Five signs you might benefit from CBD

Thanks to its wide-ranging benefits and formats, the use of CBD has grown rapidly in recent years, with more of us turning to the remedy than ever before.  

There are many reasons why we choose to try CBD, either as a supplement or an alternative to traditional medication. Here, Cannabis Health sums up the most common signs that indicate you could benefit. 

Difficulty sleeping

Poor sleeping habits can affect many areas of our physical and mental health, making it difficult for us to work, play and relax. With research finding that at least one in three British adults suffer from sleeping troubles, it’s clear a solution is needed – and CBD could be the one you’re looking for. 

A paper published in the Journal of Pharmacology found that systemic acute administration of CBD appears to increase the total time we are asleep, as well as increasing sleep latency.  

Supporting these findings, a 2017 review noted that preliminary research into CBD has found that I may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of insomnia. 

Struggling to relax

Just as it helps us to drift into a peaceful state for sleeping, CBD can help us unwind while we’re awake, too. 

While CBD doesn’t contain the THC needed for us to feel a euphoric ‘high’, it can cause other stereotypical side effects such as relaxed mood. Supporting this, a 2019 study showed that levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, were reduced significantly in participants who took between 300 and 600mg of CBD oil. 

Dealing with chronic pain

Perhaps one of the most popular reasons for usage, CBD has long been associated with the ability to ease symptoms of chronic pain. Patients suffering from illnesses such as fibromyalgia, arthritis and MS have turned to the remedy to help, with research backing up its popularity in the field. 

For example, a 2016 study found that transdermal cannabidiol has potential for reducing pain and inflammation associated with arthritis without any noticeable side effects – a welcome relief for sufferers of the condition. 

Meanwhile, a study of Canadian medical cannabis patients found that its use reduced the use of prescription painkillers, with participants using opiate-based medication dropping from 28 per cent of participants to just 11 per cent. 

Suffering from an injury

There’s a reason so many high-profile athletes have been vocal in their usage of CBD – it’s associated with a positive effect on overcoming both long and short-term injuries. 

There’s research to suggest that CBD reduces inflammation – which plays a large role in injury flare ups – by affecting activity in the body’s endocannabinoid receptors.

According to a 2018 review of 132 studies, CBD can reduce inflammation in the body, while also improving pain and mobility. The review’s authors stated: “It is anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, antiemetic, antipsychotic and neuroprotective” – all good signs when it comes to battling new or recurring niggles. 

Low mood and depression

After the toll of the last year or so, it hasn’t come as a massive surprise that the number of adults suffering from depression and low mood has increased greatly. While research is still ongoing, an increasing number of studies has found that CBD could be a safe and effective mood-booster. 

Research from 2014 helped explain why CBD could be useful in this aspect, indicating that it has a positive interaction with serotonin receptors in the brain. Serotonin impacts several bodily functions, most-notably our emotional state and feelings of wellbeing or happiness, which is why keeping its levels balanced is often seen as a key therapy for people with depression.