5 Ways to Use CBD for Seniors
CBD may seem like a hip new trend, but studies show that the cannabis extract actually has a multitude of health benefits that stand the test of time. No matter your age, CBD can help improve your health, mood, and life.
Read on for five useful ways seniors can use CBD.
CBD For Pain
Chronic pain plagues millions of Americans each day—and seniors suffer at particularly high rates. Whether you have pain from arthritis or another chronic illness, or pain due to an injury or surgery, there is a good chance that inflammation is causing a lot of your discomfort.
When something is not right in the body, such as an injury, receptors in the brain send enzymes to the area that cause inflammation. While inflammation has protective properties, it can be difficult when dealing with a chronic illness that isn’t going to heal.
One of the most popular uses for CBD supplements is to soothe inflammation. When the endocannabinoids in CBD connect to the receptors responsible for inflammation, they calm this response—causing pain and swelling to subside.
While CBD may not be as strong as prescription pain relievers, it makes up for it with the following stellar benefits:
- Practical in the long term
- All-natural
- Non-habit forming
- Helps relieve the root of the problem—rather than masking it
CBD For Sleep
Many seniors report suffering from insomnia. As we get older, our circadian rhythms tend to change. This is why babies fall asleep early, teens often stay up late, and seniors toss and turn.
While many sleep aids can be harsh on the body, CBD is a natural sleep aid that isn’t addictive, psychoactive, or grogginess-inducing. Try out CBD vape pens for insomnia—they’re fast-acting, natural, and won’t damage your lungs like other smoking products.
Anti-Aging Skincare
Your age doesn’t have to stop you from maintaining smooth, youthful skin. While there are various anti-aging skincare products on the market, many products like retinol and hydroxy acids can be harsh on sensitive skin.
CBD oil is a gentle alternative to anti-aging skincare.
The antioxidants in CBD are known to smooth fine lines, moisturize, and help promote collagen production. If you’ve found that other anti-aging products are irritating your skin, or you’re simply looking for a new oil to add to your skincare routine, try out a topical CBD oil. If you’re looking for something with a little more intensity, opt for a CBD-infused face mask with antioxidants and botanical enzymes.
Whatever route you choose, adding CBD to your skincare routine is an easy way to get your skin looking glow-y and refreshed.
Antioxidants in CBD Fight Illness
Antioxidants are compounds that prevent oxidation and help fight free radicals in the body. Free radicals are single electrons that move throughout the body to find other electrons to pair with.
These electrons can damage other cells around them, and thus have been linked to illnesses such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.
Studies show that CBD is rich in antioxidants and their illness-fighting properties. Taking CBD daily is a nonaddictive, easy, and a virtually side-effect-free way to help prevent disease and keep your body healthy.
Try out a CBD infused herbal tea for a boost of antioxidants. Herbal teas contain many antioxidants of their own—so try mixing the two for a relaxing way to keep your body healthy and protected.
Mood Elevation
Mental health issues can appear at any age. If you’ve recently been feeling stressed, anxious, or depressed, it’s perfectly normal to search for something that may help. Antidepressants and anxiety medication are not for everyone—and they can come with a long list of side effects. If you’re looking for a natural remedy to help boost your daily mood, CBD supplements may be right for you.
CBD can lower your risk of anxiety and depression, and help your mood blossom like a flower the cannabinoid system in the brain is linked to keeping the body’s functions balanced, including pain and mood regulation.
By connecting to these cannabinoid receptors in the brain, CBD has been shown to reduce stress, and diminish feelings of depression and anxiety (without the psychoactive properties that normal marijuana contains)—and this may even help improve cognitive functioning as a result.
Studies also show that CBD increases blood flow to parts of the brain associated with calming the limbic system—which means that CBD may help you relax without getting drowsy (as long as you’re taking the proper dosage).
The Bottom Line: CBD Can Do A Lot
If you’ve been interested in trying CBD, now is the perfect time. As the industry continues to grow, CBD supplements are becoming increasingly more accessible, and with more variety than ever before.
While CBD may not be a cure-all for every problem, studies show that it has a multitude of benefits when it comes to bodily regulation. So, whether you’re suffering from stress, pain, or simply looking to feel a little better each day—give CBD a try.
It can’t hurt!