CBD Oil: A Mental Health Remedy that’s Good for the Environment?
Over the past few years, CBD oil has gained intrigue and popularity as a natural wonder supplement. There are claims that it boasts many health benefits, including remedying mental health disorders, and it’s said to be a potentially sustainable product too. But what is CBD oil and is it really as good as is claimed?
What is CBD Oil?
We’re all aware that CBD oil is derived from the cannabis plant, but there’s a lot of confusion over how this version of the drug effects us. Contrary to popular belief, CBD oil will not get you “high”. The name CBD stands for Cannabidiol, which is an active compound of the cannabis plant. This compound can be extracted from either the cannabis or the hemp plant. Although hemp and cannabis plants are very similar, they differ enough for the full effects of their CBD oils to differ. It’s important to do some research on CBD oil before investing in the product, because there are varying forms available, including full spectrum and CBD isolate. There are still mixed feelings surrounding CBD oil because of its connections to the recreational drug, yet their effects are entirely different because they’re not used in the same way.
The Benefits of Using CBD Oil
CBD oil possesses many benefits, including:
- Pain relief
- Improved mental health
- Reduces inflammation
- A cancer treatment
- Keeps high blood pressure under control
- Improves quality of sleep
- Decreases muscle spasms among Parkinson’s Disease sufferers (and other similar diseases)
- Lowers cases of diabetes
- Helps users to overcome drug addiction
Just like with any supplement or medication, it’s important to follow guidelines for proper use in order to see desired results.
CBD Oil and Mental Health
Cannabidiol is a beneficial therapy for mental health sufferers, not because the drug gives the consumer an instant high, a quick fix or hallucinatory effects, but because it promotes a feeling of calm. Mental health is a subject that has been widely discussed in the media of late and so it should. Unfortunately for those battling mental health issues, there isn’t a specific cure, but rather a condition that must be managed. Recent studies show that mental health patients are now also turning to CBD oil to ease the symptoms of anxiety and depression. A study published in The Permante Journal states that 79% of people noticed a reduction in anxiety after using CBD oil in the trial conducted. It is thought that CBD oil acts as a holistic therapy for treating anxiety and social anxiety conditions. Although the supplement doesn’t offer a permanent cure to anxiety and other mental health disorders, it does serve as a reliable, natural medication.
Is CBD Oil a Sustainable Product?
Although CBD oil can be produced using either the cannabis or hemp plant, hemp-derived CBD oil is more popular, seeing that cannabis is illegal in most parts of the world. Hemp is a sustainable crop in the way that it requires very few pesticides to flourish and needs no herbicides at all. Hemp is also commonly used as the base material in numerous other sustainable goods too – from items of clothing to milk and consumables. The plant is easy to grow and is a fantastic rotational crop. On the other hand, cultivating hemp takes both time and labour, which is reflective in the cost of the final product. The cost of harvesting hemp is six times more expensive than wood pulp to produce. Hemp requires roughly the same amount of water to produce as cotton, which involves heavy water usage. Although the amount of water needed is an issue in some opinions, hemp production is still recognised as an ethically sourced ingredient by the majority. There are methods for making hemp and cannabis cultivation more eco-friendly, but to ensure that you’re purchasing a consciously-sourced item, research ethical CBD brands and bear in mind that authentic CBD oil will probably cost more than the varieties sold by mainstream brands. Overall, hemp is an environmentally-friendly product and so is CBD oil. But to ensure that you’re purchasing responsibly sourced CBD oil, make sure that you buy from a reputable company and expect to pay a little more to guarantee an authentic, quality product.
CBD oil is still relevantly new and there is still a lot more to learn about this supplement, but what we are seeing so far is fascinating! The future of CBD oil looks impressive, as we begin to understand the additional benefits of using cannabidiol and its further potential uses. Although there is still some controversy surrounding the use of CBD oil because of its links with cannabis, there is no doubt that there are many advantages to using it as a natural, eco-friendly health product that can help with mental health symptoms too!