You have probably noticed more products appearing on store shelves that contain “CBD,” but many people misunderstand what it is and what it can do for the body. For instance, did you know that many scientific studies have confirmed the medical benefits of cannabis products like hemp oil? Public interest in hemp oil continues to rise in the face of growing support for marijuana law reform in the US and increased attention to scientific research into the medical applications of cannabis. More people are leaning toward natural lifestyles and remedies, including hemp oil. The list of conditions it can help treat continues to grow.
What Is CBD Hemp Oil?
Hemp oil is a concentrate derived from industrial hemp, a variety of the cannabis sativa plant commonly mistaken for marijuana. Both marijuana and industrial hemp share many biological properties, including the presence of cannabinoids. However, these two plants contain different types of cannabinoids. If you’re interested in cannabis-based treatment for any type of medical issue, here’s what you need to know about what cannabinoids are, the different types, and how they apply to different medical conditions. Many people mistakenly conflate CBD and hemp oil products with marijuana simply because they come from the same plant family, but the two plants have very different chemical properties.
The chemical compound responsible for causing the “high” associated with consuming cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. Industrial hemp contains almost no THC, but it does contain high concentrations cannabidiol, or CBD. Marijuana has a higher THC concentration than hemp and also contains CBD, but at a much lower concentration than industrial hemp. Unlike THC, CBD is not psychoactive and does not cause any type of high. However, CBD has many potential medical applications, and the current research into CBD shows clear evidence that CBD can help manage the symptoms of many serious medical conditions, some of which would otherwise require more invasive or more dangerous treatments.
1. Hemp Oil Can Offer a Healthy Way to Manage Pain Symptoms
Many Americans struggle with pain. Some experience acute pain after traumatic events like car accidents, while others struggle with chronic pain from old age, degenerative conditions, and the lingering effects of past medical issues like surgeries and infections. These individuals often face difficult roads to recovery. Many of them take prescription pain medications to ease their symptoms. However, many of these drugs are dangerous, especially opioid-based medications.
The ongoing opioid crisis in the United States is really a symptom of the coalescence of several major issues surrounding drug policy, access to healthcare, prescription practices, and unchecked drug trafficking. In light of this problem, many state legislators are looking for ways to fight the opioid crisis without restricting patients’ access to pain management drugs. Hemp oil shows amazing promise in this regard; a 2018 University of Washington study reports that hemp oil and other medical cannabis products could be instrumental in combatting the ongoing opioid crisis by providing patients with a safer, non-addictive alternative for pain management.
2. Hemp Oil Can Diminish Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression
Many Americans struggle with mental health disorders like anxiety and depression, and hemp oil may be a safer alternative than antidepressants with dangerous side effects and antianxiety medications with addictive properties. Recent scientific studies offer substantial support for hemp oil as a viable treatment for anxiety disorders and symptoms of depression, potentially lowering the number of new addiction cases involving benzodiazepine-based antianxiety drugs and antidepressants.
An increasingly health-conscious public is part of the reason for the tremendous growth seen in recent years in the hemp oil industry, NPR reports. The American public is showing increasing interest in natural alternatives to mental health management, and hemp oil could offer many people struggling with anxiety and depression a nonaddictive alternative with virtually no side effects.
3. Hemp Oil Can Treat Some Skin Conditions
Skin conditions like acne, eczema, and psoriasis cause troublesome symptoms that can interfere with work and enjoyment of daily life. Dr. Tina Alistar , M.D. of Georgetown University, is a clinical professor of dermatology and her findings have led her and others in the dermatology community to support hemp oil for skin care.
According to Dermatology Times, Dr. Alistar reports that CBD in hemp oil has anti-inflammatory properties beneficial for these skin conditions and other medical issues like neurological disorders, insomnia, and anxiety, among others. Hemp oil also helps moisturize the skin to relieve pain and itching. Hemp oil in creams, gels, ointments, and skin serums can not only reduce swelling and relieve itching but also reduce pain from some skin conditions.
4. Hemp Oil for Neurological Disorders
Neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis, Tourette’s syndrome, epilepsy, and Huntington disease can entail severe symptoms that disrupt daily life and even pose fatal risks to some individuals. The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) is the world’s largest organization of neurological care professionals and neurologists. A 2014 AAN report indicates the consensus among top neurological disorder treatment specialists that hemp oil holds promise for the management of some neurological disorder symptoms.
After studying various oral CBD concentrates, products containing combinations of THC and CBD, and oral spray products containing hemp oil, the AAN concluded that hemp oil treatments could soothe symptoms of spasticity and involuntary movements. These treatments can reduce the “pins and needles” sensations caused by many neurological disorders, and there is moderate evidence to support hemp oil as an effective treatment for multiple sclerosis symptoms.
5. Hemp Oil Can Improve Heart Health
In some parts of the world, hemp is a food product, and hemp seeds are actually quite nutritious. Hempseeds, also called “hemp hearts” contain high levels of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. They also contain arginine, an amino acid that increases production of nitric oxide in the body, a substance that causes blood vessels to relax and dilate. This lowers blood pressure and over time may reduce the risk of heart disease. Hempseeds also contain gamma-linolenic amino acid, which reduces inflammation and, by association, reduces the risk of heart disease. Concentrated hemp oils can provide a more effective delivery method than eating hempseeds.
6. Hemp Oil for Cancer-Related Symptoms
Cancer is a devastating disease that requires extensive individualized treatment. Radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and cancer-related surgeries to remove tumors are just a few possible treatments cancer patients face. These procedures entail unpleasant side effects like nausea, vomiting, fever, irritability, headaches, and more. The National Cancer Institute reports that hemp oil and CBD can help improve these symptoms, increasing the efficacy of cancer treatments and helping cancer patients manage the side effects of treatment.
Doctors have also used hemp oil and cannabis products to treat solid recurring tumors, and oral hemp oil-based sprays can treat adverse reactions to stem cell transplantation procedures. Other benefits of hemp oil for cancer patients include diminished nausea, pain relief, reduced anxiety symptoms, and increased appetite.
Explore the Medical Benefits of Hemp Oil
Hemp oil holds incredible potential for people struggling with serious medical conditions like cancer, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, and anxiety. Some of these individuals may not respond to usual treatments or might have co-occurring disorders that complicate typical treatment plans. Other people may only have mild symptoms or recent diagnosis and they want natural alternatives to typical treatments. Hemp oil can be ideal for many people in this situation.
If you have spoken to your doctor about any of the medical issues listed in this article, consider researching the potential benefits of hemp oil for your situation. A vape pen from Vessel can help you enjoy high-quality hemp oils and reap their medical benefits with convenient and stylish delivery.
