The Real Reason Why America is Obsessed with Using CBD Oils

Recently, there has been a lot of interest in CBD-based oils for their use in cosmetics and health. But what does the research say, and what are the effects of CBD oils? And why is there so much talk about CBD?

If you’ve heard a lot about CBD oils, like most people, it’s only reasonable to be curious. Understanding the properties of a product enables you to make a choice on whether to use it or not. With all the hype around CBD, it is quite easy to mistake it for another ‘wonder drug’ fad that is rocking the health industry.

However, there is rarely smoke without fire, and in this case, that’s a great thing. In this piece, we’ll be attempting to explain what it is about CBD oils that have America and the rest of the world taking notice.

Is CBD a new compound?

First of all, both CBD oil and CBD its core component are not new to people. CBD comes from the cannabis plant, known as marijuana or hemp. Several historical research shows that cannabis has been used as a medication since as far back as 2900 BC. Its medicinal use spanned several cultures, including sub-Saharan Africa, India, and even Native America.

When cultures in different parts of the world refer to the same herb for medicine, it is typically a sign that the herb has some unique qualities. Recent research has shown that the potency of marijuana as a medicine is down to some of its components, the most prominent of which is cannabidiol (CBD).

CBD is available both in the hemp and marijuana plant, which are two different variants of the cannabis plant. For most of recent history, cannabis has gotten a bad reputation with health practitioners. This has mostly been down to the “high” feeling most of the users got. That feeling of elation meant that regardless of what benefits users might have been getting from using cannabis, the risk of abuse and addiction was too high.

So what changed?

Advances in technology have allowed for things that were previously impossible; for instance, the separation of the components of the cannabis plant. This allowed for the separation of healthy, medicinal components like cannabidiol (CBD) from harmful elements like Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC is actually the compound in cannabis that was responsible for the high feeling users experienced. It is also responsible for the high risk of abuse and addiction.

Interestingly, although marijuana and hemp are strains of the same cannabis plant, there are marked differences between them. The essential difference between hemp and marijuana is, coincidentally, the THC content. Most commercial CBD is extracted from the hemp plant because of the low amount of THC.

The hemp plant contains THC in only minimal amounts, typically under 0.3%, which is not sufficient enough to make the user ‘high’. Marijuana plants, on the other hand, can contain THC content of up to 30%. That difference was significant enough that when the government passed the 2018 US farm bill that recognized hemp as an agricultural product, it excluded marijuana. Even it is technologically to produce compliant CBD oil from marijuana (i.e., containing not more than 0.3% THC), it is illegal to do so within the US. Only hemp-produced CBD is legal.

Traditionally, the hemp plants would be consumed whole, which typically allows the users to access the full spectrum of the herb’s benefits. As manufacturers began to extract from parts of the hemp plant to try and replicate the CBD effects, it was discovered that many people still preferred the traditional plant over the variants produced in the lab.

The phenomenon is known as the ‘entourage effect,’ and according to the discovery, it is necessary to ensure that the full spectrum of the hemp plant is consumed for effect to be optimal. Here’s a review of a popular full-spectrum CBD oil product that highlights some of its unique benefits.

Why Do People Love CBD Oils?

Although CBDs popularity is, in part, due to its association with the cannabis plant, it is not necessarily why a lot of people are getting on the CBD train. If anything, CBD oil’s association with cannabis gives it a lot of negative press. There are still a lot of people ignorant about the difference between CBD and cannabis. So, what is it exactly that makes people love CBD oils?

CBD oil is the most popular of all CBD products. This is because of the numerous ways it can be used. While some people prefer to take it directly, others may prefer to use a vaporizer. There is also the option of mixing it with your meals of a cup of coffee if you’re not comfortable with the oily taste in your mouth. There’s also the option of mixing it with your lotion and using it topically.

So, what else makes CBD oil popular among users?

They Help in Relieving Pain following Exercise

According to the Centre for Disease Control (CDC), over 50 million Americans struggle daily with pain. Americans are believed to spend over $50 billion on painkillers yearly. A good number of that population is turning to CBD as a long term solution for pain relief. CBD has anti-inflammatory properties and very few side effects, which makes it a great alternative to NSAIDs and other popular painkillers, especially for people with allergies.

There is a specialized system in the body known as the endocannabinoid system or ECS that controls multiple functions in the body, including sleep, pain, appetite, and even the response of the immune system. To keep the ECS system functioning, the body produces endocannabinoids. The endocannabinoids act as neurotransmitters that attach themselves to the cannabinoids that are in your nervous system.

It has been found that CBD can help relieve pain by affecting the endocannabinoid receptor activity, thereby reducing the rate of inflammation as well as interacting with neurotransmitters. CBD can be used both topically and orally to help with pain relief, particularly after exercise.

There are also signs that CBD oil may be used to manage pain associated with several conditions.

CBD oil Help Promote Great Skin Health

CBD oil is proudly advertised on several cosmetic products because of its anti-aging and anti-inflammation properties. The unique features of CBD mean that it may be effective in regulating sebum production. The regulation of sebum production is essential in managing skin conditions like acne and dry skin.

Apart from the CBD component, essential oils are a vital component of CBD oil products. These essential oils contain flavonoids which are crucial for good skin health.

CBD Oils Can Be Used to Manage Stress

Stress is a problem affecting nearly 70% of the American adult population. With the constant pressure from society, work, and family, such high-stress rates are a stark reality. Many people are turning to CBD oils to help them manage stress.

CBD has been reported to have a calming effect on heart rate – a physiological measure of stress. It may also be useful for helping people with stress-related insomnia. CBD oils have also shown potential in being able to better more complicated stress-related conditions.

CBD Oils Are Safe

One of the most significant selling points of CBD-oil products is that they are naturally made. A lot of people are changing their regular pain killers and cosmetic products for CBD-based products. The use of herbs and other natural ingredients means that these products are more comfortable for the body to process.

If you are concerned about the environment, you’ll be pleased also to know that the by-products of CBD oil use pose no threat. Unlike conventional drugs, the by-products of CBD use are still organic compounds that can be easily broken down by the environment.

NSAIDs and other pain killers have a risk of being addictive, especially when used over a long time. With CBD, the risk of addiction is almost zero.

Conclusion

Although a lot of the research on the efficacy of CBD oils have not been concluded, early applications have shown promising results. CBD oil seems like it is here to stay. While the long term effects are still being analyzed, a lot of people are already benefiting from the short term benefits. The only certainty about CBD oils is that the hype train is just getting started.