CBD or cannabidiol is found in cannabis. It has gained a lot of traction recently due to its healing properties. Consumer anecdotes and medical literature both hold CBD in high regard for the medicinal benefits it offers.
People suffering from pain
An estimated 1.5 billion people suffer from pain all over the world. The number includes those suffering from chronic pain and also those that suffer from sporadic episodes of pain. The mainstream medical community only has bad news for them; there’s no effective solution in sight.
NSAIDs give relief from pain. But the relief is only temporary, and prolonged usage of NSAIDs can be harmful.
The global anxiety epidemic
The global rise of anxiety is a matter of deep concern. In the United States alone, one out of four people takes antidepressants. Anxiety and resulting depression are silent killers, unlike pain. They destroy people from within. What’s interesting is that sometimes it’s anxiety that causes the pain.
CBD treats both
CBD’s effectiveness against pain and anxiety has not only been attested by consumers but also been verified by contemporary medical research. Many people who regularly suffer from chronic pain or repressed anxiety or both, feel assured knowing CBD can fix their miserable lives.
How CBD treats pain
The science behind CBD’s treatment of pain is quite intriguing. Because pain arises from more than one underlying condition, one type of pain differs significantly from another type. But no matter what type of pain it is, in order for it to be felt, it must be registered in the brain. Muscles and bones are most susceptible to pain. When these areas are injured, nerve fibers receive the sensation and send it to the brain. This is how we feel pain.
CBD minimizes pain by targeting the nerve pathways that function as pain receptors. CBD binds to CB1 and CB2 receptors; it binds to CB1 receptors via a certain enzyme but it binds directly to CB2 receptors and releases neurotransmitters that affect the central and peripheral nerve pathways. This process is called antinociception. CBD-induced antinociception signifies human body’s very own capacity to heal itself.
The analgesic effects of CBD is not fully understood yet; more research is needed in this area. Scientists found that CBD analgesic footprint is not very different from that of allopathic drugs. But unlike painkillers, CBD is not comprised of any toxic substance. Hence, long-term CBD use doesn’t cause any harm.
CBD and anxiety
It’s a good thing that the prevailing attitude towards anxiety is no longer dismissive. People suffering from panic, anxiety, and depression can discuss their problems more freely and more openly than before.
Among the reasons contributing to the increase of anxiety is the ultra fast-paced lifestyle. Many people are finding themselves unable to catch up with this lifestyle. As a result, they are feeling left behind and falling into the abyss of anxiety and mental health disorders.
CBD is useful for the treatment of anxiety. Anxiety is closely associated with mood disorder and depression. Neuroscientists found that people that are victims of suppressed anxiety and frequent depressive episodes have altered brain chemistry. Their brains gradually stop the secretion of certain neurochemicals. CBD can change it. CBD can make someone calm, composed, and relaxed.
Different types of anxiety
We can list at least five different types of anxiety that interfere with daily life and disrupt the overall quality of life. CBD is a naturally-occurring anxiety-easing substance. It offers all the benefits of prescription drugs sans the side-effects. A growing number of people with an anxiety disorder are taking CBD and reporting an improvement.
Let’s take a look at some of the common anxiety types.
- Social anxiety disorder: People suffering from it fear interacting with other people, even making eye contact. Those with moderate social anxiety manage their condition by lifestyle changes. Extreme social anxiety can lead to social phobia.
- Generalized anxiety disorder: People with generalized anxiety disorder get anxious over little things. They get worried over something as trivial as not getting a reply of a text message or spilling a cup of coffee over someone.
- PTSD: PTSD stands for post-traumatic-stress-disorder. People suffering from PTSD keep ruminating about a stressful incident that they experienced in the past.
These anxiety types are different from one another, but they are all equally tormenting and don’t discriminate based on age, race, sex, or social standing.
CBD is a cure
CBD hits the nail on the head – both literally and figuratively. It engenders the secretion of neurochemicals like serotonin and dopamine in the brain. The chemicals uplift the mood and bring a positive change in life. What’s more, is there are no side-effects as the process is organic.
Summing up
CBD is a promise that a pain and anxiety-free life is possible without big pharma drugs. True, more research is needed in this area but we don’t have anything right now that can challenge this narrative.
