The Health Benefits of CBD Oil (Cannabidiol)

Medical Marijuana has been getting a lot of press lately as more and more states pass legislation legalizing it’s use. What’s also gaining attention is the rising use of cannabinoid oil. In a recent article Dr. Mercola writes, “The cannabinoids in cannabis — cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) — interact with your body by way of naturally-occurring cannabinoid receptors embedded in cell membranes throughout your body. In fact, scientists now believe the endocannabinoid system may represent the most widespread receptor system in your body. There are cannabinoid receptors in your brain, lungs, liver, kidneys, immune system and more, and both the therapeutic and psychoactive properties of marijuana occur when a cannabinoid activates a cannabinoid receptor.”

Cannabinoids are naturally occurring compounds found in the cannabis plant. There are dozens of compounds including Cannabidiol (CBD), THC, and a host of other cannabinoids. Cannabidiol, or CBD, does not contain THC, the component most associated with getting high and doesn’t have much of a noticeable effect when isolated.

There is an increasing amount of research indicating that CBD has health benefits in a number of areas:

  • Diabetes: In a study using CBD, the development of diabetes in non-obese diabetic mice was prevented. Although there wasn’t a direct effect of cannabidiol on glucose levels, the treatment prevented the production of IL-12 by splenocytes. Preventing this cytokine is important because it plays a huge role in many autoimmune diseases.
  • PTSD: CBD is known to produce anti-anxiety and anti-inflammatory effects when ingested by slowing everything down and calming the user. Those with PTSD are often overcome with anxiety and stress, so patients frequently find relief by using cannabidiol.
  • Anti-Cancer: CBD and other chemicals found in Cannabis have an anti-tumor effect and could be used to improve standard treatments. CBD has been shown to decrease cancer cell growth and invasion and to improve the efficacy of conventional antitumor drugs when taken in conjunction.
  • Alzheimer’s: Dr. Mercola writes: In a 2014 study, researchers at the University of South Florida and Thomas Jefferson University found that low-dose THC directly impedes the buildup of beta amyloid plaque in the brain, which is associated with the development of Alzheimer’s, and unlike so many pharmaceutical drugs, it produces no toxicity.
  • Parkinson’s & MS: Cannabinoid-based medicines have been proposed as clinically promising therapies in Parkinson’s disease and in Multiple Sclerosis.
  • Pain Management: CBD has natural anti-inflammatory properties, without any harsh side effects. Exercising sore muscles is one of the best ways to relieve chronic pain, but when it hurts to move, exercising often gets pushed to the back burner. The relief brought on by CBD will make it easier to move and more comfortable, as the muscles begin to relax from the dosage.
  • Epilepsy: As reported on CNN, Cannabidiol, which is found in marijuana plants, reduced the number of convulsive seizures in children with a severe and often fatal epilepsy disorder, according to research published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Among children taking cannabidiol, the decrease in the frequency of convulsive seizures — which involve a loss of consciousness, stiffened muscles and jerking movements — was 23 percentage points greater than the decrease in seizures among children taking a placebo.
  • Sleep Disorders: According to the latest research, Cannabidiol (CBD) may be a feasible option for people who have trouble sleeping.
  • Anxiety: A new study examines the neurobiology behind these illnesses and finds that controlling a molecule that activates cannabinoid receptors can reduce the symptoms of anxiety.

 

 


Merlian News November 2021 Newsletter

Here’s a quick round up of some of our favorite articles from this month! As always, we look forward to presenting you with up to date news and information about holistic events, health and well being from both the scientific and the spiritual perspectives, nutrition, vegan lifestyles, and more.

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How to Take Care of Your Eyes by Dr. Marc Grossman, OD, LAc

Headaches, squinting and eyes that burn, ache, water or tire easily are indications that the visual system needs help. Most people are born with the potential for good eyes and sight. Vision, however, is learned. And the way you use and care for your visual system directly affects your enjoyment of play, school or work. Your visual system can undergo tremendous stress.

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Avoiding Germs During the School Year

Parents everywhere are focused on how to keep their kids healthy during the school year. There are the obvious COVID-19 concerns, but that’s not the only germ out there that parents need to worry about. Cold and flu season is expected to be a doozy this year. Your family’s best bet is to stay as germ-free and healthy as possible.

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An Autumn Menu by Nancy Mehagian

| by Nancy Mehagian

Around this Thanksgiving holiday, cook and cuisine author, Nancy Mehagian shares a favorite and easy recipe for organic turkey meatloaf.The leaves of fall are upon us, and on our streets and yards. If you live on the East Coast, your trees may be bare by now. Here, in Southern California, we’re still raking and blowing. I love it! Fall just might be my favorite season, for all the color that abounds, the changes in the air and the sight of some of my favorite produce at the Farmer’s Market. To celebrate the season, I’ve offered a few of my recipes–the ones that taste best eaten around a blazing fire.

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10 Powerful Essential Oils for Healing

Essential oils have long been used for Ayurvedic treatments and aromatherapy, but they are now increasingly popular in Western medicine. Long associated with their calming or soothing qualities, doctors are now treating everything from burns to cancer and diabetes to heart disease with plant based medicine and natural oils. In fact, a recent article in The Atlantic highlights the growing search in the medical community for essential oils to treat staph and other bacteria that have grown antibiotic resistant over the years. Many oils are famous for their anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, but new research indicates that many may have anticancer components as well.

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