REWARDS
Are you thinking about taking CBD for your health, but are unsure of how to bring it up to your MD?
Don’t sweat it. We have drummed up a list of reasons why CBD could make for an excellent supplement, no matter if it’s anxiety or stress you’re trying to combat, pesky inflammation from eating spicy foods, or something else relating to your overall health and wellbeing. But first, here are some pointers when going into the doctors office to discuss it:
Rule number 1: Don’t be afraid to bring it up. CBD is a natural health remedy that is helping a ton of people manage their pain – be it mental, physical, or emotional. You deserve to have the best and most effective treatment, and sometimes a natural alternative trumps modern medicine, so don’t be afraid to ask for what you want. Just be ready to explain why you want to start taking CBD. (See 5 Practical Uses list below!)
Rule number 2: Ask about interactions with all other medicines you take. Remember, CBD can potentially interfere with some medications, so it is important that you always speak to your physician when implementing any new supplement – natural or not. Your doctor should be able to help guide you through what is safe or unsafe for you.
Rule number 3: Talk about replacing your prescription (and/or over-the-counter!) medications with CBD. Replacing antidepressants and opioids is one of CBD’s most important potential applications. CBD has the leg up in that it 1) is natural and comes from a plant, 2) doesn’t destroy your liver and kidneys the way many meds do, even seemingly harmless ones like Advil, and 3) is actually HEALTHY for you!
Rule number 4: **Most important rule** Get a second (or first!) opinion from a doctor familiar with cannabis medical research. The trouble with CBD and physicians is that because the compound is so newly popular, it is new to many of them too. We all know that there has been a longstanding bias against all things cannabis, so there is also the potential that a doctor may not only be uninformed about CBD, but may misunderstand it. If you feel immediately shut down by your doctor, ask them about their knowledge and opinions on cannabis medication. If you find that they are not knowledgeable on the subject, or worse, are averse to it through their own ignorance of the plant and its applications, don’t be afraid to seek counsel elsewhere from a doctor in the know.
Now that you have some tips for how to talk to your doctor about CBD, here are some of the biggest reasons why you should!
5 Practical Uses for Everyday CBD Use
CBD for stress and anxiety
One of the most common uses of CBD is for stress and anxiety. This could be due to stressful work demands, chaotic home environments, uncertainty of personal relationships and other life events that give us that pit in our stomachs.
If you’re looking for a natural way to ease these inevitable feelings of life stress and anxiety, ask your doctor if he/she thinks CBD could be the right treatment for you.
CBD for skin – Acne and anti-aging
Another amazing benefit of CBD is that it is proving itself to be an effective treatment in preventing acne, getting rid of existing blemishes and vanishing wrinkles. CBD is regenerative and anti-inflammatory, a double whammy of skin goodness.
If your skin isn’t in the best shape (i.e. is feeling extra oily, dry or red), ask your doctor if they have heard about CBD skincare. CBD is great for acne, psoriasis, anti-aging, and more.
CBD for gut health
You’ve tried switching completely to whole foods. You drink Kombucha every night and you exercise five days out of the week. Yet you’re still feeling bloated, or worse, are experiencing a more serious digestive issue like Crohn’s Disease or Leaky Gut.
Explain to your doctor the symptoms you are experiencing, including any changes to your diet, and ask if CBD could help get your digestive system back on track.
Because CBD is an anti-inflammatory powerhouse, it is known for blasting away those awful crampy and bloated feelings.
CBD for menstrual cramps
Real talk. Menstrual cramps are no joke, especially when they seem to come out of absolutely nowhere and don’t stop for hours.
Women everywhere (who have tried CBD cream for this reason) are praising the wellness compound for putting an end to their cramps, improving their moods drastically, and allowing them to get back to their lives.
If your cramps seem to be out of control and heating pads aren’t working, ask your doctor if he/she recommends any particular CBD cream to rub on your lower abdomen. Trust us. It’s worth it. And besides, traditional medications like Tylenol and Advil are not near as effective, and they are actually bad for you if you take them regularly.
CBD for improved mood and focus
Is coffee not doing the trick anymore?
Feeling zapped of energy and focus is a serious day (and life) ruiner, and if you’ve been feeling especially fatigued but aren’t sure why, tell your doctor you heard CBD was effective in providing more energy and focus for your peers, so you want to try it out.
When taken in the morning (either in place of or mixed in with coffee), CBD wakes your body up so you can have a great and productive day. A lot of people like CBD capsules because their effects are released slowly throughout the course of the day, and other people like CBD oils as it provides quick and strong effects.
Are there any other questions or concerns you have about CBD? Let us know and we will address it in our next post!