Seniors often take a lot of medication. That’s because when you get older your body may not work as well as it did when you were in your 20s or 30s. For example, your arteries may be clogged from a lifetime of consuming fatty foods, you may have osteoporosis which is a bone disease common with seniors or you may have a neurodegenerative disease.
But what if you could take something that was natural that would improve your health in many of these areas as well as treat some things like inflammation from arthritis and pain? Well, CBD may be the perfect solution for seniors struggling with any of these conditions that come along with the aging process.
What is CBD?
So, the first thing to understand is what CBD oil is and where it comes from. CBD oil is basically concentrated oil from the nonnarcotic parts of the marijuana plant. It is commonly called hemp or hemp oil, but CBD is better because Cannabidiol oil is more concentrated and is able to offer more health benefits.
CBD is actually a chemical compound that is found in the cannabis plant. It does not have the same psychological effects that marijuana does, and although it may contain THC, it is usually in such small concentrations that you can not only avoid feeling it, but it will not show up on any sort of drug screening or test.
Although research on CBD oil has only recently begun, the prevailing theory on how it works is that it attaches to the endocannabinoid system in the body. This system is responsible for many of the elements of health such as sleep, memory and some metabolic processes.
There are several different ways that you can take CBD oil. One of the most common ways to take it is through gel caps which is probably the most accurate way. You can also use a tincture and put the drops under your tongue or mix it with food. There are also some CBD oil products that can be applied to the skin and there is even CBD vape oil that you can use in an e-cigarette that will give you the same benefits.
Top-Rated CBD Brands
| Rank | Brand | Shipping | More Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Verma Farms | Worldwide | |
| 2 | Verified CBD | Worldwide | Unavailable |
1. Pain Management
Pain management is certainly something that many seniors can appreciate. The older your body gets, the more pain you seem to have, and it can be excruciating in some cases.
Many seniors take narcotic pain medication prescribed by their doctor, but if you prefer a more natural approach, CBD oil may be the answer. Already, marijuana is a common treatment prescribed for chronic pain in states where medical marijuana is legal. CBD oil is not as effective as marijuana itself, but it still does a great deal for pain – especially pain caused by inflammation.
2. Improving Sleep Quality
CBD oil can also help to improve sleep quality. Sleeping disorders are really common in seniors, especially when it comes to insomnia. This can be due to several reasons from the changing body chemistry that comes with getting older to chemical imbalances created by various illnesses and medications to treat them.
However, sleep is extremely important because it recharges our body and flushes out toxins. CBD oil can relieve stress and anxiety and produce a healthier, longer lasting sleep. It can also act as a natural sleep aid so that you do not have to take over-the-counter or prescription sleep aids.
3. Enhancing Bone Health
Osteoporosis is a degenerative bone disease that is often found in seniors. The bones become brittle and can easily break. This happens through the natural aging process because our bones are experiencing a loss of vitamins and minerals that make them more fragile. That’s one of the main reasons why it is important for seniors to avoid falling down.
Bones that can break easily can be a life-threatening condition if you are not able to get help in time. But CBD can actually help strengthen bones and promote the healing process. In addition, CBD has been shown to reduce inflammation
4. Improving Heart Health
Many people have heart conditions these days due to the diets that clog the arteries and cause heart disease. Heart disease can lead to a heart attack and death, and by the time someone reaches the age of senior citizenship, the arteries can be in pretty bad shape.
Heart disease is the number one cause of death for seniors according to the American College of Cardiology and half of Americans suffer from high blood pressure. But there has been some recent research showing that CBD oil may be an effective treatment for high blood pressure which can reduce the risk of heart attack.
5. Slowing Neurodegenerative Disease
Another thing that is pretty common in seniors is neurodegenerative disease. This includes things like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Both of these are almost exclusive to seniors, and it happens because of inflammation and neural inflammatory responses.
Science has been looking for a cure for Alzheimer’s diseases and other neurodegenerative diseases for quite some time, but some research is shown CBD oil to be somewhat effective when it comes to treating these neural conditions or preventing them from happening in the first place. That’s mainly due to the anti-inflammatory properties of CBD oil.
6. Improving Mood
CBD oil can also help with improving mood and helping to treat depression. Seniors suffer from depression at a higher rate than other age groups because it can be difficult to live with chronic pain, and seniors often have other factors in their life that affect their mood, such as the reliance upon a fixed income or the deaths of friends and loved ones as they get older.
Depression can be a serious mental illness, but there is some evidence that CBD oil may be able to improve mood and help treat depression. This should be done in conjunction with other mental health medication, but it is certainly an option to help alleviate symptoms.
7. Preventing and Fighting Glaucoma
Glaucoma is another degenerative disease that is more common with seniors, and there has actually been a great deal of research showing that cannabis has the ability to prevent, treat or heal glaucoma. Glaucoma is a neurodegenerative disease where the breakdown of neurons between the brain and the body affects the eyesight.
This is due to an increase in pressure in the eye, but CBD oil may be able to treat the condition. Glaucoma is one of those medical conditions for which cannabis is often prescribed in states where medical marijuana is legal. Unfortunately, not every state has these laws, and some people cannot use regular marijuana and handle the THC content. Luckily, that’s exactly where CBD oil comes in.
8. Alternative to Prescriptions
This is a huge benefit of CBD for seniors who do not want to be taking all of the medication that they are currently taking. The more medication that a person takes, the more potential there is for it to interact with other medication and cause problems.
In addition, for seniors that experience chronic pain, one of the primary treatment options is narcotic pain medication. This can lead to addiction, and it is a major reason why seniors are always on the lookout for a more natural treatment for pain, inflammation, neurodegenerative conditions and other medical conditions that can be treated with CBD oil.
9. Reducing Inflammation from Arthritis
Arthritis is another condition that affects seniors more often than other groups. There are two types of arthritis. The first is rheumatoid arthritis which is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks joints and causes inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis often affects the hands and causes severe pain and swollen joints.
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that affects the cartilage of the joints. It causes pain and stiffness and it can often be found in the hips and knees. But there has been a great deal of research showing that CBD oil has a major effect on inflammation. It is one of the best anti-inflammatory supplements out there.
Much of the pain relief that comes from CBD oil is due to the anti-inflammatory properties. There have been a least four major studies that showed positive results when treating arthritis with CBD oil. Of course, more research is necessary, but the initial results are excellent.
CBD Could be the Solution Seniors Have Been Searching For
The bottom line is that CBD oil for seniors is one of the best and healthiest supplements that you can take. There are so many conditions that can be treated with CBD oil that it makes sense to add it to every senior’s supplement regimen.
The best way to start taking it is before you start experiencing all the conditions above, because it can be used as a preventative measure, rather than a “cure” for what’s ailing you. So even though CBD oil is “trendy” for the younger generation, people of all ages can use it, including seniors!
