Cannabidiol (CBD) has become a trendy health supplement for people to take for a variety of reasons. In 2024, the global CBD market was valued around $2.8 billion USD, and it is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 21.2% to top $13 billion by 2028.
As more scientific research uncovers the full extent of how CBD affects our health, it will only continue to grow in popularity. You can already find a large variety of CBD products for sale from retailers and dispensaries like thehempdoctor.com. You can get basic CBD oil or tinctures, as well as edibles, drinkables, creams, lotions, balms, and more.
Here are nine important health benefits that we already know CBD can offer that help explain why it is already so popular as a supplement.
1. Pain Relief
The most well known property of cannabis and all its byproducts, such as CBD, is the ability to reduce pain. It works by interacting with the parts of our nervous system that release pain signals to reduce the intensity of the sensations you would feel. That’s why it is used as a supplemental treatment option for pain of all kinds: acute injuries, workout soreness, surgery recovery, and chronic pain conditions like arthritis. It is best used in combination with other pain relief methods, such as application of hot or cold temperatures to the area, other pain medication, and more.
2. Inflammation Reduction
The other way that CBD can help reduce pain and discomfort is by reducing inflammation. Inflammation is a common cause or symptom of several pain and other health conditions, and reducing it is a necessary element of many medical treatments. The reason why CBD is a powerful anti-inflammatory is because it is loaded with antioxidants, which are known for their ability to reduce inflammation throughout your body.
3. Mental Health Improvement
Mental health issues, such as anxiety, stress or depression, are very common issues that most people will deal with at some point in their lives. It can be a temporary issue due to circumstances in your life, but it can also be a chronic condition that people have to deal with almost their entire lives. CBD has been shown to improve our mood by boosting the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter our body produces that makes us feel happier, more relaxed, and less stressed or anxious.
4. Sleep Quality
CBD can also have a massive impact on our overall health and well-being by helping us get a better quality sleep. It affects the production of neurotransmitters that our body produces as part of our natural body clock, also known as our circadian rhythm. When you take CBD, it helps you feel more relaxed and calm, and you will feel more tired towards the evening as your body signals it is time for your usual bedtime. It is useful enough that it is even used to help insomniacs get a better sleep.
5. Acne
Acne is a skin condition affecting many teenagers, but also many adults. It is often caused by either bacteria and infections in your skin pores, or inflamed skin pores. It can also be caused by both at the same time for more severe cases. We already know that CBD is a powerful anti-inflammatory to help treat or prevent an acne breakout caused by inflammation. However, it is also a natural antiseptic, antibacterial and antifungal to kill bacteria and help treat infected pores and pimples.
6. Seizures
Seizures are less common issues than the above, but an estimated 5% of people will have at least one epileptic seizure in their lives. An estimated 1.2% of people will have enough seizures to meet the criteria for epilepsy. While epilepsy is not a lethal condition on its own, it does affect the person’s quality of life. This is especially true for people who have more severe forms of it.
One of the issues that people with the condition have is that there is not only no cure, but no treatment options will work the same for everyone. Some people will be resistant to most or even all treatments. Recently, the FDA released a new CBD based medication called Epidiolex. If you want to try CBD for your epilepsy, make sure you discuss it with a doctor first. It could have a bad reaction with other medication, but you will likely need to take a higher concentration dose for it to be effective.
7. Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s is another neurological disease where the brain and nervous system slowly degenerates over time. It eventually leads to uncontrollable shaking, as well as stiffness and loss of balance and coordination. While CBD will not cure Parkinson’s, it has been shown to help improve overall quality of life for people with the condition, including improving their ability to sleep.
8. Multiple Sclerosis
CBD has the same sort of effect for people who have Multiple Sclerosis (MS), which is another neurological condition. In the case of MS, it affects the brain and spinal cord that slowly affects the person’s movement, vision, and balance. There is another CBD-based medication called Sativex, which uses both it and THC to help people with MS manage some of the symptoms of the condition. It has been found to reduce pain and muscle spasms, as well as improving mobility.
9. Cancer Symptoms
One of the most exciting revelations regarding CBD is its potential for helping people who have cancer. What is already clearly known is CBD’s ability to help with pain and inflammation caused as a symptom of the cancer, as well as the side effects of radiation treatments. It can also help reduce nausea and vomiting caused by the disease and treatments, as well as improving appetite, mental health, and helping the patient sleep.
But the greatest potential lies in early animal and test tube studies that showed CBD actually killed breast cancer cells and actually inhibited the spread of cancer. As larger scale trials are performed on human subjects, the potential for CBD to act as an anticancer treatment could benefit millions of people every year.
There are numerous other benefits of CBD, or potential benefits that have yet to be fully confirmed by large scale research. These benefits are just the most well known, or have the largest overall benefit to people who deal with these health issues.