Neurodegenerative diseases, cancer and epilepsy are among the conditions ailing our society. Sadly, the pharmaceutical sciences have come up with drug therapies that, as amazing as they sometimes are, generally have a list of possible side effects as long as your arm. Also, when you take these expensive medications, they can often conflict with each other or with your own personal bodily reactions – allergies, sensitivities, the ability to function without debilitating pain or exhaustion.
Millions of people are in pain and they are climbing the walls looking for some form of help that doesn’t rob them of their quality of life. Fortunately, scientists have been developing something showing great promise – Cannabidiol, or CBD Oil.
CBD is a major phytocannabinoid and is considered to have broader health applications than the more controversial tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Both are key ingredients in cannabis, but one benefit of CBD is it is NON-psychoactive like THC—it doesn’t act on CB1 receptors. It is concluded to be well tolerated and safe even in high doses. It has been seen to reduce nausea, suppress seizures, fight inflammation and other such illnesses, combat cancer cell growth, and lessen depression.
Another benefit of CBD oil is that it has been shown to counteract the sleep-inducing effects of THC. While those effects of THC can sometimes be fun, if you’re just trying to feel better so you can be more productive, extra sleepiness is not welcome.
The truly exciting benefit of CBD oil may lie in treatment of Dravet syndrome in children – also called Severe Myoclonic Epilepsy of Infancy (SMEI), this form of epilepsy causes prolonged seizures, behavioral and developmental delays, balance problems, speech/sensory issues, and SUDEP death. While earlier forms of medical marijuana would not be accessible to these children (especially given the damaging effect of smoking on still developing lungs), CBD oil can be taken easily under the supervision of parents and medical professionals. It also has no addictive effects, unlike many pharmaceuticals and earlier forms of medical marijuana.
One of the greatest side benefits is that the different methods of taking it don’t affect people who are coming to visit a patient while in recovery. There’s no need to worry about getting a second-hand high and driving under the influence or not being able to pass a drug test at work because your best friend or loved one had to take his medicine while you were nearby. Clinical trials have been conducted using Sativex® (GW Pharmaceuticals, Salisbury, UK) and several forms have been prescribed to patients. It was noted in 2005 that this nasal spray is an effective treatment for Multiple Sclerosis symptoms.
The uncontrollable motor functions associated with ALS, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s Disease that can be completely debilitating and degrading for a patient can be helped by taking CBD oil. MS patients who experience lack of bladder control during the night has been helped by CBD oil. These are the types of comforts that can cause a great improvement of the quality of life for many patients.
Perhaps one of the biggest recent discoveries regarding CBD oil is that it slows the growth of cancer and/or even inhibits the cancer from forming to begin with. In April 2015, The Federal government admitted that marijuana—particularly the cannabinoids in marijuana—has the potential to actually kill cancer cells. A study at St. George’s University of London showed the THC and CBD weakened cancer kills, making them respond more to radiation treatment. When used with radiation, cannabinoids greatly reduced deadly forms of brain cancer, according to the study. So not only does CBD relieve the side effects associated with radiation treatment for cancer, it can actually kill cancer cells.
So where can you get CBD oil? Many medical marijuana dispensaries sell some form of CBD concentrates in the form of tinctures, capsules and salves. I personally like Dixie Dew Drops, and they are available in two different strengths: 100 MG and 500 MG. Simply place a few drops of the tincture under your tongue and wait a minute or two. You will notice the effects within just a few minutes. CBD products can be quite pricey, so use them sparingly.