​If you have started using CBD products, you might be wondering if it is possible to take too much CBD.  Most CBD products come with recommended dosage guidelines, but if you take more is that dangerous?  The safety and efficacy of CBD have been well-established through numerous studies. While it is nearly impossible to take enough CBD to be toxic, you can take too much.

For humans, it would be very difficult to ingest enough CBD to actually “overdose” on CBD.  A 2011 study by the Current Drug Safety, found that a human would need to ingest 20,000 mg of CBD in order for it to become toxic.  An entire bottle of Blue Lake CBD Tincture contains 1,000 mg of CBD, which means you would have to ingest 20 bottles of CBD (at one time)  to consume a toxic dose.  Even when people use high doses of CBD regularly, approximately 1,500 mg a day, it is still well tolerated by humans.

​If you are giving CBD to your pet, you may need to use more caution.  When purchasing CBD for your pet, you should only buy CBD designed for pets, as some of the ingredients in CBD products for humans are not good for pets. Additionally, pets are more sensitive to CBD and THC. Many experts recommend that pets not consume CBD products that contain THC.  

CBD is safe for pets to take, but you should always start with small doses. Too much CBD can cause your animal to have an upset stomach, dry mouth, or drowsiness. Much like humans though, it would take a large amount of CBD to cause toxic effects.  According to one study, in order for a 40 lb dog to consume enough CBD to be toxic, they would need to ingest 4,600 mg of CBD in one dose.

​You should always follow the recommended dosage guidelines listed on the label of your CBD product when you start using CBD.  However, how much to take to achieve therapeutic results can greatly vary. It may take some experimenting to find the right dose. To get the best results, without taking more CBD than you actually need, increase your dosage gradually.  As stated earlier, even high doses of 1,500 mg of CBD a day are generally well-tolerated.  

It is possible to take too much CBD, but generally, it’s not enough to cause side effects. Keep in mind that taking more CBD does not always result in more benefits. If you are not achieving the benefits you had hoped for, consider switching to a full-spectrum CBD product.  Full-spectrum CBD products use the entire cannabis plant. This means they contain a trace amount of THC.  This amount is less than .03% and does not cause you to feel “high”.  Because they use the entire plant, many find they provide better results.  This may be a better option than increasing your dosage.

​If you take a very high dose of CBD oil, you may notice side effects that include nausea, diarrhea, drowsiness, or an upset stomach.  For most people, this does not happen from the typical, regular use of CBD.

​CBD can be used daily for a variety of health issues. While we can’t claim that CBD is an effective treatment for medical conditions, numerous research studies support its potential health benefits for a myriad of health conditions.

When you start taking CBD always start with the smallest recommended dose. There are no established standard dosage guidelines for how much CBD to use. Generally, most people start with 20-40 mg of CBD oil once a day.  This can be gradually increased by adding a second dose later in the day or increasing the dose by 5-10 mg per day.  Before you just start taking more and more CBD, give each dosage increase about a week to see if there are improvements before you make an increase.  

There are a lot of variables when it comes to determining the right dose for each individual. How much do you weigh? What are you using CBD for? What type of CBD product are you using?  Every person has their own unique body chemistry. Some may notice a difference from a small dose of CBD, while others may need more.

Americans are using CBD now more than ever.  According to Consumer Reports, over a quarter of U.S. adults have tried CBD.  As more research comes out on the potential benefits and uses of CBD, the market for CBD products has exploded. The science of how CBD works is still being discovered. Numerous studies support its potential therapeutic uses for all kinds of health conditions like migraines, insomnia, and arthritis. One use of CBD products that you may not have heard of is CBD for oral health.

Oral health is an often overlooked area of our health, but dental health plays an integral role in your overall health.  Poor dental health has been associated with other serious health issues like heart disease and Alzheimer’s.  Taking better care of your teeth, preventing tooth decay, gum disease, and bone loss has been shown to lead to better all-around health. Aside from that, who doesn’t want a healthy smile?

You might be surprised to learn that CBD has been shown to have a number of oral health benefits.  The hemp-derived compound has been shown to have antibacterial, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties.  With all these beneficial properties, it may also help improve your oral health. Read on to find out why.

In a 2020 study in the Cureus Journal of Medical Science, researchers compared the use of cannabinoids to reduce the bacterial content of dental plaques with oral care products like Oral B and Colgate toothpaste.  The researchers reviewed the periodontal health of 60 adults.  Then collected samples from dental plaques of each of the adults. They placed the samples in two separate Petri dishes, one with CBD (cannabidiol), CBC (cannabichromene), CBN (cannabinol), and CBG (cannabigerol). The other with Oral B, Colgate, and Cannabite F (a toothpaste made from pomegranate and algae). They sealed the Petri dishes and allowed the bacteria colonies to incubate for 24 hours.  The Petri dish that contained cannabinoids had significantly less bacterial growth than the ones containing oral care products.

While this study was performed in vitro, the findings are promising. As we study CBD more, we may find new potential uses including using CBD to reduce the bacteria that cause plaque formation.

​Although we don’t have enough research to say that CBD can prevent tooth decay, several studies support the idea that CBD could be beneficial in strengthening your teeth and reducing the amount of dental decay. Here’s why. Did you know that your mouth contains 200-300 types of bacteria? Bacteria called Streptococcus mutans are the main cause of tooth decay. Exciting new research suggests that CBD may reduce the amount of bacterial growth in your mouth.  This bacteria is the main source of dental decay (see study mentioned previously).

In addition to this, there is strong evidence that CBD supports bone health and healing. A 2019 study on cannabinoids and bone regulation states that the “Cannabinoid system has been shown to have positive effects on bone metabolism.” While most of the research on cannabinoids has been conducted in animals, the research suggests that CBD can improve bone health.  

Why is this important? While teeth are not bones, bone health directly contributes to dental health.  As we age, our bone density decreases.  When your jaw bone becomes weaker, it can make your teeth more susceptible to bacteria.  A healthy jaw bone also keeps your teeth from becoming loose or falling out. 

​Periodontal disease (or gum disease) is caused by an infection in the soft and hard tissues in your mouth.  When your gums become inflamed and infected, it can cause swelling, bleeding, and tooth loss. Gum disease is generally caused by poor brushing and flossing habits, but it can lead to tooth decay and tooth loss.  CBD may help with gum disease because of its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. 

  Tooth Sensitivity

There isn’t a lot of information on CBD for tooth sensitivity and pain; however, because of its analgesic properties, it may reduce tooth sensitivity.

Dental procedure anxiety
For some patients, CBD may help with anxiety during dental procedures. 
There is still a lot to learn about CBD, but numerous preclinical studies have shown that CBD has potential anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) effects.  In a 2020 study on Cannabidiol prescription in clinical practice, the authors reported positive findings, and suggest that CBD may be beneficial in treating anxiety and pain.

All of these potential dental health benefits, make CBD a promising alternative for improving your oral health. Could CBD toothpaste and mouthwash make your smile better?

​If you are into sports, athletics, or fitness, you may be curious if CBD can help with athletic performance or recovery.  With the exploding market of CBD products, everyone from millennials, to senior citizens to pet owners, are trying CBD.  The market has grown tremendously because of new research on its potential health benefits for all kinds of things.  As many people want to use more natural products, it’s no surprise that athletes have taken an interest in CBD as well.

​CBD is now available in all fifty states.  Fitness enthusiasts, bodybuilders, and professional athletes are adding CBD to their workout regimen to see if it will help them with performance and the aches and pains that come from training.

Athletes push their bodies harder than the typical person. Because of the high demands athletes put on their bodies, they may have more issues with pain and inflammation.  You may have heard the expression, “no pain, no gain.” Athletes feel this more than ever.

​Cyclist Floyd Landis knows this all too well.  After winning the Tour De France in 2006, he was disqualified because of his use of performance-enhancing drugs. The athlete, and founder of Floyd’s Fine Cannabis, discussed the issue of pain, opiate use, and CBD with the Washington Post.

“Oftentimes, what limits athletes’ progression in sports is pain,” he said. As an athlete, he was never introduced to CBD, but he was exposed to opiates.  Now he uses CBD daily to treat his pain and says that CBD helped him to wean off of opiates.

​If you run, lift weights, or play sports, you may take supplements already to enhance your performance or to speed up muscle growth.  Supplements like fish oil, protein powders, BCAAs are often used to aid in muscle repair and recovery after workouts.  

We are seeing breakthroughs in CBD research every day, but we don’t have data to sufficiently say if CBD will help you recover faster from a workout. What we do know is that CBD has anti-inflammatory properties, and inflammation is part of the muscle recovery process.

When you work out, it causes microscopic damage to your muscle fibers. Your muscles grow when the fibers recover and repair. Inflammation is what makes this happen. When your body is damaged, the inflammatory response increases blood circulation to the damaged areas in an effort to repair the damaged fibers.  This can cause swelling, pain, and muscle soreness.

CBD is a natural anti-inflammatory and works with your body’s endocannabinoid system to reduce inflammation, and subsequently pain.  Because of CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties, sports medicine doctors speculate that it could be beneficial in promoting recovery and healing in damaged muscles. While we don’t have enough evidence to say this conclusively, a study published in the Journal of Sports Medicine, suggests that CBD has numerous potential benefits for athletes including, “psychological, biological, physiological effects.”

Another way that CBD may help athletes is by helping them sleep. Researchers, including the American Sleep Association, have begun to research the benefits of CBD for sleep, and their research suggests that it may improve sleep.  

When you think of sports, sleep is probably not the first thing to come to mind, but sleep is critical to muscle recovery.  The endocannabinoid system is believed to help regulate sleep, mood, and appetite. While sleep may not be the primary reason athletes are interested in CBD, sleep, quality sleep is more important for athletes. Sleep is when the body repairs itself and muscle growth happens.

If you are scheduled to get your Covid vaccine, you might be thinking about taking, or increasing the amount of CBD you take before you get the vaccination. Covid vaccine side effects include fatigue, muscle pain, headaches, and nausea. It makes sense that taking something for pain relief before you get your jab might spare you from experiencing some of these side effects. But, is it a good idea to take CBD when you get the Covid vaccine?

The fact is, we do not have enough research to adequately answer this.  Dr Thomas Rocco, Medical Director of a Medical Marijuana Evaluation Center in Warwick, RI, suggests that CBD has the potential to decrease post Covid vaccine side effects.  However, whether you should or shouldn't take CBD when you get vaccinated is up for debate. 

The purpose of the vaccine is to solicit an immune response to Covid. Inflammation is a vital part of the immune systems response to fighting off pathogens, including the Covid virus. When the body is introduced to a pathogen or injury, it triggers the release of a cascade of signals in order to increase circulation in the area that is damaged.  These chemical signals produce cytokines that cause an inflammatory response in the body. 

With all the benefits of cannabis, research suggests that cannabis can suppress your immune system.  In a Letter to the Editor published in the peer-reviewed journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, the authors discuss the possible drug interactions between cannabis and drugs used to treat Covid.   The journal states that it is important to monitor how the body responds to the immunosuppressive effects associated with CBD, as it may interfere with some Covid drug treatments by reducing the levels intended cytokine targets.

The CDC is recommending that you not take over-the-counter medicine like ibuprofen, aspirin or tylenol before receiving your vaccine.  If you are thinking about using CBD or an anti-inflammatory drug to ward off the side effects from getting the vaccine, the CDC recommends holding off on taking them until after you’ve received the vaccine.

The Covid mRNA vaccines work by introducing genetic materials into your cells that teach them how to make a non-infectious part of the virus. This protein triggers an immune response in the form of controlled inflammation. This immune response causes your body to produce antibodies so that you are protected if you get infected with the Covid virus.

​Because CBD has immunosuppressive properties and is an anti-inflammatory, it may reduce the vaccine’s intended immune response. While nobody wants to have pain, the inflammatory response to the vaccine is part of how it works.  If you are considering taking cbd to treat vaccine side-effects, consider waiting until after your body responds with inflammation to take it, per the CDC recommendations.

CBD, and other anti-inflammatory drugs can be taken after receiving the vaccine. The CDC says, “You can take these medications to relieve post-vaccination side effects if you have no other medical reasons that prevent you from taking these medications normally.”  They do not recommend taking these medications to prevent side effects, either before or after the vaccination. They should be used if necessary, to relieve pain or discomfort after getting vaccinated.

Before you get the Covid vaccine, you should be aware you may have side effects.  These side effects include:

• pain, redness, and swelling at the injection site
• fatigue
• muscle pain
• headache
• nausea 
• fever
• chills
  

For most people the side effects are mild but they may affect your daily life. Most people feel better within a couple days of receiving their vaccine. ​

CBD is a safe, natural, and well-tolerated compound that has been demonstrated to be safe in numerous studies.  While we can’t claim that CBD is an effective treatment for Covid vaccine side effects, research suggests that CBD may alleviate pain from inflammation.  We don’t have enough research in humans, but in the majority of animal studies, CBD has been shown to provide analgesic effects.

Whether or not you have been using CBD for a while, or are a beginner, you can start or resume taking CBD once you have had your vaccine. The CDC does not give clear guidelines on when it is safe to start taking anti-inflammatory medications, but suggest waiting until you have side effects. This will give your body the time to produce the intended inflammatory response to the vaccine.

Have you considered using CBD for better sleep or insomnia?  W.C. Fields joked, “The best cure for insomnia is to get a lot of sleep.” If only it were that easy. Sleep disorders affect approximately 50 to 70 million U.S. adults, according to the American Sleep Association, with insomnia most commonly reported.  

Lack of sleep, due to both acute and chronic insomnia, can have an adverse effect on a person’s health, performance, and environment. The causes of insomnia can vary from underlying medical conditions to lifestyle factors; therefore, the treatments for insomnia can also be diverse. CBD may help play a role in regulating certain body functions including those related to mood and sleep.  

​CBD, short for cannabidiol, is a chemical compound of the hemp plant, cousin to the marijuana plant. Unlike the component (THC) that produces a “high”, CBD exhibits no known health related problems. It is commonly used to address anxiety and as an option for treating various forms of chronic pain.  

Symptoms such as anxiety and pain can often disturb a restful night of sleep. CBD can decrease these symptoms, potentially improving and regulating a person’s sleep/wake cycle. 

​Our bodies biologically make molecules called endocannabinoids, which are similar to cannabinoids, except they are produced by our bodies. In a nutshell, they are neurotransmitters that bind receptors and proteins throughout our central nervous system and other organs. Activating our endocannabinoid system in natural ways include Omega-3 fatty acids, exercise, reducing stress and CBD. Using CBD as a supplement to balance your body’s natural endocannabinoid system can have a positive impact on appetite, nerves and regulating healthy sleep patterns.  

One recent study published in the Journal Medicines, collecting data over a two-year period involving 409 people with insomnia, found decreased symptoms following treatment with the cannabis flower. Another study, published in the Permanente Journal, examined 72 adults with anxiety and poor sleep. Anxiety and sleep scores dramatically improved in just one month of using CBD in capsule form. Several smaller studies, according to the American Sleep Association, have also supported the use of CBD oil to improve sleep.  

​Another avenue that CBD can possibly help people with sleep issues could be that it can reduce higher cortisol levels. According to Medical News Today, people with insomnia may have higher levels of cortisol at night which can fuel insomnia and also increase the number of nighttime awakenings. Essentially, CBD may affect the release of cortisol, acting as a possible sedative. This coincides with anecdotal evidence of people expressing that CBD has a calming effect on their mood.  

There are so many reasons why CBD is good for dogs.  Do you have a dog that is terrified of fireworks? What about seizures or chronic illness?  

With the changes in laws regarding CBD, there is growing public interest in the variety of CBD products.. People want to use it to treat everything from anxiety and epilepsy to fibromyalgia and insomnia. But, can it be used for animals? 

CBD is a chemical compound from the Hemp plant.  CBD does not contain THC, which is the component of marijuana that produces a “high”. THC is also a component that veterinarians and experts do not recommend for dogs. CBD oil is said to have a positive impact on neuropathic pain, as well as offer anxiety relief, cardiac benefits, and have anti-inflammatory uses. As humans collect and share evidence of the helpful and medicinal uses of CBD, the natural leading question expands to, is CBD safe or helpful to use for pets?  

In its pure state, CBD appears to be safe and well-tolerated by animals, according to a World Health Organization report conducted in 2017. While the science is promising, there is still not enough evidence on the scientific front to verify the range of possible benefits of administering CBD to animals. However, this is quickly changing.

A study to evaluate the use of CBD in treatment-resistant epileptic dogs is being conducted through the Colorado State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. The research program started in December 2017 and is granted to run through May 2021. According to the Canine Health Foundation, the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover clinical trial will be used to “determine the efficacy of CBD in the treatment of canine epilepsy”. The goal of the study is to discover scientific data on the use, benefits or risks of using CBD oil in animals for the treatment of canine epilepsy..

Other studies are also being conducted, including two studies in 2020 testing CBD for osteoarthritis-related pain in dogs and one to look at anxiety in dogs related to loud noises

Everyone knows how stressful lightning or fireworks can be for dogs. Researchers are hard at work to observe whether CBD can help alleviate these fears in canines. According to an article published in the Frontiers in Veterinary Science Journal, “noise aversion or reactivity is one of the most common fearful behaviors in dogs, with 40 to 50% of dogs demonstrating at least one fearful behavior in response to noise exposure.” Evidence suggests that CBD is a safe and natural aide to this wide-spread problem for our four-legged companions?  

​CBD pet care products are available in a variety of forms. Edibles, such as a chewable treats or capsule, an oil to be placed directly in your dogs mouth or added to their food, as well as some creams to be applied to the dog topically.  

It is important to pay attention to the type of CBD product you are shopping for. When buying cbd products for your pet, you should be purchasing CBD designed for pets, not humans.  Many of the cbd products created for humans contain sugar, and other ingredients that aren’t good for pets. Aside from that, pet CBD products come in flavors your dog will like.

The debate is out over whether or not dogs should consume CBD with THC in it. Some experts recommend that pets avoid products that contain any amount of THC.  This is because dogs are much more sensitive to THC and metabolize it much slower than humans. Full-spectrum CBD products contain very trace amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and are considered safe for pets. However, if you are going to be administering CBD to your dog routinely, you may want to go with a broad spectrum CBD product.

CBD products labeled as isolate or broad-spectrum are the most recommended products for dogs to use.  Always start with a low dose.  See how your dog tolerates it, and whether or not symptoms improve.  Be aware that dogs, just like humans, may respond differently to CBD.  CBD in larger doses can cause upset stomach, dry mouth, and drowsiness.  Monitor your dog’s behavior and increase their dosage gradually if necessary.

If you’re just taking an interest in CBD, you might want some information on CBD for beginners. As more research is being done on cbd and it’s potential to treat various conditions, more people are becoming interested in trying it. But, figuring out where to start, what kind of cbd to take and how much to take can be confusing. There are so many cbd products on the market, how do you know which one you should try or how to use it? We've put together some answers to the most frequently asked questions beginners have.

When people first started hearing about CBD, it was hard to find cbd products. Now you can purchase CBD online, and there are hundreds of CBD products available. All kinds of people are using cbd for everything from managing pain or treating the symptoms of arthritis, anxiety, and even dementia.

CBD (or cannabidiol) is a non-psychoactive component found in the sativa cannabis plant. It is extracted from the hemp plant, which is a relative of the marijuana plant. CBD products are not made from marijuana and are not made from the THC component of marijuana.  As researchers learn more about CBD, they are discovering more potential uses for CBD.  According to the WHO, CBD has been shown to be an effective treatment of epilepsy and there is evidence that it may be a useful treatment for various other medical conditions.

​CBD works with a natural biological system that’s inside your body called the endocannabinoid system. Researchers have only recently discovered the endocannabinoid system and are still learning more about how it works. CBD attaches itself to receptors in the endocannabinoid system that are responsible for transmitting neurological signals in the brain. 

The endocannabinoid system plays a role in how your body regulates appetite, sleep and mood. It also affects the body’s hormone regulation and immune response.  Researchers believe that CBD may help with various health conditions because of how it attaches to receptors in the endocannabinoid system which are responsible for many biological functions within the body.

​There are several types and forms of CBD. Some products are full-spectrum, meaning they contain all the naturally occurring components in the hemp plant and some are broad spectrum.  Full-spectrum cbd does not strip away the THC that is in hemp, and contains a trace amount of THC (less than 0.3%).  This will not cause the user to experience any psychoactive effects.  Broad spectrum CBD contains the CBD cannabinoids but removes all of the THC.

Oils and tinctures

CBD oils and tinctures are essentially the same thing. They are CBD in oil form.  You place a dropper of the oil under your tongue and it is absorbed sublingually into your bloodstream. 

Capsules or pills

You can also purchase CBD in capsule form. Some people prefer CBD capsules because they are easy to take and you don’t have to taste the oil underneath your tongue.  However, because capsules need to go through your digestive system first, they may take a little longer to get absorbed into your system.

Edibles

Edibles are one of the easiest ways to take CBD, and many CBD users favorite way to consume CBD. You can purchase CBD gummies, coffee, or even CBD popcorn. People love edibles because they are convenient, taste great, and you don’t have to swallow pills or taste any oils.
 
Vapes

CBD vapes are also popular. Not everyone wants to inhale cbd into their lungs, but it is the fastest way to absorb CBD into your system. When you vape, CBD is absorbed directly into your lungs and bloodstream.  

Creams and lotions

CBD creams and lotions are topical forms of CBD.  Massaging cbd cream into your skin may help alleviate muscle aches or pains. However, it is absorbed through the skin, so you might want to use creams and lotions in conjunction with an oil or capsule.

CBD isolate

CBD isolate is the purest form of CBD. The CBD is extracted (or isolated) from the cannabis plant, removing all the other components so that CBD is the only component in the isolate. It can be mixed with liquids, added to soaps, lotions or other products. 

First and foremost, if you have a health condition you should consult your doctor before you use CBD.  Although CBD is a totally natural product it can have cross-drug reactions that you may not be aware of. 

Decide on which form of CBD would be easiest for you to fit into your routine. If you want a fast acting CBD, an oil, concentrate or vape might be the best option. If you just want to supplement with CBD on occasion, you might want to start with CBD gummies.  If you are uncertain of which would be best to start with, give CBD Store of MI a call for a free consultation.

​Most cbd oils come with dosing instructions.  Always start with the lowest recommended dosage. Some people will see improvement in symptoms right away. If you don’t see improvement, you should increase your dosage gradually. Everyone has different pain thresholds and body chemistry.   Figuring out the best dosage may take some experimenting.

When you think about CBD oil, and who uses it, you may not think about seniors. With all the gummies, edibles, vapes, and flavored CBD oils out there, CBD seems like a product for young folks.  However, CBD is growing in popularity among seniors, and the reasons for this are not surprising. 

While millennials may be one of the biggest consumers of cannabis products, they use them for completely different reasons than seniors.  Baby boomers are the fastest-growing segment of CBD consumers, surpassing Millenials in their use of CBD products.

​Seniors have more health conditions like arthritis, dementia, Alzheimer’s, and heart disease.  Cannabis is a completely natural plant. The more it is researched, the more seniors are discovering how much potential CBD has to improve their health and wellness.

In 2020, there was a record number of research studies published on cannabis.  Over 23,000 peer-reviewed articles have been published on cannabis, and more research is coming out every month.  While we don’t yet fully understand how CBD works, the research on its therapeutic uses and benefits is promising. People over fifty are most affected by chronic illnesses and health conditions, so it’s not surprising that they are interested in trying it.

This took some convincing though.  After being exposed to years of misinformation about cannabis, many baby boomers were reluctant at first.  Up until recently, most older people only knew about the psychoactive component of cannabis, THC.  Now that researchers have really started investigating the non-psychoactive properties of cannabis, CBD, people are discovering how amazing the cannabis plant really is.

Cannabis use is no longer taboo

Many seniors only knew about marijuana and knew very little about hemp. Most baby boomers grew up in a time where the only thing they were told about cannabis was that it was a gateway drug or that it was only used by people who wanted to get “stoned”.  Because of social media and more information being published about CBD, the endocannabinoid system, and CBD’s health benefits, CBD is no longer considered taboo. 

Cbd oil is made from hemp and only contains a trace amount of THC, the part of the cannabis plant that makes you feel high.  Some CBD oils don’t contain THC at all.  With study after study being published showing that CBD has numerous health benefits that people were never told about before, more seniors are curious about how CBD can help them.

The FDA changed its position on cannabis

Another reason there has been a boom in CBD use among seniors is because the FDA updated its position on cannabis.  In 2018, a lot of big changes happened that made seniors more comfortable with CBD.  The FDA recognized that there were potential therapeutic uses for cannabis-derived compounds and many of the restrictions preventing consumers from purchasing CBD products were removed.  

Even though hemp contains only a trace amount of THC, up until 2018, it couldn’t be grown in the US due to the Controlled Substance Act.  With the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp was removed from the CSA, making it legal to grow cannabis plants that contain less than 0.3 percent THC.  With hemp no longer classified as a Schedule 1 drug, farmers were able to grow more strains of hemp to keep up with the demand for new CBD products.

The FDA’s removal of restrictions and change in position may have opened the minds of seniors who were previously concerned about using CBD.

More seniors are trying CBD now and recommending it to friends.  According to a survey by Remedy Health, 51 percent of seniors who have tried CBD said that it improved their quality of life and 89 percent said they would recommend it to a friend.  

​CBD oil is completely natural and seniors have discovered that it is useful in managing health conditions they deal with regularly.

Probably the biggest reason seniors use CBD is to manage pain from arthritis or other chronic conditions.  CBD may help reduce inflammation and the pain associated with arthritis. While we presently only have animal studies to support this, the Arthritis Foundation, suggests that some people who have tried it have noticed an improvement in pain. They recommend consulting your doctor before using CBD and provide some guidelines for using it on their website.

While we do not have scientific data to prove that CBD oil prevents or reverses the symptoms of Alzheimer’s or Dementia, there have been a few small-scale studies that support the use of CBD oil as a promising treatment option. 

One study found that the use of MCO, or medical cannabis oil, significantly improved the CGI score of the study’s participants.  While it may not be a cure, the study found it to be a safe option for treating patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia and that it may reduce symptoms such as agitation and aggression.

CBD may improve bone density and bone health in seniors. The central nervous system controls the neurotransmitters involved in the regulation of bone metabolism.  A number of neurotransmitters influence bone cell activity and bone health.  

New research has shown that endocannabinoid receptors in the endocannabinoid system play a role in bone metabolism.  A study in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research found that CBD oil significantly improved the healing process of bone fractures in rats.  Most of the research on bone health has been conducted on animals. However, the research suggests that CBD may assist in bone healing and bone health.  

Researchers now know that the endocannabinoid system helps to regulate our mood, appetite, and sleep. Loss of appetite is a concern for older people. Not eating can cause weight loss, muscle weakness, and loss of energy.  CBD may improve sleep, appetite, and energy levels in seniors.  

According to the American Sleep Association, using CBD oil may improve sleep.  This is good news for seniors, as getting quality sleep is an important aspect of good health.  Sleep becomes even more important as we age. We need sleep to feel restored and for our body to heal and repair itself. 

Depression and anxiety are unfortunately very common in seniors. Older people often have very different symptoms than younger people.  Family and friends might not recognize these symptoms as depression.  Instead of appearing sad, they may sleep more or feel tired all the time or act irritable and grouchy.  If they have medical conditions, it’s not uncommon for these conditions to make them feel more depressed.  

CBD may relieve some of the symptoms of anxiety and depression without the side effects that occur with pharmaceutical antidepressants. In addition, it may work faster than typical anti-depressants.  Research suggests that, unlike anti-depressants that take weeks to start providing noticeable relief, CBD oil may provide an immediate improvement in depression symptoms, even after just one dose.

If you are one of the millions of people in the U.S. that suffer from migraines, you may be interested in what the research says on CBD oil for migraines.  Migraines affect over 38 million people in the U.S.  They are not just a headache.  Researchers once thought that migraines were primarily caused by the dilation and constriction of blood vessels in the head, but newer research suggests that migraines are a neurological disorder caused by abnormalities in the brain.   Migraine sufferers brains do not process pain the same way others do when responding to inflammatory agents.  Migraines can be triggered by hormones or environmental triggers that cause inflammation around the trigeminal nerve.  Researchers believe that because of abnormalities in a migraine sufferer’s brain, their threshold for pain signaling drops when they respond to inflammatory agents.

One of the reasons CBD may help to relieve migraine pain is because of the way it works with the endocannabinoid system in the brain.  The endocannabinoid system is an important biological system involved in the regulation of neurotransmission.  CBD attaches to receptors in the endocannabinoid system, a regulatory system found in the brain body, and connective tissues. Because the endocannabinoid system has only recently gained attention there have not been a lot of scientific studies on how it works or the potential it has to relieve pain.  

Endocannaboids and phytocannabinoids (cannabinoids that come from the cannabis plant) directly and indirectly influence a variety of systems within the body.  Activation of the endocannabinoid system has shown benefits for numerous diseases and conditions including pain, nausea, inflammation, anxiety and depression.  There are no clinical studies on the effectiveness of CBD oil for treating migraine, but based on a cross-sectional survey of cannabidiol users, it is believed that cbd may have a broad therapeutic value for treating pain and other conditions.  

CBD is a naturally occurring compound found in the sativa cannabis plant.  One of the reasons people like CBD for migraine is because it is a natural remedy.  CBD oil from hemp is legal in all 50 states and doesn’t require a prescription from a doctor.  Unlike opiates that have the potential for abuse, addiction, and have potential side effects and drug interactions, CBD has a very good safety profile and doesn’t have psychoactive effects.  

Most people use CBD oil regularly as a prophylactic treatment for migraine.  Some find significant relief with just cbd alone, while others use cbd along with other pain relievers.  There are no scientific studies that provide dosage recommendations.   However, it’s a good idea to start with the smallest recommended dose and see if it helps.  If you need to increase the dosage, do it gradually and monitor your symptoms to see if you notice an improvement.. Every person has a different pain threshold, so it may take a little time to figure out the best dosage for you. 

Another important thing to consider is the type and quality of cbd you are using. While cbd is available in stores in many states, cbd products are not regulated by the FDA.  Some products contain very little CBD.  Before you purchase any cbd products online or in a store, make sure they have third party lab results to confirm the quality and amount of CBD you are getting.  

If you are interested in trying CBD oil for your migraines give us a call for a personal consultation.