Tag: CBD

CBD Oil Benefits for Skin: What the Beauty Industry Says about It

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This article first appeared on SundayScaries.

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Sometimes it can be hard to keep up with cosmetic and skincare trends. Is activated charcoal truly the miracle solution it’s marketed as? Will coconut oil change your life? Is a product with seaweed truly worth paying an extra ten bucks for?

If you have been swayed into buying a pricey cosmetic solution that did not deliver the promised results, you may be hesitant to jump onto any more skincare bandwagons.

However, what if there were products on the market backed by actual scientific research?

See, it can be challenging to get an in-depth perspective on how effective your everyday skincare products are. Ultimately, there is minimal demand for scientific research into how soft cocoa butter can make your skin or which natural extracts can reduce the look of scars and stretch marks.

However, there is one natural product that has been getting more attention than ever from the scientific community: Cannabidiol (CBD). Though hemp oil, cannabis oil, and marijuana, all come from the cannabis plant, pure CBD and CBD products have absolutely no THC and therefore cannot make you high. Instead, CBD is often used for a wide range of medicinal and wellness purposes: blood pressure, eczema pain relief (including chronic pain), certain types of skin cancer, Dravet syndrome, Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis, post-traumatic stress disorder, and Alzheimer’s disease are just a few areas where patients benefit from CBD oil and its derivatives.

Evidence has touted it as a potential treatment for epilepsy and mental illness, but can it help you with your skin? The beauty industry seems to think so, considering CBD is quickly becoming one of the most popular ingredients in both high-end and affordable drugstore-brand products.

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CBD and Science

Before you find out what the beauty industry is saying about CBD, it’s important to understand what the scientific community is saying about it. Although it’s ultimately up to you and your doctor what you consume, and every person will respond differently to CBD, research has suggested there are three main benefits to CBD when it comes to skin care: reducing inflammation, regulating oil production, and helping with stress management.

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Inflammation

Inflammation is one of those broad terms that can impact every aspect of your health. When a clogged pore is inflamed, the end result is a nasty, noticeable zit that draws attention in any conversation.

But inflammation is also a key issue when it comes to aging. According to evidence, inflammation is a primary cause of the visible and unpleasant signs of aging, and CBD has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties.

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Oil Production

Acne occurs when our pores get clogged with an oil called sebum. On its own, sebum is a good thing—it keeps our face lubricated and our skin should have a healthy amount. However, people prone to breakouts tend to produce too much sebum, and this leaves clogged pores and unsightly blemishes.

Recent research is suggesting that CBD can actually help the glands that produce sebum to better regulate the oil that we produce, in turn helping prevent oily, acne-ridden skin.

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Stress Management

Stress is a lightning rod for acne and signs of aging. During the busiest times in our life, we tend to notice more frequent breakouts and, as time goes on, we tend to display our daily stress through wrinkles and creases in our face.

Although we have many options to handle stress (including behavioral therapy, daily exercise, and cutting out activities, obligations, and people that increase stress) not all of them are easily available. After all, we might believe that quitting our jobs and moving to a tropical island is just what we need to reduce stress, but that is not exactly possible for all of us.

Research is still underway on the full spectrum of benefits that CBD offers, but studies that have been done so far point to it as being a tool to battle stress and anxiety and promote healthy sleep, which, in turn, can leave your skin healthier than ever.

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What the Beauty Industry Thinks

The beauty industry has seemed to take the recent research into CBD in great strides, as it is becoming a mega-popular ingredient in both make-up and skin cleansing. The proof is in the pudding: both the popular drugstore brands you use every day and high-end brands used by celebrities and professional make-up artists are using CBD as a core ingredient.

Even Vogue—yes, Vogue—is touting the benefits of CBD. When the world’s most prevalent fashion and beauty magazine is taking CBD seriously, you know that there is a good reason for it.

Overall, if CBD-infused cosmetics and skincare products are something you want to try, you will not struggle to find products within your price range and your area. In coming months and years, we predict that CBD will be a leading beauty trend, and it will be hard to avoid a moisturizing face mask or daily cleanser without it in the ingredients list. However, there is an easier way.

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Making Your Own Beauty Products

If the last thing you want is to spend another $30 on a beauty product that will collect dust in your bathroom caddy, there is a solution: simply make your own products.

Creating your own beauty products from scratch might seem daunting at first but the truth is that high-quality skincare products are already using natural ingredients available at your local supermarket, and DIY recipes can be found scattered across the Internet.

In fact, some of the research cited above has suggested that the benefits of CBD were reaped both when it was applied to the skin and taken orally, meaning simply ingesting CBD every day can lead to an improvement in your skin, no other ingredients needed.

If you are unsure how to filter through the many brands offering CBD-infused products right now, consider starting with the purchase of a tincture. You can take this on your own orally and, if you do not see an improvement, start using it as a face wash or adding it to DIY recipes. At the end of the day, with or without expensive brand name products, your skin will thank you for taking action. From dealing with pain to skincare, CBD products are slowly but surely starting to lead the way.

Why Does CBD See More Usage than THC in Natural Supplements?

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This article by Madeleine Taylor was originally published on SundayScaries.

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Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are natural compounds that are found in the cannabis plant. Chemically, the configurations of both THC and CBD are the same, but both have very different effects on the human body. THC is psychoactive, meaning that it can give users a buzz or high when ingested as the composition breaks down in the human body. CBD hemp oil, on the other hand, is not a psychoactive.

Regarding marijuana or cannabis, most people’s first thought is stoners—young people who talk slowly and don’t pay attention and can’t retain any knowledge. To be fair, while some cannabis users do seek out the mind-altering effects, there are those who also use it for its medicinal properties. In recent years, studies have shown compounds within this centuries-old cultivated plant to be beneficial. As stated previously, there are two main compounds of Cannabis sativa on which researchers are focusing most of their studies: THC and CBD.

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THC: What Is It?

THC is often billed as the “bad” compound of the two. This is, in part, due to the psychoactive impact it has on the brain. Although people say that it alters users state of mind, it does have several medicinal benefits too. According to an article from the American Cancer Association, THC can help treat nausea and vomiting (studied in relation to use in chemo patients) and nerve pain. Furthermore, it’s pain dampening properties may decrease the risk of opioid dependence.

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CBD: What Is It?

In recent years, CBD has gotten more attention than THC. Since CBD does not have a psychoactive element, it can be used to treat a wide range of symptoms while allowing the user to function normally. CBD is billed to have a number of medicinal benefits and can aid a multitude of different conditions, including anxiety, minor aches and pains, and seizures.

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Why Are More Companies Turning to CBD over THC?

In the US, marijuana and THC are clearly listed as a controlled substance under federal law. While more and more states pass their own laws allowing marijuana use on medical grounds, some states now allow recreational marijuana and THC use.

Because CBD is not named on the list of controlled substances, it is legal provided that it is derived from hemp and not marijuana. In the UK, CBD is actually legal and CBD oils and cannabis plant medicines are available across the counter and at high street stores and pharmacies. The only regulation on this is that the THC level in the product has to be below 0.2 percent, as many researchers believe that the THC content at this level does not have a psychoactive effect on the user.

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How Else Can CBD Hemp Seed Oil Help?

A common problem that nearly every teenager (and some adults) go through is acne. It is a problem that can affect people’s confidence and, in extreme cases, can affect the body’s immune system. A recent study shows that CBD helped delay activity in the sebaceous glands which, when clogged, creates acne.

Another medical benefit of CBD can be seen in cancer-related treatments, which are often grueling, painful, and often leave patients feeling stressed, aching, and in pain. CBD oil has been proven to help counteract these symptoms. And, being a natural substance, many people prefer this to chemical pain relief. CBD has also been shown to increase the expiry of tumor cells in colon cancer and leukemia.

CBD oil is relatively new and, like all new products on the market, needs to have more research into it. Likely there are more medicinal benefits to be exposed. For now, the best thing to do if you are looking into trying the various health benefits of CBD oil is going to your doctor to discuss correct dosages and ensure it will benefit you in the best possible way.

Menopause and Anxiety

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This article by Madeleine Taylor was originally published on SundayScaries.

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In addition to the physical symptoms associated with menopause, the process of your body changing can also wreak havoc on your mental and emotional health. One of the primary symptoms women report during menopause is anxiety. This is likely caused by hormonal changes in conjunction with an emotional response to aging. Regardless of what’s causing the anxiety, there’s no denying it can be burdensome.

But there’s good news: there are ways to curb menopausal anxiety. An overall healthy lifestyle can be one of the most powerful tools for relieving menopause symptoms, but that isn’t always enough. For some women, additional treatment is needed to combat the symptoms of menopause, especially anxiety.

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Menopause (Alternate Title: “That Shit is Rough”)

Menopause might seem like a simple transition—though some women might welcome the relief of not having to worry about pregnancy, cramps, pain, bleeding, mood swings, etc.—but it can be extremely difficult for some women.

The negative aspects of menopause can be debilitating. Women experience hot flashes, night sweats, sleep problems, fatigue, mood swings, depression, and anxiety. These symptoms can last for months or years, including before, during, and after menopause.

In many cases, when women struggle with menopause symptoms that are severe, a doctor will recommend medication or hormone treatment. For instance, if a woman is feeling depressed during menopause, her doctor might recommend an antidepressant. If she’s unable to sleep, she might be prescribed a sleep aid. Since many symptoms of menopause are caused by fluctuations in hormone levels, doctors might recommend hormone treatments. Although there are safe and effective hormone therapies, additional negative side effects and risks are also involved.

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Menopausal Anxiety

It’s probably safe to say that many of the medications and therapies available to treat menopause symptoms come with their own baggage, especially considering the time it takes to get dosages correct. Simply trying to address these symptoms can cause additional anxiety. Nearly everyone experiences some degree of anxiety from time to time and, in many cases, anxiety is a tool that helps us recognize a dangerous situation. Anxiety related to menopause, however, does not serve as a warning signal for danger. It can interfere with your daily life and make it difficult to function. Symptoms of menopausal anxiety might include:

  • Increased heart rate
  • Headaches
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Muscle aches and tension
  • Nausea
  • Irritability
  • Shortness of breath
  • Nervous energy

It’s easy to see why living with anxiety for a prolonged period of time can make life miserable—especially if the anxiety is paired with any other symptoms related to menopause.

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Treating Menopausal Anxiety with CBD

As you may (or may not) know, CBD works on the endocannabinoid system—a group of cannabinoid receptors—which is believed to play a role in such functions as:

  • Mood regulation
  • Sleep
  • Memory
  • Reproductive system
  • Temperature regulation

According to an article in Medical Wellness Today, “Menopause seems to disrupt the endocannabinoid system, and there are cannabinoid receptors throughout the reproductive system, so it is possible that CBD oil could reduce some of the symptoms relating to menopause.” CBD oil also works on serotonin receptors in the brain. These receptors play a major role in anxiety and when CBD binds to the receptors it produces an anti-anxiety and antidepressant effect.

Taking small doses of CBD oil for several days and gradually increasing the dosage has been shown to help ease anxiety. Most people are able to tolerate CBD oil and find relief from their symptoms in just a few days. Some people experience relief immediately.

If you are struggling with menopausal anxiety and other treatment hasn’t worked, or you’re concerned about the side effects linked to other treatments, CBD oil might be right for you.