBD can also be vaped, which allows it to be absorbed quickly. CBD can be applied topically as well.
With all of this attention on the many positive uses and therapeutic benefits of hemp products and CBD as well as the dramatic increase in legal access to CBD across most of the United States, the financial outlook for hemp is growing. Hemp is projected to continue to see increases in popularity over the coming years, and where there is money, there is money for research.
While the pharmaceutical industry offers patients a pill for every disorder, CBD offers a one-treatment solution for a wide range of ailments. When it comes to the future, hemp is a winning investment. Visit cbdcentral.com to learn more.
