7 Reasons why CBD oil for the elderly is important

For many of us with older friends or loved ones that are dealing with health problems, it can be extremely difficult to see them suffering or in pain. This is why CBD is something that, in our opinion, should be in everyone’s bathroom cupboard, however particularly for the aging population.

The older we get, the more compromised and vulnerable our system becomes to the stressors of the outside world. Whether it be prevention or symptom assistance, here are 7 ways in which CBD for the elderly is proving to be indispensable.

1.May help with neurological conditions

Cannabinoids are showing promise in the field of dementia research, due to the abundance of CB1 receptors in the hippocampus. This part of the brain, when damaged, increases an individual’s susceptibility to neurological issues like dementia.

Some studies have also shown an increase in the number of CB2 receptors in the brains of Alzheimer’s sufferers, possibly indicating an attempt by the body to increase the amount of endocannabinoids absorbed.

Research is limited, however, there have been studies carried out showcasing cannabis compounds’ (including THC) abilities in removing amyloid clumps from nerve cells, a hallmark associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

Further studies using both THC and CBD botanical extracts on mice with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease saw positive effects such as reduced amyloid clumps through their bodies and increased cognitive function. Concluding that “the combination of THC and CBD exhibits a better therapeutic profile than each cannabis component alone and support the consideration of a cannabis-based medicine as potential therapy against AD (Alzheimer’s Disease)”

2. Optimal Cardiovascular Health

There are a few ways that medical cannabis, in particular, CBD, has shown to be beneficial for our heart health. The most well-known way is by lowering our blood pressure. This is due to the findings showing CBD to be a vasodilator, which allows more blood flow by widening our blood vessels. This study found that “acute administration of CBD reduces resting BP (blood pressure) and the BP increase to stress in humans, associated with increased HR (heart rate)”.

CBD has also shown to have antiarrhythmic properties, meaning it suppresses irregular heart rhythms, ideally restoring the heart rhythms back to what is considered to be ‘normal’. The combination of all these benefits, plus the overall consensus of CBD’s anti-inflammatory status (particularly beneficial for sufferers of heart conditions where inflammation is involved) makes it a powerful supplement to add into the healthy routine of senior citizens.

3. Has Shown To Help With Arthritis

Whether someone is suffering from Rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease where one’s own body attacks their own joints causing inflammation and pain, or Osteoarthritis, a degenerative condition affecting the joints, bones, and cartilage usually experienced by the aging population, CBD is showing real promise in alleviating the symptoms of these conditions.

This study carried out in 2011 concluded that the use of CBD for the inflammation associated with arthritis “may be advantageous for the treatment of inflammatory pain” by affecting the way that the stimuli were responded to by the pain receptors.

Another study looks at the role of our endocannabinoid system in Osteoarthritis. The endocannabinoid system was shown to play an important role in the “regulation of pain, inflammation and even joint function further support the therapeutic interest of cannabinoids for osteoarthritis”.

Pain is a universal symptom of arthritis sufferers, and this study researched the potential of CBD for the elderly, particularly when it came to pain reduction. It found that the Transdermal application of Cannabidiol reduced inflammation and pain-related behaviors in a rat model of arthritis.

4. Inflammation Reduction

Inflammation is arguably one of the most common link between all illnesses, conditions, and diseases in the modern world. Don’t get us wrong, normal inflammation is actually a fantastic reaction our bodies produce, one that is historically life-saving. Essentially, inflammation is the body’s way of defending us against parasites and infections. The problem arises from chronic inflammation, that in our caveman days, was not as common reality as in modern times.

Many things in our daily lives cause inflammation, and things that may on the surface seem relatively harmless may actually be keeping our bodies in a state of constant defense, and therefore inflammation.

Sugars, processed carbohydrates, alcohol, stress and the toxic chemicals we are exposed to daily in our beauty products, air and food pollution all contribute to the amount of inflammation we have in our bodies, and when this inflammation is constant over a period of time, problems can begin to surface such as cancers, autoimmune diseases and many more.

We can only control our exposure to inflammatory agents to a certain point, however as you get older, it’s more important than ever to keep levels low as you become more vulnerable to the repercussions of inflammation as your body begins to age. This is why CBD oil for the elderly is such an important supplement, thanks to its potent anti-inflammatory properties.

5. CBD As A Neuroprotectant

If CBD’s list of benefits seems endless too, that’s because you wouldn’t be far off. The neuroprotective qualities of the compound are particularly impressive, but what does this actually mean?

Well, a neuroprotectant “helps reduce damage to the brain and nervous system and encourages the growth and development of new neurons”. This is extremely important for our aging population, why?

Well, as we get older, degenerative conditions become more and more of a threat to our health, meaning that by taking CBD and making the most of the regenerative qualities of the compound, we are not only protecting our brains for potential future damage and degeneration, but studies suggest that CBD may even help heal parts of our brain and nervous system that are already damaged.

This is particularly relevant to those at risk of MS, Parkinson’s, ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Dementia, as discussed earlier in this article. Combine this with CBD’s powerful antioxidant properties, (CBD was found to be a more powerful antioxidant than both Vitamin C and E) this compound has the potential to play a vital role in our defense against oxidative stress, which as we all know is a primary contributing factor in inflammation.

6. Bone Health

Something that many people are not aware of, when it comes to the health benefits of cannabinoids such as CBD, is their potential when it comes to the realm of our bone health. Studies such as this one have found that CBD “enhances the biomechanical properties of healing rat mid‐femoral fractures” which essentially means that, from their research, CBD shows to help heal bone fractures in animal models.

This study was conducted using a combination of THC and CBD, however, it was the increase of CBD that led to a faster heal rate of the fracture, which was not the case when researchers increased the amount of THC. The central nervous system plays a large role in regulating our bone growth, and this study found that in aging skeletons of animal models, CB1 and CB2 receptor activation had a “protective effect against age-dependent bone loss in both male and female mice”. All in all, using CBD for the elderly with bone issues seems to look very promising.

7. Alternative To Prescription Meds

At the end of the day, the older we get, the more prone we are to come down with diseases and chronic conditions that in many cases, can severely impede our ability to live fulfilling lives. Whether it be serious conditions such as MS or Parkinson’s, heart disease, down to Arthritis or perhaps even just overall chronic pain from the wear and tear of everyday life, most of us will be on some medication or another as we start aging.

There are many medications out there that do fantastic things for increasing people’s quality of life, however, there are some that can arguably do more harm than good. CBD for many has shown to have the potential of replacing some of those heavy pharmaceutical medications in exchange for a natural alternative.

Yes, CBD may not work for everyone, and as we are not doctors we would never tell you to stop taking your prescribed medication. We encourage everyone to join in on the online conversation, ask questions and find out if there are others that have managed to replace their pharmaceutical medications for this safe, all-round health enhancing supplement.

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CBD, thankfully, is becoming more and more mainstream as the years go on, until strict legislation around the cannabis plant lessens, clinical studies will always be lacking. That being said, if you have a loved one suffering and are curious to find out if CBD can help them with their condition, don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our trusted customer support team members. Think you’ve read enough, and are ready to give CBD a go? Head over to our online shop here and browse our range of CBD products.