Three little letters have been taking the health and wellness world by storm over recent years, attaching themselves to a range of oils, tinctures and teas that are said to come with a multitude of benefits. CBD has all-but become a buzz-word (or should we say, acronym) since becoming legal in the UK and much of Europe. As public understanding of this powerful and potent compound increases, the very best CBD oil brands are flying off the shelves of our favourite retail stores and websites now more than ever before.
Derived from the Cannabis Sativa plant, it has taken a while to make itself fully understood. But this non-psychoactive compound packs a punch, all whilst being legal and widely deemed safe. Unlike THC – the psychoactive compound that gets smokers of illegal cannabis ‘high’, CBD – or cannabidiol – has both a gentle and calming effect.
During the Covid-19 pandemic in particular, more and more people have been turning to natural remedies to help alleviate the symptoms of low mood, with many struggling under the weight of the demands of juggling working from home with home-schooling, and all without their usual social time – but when it comes to its plethora of uses, it’s only the tip of the iceberg.
Having been associated with so many different conditions, it can be hard to get a clear picture of whether CBD oil might be able to help you, and with so many different types of products now on the market, those looking to give it a try may find it a challenge knowing where to start. So, to help demystify the intriguing world of CBD, we asked the experts at leading online CBD store Just CBD to break it down for us.
Pain and inflammation
CBD oil has been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of everything from chronic back pain to rheumatoid arthritis, helping to gently ease symptoms to make life a bit more bearable for the sufferer. It all sounds pretty great – but does the science back it up?
In a word, yes. A small study which investigated the effects of CBD on those with peripheral neuropathy of the legs revealed some interesting findings. Participants with neuropathic pain received either 250mg of CBD dissolved in oil, or a placebo – and after four weeks, there was a significant reduction in pain amongst those who had been given the CBD.
Similar studies conducted on people with rheumatoid arthritis and lupus have also revealed a reduction in inflammation, so the evidence is certainly mounting. Even so, more research and larger studies must be conducted before we can fully understand the long-term effects.
Choosing the top CBD oil for your condition will depend on the intensity of your pain – with varying concentrations and potencies now available over the counter and via online stores.
Skin conditions
We’ve covered the fact that CBD can help with pain and inflammation, but sufferers of inflammatory skin conditions in particular have reported positive results after use. Those with ailments such as eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis have seen particularly impressive improvements, and the same can be said for acne. When it comes to the latter, studies on animals have shown that CBD is able to prevent some of the functions of the sebaceous glands, which are typically overactive in acne sufferers. And, while the results still need to be confirmed in human studies, it’s certainly looking promising.
