While hemp, cannabis sativa, has an incredibly controversial reputation, it actually has many surprising benefits for your endocannabinoid system.
Legalization Brings New Uses
Although it was once commonly used as a medicinal herb, marijuana’s status as a class 1 drug, has led to it falling out of wide use medicinally for a long time. However, because of the fact that many states in the U.S. have recently legalized cannabis and hemp, the wide variety of health benefits of this herb are once again being examined.
While there are more than 100 cannabinoids, the two most popular are Tetrahydrocannabinol, THC, and Cannabidiol, CBD. Both cannabinoids have very different applications. In fact, THC is responsible for the “high” users experience with marijuana. However, CBD is a non-psychoactive component of the plant that has many medicinal uses, and it is derived from hemp.
All cannabinoids work with the human body’s endocannabinoid system. They bind to receptors in the endocannabinoid system to help keep cells in the body in balance. Both CB1 and CB2 receptors exist with CB1 occurring in the brain and binding with THC and CB2 occurring throughout the body and binding with CBD. Also, the body produces molecules that are fat-like, which also bind with CB1 and CB2.
Reduced Inflammation Leads To Less Pain
One major thing that CBD helps with is inflammation in the body. While inflammation helps with the healing process, when it continues or is chronic, it leads to a host of health issues and pain that lingers. When the endocannabinoid system is healthy, the inflammation response remains limited to the healing process, and everything stays under control. When the body needs an extra boost, hemp helps provide one.
People who experience pain from conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and other similar diseases also experience profound relief from hemp products. The reason for this is because of the way it helps prevent inflammation within the body. With the U.S. and the world experiencing an opioid crisis, this option for pain management is certainly worth a look for many patients who might otherwise rely on other types of pharmaceuticals for pain management. A bonus is that recent study participants did not experience any negative side effects when taking CDB oil orally for pain.
Other Promising Hemp Treatments
Another thing that hemp can help control is anxiety because hemp oil actually helps inhibit some enzymes within the brain. That action leads to reduced anxiety even for people who suffer post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Other uses for hemp oil include epilepsy and obstructive sleep apnea. Plus, researchers are also looking into the possible positive effects this herb could have on Type 1 diabetes as well as liver disease and metabolic syndrome.
As the stigma associated with cannabis sativa wears off, and the drug becomes legal in more areas, more and more people will realize and enjoy the benefits that hemp can bring to the endocannabinoid system. How do you feel about using this herb?