CBD and its Benefits in Inflammation
We are living in the tortuous clutch of many chronic illnesses. These illnesses, in most scenarios, are caused as a result of inflammation in our body. How do we end up with inflammation? Our immunity system is an integral part of the body which needs to be in a healthy state if we have to function properly. When the functioning of this system weakens, our body opens up to the danger of inflammation. Consequently, our whole body suffers from irreparable damages, including damages in the tissues, joints, and different organs.
Now it is quite clear that steering clear of any form of inflammation is a necessity. For this to become a reality, we need to make alterations in our lifestyle. According to research, our lifestyle options hold the major responsibility for the attack of any form of inflammation in our body. The changes will cover areas like our food habits and exercising habits. For example, our diet should include food that has a high content of nutrition and can resist inflammation. We should also make sure that we have a regular workout schedule along with enough room for a proper rest.
In cases where your body is already affected by inflammation, it is very important to treat it in the right manner or else it might result in other serious issues for your body. The one concerning fact about inflammation is that it is a disease that can create havoc in all areas related to your health. Those who are suffering from any forms of diseases like asthma, diseases related to the heart, thyroid, arthritis and so on need to be on high alert. The worst part about inflammation is that patients never realize how and when they are affected by inflammation- the reason is that the symptoms related to inflammation can never be clinically verified straight away. Usually, inflammation is manifested only when your body is affected by other diseases.
Using Cannabis for treating inflammation
The research conducted in this field has proven to some extent that Cannabis can be used an option for effective treating inflammation and the accompanying symptoms like pain. Cannabis has proved its ability in the treatment process because it is strongly backed by 2 key cannabinoids- CBD and THC.
Both these elements have the necessary components required for treating and reducing the causes of inflammation which is the root cause of many diseases. Apart from the above-mentioned elements, another component that can manage inflammation is beta-caryophyllene. Beta-caryophyllene has the ability to affect the CB2 receptor. A scientific study was conducted in the year 2008 to prove this theory. A group of mice who were suffering from swelling in their paws was provided with beta-caryophyllene. The result showed a major decrease in the inflammation found in their body. On the other hand, another group which was devoid of the CB2 receptors ended up showing zero sign of improvement.
According to a study that was recently published, the responses given by inflammation can be controlled by cannabinoids because they can effectively manage the immunity system. If we take a look at the cannabinoids system in our body, we will find that it has 2 receptors:
- CB1, which is placed in the central nervous system. It is allocated with the responsibility of psychoactive effects.
- CB2, which is located in the tissues. Its primary concern is protecting our body from inflammation.
You must already be aware that if your body contains more than the required amount of proteins, you can easily acquire heart diseases. Cannabis can easily bring down the levels of C-reactive protein which is the type of protein responsible for heart diseases. The usefulness of cannabis has been proven through different studies wherein the intake of cannabis has shown effective results.
People who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis or swelling in the joints can also resort to the use of cannabis. According to a recent study, cannabis helps in controlling the progress of arthritis and also reduces the pain which is associated with joint swelling. Chronic and severe pain (an after effect of inflammation) has already been proven to be treated by the use of cannabis.
The fact is that CBD and THC work in their own unique ways to control and prevent inflammation. Both of these types of cannabinoids help in the following ways:
- They bring down the level of cytokines which are known to induce inflammation. CBD and THC can control and manage the production and release of cytokines.
- In certain cases, the process of inflammation is encouraged by LPS-induced STAT 1. Again, in these cases, CBD and THC can lower the activation level of LPS-induced STAT 1.
As seen from the above, both CBD and THC work with the same intention in the mind. However, out of the two, CBD has proven to be much more successful in dealing with the symptoms of inflammation. Since research supports these claims, patients suffering from extreme forms of inflammation are recommended to use CBD. Our body can gain the ability of self-healing and restrict diseases by increasing the concentration of endogenous cannabinoids. CBD helps in doing so very easily.
In cases where cannabis is taken by people not for medicinal but for recreational purposes, they still end up benefiting from it. Those who suffer from inflammation can be helped when they indulge in this recreation. When you are prone to take medicines like aspirin, your body can undergo a long list of disastrous after-effects including
- Heartburns
- Headaches
- Fever
- Black stool
- Upset stomach
- Swelling
The use of cannabis helps the patient to resist inflammation without exposing their body to any of the above-mentioned after effects.
Another way to treat inflammation is through the use of topical. The largest organ in our body is the skin. The patient can use the skin for the intake of cannabis which has anti inflammatory and medicinal properties. Such a process allows a better treatment process along with the added advantage of preventing inflammation in the skin.