As mentioned in previous posts, I’ve been using CBD oil for a while now. I actually worked it out the other day and it’s been just over a year of both me and Dan taking it daily. He has been suffering from chronic pain for a few years now and after all the tests and all the appointments with specialists you could ever imagine – he’s still no closer to figuring out what the problem is, that’s the fun part about chronic illnesses, they’re sneaky little buggers!

Taking painkillers every day didn’t seem like the best solution from a health point of view and he was desperate to find something that worked.

At the same time as Dan was reaching the end of his tether with feeling like crap all the time, I was going through some family stuff that kicked my anxiety into overdrive – panic attacks, really stressful intrusive thoughts, most likely some depression thrown in, just for good measure…

I’ve been managing my mental health for years without medication and whilst I have absolutely nothing against anyone taking it, it saved my life at one point without a doubt. I just didn’t feel totally comfortable with going back down that route, this time.

SO, WE HAD TO MAKE ANOTHER PLAN

We both made a commitment to daily yoga and meditation… Him more stretchy, me more meditative.

We tried to get into a better sleep routine – semi achieved this – it’s still a struggle to this day, to be honest. He needs about four hours less sleep a night than I do!

Finally, we also started experimenting with CBD oil.

For anyone that hasn’t tried CBD oil, just to clarify, it will not get you high (sorry folks!) Anything you can buy over the counter will be THC free so not psychoactive. CBD oil is simply a natural, plant-based supplement with a whole host of benefits for both body and mind.

Case in point: Dan’s pain has reduced significantly and my anxiety is now back to being well controlled.

THE REASON IT WORKS SO WELL?

The human body (actually every vertebrate species) contains its own endocannabinoid system – a specialised system which essentially maintains a precise balance within us aka homeostasis, with functions in the immune system, sleep, pain and appetite (source). We produce our own endocannabinoids that act as neurotransmitters and bind to cannabinoid receptors within our nervous system, making it easy to see why supplementing CBD is so effective.

POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF CBD OIL (ALL BACKED BY SCIENCE)

• Alleviation of chronic pain and inflammation.
• Can dramatically reduce anxiety and depression.
• Is thought to reduce symptoms related to cancer and treatment. (In animal studies it has also been shown to reduce tumours and stop the spread of cancer. Source)
• Research has shown that it helps with neurological disorders such as epilepsy and multiple sclerosis (source). CBD based medication is currently being developed here in the UK and I’m excited to see more natural alternatives being used in conjunction with Western medicine.
• It could be used to reduce high blood pressure.
• It has shown to be effective in treating acne and psoriasis.

 

If you want to dig into the science behind it all, you’ll find a whole heap of data out there but I’d highly recommend giving it a try for yourselves.

ANYONE OUT THERE HAVE AN EXPERIENCE OF TAKING CBD OIL FOR CHRONIC PAIN AND ANXIETY, OR FOR ANY OTHER REASON? WOULD LOVE TO HEAR WHAT YOU THINK…

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