Cannabinoids have recently become popular medicinal remedies due to their lack of psychoactive effects and serious side effects. Recent studies show that CBD is able to effectively treat a wide range of ailments from anxiety to cancer. If you’re interested in trying CBD medicinally, here are some things you should know before getting started.

What is CBD?

CBD, short for “cannabidiol,” is a product of the cannabis plant. Cannabis is the same plant that produces marijuana and hemp. Although some products of the cannabis plant are psychoactive and can get you high, CBD does not. CBD is a natural healing remedy and does not contain any THC. After extraction from the cannabis plant, CBD is often diluted with carrier oils, like coconut or olive oil.

CBD’s health benefits

Studies show that using CBD can help relieve chronic pain by reducing joint inflammation. CBD can also improve sleep quality and has anti-anxiety and antidepressant effects. CBD is thought to activate serotonin production in the brain, and it even has the potential to slow and reduce the spread of cancer cells in the body.

CBD is also associated with improved gut health. CBD works by affecting immune process that originates from the gut. Basically, CBD regulates immune responses to prevent the immune system from becoming hyperactive, leading to digestive issues and inflammation.

Although CBD is mostly used to treat physiological symptoms, it’s also been shown to treat a range of mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression. One study found that CBD is helpful in treating social anxiety disorder due to its effects on activity in the limbic and paralimbic areas of the brain.

Recent research links CBD to antitumor effects. CBD is shown to amplify the death of tumor cells in colon cancer and leukemia, as well as stop the spread of cervical cancer cells. CBD is associated with a reduced risk of developing diabetes.

Using CBD as a remedy

One of the easiest and most common ways to use CBD as a medicinal remedy is by incorporating it into your diet. Hemp-based CBD oils are shown to be medicinally effective and can be mixed into a variety of different recipes. If you’re considering cooking or baking with CBD, it’s best to use small doses. Although high doses of CBD are not associated with serious side effects, CBD oil adds a bitter taste to your food.

You can also try making your own CBD oil with CBD isolate by infusing the isolate with a carrier oil. CBD isolate is 99 percent pure crystalline powder, making it THC-free. CBD isolate is great if you need to be able to pass a drug test for work, but still want to reap the medicinal benefits that CBD has to offer.

For fast-acting relief, try vaporizing CBD cannabis. Using a vape allows you to immediately experience the effects of CBD, which is ideal if you want relief from chronic pain or inflammation. If you’re looking for a more discrete method, tinctures allow you to take CBD directly through a dropper directly into your mouth or by mixing it into food.

CBD topical products are perfect if you’re looking to relieve pain, inflammation, or soreness. There are a variety of topical products infused with active CBD, including balms, salves, and lotions. You can make your own topical products by adding CBD to your favorite lotion.

Research continues to reveal health benefits associated with CBD. If you’re unsure if CBD is right for you, ask a doctor in your area. Although there are a variety of different methods to use CBD medicinally, don’t hesitate to experiment in order to determine what’s right for you.