How Can CBD Help Elderly People?
Cannabis-based products like medical marijuana have been getting more and more attention since Canada legalized marijuana in October of this year. While the healing drug from the cannabis plant is already legal in countries like Uruguay, Canada’s decision to make marijuana legal has pushed the healing capabilities of the herb into the limelight like never before.
Not a day goes by where we don’t see one of our friends shared a post on social media about the therapeutic effects of CBD oil, in particular, and we are often hearing of legitimate testimonials from people who have cured their ailments and even terminal illnesses via ingesting cannabis-based products.
5 Ways CBD Can Help Senior Citizens
CBD oil, in particular, has received a lot of attention this year, due to its efficacy at relieving ailments like chronic pain, arthritis, and even dementia in elderly people, and in this article, we will be looking at exactly how CBD can help our loved ones during the later stages of life.
Combats Pain and Reduces Inflammation
As we get older, we start to notice aches and pains in our joints more frequently. And while many of us find the stiffness tolerable to a degree, when we reach a certain age, it can become debilitating and unbearable and often turn to prescription drugs. A long time ago, CBD was found to provide long-term relief for pains that arise as a result of:
- Arthritis
- Neuropathy
- Crohn‘s Disease
- Cancer
- ALS
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Post-traumatic stress
- Huntington’s disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Lennox-Gastaut syndrome
Many more ailments frequently cause pain in individuals of all ages, but especially the elderly. Thanks to the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory benefits of cannabidiol oil, more doctors are prescribing nature’s powerful healing potion to senior patients as they feel it is a better alternative to dishing out traditional painkillers that can cause damage to other organs if used for too long.
With more publicity surrounding the use of CBD-based products to naturally combat the uncomfortable symptoms of aging, it quickly becomes the multi-purpose medicine of choice in states where it is permitted for medicinal purposes.
CBD Heals Your Aching Bones
When taken ingested in the correct manner, cannabis can restore damaged joints to full health. One of the most common symptoms of aging is the reduction in bone density, which is accompanied by the tendency to be prone to Osteoporosis. This degenerative condition makes the elderly highly susceptible to fractures, especially women over the age of 50 who have been through the menopause.
CBD can be used as a preventative measure and also in a curative sense when it comes to dealing with bone-related issues in seniors. Research has revealed that CBD is capable of halting bone degeneration in its tracks and even reversing existing damage. It triggers the regeneration of healthy bone tissue, as well as growth. The result of taking regular doses of CBS is one that senior citizens very much need increased bone density and stronger bones. It also has the added benefit of relieving pain caused by the inflammation of joints and surrounding muscles.
It Enhances Quality of Sleep
It comes without much surprise that many senior citizens have difficulty sleeping. They struggle to fall asleep, they can’t stay asleep for a long time, and they also usually struggle to maintain healthy sleep patterns. Not only can this lead to increased fatigue and irritability during the day, but inconsistent sleep in old age can also encourage degenerative diseases like Dementia, Glaucoma, and Alzheimer’s.
Fortunately, the benefits of CBD when it comes to sleep are countless. First of all, contrary to traditional prescription sleep meds, CBD enhances alertness throughout the day. However, it works much better as a sleeping aid when it is taken in the morning as opposed to right before bed. It cures insomnia by promoting a lengthier sleep and more consistent sleep patterns and also allows sufferers to overcome symptoms like anxiety, stress, and irritability that often accompany a lack of sleep. CBD is also a much safer alternative to pharmaceutical sleep aids, as there are no negative side effects associated with it whatsoever. For those of us who have elderly loved ones, this is possibly the most important advantage of the tincture.
Reduces the Need for Toxic Pharmaceuticals
Years ago, there was a famous saying that went like this: “An Aspirin a day keeps the doctor away.” Sadly, as it turns out, this was just another Big Pharma marketing ploy. An Aspirin a day most certainly does not keep the doctor away as, over recent years, our attention has been drawn to the fact that many of the traditional pharmaceuticals we use to treat aches and pains are responsible for incredibly harmful side effects like liver damage.
Traditional over-the-counter meds very often do more harm than good. This is why CBD oil is so important as medicine in elderly people because as they age and their health deteriorates, they are prescribed more and more pills every day that gets them stuck in a toxic cycle. By using CBD to address and treat physical and emotional issues, many seniors have been able to reduce their intake of potentially harmful pharmaceutical drugs.
What Are the Safest Ways for Senior Citizens to Take CBD?
Smoking marijuana strains rich in CBD is not recommendable to the elderly, as high quantities of THC will also be ingested. That means that grandpa will be walking around in a complete daze most of the time, possibly as high as a kite. The safest and most effective methods of experiencing all of the healing benefits that cannabis has to offer, especially among senior citizens, is to consume CBD infused edibles such as these, under-the-tongue tinctures, and, of course, CBD oil.
Final Thoughts
The benefits of choosing CBD products over pharmaceutical drugs are endless. First, marijuana-based substances cannot be addictive. This is a harsh contrast when we think about sleeping aids like benzodiazepines, which are some of the most highly addictive substances in the world. There are also no common withdrawal symptoms from CBD and if you were to suddenly stop taking it, the only withdrawal you would experience is comparative to giving up caffeine.
Second, and perhaps most importantly, there are no side effects associated with CBD and a recent study revealed that in order to reach toxicity, one would have to consume over four pounds of marijuana in one day. A figure that even a prolific weed smoker like Snoop Dogg would struggle to achieve! CBD is paving the way for the world to focus on entirely natural treatments becoming commonplace in traditional medicine and with so many success stories emerging every day, the future is looking incredibly bright for cannabis-based products.
This article by Madeleine Taylor is originally published on SundayScaries.