How Does CBD Oil Reduce Inflammation?
There are two types of inflammation: acute and chronic. Symptoms can range from fatigue, pain, fever, mouth sores, and rash, with causes ranging from chronic stress, alcohol, obesity, exposure to contaminants, and smoking.
CBD has been found to interact with eicosanoid enzymes to reduce inflammation. It also affects cytokines molecules.
Your body keeps several tools in its toolbelt to battle potential internal and external threats. One of its most common tools is inflammation. This inflammatory response, when short-lived, can protect the body by drawing antibodies, proteins, and increased blood flow where they’re needed. Typically, this response should only last a few hours or, maybe, a day or two.
If the inflammatory response lasts longer, though, your body may begin to experience negative side effects that lead to permanent damage. This state of being constantly alert may lead your body to develop an array of conditions, ranging from asthma to cancer.
So, what can you do if your body’s inflammatory response becomes chronic? Though a wide range of options exists, including over the counter medications, many are turning to CBD as an alternative due to its apparent efficacy and lack of side effects.
Types and Symptoms of Inflammation
In many cases, acute, or short-term, inflammation is easy to identify. Swelling and redness are common symptoms of inflammation, as are pain and skin that’s hot to the touch. In normal settings, these symptoms should disappear within a couple of hours or days, at most.
However, chronic inflammation, which can last for months or years, have symptoms that may only be apparent to those experiencing inflammation. These symptoms often take a more subtle form and may be attributable to several causes:
- Abdominal or chest pain
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Mouth sores
- Rash
Chronic inflammation has numerous causes, including letting acute inflammation go untreated. Those with autoimmune disorders also experience chronic inflammation due to the underlying nature of the disease. Further, both personal and environmental factors may be a cause:
- Chronic stress
- Drinking alcohol
- Obesity
- Significant or constant exposure to contaminants, irritants, or pollutants
- Smoking
CBD Oil For Chronic Inflammation
Digging deeper into the causes of inflammation, the body’s inflammatory response is triggered by eicosanoids. When you use CBD oil for acute inflammation, as well as chronic inflammation, the CBD interacts with eicosanoid enzymes to reduce inflammation.
Additionally, CBD oil affects cytokines molecules which cause inflammation. By reducing the effects of cytokines, CBD can help play a role in reducing the body’s inflammatory response. Multiple studies have also indicated CBD’s ability to reduce inflammation caused by diseases such as diabetes and multiple sclerosis. If you believe you are experiencing the effects of chronic inflammation, make sure to discuss your symptoms with your doctor. They can help guide you through potential treatment options, including CBD.
