CBD (cannabidiol), the non-psychoactive compound in cannabis and hemp plants, is the hottest buzzword in holistic medicine and wellbeing circles. Statistics show that 33% of Americans have used CBD, with its most popular use in pain relief (64%), anxiety (49%), and Insomnia (42%).

However, premium CBD products from reliable vendors like CBDistillery for anxiety have many other benefits that even enthusiasts are unaware of. Its therapeutic effects benefit healthy individuals and those with preexisting conditions alike. 

Below are little-known but research-backed CBD benefits that make it stand out as the 21st century’s most popular herbal remedy.

Promotes Healthy Bone Growth and Repair

Bone tissue is an integral part of the skeletal system and plays other vital roles in proper body function. Bones facilitate mobility, protect delicate internal organs from injury damage, and store essential nutritional minerals, including calcium and phosphorus, availing them on demand.

Although humans reach their peak bone mass in their early thirties, the bone tissue continually degenerates and regenerates throughout one’s life. But unlike in the early years, bone cells regenerate faster than they deteriorate. Things change when you hit peak bone mass and start degenerating more quickly. This makes you more susceptible to bone degeneration diseases like osteoporosis and bone injuries like fractures as you grow older.

That’s where CBD comes in; CBD products can promote bone tissue regeneration, reducing degenerative bone disease and bone injury risk. Osteoporosis research to find robust treatments for the disease shows a link between age-related osteoporosis and the endocannabinoid system (ECS). 

The research shows that CB1 and CB2 receptors have a protective effect on bone degeneration by inhibiting bone resorption. Bone resorption is the process by which specialized cells called osteoclasts absorb old bone, releasing minerals. Compounds that increase CB1 and CB2 receptor activity help promote anti-resorption effects, preventing bone degeneration. 

CBD’s mechanism of action in the body entails attaching to CB1 and CB2 receptors, facilitating various effects. Therefore, CBD’s anti-resorption effects can help prevent degenerative bone disease onset, slow bone disease progression, and, in some cases, stimulate bone regeneration.

Opioid Addiction Treatment

The USA’s grim statistics on opioid use explain why health authorities are raising the alarm on the country’s opioid epidemic.  For starters, over 191 million Americans use prescription opioids for pain management, and up 29% misuse such pain prescription medications. 

Consequently, hospital emergency rooms countrywide receive 1000 patients with opioid overdose-related symptoms and complications daily. Another set of opioid statistics shows that prescription and schedule 1 opioids account for 70% of all drug overdose deaths. 

A study on CBD establishes that it can be an effective yet gentle treatment for opioid addiction. Researchers observed that test subjects on CBD resisted opioid craving when exposed to drug cues that typically cause relapses. 

The study also established that CBD eliminated anxiety resulting from opioid withdrawal as test subjects recorded low cortisol levels (stress hormone). CBD lacks a psychoactive effect, hence does not cause euphoria, compounding the problem, as with some dependency treatment drugs.

Neuroprotection

Neuroprotection refers to physiological effects that protect the neural structure by preventing cell death and regenerating damaged neurons.  So, besides prevention, neuroprotection also helps restore function in damaged central nervous system (CNS) areas. This slows the onset of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, prevents disease progression, and may restore functions lost due to the disease.

One study showcases CBD’s neuroprotective capacity against neurodegenerative diseases. Oxidative stress and extreme inflammation responses feature prominently among the primary factors inhibiting neuroprotection, causing neurodegenerative disease development. However, CBD features anti-oxidant and anti-inflammation properties that can lowers cytokine (pro-inflammatory molecules) production, preventing damage to the nervous system.

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) also plays a crucial role in neuroprotection, given its regulatory role in various body functions involving the CNS. It does this by maintaining body homeostasis or equilibrium, facilitating optimal body functions. However, equilibrium disruptions to the homeostatic balance promote neurodegenerative tendencies, such as damage to neural cells. 

Fortunately, CBD can promote body homeostasis by activating ECS receptors and  may help restore homeostatic balance, reducing the risk of neurodegenerative progression. CBD’s neuroprotective property can make it ideal for managing neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, and Huntington’s disease.

Diabetes Management

Diabetes, dubbed the silent killer, is prevalent in the American population. Almost 34.2 million Americans have diabetes, while 88 million have pre-diabetes. The disease inhibits the hormone insulin’s capacity to regulate blood sugar and can cause cell damage and amputations if unchecked. 

CBD’s mechanism of action in managing diabetes includes its anti-inflammatory effect, given that diabetes is an autoimmune disease. According to a study, CBD can be effective in lowering blood sugar levels. 

Relief from Cancer Treatment Side Effects

Besides cancer’s ravaging effect on the body, its treatment is also brutal and causes undesirable side effects. However, preliminary research into CBD shows promise for the cannabidiol’s use in managing some cancer symptoms and side effects associated with cancer treatment. 

Nausea, appetite loss, and elevated anxiety are common cancer treatment side effects in patients. CBD can help alleviate these symptoms when used as a complementary treatment to cancer treatments like radiation and chemotherapy. 

Conclusion

CBD shows immense promise as a therapeutic agent in managing and treating various health conditions. While including it in your health and wellness regimen seems prudent, ensure you consult a doctor beforehand, especially if you have a preexisting health condition.