CBD has turned the tides of the battle for herbal alternative supplements in its favour. For years, societies had shunned and frowned upon this gem of a miracle drug, wrongly so that too. But better times have begun to roll out and people as well as governments have started opening their doors to CBD. And with the entry of CBD into one’s lives, comes a barrage of benefits that could turn your life for the better.
Gone are the days where you are left with no choice but to pop open pill bottles after pill bottles; continuously endangering your health and turning you into a closeted addict that can’t do without a sleeping pill for the night. The side effects that drugs like ibuprofen and aspirin bring with it are frightening! From a higher risk of stroke to catching a heart attack possibly in your early 40s, these over-the-counter drugs do more harm to you than it could ever do any good.
You may have faintly acquainted yourself with the benefits that CBD can truly offer, but what you may not know is that CBD can be used as a treatment for cuts, bruises, abrasion, burns and other minor injuries. We have a run through of the basics of CBD, and upon reaching the final sentence you will emerge infinitely wiser!
CBD: The Disregarded Gem
CBD is not the only one of its kind. As a matter of fact when you crack open a marijuana plant, there are hundred others that are classified in with the miracle drug,collectively called Cannabinoids. The infamous THC and the lesser known Chromenes and terpenes are the couple others in the mix. CBD can be obtained from another source, namely industrial hemp that has become a market staple nowadays.
But what truly sets CBD apart is the ways in which it can be used, which no other cannabinoid can rival.
CBD is a strong anti-inflammatory, which can help controlled localised inflammation at joints and also reduces pain by means of numbing the nerve impulses at the site of damage. It also acts as a relaxant, which cannabinoids have an innate ability for. THC or tetrahydrocannabinol is another such substance that has sedative effects but none of the therapeutic effects that CBD offers.
But what truly makes CBD a winning contender to fight the war against ailment, is its anti-psychoactive nature. The perceived misconception that CBD equals marijuana is the reason for the wrongly attached stigma around CBD derivatives as a whole. This is also the reason why it too so long for CBD to become mainstream and to be a part of any normal household’s medicine cabinet. Much like countries that has legalised CBD such as Canada, America has also followed suite and passed the Farm bill 2018 to officially make hemp-CBD a legal substance to grow, distribute and consume. The reason for calling CBD as a disregarded gem is grossly understated.
When you roll a spiff and take a whiff of marijuana, you are hit by the strong feeling of delusion and giddiness. The reason for the uncontrolled giggling and the urge for you to reach out for a packet of chips, is because of THC, which in itself is a strong psychoactive substance.
If you, or your kids, or even your pets consume CBD there will be no possibility of intoxication and you can jump right back into work looking sharp as a fiddle.
The way in which CBD works its magic is even more interesting as you will read..
CBD: The Workings
The CBD works its magic into your system all thanks to a system in your body called the Endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS system is very important as you will learn, and controls all kind of bodily function ranging from your immunity systems resilience to fight foreign invaders to regulating your sleep and appetite. The ECS system has numerous nerve receptor sites that on interaction with body generated cannabinoids cause the effects that you see such as your mood uplifting when you win a race that you have been practicing all summer for!
The CBD being a cannabinoid much like the one created by the body, also interacts with these neuron receptors on the ECS to bring about all the benefits that we see CBD accomplishing.By simply keeping the cannabinoids level in your body at an optimum you will become proactive and ready on your toes at all times of the day; CBD manages to do this flawlessly.
What CBD Brings To The Table?
The list of benefits are still en-route to being uncovered with constant research. So far the potential compound can do the following:
- CBD can reduce the proliferation and growth of cancer cells as see in animals
- It helps reduce inflammation and heals infection in the case of Crohn’s disease and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Interfere with pain signalling to help numb out the pain and cut off your dependence on pain relieving medication
- Reduce the symptoms when it comes to neurological disorder like PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), OCD (Obsessive compulsive disorder), PSD (Panic stress disorder), Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease among many others .
- CBD helps to protect the neural network and pathways in the nervous system and that in the brain from the damage it could suffer from sudden shock, trauma or perhaps even stroke.
This all ties in to the ability of CBD to bring about a sense of balance or homeostasis in your body. CBD can be administered and introduced in your system in a variety of ways:
- Sublingual application
- By ingesting pills, supplements, edibles
- By means of Vaping or Smoking CBD fumes
- You can infuse it into chocolates, dressing oil or even shakes
- By means of topical application such as creams, salves, ointments
CBD Can Help You Heal Abrasions And Wounds
CBD has been documented time and again to be a potent analgesic having strong antibacterial properties. This means that you can include CBD into your regime to speed healing and to prevent spread of infection from minor scrapes, burns, cuts and even slightly deeper wounds.
Of the different ways mentioned in which you can administer CBD to help you recover, the topical method is the commonly adapted method of application. You can make use of CBD-infused lotions and ointments to be used as an effective first-aid treatment for such minor wounds.
Why CBD Works When Applied?
The reason is that skin is effectively the largest organ of the body which means the endocannabinoid system have a widened network of nerves and sites on various layers of the skin.
The skin’s EC receptors plays an important role in Cell regrowth, Cellular integrity (the ability to hold together the various layers) and hormone production as well
CBD Can Prevent Long Term Scarring Of The Surface Tissue
When the skin undergoes damage, the cells kick to overdrive and begin to work on repairing the injured collagen fibres. What this results in is the formation of scar tissue. The scar tissue although only un-aesthetic to look at, can sometimes even interfere with normal functioning of the skin.
CBD injury are two separate words that come together to form a perfect unison, as CBD helps reduce extent of injury and scarring by means of allowing the regeneration of the skin cells and limiting the spread of the damaged skin. The collagen production is also ramped up to help heal. The end result is CBD can help smoothen and soften the overall look and feel of the scar.
CBD Can Help You Fight Many Other Minor Skin Problems
You may even use CBD as a way to fight against ageing and appearance of fine lines. The stressful lifestyle that we have adopted has caused under eye dark circle to appear much sooner. CBD can help repair and rejuvenate your skin, bring it back to its pristine condition.
If you have minor scarring as a result of acnes, then you can make use of CBD to regrow and smoothen out the marks. CBD can so be used to fight the excess of oil production on your skin.
There are dermatologist who have vouched that the topical application of CBD on the skin after a Botox treatment, skin lift or any other kind of skin repair procedure, can help reduce the swelling and help the patient recover from the procedure must quicker than previously anticipated.
Choosing The Right Topical Method Of Application For Maximum Results
Topical application involves the following:
- Lip balm
- Creams
- Ointment
- Lotions
- CBD-infused salves
- Sprays
- CBD oils/tinctures
If you have minor injuries as a result of burns, cuts or gashes then it is best to try creams and ointments. If you have cuts or blisters on the lips, then make use of a CBD lip balm. If you want to implement CBD into your face care regime then simply make use of lotions or CBD oil lightly spread across the skin. You may even make use of CBD sprays to act on localised pains at joints.
What To Look Out For?
CBD has a plethora of effects but there may be a chance that your skin has an allergic reaction to it, causing it to become reddened and itch. This is why you must first apply a small amount of the CBD cream onto your skin. Let this sit for around 24 hours and then if there are no signs of reddening or itches then you are good to go.
It is understandable that CBD has a lot to offer when it comes to the skin. The fact that its healing properties can extend to the largest organ of your body is testament to the all-rounded herbal drug that CBD is known to the masses for.