Table of Contents
4 Benefits of CBD Backed by Science
Cannabidiol, or as it is popularly referred to, CBD is one of the most popular supplements on the market. Extracted from the hemp plant, it seems that people and businesses from a range of different industries are claiming that CBD is a borderline magical product that can fix, alleviate, and improve everything. Obviously, this sounds too good to be true, and it is too good to be true. However, there is a multitude of real benefits which are to be gained from taking CBD.
CBD by science
We’re here to help separate the truth from the lies by explaining four of the big benefits of CBD which have been backed and proven by scientific research and studies.
In this article, we will cover the 4 following benefits of CBD backed by science:
- CBD & Inflammation
- CBD & Stress/Anxiety
- CBD & Sleep
- CBD & Skin
CBD & Inflammation
Inflammation can feel like a buzzword that is constantly thrown around, however, the importance of anti-inflammatories is spoken about so frequently as it is an issue that affects all of us in multiple ways. During or after an injury, infection, or illness you may experience inflammation. In response, the immune system releases immune cells which protect the affected area but also cause redness and swelling. This will tend to subside after a short period of time, but when this is a longstanding condition this is what is known as chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation can inflict lasting damage to organs and tissues, and unfortunately, it comes as a side effect of many autoimmune disorders and illnesses.
To explore the potential of CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties, scientists have carried out multiple studies on animal models. Research carried out in 2016 in affiliation with Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada found that CBD was successful in reducing early pancreatic inflammation in diabetic mice.(1) And a year later, another study carried out by Dalhousie University found that CBD was effective in minimising joint and nerve pain in rats with osteoarthritis.(2)
And it’s not just internal inflammation that stands as a common issue which CBD could help alleviate. Muscle inflammation is one of the most common forms of inflammation, in fact, it happens to pretty much all of us after we exercise or workout.
Pushing ourselves during exercise can cause strain in the muscles, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but we need to take care of ourselves and our bodies by ensuring that we adequately warm-up, cool down, and apply the necessary aftercare. If we don’t take the time and energy to think about our recovery process, it can cause long-lasting damage to our muscles, which will make future exercise more painful and difficult.
CBD & Stress/Anxiety
Anxiety, stress, and nerves affect all of us - and they affect all of us in different ways. To a point, these are healthy bodily chemical responses that can provide us with the necessary adrenaline to get through certain tough or stressful situations. However, sometimes the balance and scale of these feelings can overwhelm people, which will ultimately do more harm than good.
Prescribed medications that are taken to combat anxiety and depression are known as SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). These take effect by blocking the reuptake of serotonin in the brain, which in turn increases the availability of serotonin in the synaptic cleft. Consequently, brain cells are able to transmit a greater amount of serotonin signals, which will boost the mood and lower anxiety levels.
A Spanish study carried out in 2015, found and proved that CBD interacts with the receptor 5-HT1A in a similar way to SSRI’s (3), which is where the reuptake process begins. Thus meaning that CBD has similar effects and properties to SSRI’s.
And it is not only serotonin levels and activity which are associated with CBD and its role in lowering anxiety. Links have also been drawn connecting the hippocampus, anxiety, and CBD. In studies on anxiety and depression, it has been found that for those with these conditions, the hippocampus can atrophy and even shrink. (4) In order to combat this, antidepressants work to stimulate neural regeneration in the hippocampus. In a similar fashion, CBD is being examined in its success of promoting neural regeneration, and thus far the results have supported this. (5)(6)
CBD & Sleep
For most people, there aren’t many things that we would trade for a good, uninterrupted night of sleep. Getting a solid eight hours of sleep can drastically change, or improve for that matter, the way that we perceive and perform in our day - whether it’s at work or being present with friends and loved ones. In short, no one is great when they’re grumpy, and being well-rested is the key.
As mentioned in the previous section, CBD has incredibly strong connections to relieving and reducing stress and anxiety. You may have noted before when you can’t get to sleep, or when you wake up in the middle of the night and can’t get back to sleep, there’s often something on your mind, something which is stressing you out, and prevents you from drifting off back to sleep. A study which was published in The Permanente Journal in 2019 found that those suffering from anxiety and sleeplessness experienced a markedly higher quality of sleep one month on from taking a daily dose of 25mg of CBD, 79.2% reported lower anxiety and 66.7% reported better sleep. (7)
And this isn’t the only therapeutic benefit of CBD which can enhance a better quality of sleep. The way in which CBD interacts with receptors in the body has shown to improve homeostasis. You may be wondering what exactly is homeostasis, and how does this lengthy term relate to you and your quality of sleep? Well, homeostasis is the state of balance in our bodies, maintaining a stable internal environment. One of these balances is the equilibrium between sleep and wakefulness and an early Polish study from 2007 found CBD, and the endocannabinoid system, to have great effect in this arena. (8)
CBD & Skin
CBD is effective in the human body due to two kinds of receptor, CB1 and CB2, which collectively make up the endocannabinoid system. We all have one! These receptors are present in the central nervous system (the brain) as well as the immune system, which explains why the effects of CBD are so wide-reaching. In addition, it has been shown that there are also a large number of receptors present in the skin, backed by this 2009 study with researchers from leading institutions across the world. (9)
The anti-inflammatory properties of CBD, and the discovered presence of cannabinoid receptors in the skin, have made CBD an active and effective ingredient in products tackling inflammatory skin conditions. When the skin is inflamed, it becomes red, blotchy, and swollen, CBD works effectively to calm this irritation and help the appearance of your skin.
Acne is one of the most common skin conditions, but unfortunately, it can also greatly affect people’s confidence and consequently how they put themselves out into the world every day. Some people tend to associate acne with teenagers, and a passing phase. Nevertheless, it’s not just teenagers who are affected by acne and it can stick around and flare up well into adult life. Acne can be triggered by a number of environmental and hormonal elements, however, one of the primary causes is an overproduction of sebum (the oil which we secrete from our faces) which will clog up the pores and leave them unable to breathe. The consequent build-up of bacteria triggers the inflammation and red blemishes which we connect to acne. And now for the good news - in 2014, The Journal of Clinical Investigation found that CBD can control the production and secretion of sebum, which is a key preventative method when it comes to tackling acne. (10)
Conclusion
We really hope that this article has helped you to understand the role of CBD in the body and, with proven backing from scientific studies, how it may be able to help you. As you will be able to tell, the benefits of CBD are so far-reaching and multi-functional that they can be applied to a vast array of specific conditions. And while this is great news, it can sometimes leave space for people to make untruthful and unproven claims about what CBD can do. At Reakiro, we ensure that everything we do is backed by nature and science. Our products are derived from the finest natural ingredients which are then carefully formulated into our industry-leading products. We also have a team of researchers to ensure that everything is of the highest quality and we are constantly in line with the latest research and education surrounding the cannabidiol industry.
If you have any specific questions about how CBD may be right for you, or which product would be best suited for you, please do not hesitate to get in touch with one of the friendly experts on our team. We are always here and ready to answer your questions! Check out our website and our blog for all the details on the latest from the ever-evolving world of CBD.
Sources:
- Experimental cannabidiol treatment reduces early pancreatic inflammation in type 1 diabetes
- Attenuation of early phase inflammation by cannabidiol prevents pain and nerve damage in rat osteoarthritis
- Cannabidiol induces rapid-acting antidepressant-like effects and enhances cortical 5-HT/glutamate neurotransmission: role of 5-HT1A receptors
- The role of hippocampus in anxiety: intracerebral infusion studies
- Cannabidiol exerts antiepileptic effects by restoring hippocampal interneuron functions in a temporal lobe epilepsy model
- The anxiolytic effect of cannabidiol on chronically stressed mice depends on hippocampal neurogenesis: involvement of the endocannabinoid system
- Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series
- The role of the endocannabinoid system in the regulation of endocrine function and in the control of energy balance in humans
- The endocannabinoid system of the skin in health and disease: novel perspectives and therapeutic opportunities
- Cannabidiol exerts sebostatic and antiinflammatory effects on human sebocytes
