Cannabidiol, the non-psychoactive cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant, or CBD for short, has become a household name since the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill. Along with it has come a treasure trove of products and a ravenous need among researchers to discover all the magical uses CBD can offer. One major target subject amongst researchers is CBD oil.
Now, you might already have caught wind of a few CBD oil uses currently floating around. Perhaps you are well aware of the benefits CBD may offer dogs, the potential to ease feelings of anxiousness, enhance overall well-being and help decrease feelings of discomfort or more recently, the power of CBD hand sanitizer. I’d be willing to bet there are at least a few interesting uses of CBD oil you haven’t heard of though.
Skin Health
Acne is the most common skin condition among humans, affecting an estimated 9.4% of the global population.1 The causes of acne can be attributed to a number of factors, with two prominent culprits being: inflammation and sebum overproduction.2
Sebum is an oily, slightly waxy secretion produced on the face and scalp by the sebaceous glands. It acts as a barrier between your skin and the world, shielding it from dirt, pollutants, dead skin cells, and other common enemies to the safety of your skin. However, the overproduction of Sebum can lead to the trapping in these same enemies into the skin and pores, thus becoming acne.
Not to fear, though—our hero CBD oil is here!
A 2014 study examined the interaction between cannabidiol and human sebocytes (the cells which create sebum) and found that CBD oil prevented these cells from overproducing the acne-causing oily secretion.3
Another study found cannabidiol’s anti-inflammatory properties prevented the activation of acne causing agents like cytokines, ultimately concluding that CBD oil may be an efficient an effective treatment of acne.4
Heart Health
Studies have suggested that CBD oil may be able to lower blood pressure and keep it lowered.
High blood pressure is linked to numerous health conditions, heart disease being just one of them. In a 2017 study, nine healthy men were given a dose of 600mg of CBD oil. Researchers observed a reduction in resting blood pressure compared to a placebo. On top of that, when administered a stress test designed to increase blood pressure, participants who had ingested the single dose of CBD oil exhibited a smaller increase in blood pressure than normal.6
Neuroprotection
CBD as a treatment for neurological disorders, like epilepsy and multiple sclerosis (MS), are well studied at this point. Fun fact: Epidiolex an epilepsy medication, is one of the first CBD product in the United States to be approved by the FDA as a prescription drug! But what about its efficacy in treating other neurological disorders, like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, for example?
Research suggests potential benefits here as well. One study suggested CBD oil may be effective in improving quality of sleep for those with Parkinson’s. 7 Another study examined mice with a genetic predisposal to Alzheimer’s. They found that doses of CBD helped prevent cognitive decline.8
Remember, these are just a few of the multitude of uses CBD oil offers. Research has already covered a lot of ground and has many new studies already underway. You know the saying, “there’s an app for that”? If CBD oil had a catch phrase, it would be “there’s a study for that.”
Suffice to say: the future looks promising.
