CBD and Inflammation
Unfortunately, the fight against inflammation is real – and it’s not just something that people with arthritis worry about. Stress, pollution, and other environmental factors activate the body’s response to inflammation, and your body may struggle with chronic inflammation, even if you don’t realize it. Although chronic inflammation is not always easy to detect or diagnose, it does not make it less dangerous.
Over the last decades, scientists have linked chronic inflammation to many diseases and health conditions. For example, it is now estimated that cancer is caused by chronic inflammation up to 20% of its cases. Other health conditions, such as Alzheimer’s, are not always caused by inflammation, but people with Alzheimer’s have increased markers of inflammation – and this inflammation increases the severity and speed of cognitive decline.
Health conditions and diseases linked to inflammation:
– Cancer
– Heart diseases
– Diabetes
– Alzheimer’s disease
– Osteoporosis
– Periodontitis
– Asthma
– Rheumatoid arthritis
– Depression.
To understand how chronic inflammation harms our bodies – and why so many people are looking to use CBD oil to help combat this, in this article we will learn how chronic inflammation affects our body and what tools we have to combat it.
What is inflammation? What makes it chronic?
Inflammation is the process in which the white blood cells in our body protect us from infection. Unregulated inflammation can become a disease. If the inflammation process continues for too long, or if the inflammatory reaction is in places where it is not needed, it can become problematic. Symptoms include redness, swelling, pain and stiffness. Chronic inflammation is associated with diseases such as heart disease or stroke and can also cause autoimmune disorders.
Our bodies are made up of many unique physiological systems whose sole purpose is to maintain an internal balance called homeostasis. We know that the pancreas releases insulin to balance blood glucose and cells. The thyroid gland releases thyroid hormone, which regulates vital bodily functions related to metabolism, body temperature and much more. Simply put, our bodies are constantly working to maintain balance in response to the external environment.
Studies have shown that diseases, inflammation and injuries can trigger ECS (Endocannabinoid System) action to restore our internal environment. This system is described as protective and vital to life. Researches focus on the potential direct effects of this system on preventing disease and maintaining better health.
A healthy immune system knows how to feel danger and knows exactly when and where to turn on inflammation to help protect ourselves. A healthy immune system also knows how to feel when the fight is over, and it produces natural anti-inflammatory compounds to coordinate the defense system to calm down.
Unfortunately, many of us receive persistent signals – from the food we eat, the air we breathe, and even from our own body – telling us that our immune system must continue to fight. This chronic inflammation can be the cause of a specific region of the body – for example, the digestive tract of Crohn’s disease sufferers. Or it could spread throughout the body – just like the persistent, low-grade systemic inflammation caused by fat cells in obese people.
Timely inflammation helps us fight infections and heal our bodies. But when we suffer from chronic inflammation, the immune system transforms from our guardian to destroyer. Our cells and general health suffer when they are constantly blocked by free radicals and other protective molecules.
The relevance between inflammation and many chronic conditions has only recently been discovered by scientists and is still being actively studied. Although much remains to be learned, there is evidence that there is a connection between inflammation and diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Studies have shown how chronic inflammation contributes to these two diseases:
– chronic inflammation leads to oncological adhesions;
– chronic inflammation leads to cardiovascular disease.
CBD against inflammation.
If you think you’re battling chronic inflammation, you should seek as many sources of support as possible. Scientists are currently discovering how natural cannabidiol (CBD) is effective against inflammation, and studies have pointed to multiple ways this natural molecule is anti-inflammatory. Here are some of the ways scientists think CBD combats inflammation:
– Prostaglandins: CBD and other cannabinoids are incredibly effective at relieving menstrual cramps, and a large reason for this appears to be that CBD inhibits COX-2, the enzyme responsible for producing inflammatory prostaglandins.
– Tumor necrosis factor (TNFα): Based on rodent studies, CBD’s effectiveness at protecting joints against inflammatory arthritic damage likely stems from its ability to reduce the body’s production of inflammatory tumor necrosis factor (TNFα).
– PPARγ: CBD can influence a wide variety of molecules by stimulating the PPARγ receptor, which tells your DNA to change which genes it expresses. CBD’s therapeutic potential for Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis and ulcerative colitis have been linked to the PPARγ receptor — which simultaneously reduces the production of inflammatory molecules while increasing the production of antioxidants.
These and more reasons are why so many people are incorporating CBD products into their anti-inflammatory routine.
Integrative treatments for chronic inflammation.
CBD is an excellent supplement to your anti-inflammatory routine, but it will work best when combined with a holistic fight against inflammation. Other scientifically-backed ways to control inflammation include:
-vegetable- and whole grain-centered diets like the Mediterranean diet.
-omega-3 fatty acids (especially EPA and DHA, which you can get from either fish or algae).
-low-impact exercise (like cycling, water sports, yoga, etc.).
One of the best ways to fight chronic inflammation is to first identify the hidden sources of inflammation in your life — because simple changes to your routine could have a major impact on your inflammation levels.
Quite often, our GWEEPRODUCTS clients informed us that using CBD oil has improved their overall health by promoting quality sleep, reducing anxiety and depression, and reducing pain and inflammation so that they can continue to be active in their lives.
We recommend that you take care of your endocannabinoid system and it will take care of you, but you should strive to introduce the most versatile preventative measures in your daily routine to improve your health. Then surely everything will work out!
The information on the internet about CBD products and their use will be ambiguous, so we always recommend reading safe and reliable sources. We also use websites related to the Cannabis industry, research and education to prepare information.
The content of this site is for informational purposes only. We are not medical experts and this should not be interpreted as medical advice. Be sure to consult your doctor before undergoing CBD or other treatment.
The chemistry of every human body and brain is unique, so the use of CBD to improve mental as well as physical health does not guarantee results. However, many GWEEPRODUCTS CBD oil users have included it into their daily routine as one of the therapies for improving mental, physical health and quality of life.