January presents wonderful opportunities for each of us to examine our lives and our health and take proactive measures toward personal improvements as we enter into a new year.
One thing I have decided to examine more closely is CBD. CBD may be a natural, beneficial supplement or alternative to pharmaceuticals, but it’s important we do our due diligence to learn more before starting any new healthcare regiment.
Here are the ABC’s of CBD for seniors, and how this natural, holistic alternative to medicine may help.
About CBD
CBD, or cannabidiol, is a compound derived from the hemp plant that does not include the high-inducing component THC, but instead, contains a psychoactive that positively impacts the neurotransmitters in the brain resulting in relief of a number of maladies.
CBD is widely available in oils that can be applied directly to areas of pain, added to beverages, or vaporized. Edible CBD products include gummies, hard candies and more, to satisfy your sweet tooth, while providing true health benefits.
CBD is not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), so we must be careful to purchase quality CBD products and avoid fake or counterfeit plant products that can cause more harm than good.
An article published by Forbes states, “According to the Brightfield Group, seniors tend to prefer ingesting CBD in oils, vape cartridges and edibles, which entails a lot of label-reading for seniors. When evaluating a CBD product, make sure it uses CBD from organic hemp, preferably grown in the United States, and that it is third-party lab tested to verify the CBD content and rule out the presence of contaminants.”
Benefits of CBD
Forbes also published a survey by Remedy Review that asked 1000 seniors, ages 54 and up, to find out if they had tried CBD, and what effects they experienced after trying it.
Of the respondents, 9% of seniors admitted to trying CBD and 51% stated they had an improved quality of life because of CBD.
The Forbes article cited, “42% of the seniors surveyed said they were taking the CBD to deal with inflammation, and 40.9% to deal with chronic pain. 38.6% said they were giving CBD a try in order to deal with poor sleep quality, and 31.8% used CBD to deal with arthritis pain. And it's working.”
Another report by Harvard Medical School said, “CBD is commonly used to address anxiety and for patients who suffer through the misery of insomnia, studies suggest that CBD may help with both falling asleep and staying asleep. CBD may offer an option for treating different types of chronic pain.”
Cautions Pertaining to CBD
Dr Brian Bauer, MD, of the Mayo Clinic stated, “While CBD is being studied as a treatment for a wide range of conditions, including Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, diabetes, multiple sclerosis and anxiety, research supporting the drug's benefits is still limited.
Though it's often well-tolerated, CBD can cause side effects, such as dry mouth, diarrhea, reduced appetite, drowsiness and fatigue. CBD can also interact with other medications you're taking, such as blood thinners.”
I strongly recommend that seniors consult with their physicians or primary care providers before adding CBD products, or replacing prescribed medications with CBD, to address specific medical issues.
If a Home Helpers® caregiver can help you or a special senior you love this year, we offer wellness calls with medication reminders, healthy meal planning and preparation, personal care, companion care, respite care or recuperative care, I am available to schedule a FREE Consultation at your convenience.
We, at Home Helpers® Clearwater, are honored to have received the Home Care Pulse – Best of Home Care® Provider of Choice Award for 2017, 2018, 2019 & 2020. We proudly serve male and female seniors in Clearwater, Dunedin, Palm Harbor, Safety Harbor, Tarpon Springs, Holiday, New Port Richey, Trinity, Port Richey, Hudson and surrounding areas. Home Helpers®…we are Making Life Easier℠ 727.942.2539
Sources:
Forbes
Forbes
Harvard Medical School
Mayo Clinic
