12 Surprising Health Benefits Of CBD You Need To Know About

CBD has been taking the world by storm.

Suddenly people are taking CBD for all kinds of ailments.

Some are even giving it to their pets!

To be fair, the health benefits of CBD do appear to be extensive.

And many of those benefits are quite unexpected.

Keep reading to learn some of the more unexpected CBD health benefits. It’s pretty amazing what this compound can do for us.

 

Health Benefits Of CBD

As is always the case with the health benefits of anything, further study is needed. There is a good amount of evidence to suggest CBD offers the health benefits below, but nothing is conclusive. Also, nothing on this site constitutes medical advice (I’m sure you know that, but I have to state it anyway).

 

Aids In Fat Burning

Across the world, and especially in the US, obesity is a growing problem. Fast food tempts us and sedentary lifestyles add to the issue. CBD’s combination of terpenes, healthy fats, and phytocannabinoids work synergistically to promote fat burning.

We have two types of fat cells in the body: white and brown adipocytes. Fat burning occurs when white adipocytes get converted into brown adipocytes and also when the existing brown adipocytes are triggered.

A study published in the Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Journal has shown that CBD can kickstart both types of fat burning.

 

Lengthens Attention Span

Did you know that the average attention span of human adults these days is just 8.25 seconds? For people with ADD and ADHD, the issues related to focus and concentration are even more severe.

Almost 5% of Americans have to take prescription medicines for these disorders and most of these medicines have severe side effects.

CBD has several phytocompounds that rebalance brain chemistry. It also boosts dopamine and serotonin levels, which can improve attention span and alertness. The terpene called pinene is also known to improve focus. Many people add 10-15 ml of CBD oil to their morning coffee to improve focus and attention at work.

 

Eases Peri-Menopause, Menopause, And Post-menopause Symptoms

With women living longer than ever after menopause, many are reporting issues like hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, slowed metabolism, weight gain, vaginal dryness, and reduced sex drive.

Most doctors prescribe HRT (hormone replacement therapy) or anti-depressants for these issues, but these drugs come with side effects like headaches, blood clots, and a further loss of sex drive.

CBD can boost serotonin, oxytocin, and dopamine levels and drastically improve the quality of life before, during, and after menopause. Many women reported reduced hot flashes, decreased headaches, reduced nausea, and better sleep with CBD.

Here is a wonderful “menopause tea” recipe with CBD oil

• Raspberry tea and black cohosh tea – one bag each
• CBD oil – 25 mg
• Soy milk – 1 cup
• Hot water – 1 ½ cups

Steep the tea bags in hot water. Add CBD oil and soy milk. Drink one cup daily.

 

Relieves Arthritis Pain

Millions of people suffer from arthritis, a debilitating condition that greatly impacts quality of life. Most patients are also dependent on opioids, steroids, and other pain-relieving drugs to manage their pain. Not only are these treatments habit-forming, but they also damage the liver and result in respiratory issues.

Two terpenes found in CBD can help with arthritis pain: beta-caryophyllene and myrcene. These terpenes can reduce arthritis flare-ups without any side effects. They also address the root cause of the pain. The best part is that you can add CBD oil to salad dressings and sauces to sneak it in.

 

Helps In Addiction Treatment

This is one of the most surprising health benefits of CBD that more people need to know about. CBD is known to ease the symptoms of withdrawal when trying to quit addictions to opioids, alcohol, or nicotine.

While CBD alone won’t help you break the grip of these substances, it can greatly help manage symptoms like nightmares, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, headaches, and sweating that accompany withdrawal.

A study published in Neurotherapeutics reports that a single dose of 800 mg of CBD helped reduce craving for heroin among addicts and the effect lasted several weeks. A study in the UK showed that CBD inhalers brought about a dramatic reduction in the number of cigarettes smoked.

 

Prevents/Treats Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Research on CBD for ALS is still in its infancy, but most conventional therapies for ALS are geared toward reducing oxidative stress and inflammation while also providing neuroprotection.

CBD delivers all these benefits without any adverse side effects. Furthermore, it may prolong the lives of neuronal cells, slowing down ALS’s progression.

Researchers also feel that CBD may prevent not just the symptoms of ALS, but the disease itself. This is because some preclinical trials have shown that CBD modulates the expression of oxidative stress genes, which are linked to ALS.

 

Promoted Bone Health

An unexpected health benefit of CBD for seniors is that it supports bone health. Some people claim that regular use of CBD may even support bone regeneration and reduce the risk of fractures in elderly patients.

A 2020 study showed that CBD promoted bone healing. This may even help elderly patients with osteoporosis.

 

Helps Cancer Patients

Initial research on CBD for cancer is showing promising results, especially in the case of breast, bladder, skin, lung, and brain cancers. A 2013 study showed cannabinoids reduced tumor size and also halted cancer cell metastasizing.

Furthermore, patients reported being able to tolerate chemo better with CBD. Many had improved appetite, reduced pain, better sleep, and reduced nausea as well.

 

Prevents Epilepsy-Related Seizures

According to the Neurology Center for Epilepsy and Seizures, CBD can prevent epilepsy seizures to some extent. Clinical studies have also demonstrated the benefits of CBD for patients with Lennox-Gastaut, Dravet syndrome, CDKL5 deficiency disorder, Aicardi syndrome, Doose syndrome, Dup15q syndrome, and tuberous sclerosis complex.

Currently, the FDA has also approved a prescription form of CBD called Epidolex for certain types of epileptic seizures.

 

Treats Hypertension

CBD has anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) and analgesic effects that help reduce stress, which is one of the main causes of hypertension. Studies have shown that a single dose of CBD can reduce resting blood pressure and the blood pressure response to stress.

 

Prevents Acne And Other Skin Issues

CBD has an antibiotic/antibacterial effect that reduces sebum production and benefits acne-prone skin. Moreover, its anti-inflammatory properties also reduce the potential triggers of eczema, dermatitis, and psoriasis.

Topical and systemic use of CBD for acne and other skin problems helps soothe the skin, minimizes redness and irritation, and clears pores. Some studies have shown that CBD oil can also reduce acne scarring.

 

Anti-Aging

Cannabidiol has anti-inflammatory and moisturizing effects. No wonder many skincare brands add CBD oil to their anti-aging skin care products. The oil tightens the skin and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

A 2017 study has shown that CBD oil has antioxidant properties, which boost collagen production and make the skin appear younger and smoother.

 

CBD Health Benefits: Final Thoughts

The health benefits of CBD are both extensive and diverse, with a number of surprising benefits. While more research is needed to fully understand and validate these benefits, the current evidence suggests that CBD could be a valuable addition to health and wellness regimens for a variety of people.

Were you already aware of most of these benefits? Are there any other surprising benefits I missed? Do you regularly take CBD (I mean on its own, not by smoking weed and getting it as part of the deal)?