Some of the most common concerns suffered by elderly folk are chronic pain, sleep issues, and inflammatory conditions like arthritis.
These are issues which can often be most severe on the elderly, and which have a severe impact on their day-to-day mobility and quality of life.
But luckily CBD’s powerful anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-anxiety benefits make it a highly effective way to treat these kinds of conditions.
Here we unpack a few of the main issues and explain how CBD can come to the rescue in treating them.
Chronic Pain
Interestingly, researchers believe that CBD can decrease pain by actually reducing the body’s sensitivity to the pain itself.
It is thought that CBD is able to affect the way that various stimuli impact pain receptors, so that people experience pain differently when having taken the cannabis compound.
It is therefore an effective choice of pain relief for post-surgical recovery, as well as more generalised chronic pain situated in the hips, knees, spine and other bones and joints.
Inflammation & Arthritis
One of CBD’s best-known properties is as an anti-inflammatory, which is another reason why it is an effective means of relief from chronic pain.
The pain caused by a multitude of conditions is often the result of severe inflammation – the most significant in this context being arthritis, a byproduct of swelling around the joints.
Traditional pain medicines like opioids and NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) work in a very similar way to CBD in reducing inflammation in the body in the treatment of conditions like arthritis. But unlike these drugs, steroids and opioids, CBD does not have any negative side effects.
The elderly are more likely to experience these adverse reactions than younger people, which is why a daily dose of CBD offers an excellent natural alternative for senior citizens in particular.
Sleep Issues
It is not exactly yet understood how CBD works to improve sleep, but the most common theory is that it helps by treating the root causes of insomnia and sleep disruption – such as stress, anxiety or chronic pain.
Because stress is the root cause of sleep deprivation for many people, the powerful anti-anxiety properties of CBD are thought to be why it can help to promote a greater sense of calm. Helping to relax tension in the body and mind, a daily dose of CBD will in turn provide a better night’s rest.
And as mentioned above, CBD is well known for being able to relieve chronic pain. This is a very significant factor in why it can help senior citizens get some solid rest, as they are often troubled by pain conditions linked to arthritis, surgeries or general aches and niggles.
Understandably the severe discomfort caused by these things can result in a majorly disrupted sleep cycle – which is why a dose of CBD can be helpful in both easing the pain of elderly, as well as helping to put them to sleep at night.
Ultimately CBD presents a great natural alternative to many of the common concerns experienced by older people, offering a source of pain relief, acting as a sleep aid and reducing inflammation in the body.