Several peer-reviewed clinical research studies show that CBD provides many health benefits for sufferers of a variety of chronic health conditions. Performed by medical research professionals at different leading universities and hospitals, some of the conditions tested in these clinical trials and evaluations include:
- Substance Abuse Addiction (alcohol, marijuana, heroin and cocaine)
- Anxiety
- Arthritis
- Chronic Pain
- Diabetes
- Epilepsy
- Fibromyalgia
- Insomnia
- Parkinson’s Disease
- PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)
From these clinical research studies, five major medicinal properties with positive health benefits have been strongly demonstrated. These positive medicinal properties are classified as anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, anti-oxidant, anxiolytic, and antipsychotic.
To give you a general education of what these words mean if you are not familiar with them, following are brief summaries giving you a general idea of what each word is and what it means.
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY
an·ti-in·flam·ma·to·ry | -in-ˈfla-mə-ˌtȯr-ē \
Inflammation from arthritis is one of the most commonly researched chronic health conditions.
WebMD defines anti-inflammatory as a “type of medication used to decrease inflammation”. Inflammation is a painful combination of redness, swelling and pain in the body.
An anti-inflammatory medicine works to block certain chemical substances in the body that will drastically reduce inflammation and its associated pain.
ANTICONVULSANT
an·ti·con·vul·sant | -kən-ˈvəl-sənt
Convulsions are very violent and involuntary contractions of the muscles, such as those experienced by epileptics. Several clinical trials have documented cannabidiol (CBD) having positive effects on reducing, even eliminating seizures, in sufferers of epilepsy.
WebMD defines anticonvulsant or “anti-seizure” pharmaceuticals as a “type of medication used to treat convulsive seizures, or epilepsy”.
Anticonvulsants medications are also often prescribed by doctors to help ease chronic pain from a number of other medical maladies including back pain, fibromyalgia, nerve pain, and migraines.
ANTIOXIDANT
an·ti·ox·i·dant | \ˌan-tē-ˈäk-sə-dənt
WebMd defines antioxidants as “any substance that reduces oxidative damage (damage due to oxygen) such as that caused by free radicals”.
So what does that mean?
Antioxidants are medications that inhibit unstable molecules, known as free radicals, in our bodies from combining with oxygen and thus prevent damage to cell membranes and body tissues.
Free radicals are natural toxic byproducts of oxygen metabolism in our bodies. When there are more free radicals in our bodies than antioxidants, this is known as oxidative stress.
Oxidative stress disrupts cell membranes which can cause significant damage to living cells and tissues. Oxidative stress is a major contributor to many forms of cancer, heart disease, and stroke.
Antioxidants (vitamins and minerals) counteract oxidative stress and neutralize the damaging effects of free radicals.
ANXIOLYTIC
an·xi·o·lyt·ic | \ˌaŋ-zē-ō-ˈli-tik
Merriam-Webster defines anxiolytic as “a drug that relieves anxiety”.
Anxiolytic is often used interchangeably with the words antipanic and antianxiety.
Anxiety is a state of uneasiness or nervousness resulting from stress, fear, and doubt.
Severe anxiety disorders can lead to many negative consequences including social phobias, social isolation, panic attacks, neurosis, suicidal thoughts, and death from suicide.
ANTIPSYCHOTIC
an·ti·psy·chot·ic | \ˌan-tē-sī-ˈkä-tik
Anxiolytic, or “antipanic” or “antianxiety”, prescription medications treat and prevent the debilitating symptoms of severe anxiety disorders.
Extremely powerful and effective, anxiolytic medications can be habit forming.
Because of their habit forming potential, they are not recommended for use by persons with a history of substance abuse and addiction.
Antipsychotic medications are powerful tranquilizers used to treat psychosis, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. Symptoms of these chronic mental health conditions include:
- Delusions
- Hallucinations
- Paranoia
- Extremely severe disordered thinking.
While effective in treating mental health conditions, antipsychotic prescription medications have been demonstrated to increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
WebMd lists the following symptoms as common physiological side effects of antipsychotic prescription medications:
- Rapid weight gain
- Drowsiness
- Rise in blood sugar levels
- Blurry vision
- Dry Mouth
- Involuntary facial tics
RESOURCES FOR FURTHER LEARNING
Addiction
Cannabidiol Oil for Decreasing Addictive Use of Marijuana: A Case Report. -PubMed.gov
Antioxidants
How do free radicals affect the body? – Sharecare
Anticonvulsants
What is an anticonvulsant? – WebMD
Anti-Seizure or Anticonvulsant Drugs – WebMD
Anti-inflammatory
What does anti-inflammatory mean? – WebMD
Antipsychotic
What side effects are there from using antipsychotic drugs for bipolar disorder mania? – WebMD
Diabetes
CBD compound in cannabis could treat diabetes, researchers suggest – Diabetes.co.uk
Oxidative Stress
Everything You Should Know About Oxidative Stress – Healthline
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