How the right CBD cannabis strain could be just what you need for a new lease of life

Cannabis has been hitting the headlines over recent months, but not for the reasons you might suppose.

Yes, of course there are still the occasional police interventions in and around Swindon for those growing and using cannabis illegally, some of which even hit the national press. But these are being overshadowed by legal cannabis strains and the positive use to which they can be put. 

Know your CBD from your THC  

The cannabis plant actually contains a whole list of cannabinoids, but the two that are most significant are THC and CBD. The former is the substance that is prevalent in recreational cannabis, as it is psychoactive, meaning the user gets “high.” CBD, however, is non-psychoactive, so will not have this effect. It does, however, have a whole list of health benefits. Growers are developing special CBD cannabis strains that contain minimal THC and are legal in the UK. CBD products are becoming a regular sight in Swindon’s health stores, and are stocked by both independent retailers and nationwide chains like Holland and Barrett. Could they be what you need for a new lease of life? Research is still at an early stage because for so long, all cannabinoids were outlawed. But here is what the scientists have discovered so far. 

Lifting your mood

As we’ve already established, CBD will not get you high like THC. But it does still have an effect on overall mood. Studies suggest this is because it prompts the body to produce more serotonin, a neurotransmitter that makes you feel happy and relaxed. As such, CBD can be a natural way to stave off feelings of anxiety. Doctors believe it could even help fight clinical depression, and further research is ongoing.

Natural pain relief

Neurologist and epilepsy researcher Sir John Russell Reynolds described cannabis as one of the “most useful” pain relievers available. Sir John also happened to be private physician to Queen Victoria, and he said that more than 160 years ago. Today, researchers have fine-tuned his findings and identified that CBD is indeed an effective analgesic. In part, this is down to its anti-inflammatory qualities, but it also interacts with the pain signals in the body. This means it can be effective for long-term pain such as fibromyalgia and also short-term complaints like migraine. 

Easing arthritis

Being an anti-inflammatory also means CBD can bring relief to millions of arthritis sufferers. Arthritis is swelling between the joints, commonly in the fingers but also in the knees and elsewhere. CBD will not cure it, but by reducing the inflammation, it can have a profound effect on the symptoms.

Skin conditions

Studies have indicated that CBD has a positive effect on skin conditions such as acne, psoriasis and allergic reactions. In part, this is down to its anti inflammatory qualities, but it is also high in anti-oxidants. This goes some way to explaining why so many celebrities use CBD in their skin-care regimes to fight off signs of ageing. 

And more

These are some of the best-studied uses of CBD. Research is ongoing into how it can also be used for other conditions including epilepsy, MS, Crohn’s disease and more, and preliminary indications are exciting. It really could be just what you need for a new lease of life.