Cannabidiol, popularly known as CBD, is the second most abundant component of cannabis. While it’s extracted from a plant capable of giving you a high, it has no psychotic potential, as opposed to THC, the other major compound derived from cannabis. Instead, CBD’s potential health benefits have been the subject of recent research, further cementing its growing popularity. Today, some of the top uses of CBD include easing stress, constipation, and improving overall health. Here is a look at the science behind CBD’s immense benefits.
How CBD Helps Relieve Stress
Fear and anxiety are two coping mechanisms that human beings use to respond to events that threaten their survival or their wellbeing. While not everyone responds to stressful situations the same way, anything from an impending job interview, job loss, sickness, or fear of heights are all examples of stressors that can easily lead to anxiety.
During stressful situations, your body responds by releasing stress hormones, particularly cortisol. In turn, cortisol leads to an increase in your blood pressure and heart rate, explaining why you will likely feel your heart beating loudly when you’re afraid or facing a stressful situation. When the stressor is removed, the level of cortisol goes back to normal. The problem arises when you are constantly facing stressful situations which lead to a constant rise in levels of cortisol. Over time, chronic stress can lead to all manner of problems including:
- Increased blood pressure
- Poor sleep
- Weight gain
- Heart Disease
- Anxiety
- Fatigue
- Irritability
If you suffer from chronic stress or are exhibiting any of the signs of chronic stress, you can take medication to help you calm down. However, medication may not always be effective, explaining why people are constantly looking for other ways to manage stress and anxiety. CBD is a popular remedy that can help ease stress and anxiety. Growing evidence suggests that CBD can interfere with the release of cortisol and possibly act as a sedative thus improving sleep and easing stress.
How CBD Can Help Ease Constipation
If you suffer from chronic constipation, CBD can offer digestive support by dealing with the cause of your constipation. For instance, CBD carries analgesic properties. If your constipation is as a result of taking pain medication, you can titrate your pain medication downwards and replace it with CBD. If your constipation is caused by irritable bowel syndrome, some evidence suggests that CBD can help ease symptoms including constipation.
The ripple effect is that CBD can improve how your gut works by improving its communication with the brain and regulating gut motility. Put simply, CBD carries relaxing effects and can relax your nerves, and with its antioxidant properties, it can help improve your bowel movements and ease symptoms of constipation.
CBD for Overall Health
Aside from easing stress and constipation, CBD is also thought to improve daily health and overall wellness. Your body has a self-regulating system known as the endocannabinoid system, ECS, which helps systems work as they should.
Since CBD is a cannabinoid, taking it helps improve the function of the ECS. Some of the most common benefits of CBD include the treatment of epilepsy, anorexia, glaucoma, acne, muscle spasms, cancer and the side effects of cancer treatments, Parkinson’s disease and insomnia. For some of these problems, it’s not known exactly how CBD works, but being a cannabinoid and helping the ECS function better goes a long way in improving overall wellness.
We Can Help
CBD carries immense benefits, especially in the treatment of stress, constipation, and improving overall wellness. However, you need to take the right product with minimal levels of THC and at the right dosage. At Miracles of Health, we are dedicated to helping you reap the benefits of this miracle plant by formulating supplements that can help improve your health. Check our product catalogue for a supplement that works for you or contact us today for more information on the benefits of CBD.