It’s official, almost 50% of people who use CBD have quit taking pharmaceutical pills. A 2017 study by market research company Brightfield Group interviewed 2,400 members of the online medical cannabis community and discovered that 42% of CBD users (both marijuana-derived CBD and hemp-derived CBD) have let go of modern medicine in favor of CBD to treat their ailments and conditions.
How Does CBD Work?
CBD, or cannabidiol, is a naturally occurring active cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant. There are at least 113 active cannabinoids in the cannabis plant, but at the moment CBD and THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) are the only ones currently being researched for their healing properties.
THC is the main psychoactive compound in marijuana that gives the user a feeling of being “high,” whereas CBD is the non-psychoactive component of cannabis. While CBD and cannabis in general has been given a bad reputation for decades now, more and more studies are coming out supporting the plant’s incredible health and wellness properties.
According to medical studies, CBD has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety, anti-psychoactive, and anti-convulsant properties. Used at least once a week, it has been proven to be an effective treatment for anxiety, insomnia, joint pain, and depression. Regular use of CBD has also helped treat muscle tension, migraines, chronic pain, arthritis, and nausea. When pressed further about other conditions CBD has relieved, respondents say they’ve used it to manage menstrual cramps, skin problems, diabetes, ADHD, and IBS, among others.
Study Finds Most CBD Users Quit Pills
When CBD users were interviewed, 66% said that CBD was actually more effective at managing and relieving the symptoms than the over-the-counter medicine. And when it comes to prescription medicine, 52% noted that CBD was a more effective treatment option. Even those who still use prescription or over-the-counter medicine with CBD remark that CBD is more effective in treating their conditions. In fact, the CBD-only users have used CBD to replace over-the-counter pain relievers and ointments like Tylenol and Bengay, and prescription medicine like Vicodin and Ambien.
Another fact that was unearthed during the interview was the number of women using CBD. 58% of those interviewed who only used CBD are women. This is a big jump from a HelloMD study a year before where they only recorded women CBD-only users at 36%. Clearly, more women are learning about the medical use and benefit of CBD.
Majority of CBD users also prefer to use CBD through vaping, with topicals and tinctures the next preference. Some users also use CBD through lozenges, gummies, candy, chocolate and baked goods, as well as capsules and sprays.
The Bottom Line
It’s also important to note that, although the findings of this study are promising, it only included members of HelloMD, who are already CBD users. These individuals already know about CBD and have implemented it into their daily lives, but they only represent a small percentage of the population. As more research is done on CBD, advocates hope that more people will turn to the cannabinoid for their health and wellness needs.
As more and more people begin reaping the medical and health benefits of CBD, experts hope that it will soon become a mainstream treatment option for those seeking a more natural solution to their medical needs.
Have you tried CBD to relieve your own medical or health condition? Did you take it with pharmaceutical medicine or on its own? How has CBD benefited you and your health?
To learn more about five prescription pills people are replacing with CBD, click here.