Who Does CBD Oil Really Work for?

It seems you can’t go anywhere these days without hearing or overhearing a conversation about CBD, and women over 40 are no exception. CBD products are readily available and widely marketed as a midlife wellness treatment,  so I decided it was time to find out what CBD is actually useful for. When I need to know more about a popular treatment modality, I head straight to Harvard Health and the Mayo Clinic, as the information on these sites is not sponsored by any third party companies with a financial interest. Read on to learn the facts.

CBD has been promoted by supplement companies as a treatment for various diseases that typically appear in midlife.  Producers or CBD  also claim it can reduce anxiety, chronic pain, sore tired muscles, arthritis pain, improve joint health, stress,  and sleep deprivation.  That almost sounds too good to be true, and that is a signal to check the facts. Read on to find what you should know about CBD oil before investing in it.

What exactly is CBD oil?

CBD stands for cannabidiol. It is the second most prevalent active ingredient of the cannabis plant.  This is not the cannabis that is marijuana. CBD supplements are derived from Hemp. Hemp is a different species but also closely related to marijuana. CBD derived from hemp does not cause any mind alterations like it’s marijuana relative. This is because CBD from the hemp plant does not have the psychoactive substance tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that marijuana is famous for.

A report from the world health organization states that in humans, CBD exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential.

So is CBD legal?

It’s confusing.

In actuality, each state has laws of varying restriction. Federal law classifies it the same as marijuana but rarely enforces it. In December 2015, The FDA granted permission to conduct CBD trials on humans. The official government position is blurry, depending on whether CBD is obtained from hemp or marijuana. (Remember it is supposed to be obtained from hemp. At the time of this article, Congress is in agreement to making the hemp crop legal.

But does CBD really, work?

The claims that CBD is effective in the treatment of the above-mentioned conditions are not supported by research. According to an article by Peter Greenspoon, M.D.(Health.harvard.edu) there are no high-quality conclusive studies to support these at this time. (There is one CBD product approved by the food and drug administration for the treatment of a certain type of pediatric epilepsy.)

CBD oil usage is not without side effects including dry mouth, diarrhea, reduced appetite, drowsiness, and fatigue. CBD may also interact with certain medications, especially as blood thinners.

The biggest issue is that the supplement industry is an unregulated industry.

Therefore the purity in a dosage of a CBD supplement is not held to any standards. A recent study of 84 CBD products that were bought online showed that more than 25% of these products contained less than the labeled amount of CBD. A more alarming finding was that THC was found in 18 of these products. (source: Mayo clinic.org, December 2018)

If after reading this you are still convinced that taking a CBD supplement is wise, do so with caution and the knowledge that it may or may not contain what is stated on the label. The supplement you choose may also contain THC and not disclose as such on the label. This could be a problem for people who need to drive. Finally, the claims for treating anything other than childhood epilepsy are not supported by research.  Always consult with your doctor first, to make sure that CBD is not interfering with any medications you might be taking.

For more resources on how to stay fit without harming your joints, click here:

Download Now: The 12 Best Books for Menopause!

Get a list of my personal favorite books for not just "getting through" menopause...but thriving.

It cannot be overstated how pivotal these books were for me when it came to forming my mindset and philosophies regarding health and aging.

I am super excited to share these with you - just tell me where I should send the list!

FREE Video Series: The Best Exercises for Women Over 40!

Image

Free 3-Part video Series goes in-depth teaching you how to perform the above exercises step-by-step THE RIGHT WAY without getting hurt.

Watch the Videos

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

twenty one − eleven =