6 Scientifically-Backed Benefits of Vaping CBD
Are There Any Benefits to Vaping CBD?
When studying CBD and its effects on the human body and mind, scientists usually chose to evaluate the results of taking CBD orally and not through inhalation. This is one of the main factors that contributes to the decision of the CDC to recommend against vaping as the long term events are still not known. Still, more and more people are now using e-cigarettes or CBD pens as a device to introduce cannabis-based products into the body, including CBD.
Vaping or consuming CBD via aerosoles is particularly attractive for people with asthma and other obstructive pulmonary diseases. Though it may seem odd, by doing it this way, the substance flows directly into the lungs, which results in quicker and more noticeable effect. We know this because of other medication that is already prescribed to take this way. In addition, the doses needed are generally smaller when comparing to other forms of consumption.
For more detailed information you can also visit this article.
How Does It Differ From Other Ways of Consuming It?
There are many different ways of consuming CBD oil. Vaping is seen as the quickest way to feel the effects of CBD and it is also the quickest to process through your body. But what about some other choices?
Another popular way is tincture, which is just spraying the oil straight into the mouth or placing a few drops of it under the tongue. This area has many small capillaries, meaning the oil can reach your bloodstream quickly.
For a more consistent dose you can decide on capsules. This is a more controlled way of consumption but the effects may take a little longer to kick in as the CBD has to pass through the digestive tract to be absorbed.
One of the most versatile ways of introducing CBD into the body is with food. The oil can basically be baked into anything, such as various sweets, brownies and CBD-infused gummies. These kinds of products are processed through the liver and digestive system and they linger in your body for a longer time, but we also need a bit longer to start feeling the effects. Another reason people may want to mix CBD oil into their food is to mask its flavor as some blends have an earthy taste that many don’t enjoy.
Regardless of the way we choose to consume it, what is important is to always be careful with dosing and maintenance throughout the day. If you are interested to learn more about dosing, you can find more detailed information in this article.
To summarize, vaping CBD is one of the quickest ways to feel its effects. It is also pretty easy to conceal considering vaping produces very little smoke. It is, however, one of the less researched ways, meaning we know much less about its long-term effects in comparison to other ways of taking it.
6 Science-Backed Benefits of CBD Vaping
As vaping CBD for medical reasons becomes more and more popular, scientists are starting to focus on researching if it is actually effective, who should take it, and in what doses. The field is still relatively new but with promising results for some illnesses.
It Can Alleviate Stress & Anxiety
According to the authors of one 2015 review, CBD interacts with serotonin receptors and other receptors in the brain that regulate fear and some behavior that may be induced by anxiety. So it should come as no surprise that CBD has some effect on stress.
Based on recent studies, researchers are starting to note the positive effects of CBD if used as a treatment for generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, PTSD, OCD, and other anxiety-related disorders. When talking about taking a bigger one-time dose (acute dosing) the effects are evident, while the effects of smaller doses over a longer time (chronic dosing) are not yet conclusive.
Although the positive effects are undeniable, further testing is required to determine the appropriate dosing guidelines. We should however note that many studies included mainly oral dosing of CBD. The ones that included inhaled forms of CBD, such as vaping, are considerably less consistent at showing positive effects on anxiety.
It Can Combat Insomnia (In High Doses)
CBD has been shown to have a calming effect on the nervous system but the research on sleep disorders is still in the early stages. Some studies on CBD and sleep point to positive outcomes but not everyone experiences the same sleep benefits. That is why dosing is a very important factor. According to research low doses of CBD are stimulating, while high doses are sedating.
Patients suffering from insomnia are often burdened by their history of sleepless nights and poor sleep in general. That may lead to anxiety about not getting enough sleep and make the situation even worse. This correlates with research about anxiety and suggests that the role of CBD in combating sleep issues may actually be in reducing the anxiety associated with insomnia.
It Can Improve Alertness (In Low Doses)
As mentioned in the previous paragraph, CBD is stimulating in low doses, potentially helping with energy and alertness. It is said to help with memory and other cognitive functions which means that it may very be a valuable tool for improving focus. Currently, there is still very little evidence to support this claim, but there is promising research which suggests that CBD can improve some other issues that may affect your energy levels and ability to concentrate.
As established, the dose is key when looking to benefit from the effects of CBD. And looking for the right product can be tricky so it is necessary to know what is most important to you before deciding.
It Can Relieve Pain
Pain management is becoming a more and more common reason why people consume cannabis. It can be beneficial in managing some types of chronic pain, cancer-related pain, migraines, stiffness and it can act anti-inflammatory. The dosage naturally depends on the amount of CBD present in the product, your body weight and the way you take it so it will differ from person to person.
Unfortunately, there are not any conclusive studies that evaluate the effect of vaping CBD on pain, however, the existing research suggests that the potential benefits of cannabis-based medicine outweighs its potential harms. But in spite of the lack of high-quality evidence (to support the positive effects that CBD may have on pain relief), there are many with chronic nerve pain that benefit from long-term use.
It Has Anti-Oxidative and Neuroprotective Effects
CBD is known to be an antioxidant. These kinds of substances have a role in reducing the risk of heart disease, cancer and other diseases. They protect your cells from free radicals, which are molecules produced in our body with exposure to radiation or tobacco smoke. Some well-known antioxidants include vitamins C and E as well as fruits, vegetables and grains. But the neuroprotective ability of CBD is supposed to be higher in comparison to these.
In addition, CBD also has neuroprotective effects, meaning it can be used to preserve the central nervous system against injury (e.g. stroke) and disorders (dementia) that may damage it. Many of these diseases involve destruction or loss of nerve cells which can to an extent be protected. CBD can even promote the regeneration of nerve cells. For a more detailed description of the effect on different disorders, you can visit this article.
It Can Help Those Suffering From Chronic Conditions (such as Epilepsy & Type 2 Diabetes))
We have already established that vaping CBD can be helpful with managing pain and anxiety. But it is especially useful when dealing with chronic conditions including cancer, epilepsy, lupus, and related diseases.
In the case of epilepsy, CBD is known to help with seizures, even preventing them in some cases. Clinical trials have demonstrated a significant reduction in seizures for people taking CBD to treat Lennox-Gastaut, Dravet syndrome, or tuberous sclerosis complex. And even though research is still in the early stages it appears to be very promising, indicating that CBD may help prevent other types of seizure or increase the efficacy of other antiepileptic medications.
Another condition that CBD oil is used to aid with is type 2 diabetes. Patients with this disease usually seek it to help with nerve pain, rubbing the oil on painful areas. Many report significant improvement with the pain. But according to research, there is no noticeable effect on blood sugar or insulin levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
What Are The Down Sides to Vaping CBD? (unhealthy compared to other methods like topical/ingesting CBD oil)
The biggest problem right now is that we do not know enough about vaping and its side effects so recommending it is tricky.
But the most problematic is vaping itself. Right now, the most common negative side effects reported are pretty similar to smoking as breathing in any product directly is not ideal. People notice throat irritation, cough, headaches, and even nausea, which all seem to fade away after some time. But it is important to add that vaping is largely seen as an alternative way of consuming nicotine so much of the research focuses on this.
When comparing vaping to other ways of consuming CBD, we should mention that the industry is still not regulated enough and studies found some inconsistencies between the labels and actual levels of CBD contained in products. But as more and more countries aim to legalize cannabis and take advantage of its medicinal properties, the market is expanding and stricter regulations are being put in place. With time, this will greatly increase safety in using CBD-based products. And even though breathing any product directly into the lungs is not ideal, it means that everything is absorbed quicker and more efficiently, resulting in smaller and more accurate doses.
