Category: CBD

How CBD Oil Saved One Girl’s Life

Though millions of people across the country have discovered the benefits of CBD oil and the various ways it can improve their quality of life, it is not every day you hear stories of how a natural, safe alternative or addition to pharmaceutical drugs actually saves lives. One very lucky little girl with a very rare brain tumor is still alive today thanks to the powers of CBD oil.

All About Sophie

Sophie Ryan, who is a bubbly and happy five-year-old today, was not quite as bubbly as a baby. At just eight and a half months old, Sophie was diagnosed with a very rare and dangerous brain tumor that had wrapped itself around her optic nerve, threatening her eyesight. Tracy and Josh Ryan, Sophie’s parents, were advised by their team of healthcare providers that the only treatment for Sophie was chemotherapy, which is a very common treatment for cancerous tumors, but one that is poisonous and causes a variety of side effects that range from hair loss and severe nausea to death in some patients.

Introducing CBD Oil

Though Tracy and Josh did agree to start Sophie on chemotherapy, Tracy took it upon herself to start researching the benefits of CBD oil in pediatric cancer. She read numerous studies and, after much contemplation and a discussion with Sophie’s team of oncologists, decided to start giving Sophie CBD oil in addition to her chemotherapy treatments. While Tracy and Sophie’s healthcare team weren’t incredibly sure what to expect, the results were startling.

The Effects of Sophie’s Treatment

After 13 months of treatment with chemotherapy and CBD oil, Sophie’s dangerous tumor, which had once threatened to blind her, had shrunk by an astonishing 85%. At this point, Sophie no longer needed regular blood transfusions to stay healthy, which represented a major change in her life. Tracy and Josh claim that the only side effect Sophie experienced as a result of utilizing CBD oil alongside her chemotherapy was some sleepiness, but this went away as Sophie’s body acclimated to the oil.

Continuing the CBD Oil

Sophie is now five years old, and she is still being dosed with CBD oil regularly. Her tumor has not regrown, and the only continued side effect of the oil itself is hunger, which Tracy claims is a miracle and a win-win situation for Sophie. Her chemotherapy treatments, which occur weekly, can make her very sick and completely eliminate her appetite. With the use of CBD oil, Sophie still has a healthy appetite despite her treatments, which helps her maintain a healthy bodyweight, thus boosting her immune system and allowing her body to better fight the tumor in her brain.

Though there’s no denying how beneficial CBD oil can be for various medical conditions and their symptoms, there has been very little research on the benefits of CBD oil for pediatric cancer. Thanks to Tracy, Josh, and little Sophie Ryan, the entire medical industry is now intrigued by the idea of using CBD oil to help shrink tumors, all the while reducing the symptoms caused by chemotherapy.

CBD Oil Removed from Doping Agency’s Prohibited List

The Doping Agency is responsible for ultimately determining which drugs and substances can get a player banned from participating in sports or other activities. Even high schools utilize the Doping Agency’s prohibited list when it comes to screening their players. Though CBD oil was on this list for many years, it was removed from the 2018 prohibited list in early December 2017.

The World Anti-Doping Agency and the Prohibited List

Each and every year, the WADA, or World Anti-Doping Agency, produces a list of substances that competitive athletes cannot use if they want to participate in their events of choice. Often, this list changes very little from year to year, if at all, but the 2018 Prohibited List contained one major change – it no longer bans CBD oil, meaning competitive athletes are free to use it to treat their anxiety, depression, pain, and other conditions. Alongside CBD oil, WADA also removed glycerol oil from the list.

How WADA Determines Which Substances to Ban

Though many substances that take up permanent residency on the WADA ban list are there for obvious reasons – including things like illicit addictive drugs and anabolic steroids, others may seem a little odd to those who are unfamiliar with the Doping Agency works. This group not only bans addictive and often illegal substances found on the FDA’s controlled substances list, but it also bans certain things that may give one athlete an unfair advantage over another. This means substances that significantly reduce pain or alter an athlete’s ability in some way are typically not allowed.

Glycerol Oil’s Benefits to Athletes

The WADA banned glycerol oil and added it to the Prohibited List for a few unique reasons. For example, athletes who use it have been found to be more hydrated than those who do not, and this leads to a boost in endurance and performance. For many years, it was believed that glycerol oil gave athletes an unfair advantage, but because it is a natural product, this is simply not the case. Glycerol oil was removed from the Prohibited List for 2018 for this very reason.

CBD Oil’s Benefits to Athletes

Though many athletes use CBD oil, very few use it to acutely improve their athletic performance. CBD oil is usually derived from hemp plants rather than cannabis itself, and athletes typically use it to combat post-event inflammation and muscle fatigue. It has been shown to reduce inflammation significantly, which boosts recovery post-game or post-event.

Though WADA once believed that the use of CBD oil gave athletes an unfair advantage and it was once lumped in with the use of marijuana, which remains on the Prohibited List, recent studies have shown that athletes who use CBD oil receive the same level of benefit as those who take pharmaceutical-grade anti-inflammatory drugs. The difference is that CBD oil does not produce the same side effects and it does not present the same risks.

With the removal of CBD oil from WADA’s Prohibited List, all athletes have access to a product that can help to reduce their inflammation, alleviate pain caused by inflammation, and improve their overall recovery. This is great news for those who currently use pharmaceutical anti-inflammatory drugs, but who would prefer a more natural product with fewer side effects.

5 Reasons Why CBD Oil is in Such High Demand

According to a 2016 market estimate published by Vote Hemp and the Hemp Business Journal, the hemp CBD oil market was worth an estimated $130 million in that year – and it continues to grow. Why is CBD oil in such high demand? Here are five very important reasons to consider.

#1 – Declines in Negative Social Stigma

Since the marijuana industry started growing tremendously just a few short years ago, marijuana has been legalized in numerous states for medical and/or recreational use. At the time of writing, nine states along with the District of Columbia allow for legal recreational use, and almost every state allows for at least limited use of medical cannabis. This alone has helped to decrease the negative social stigma surrounding marijuana and its non-psychoactive cousin, hemp.

#2 – CBD Oil is Safe and Just as Effective as Some Pharmaceuticals  

Numerous studies have shown that marijuana, which certainly is psychoactive to varying degrees, offers numerous medical benefits. What’s more, these same studies have proven that marijuana has far fewer negative side effects than most pharmaceutical medications, particularly when it comes to the treatment of seizures. CBD oil is even safer than marijuana; because it contains virtually no THC, it is non-psychoactive. This means that it offers many of the same benefits of marijuana, but because it cannot get users high, it is safer for them to consume.

#3 – CBD Is Affordable Compared to Prescription Drugs

Patients who have no health insurance or limited health insurance coverage often find pharmaceutical treatments for everything from glaucoma to epilepsy incredibly expensive. Some patients are used to forking over $1000 or more each month just to pay for prescriptions that ease their symptoms and provoke a plethora of unwanted side effects. When compared to pharmaceutical options, CBD oil is much more affordable, and in many cases, it is just as effective when it comes to providing relief – if not more so. Some patients find that CBD oil provides better relief from seizures and nausea than any pharmaceutical drug they have tried.

#4 – Hemp is Natural & Sustainable

CBD oil comes from the hemp plant, which has been cultivated for food, paper, clothing, and more around the world for thousands of years. It is related to the marijuana plant, but it does not have the THC content that sets cannabis apart from hemp. CBD oil is a 100% natural extraction, and it comes from a crop that is considered sustainable. This means that almost every part of the hemp plant can be used in some manner, it grows quickly, and it does not damage fertile farmlands.

#5 – Legality

Finally, the legality of CBD oil is arguably the biggest driver of demand. Though medical marijuana is legal in some way in most states throughout the country, many people still have a hard time getting it or paying for it. What’s more, those who do have access to affordable medical marijuana often use it more sparingly than they should due to the psychoactive effects. This is especially true for individuals who take care of children, work outside the home, or drive frequently. CBD oil provides relief from numerous symptoms, but it does so without causing drowsiness or a “high”, which means it is legal in all 50 states.

The demand for CBD oil continues to grow, and people across the country continue to purchase it to relieve a variety of medical symptoms or even help with depression and anxiety. All five reasons listed above continue to drive its popularity, and the industry is expected to continue growing as more people discover the benefits of CBD oil.

Different Ways to Get Your Daily Dose of CBD

You’ve heard a lot about CBD oil in the last few years, and there’s a good chance you might already be using it to treat your pain, your anxiety, or even your insomnia. However, no matter what kind of CBD product you’re using, there are several others out there that can make getting your daily dose tastier and more fun. Here are some of the best options for taking CBD.

Tinctures

According to those who produce them, CBD tinctures are sold more than any other CBD form. They are quite pure, and there’s no processing outside of obtaining the oil itself from the plant. To use a tincture, just place a couple drops under your tongue. Sometimes, a tincture might be flavored, and sometimes it’s flavorless. You might also choose to add your tincture to a beverage.

Capsules

Capsules are also another popular method for CBD delivery, but it’s important that you’re very careful when you make your purchase. Sometimes capsules contain a CBD tincture in a vegetable or gelatin capsule, which means it’s just a simpler way of taking your tincture. Other times, the CBD is added to a proprietary blend of herbs designed to “enhance” the effect, so be sure to read the label carefully and check for these ingredients. Some may make you feel drowsy, and still others may make it difficult to sleep.

Topicals

Topical products are those that absorb through your skin. These may include lip balms, lotions, salves, and more. These are most commonly used to treat acute pain in specific parts of the body. For example, someone who has arthritis in his or her knees may rub a CBD lotion on that area for the pain relief. Often, these topicals have other things added to them to make them more effective, and these include everything from menthol to capsaicin. Again, be sure to read the labels carefully so you understand what is included in your topical CBD product.

Sprays

CBD sprays are relatively new, and they are designed to be quite fast-acting. To use them, simply spray a fine mist into your mouth through the provided spray bottle. These are typically the weakest concentration, and it’s difficult to measure exactly how much CBD you get per spray. People often buy sprays for the convenience; they are easy to carry and simply spray. For example, if you’re in rush-hour traffic, it’s much easier to simply spray it into your mouth than fumble with a tincture or capsule.

Vapes

Finally, CBD vape products are growing in popularity thanks to their unsurpassed convenience. Though reviews have found that this type of delivery produces fewer effects than any of the others above, but on the other side of the coin, those effects take place almost immediately. When using oral or topical products, users must wait for the CBD to enter their bloodstreams, and when the CBD is vaped, absorption is immediate.

As you can see, you have many choices available to you when it comes to choosing a CBD type. Whether you want something simple to use like a spray or topical, or you enjoy the convenience and quick delivery of a CBD-laden vape, there is something out there for everyone.

The Ultimate List of CBD Benefits

If you’re still on the fence about the benefits of CBD, there are numerous studies you can read and consider. These studies have proven, time and again, that CBD is beneficial for people who have anxiety, depression, nausea, and a host of other medical conditions with treatments that have potentially devastating side effects.

Aids in Digestion

Many people around the world experience digestive issues that cannot be completely controlled with diet and exercise alone. Though there are plenty of prescriptions and OTC remedies, these are often harsh and lead to problems of their own. CBD oil not only stimulates the appetite for those who have trouble eating, but it also eases the effects of nausea and vomiting naturally, which is especially useful for patients who are going through chemotherapy and other similar treatments.

Relieves Pain for Many Users

In the human body, the CB1 receptors (cannabinoid receptors) have been shown to create the sensation of pain in many people. By filling those receptors with CBD oil, pain signals are reduced, thus easing pain for patients with acute and chronic conditions that may cause pain. What’s more, because it is a natural anti-inflammatory, it may also help stop pain at the source.

Provides Relief from Anxiety Symptoms

Millions of people around the world deal with anxiety that ranges from mild to crippling. CBD has been proven effective for treating many types of anxiety, but this is especially true for SAD, or generalized social anxiety disorder. A 2011 study found that individuals taking CBD oil received a tremendous reduction in their anxiety when compared to those who took a placebo instead.

May Stop or Slow the Spread of Cancer

Numerous studies on the effects of CBD on cancer have shown profound effects, and even the National Cancer Institute links directly to those studies. Some of these claim that CBD oil may protect against the development of certain types of tumors and cancers in the first place, and others show that patients who have already received cancer diagnoses may be able to slow the growth of their tumors by using CBD oil. One particular study conducted by the California Pacific Medical Center found that CBD may actually deactivate the gene that is responsible for the spread of breast cancer, which means that CBD may stop some types of cancer from metastasizing.

Has Antipsychotic Properties

Last, but most certainly not least, CBD oil may potentially provide better antipsychotic properties than many of the prescription medications that claim to do the same, but create unwanted side effects. A study out of the University of Cologne found that CBD reduces some of the symptoms associated with schizophrenia, which affects just over 1% of the population. Current pharmaceutical options often cannot provide the same reduction, and they create a host of unwanted side effects, such as marked drowsiness and memory lapses.

As you can see, the benefits of CBD in the medical world are many. It seems that with each passing day, science and medicine discovers yet another wonderful use for an all-natural substance that once grew wild all across the earth. Even if you don’t have medical conditions of concern, CBD has also been shown to improve your overall sense of wellbeing, so it’s certainly worth a try.