Top 6 Ways to Discuss CBD with Your Doctor
CBD is an ideal natural treatment for common health conditions. Here are the top 6 ways to discuss CBD with your doctor. Certain scientific studies are indicating that cannabis or CBD can help in easing symptoms associated with ailments like anxiety and chronic pain. Unlike THC, CBD does not result in any psychoactive effects. It contains several compounds, and Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the prominent ones.
Benefits of CBD
The popularity of CBD in the health community is because of its benefits. Let’s take a look at them –
Chronic Pain
Scientists have found that certain cannabinoids possess pain-relieving effects. The human body has an endocannabinoid system (ECS) that regulates several functions in our body, including pain, appetite, sleep, and immune response. Our body produces endocannabinoids that tend to bind with the cannabinoid receptors found in the nervous system. Certain studies were able to show that CBD can affect the endocannabinoid receptor activity to reduce chronic pain and inflammation. Some human studies were able to find that a combination of THC and CBD is useful in the treatment of pain associated with arthritis and multiple sclerosis.
Anxiety and Depression
Anxiety and depression are disorders that have devastating effects on the mental health of a person. Usually, pharmaceutical drugs are used for treating these disorders. However, they can cause several side effects like headaches, sexual dysfunction, agitation, drowsiness, insomnia, and so on. Some of these drugs can be addictive, ultimately leading to substance abuse. Some studies were able to show that CBD can help in easing the symptoms related to anxiety and depression. Because of its antidepressant-like effects, CBD can enable the release of serotonin in the body, which can regulate social behavior and mood.
Cancer-Related Symptoms
CBD is also known to reduce symptoms associated with cancer. Some studies were also able to show that CBD can provide relief from the side effects of cancer treatment, such as pain, vomiting, and nausea. There are drugs available for treating these symptoms, but some patients might find these drugs ineffective. Due to this reason, more people are seeking alternatives. One study showed that CBD has the potential to inhibit the spread of breast cancer cells in mice. Though most of the studies are testing on animals, the potential of cannabis and CBD is not unknown to the world of oncology.
Acne
Acne is a fairly common skin condition that can occur due to several factors, such as bacteria, genetics, overproduction of sebum, and so on. Certain scientific studies were able to find that CBD has a role to play in treating acne, thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties.
Heart Diseases
Recent studies were able to find that CBD could offer benefits pertaining to the heart and circulatory system, particularly in lowering high blood pressure. High blood pressure has been linked to several health conditions, such as metabolic syndrome, heart attack, stroke, and so on. As CBD can help in keeping the blood pressure in check, the chances of suffering from any other serious heart conditions will be lower.
How to Discuss CBD with your Doctor?
Cannabis is increasingly becoming a part of the mainstream culture, along with its major constituents, such as CBD. Due to this reason, many people are discussing the use of cannabis compounds for treating health conditions with their healthcare providers. CBD is one of the major compounds found in Cannabis Sativa. Several countries all across the globe are giving patients the opportunity to use cannabis with legal prescriptions. Irrespective of your location and state’s legal status, you can talk to your doctor about cannabis and its role in treating your health condition. If you wish to talk to your doctor about cannabis, we are going to mention a few tips that can make the conservation smoother. It is best to be prepared with the right questions in order to feel more confident about mentioning cannabis to your healthcare provider.
Be Serious –
What is your reason for using cannabinoids? If you wish to talk about CBD or other cannabinoids with your doctor, you have to be serious about it. The conversation shouldn’t be a joke that you casually add at the end of any conversation. For discussing your options seriously, you need to make an appointment and find adequate time for working things out. If your state doesn’t allow the use and sale of cannabis, talking about cannabis with your doctor might seem nerve-wracking. However, if you seriously think it can make a huge difference in your life, you should mention it to your doctor. Don’t dismiss your thoughts and needs by perpetuating stereotypes.
Do a Thorough Research –
It depends on you if you wish to properly research the laws and your conditions surrounding the use of CBD and cannabis. However, it is always better to be prepared. Try to figure out the best you can from the internet about the endocannabinoid system, terpenes, and cannabinoids before the appointment. By doing so, you will be able to gather holistic information regarding the subject.
Learn about Your Condition –
It is essential that you understand your condition well. If you have a basic idea of your condition, you will feel more encouraged and at ease while discussing your treatment options with a medical professional. Try to expand your personal research and understand how CBD or cannabis can affect you. When you are fully informed, you will be able to understand the approach and response of your doctor better.
Learn about Your Local Laws –
The laws surrounding CBD and cannabis keep fluctuating all the time. When you change your state or country, the laws are going to differ. Therefore, it is essential to know the local laws fully before you can speak about cannabis with your doctor. CBD is a non-psychoactive compound, which is the reason why it is legal in several countries. However, many healthcare systems do not consider it to be a medicine. Certain countries have legalized the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes, but possessing the herb still remains a major offense in many countries. Therefore, it is best to review the laws of your state or country before you can pursue the matter forward.
Learn About Cannabis –
Many systems do not understand the scientific findings related to cannabis, while others choose to dismiss the. It is true that detailed clinical trials that confirm the efficacy of any substance will take some time. However, several biology textbooks wouldn’t focus on the endocannabinoid system of our body.
Due to this reason, you have to educate yourself about CBD and other cannabinoids found in cannabis. In certain states or countries, the doctors won’t be well-versed on the subject matter themselves. Hence, you can elucidate the matter to them as well. We would encourage you to read up as much as possible on cannabinoids and how they affect the endocannabinoid system in our body before you go for a consultation. With the knowledge you acquire, you might be able to introduce the topic to your physician as well.
Find Out Which Cannabis Product Would Be the Best
Some of you might have experimented with cannabis well before approaching your physician. In such instances, you might know which extract, strain, or cannabinoid is the best for you. If you are new to the work of cannabis products, you should try to explore your options. THC is a psychoactive compound that helps in boosting the mood, raising the spirits, and soothing the body. It might help people to start their day with a positive mindset.
On the other hand, CBD is not psychoactive but results in clear-headed and lucid effects, allowing the user to feel more productive and fully functional. Terpenes, another cannabinoid found in the herb, are aromatic molecules that are popular for enabling a synergistic effect. When it comes to options in cannabis products, there are so many of them. You can find isolates, oils, edibles, topicals, and so on. If you are interested in buying these products, go through the options available at heavenlyhempflower. It is best to explore the world of cannabis products and find the ones that you consider would be best for you.
Write Down the Questions You Wish to Ask
Think about the questions you wish to ask your doctor and write them down on a piece of paper. Using the paper as a reference will help you get the right answers. When you go for a consult, it is easy to forget specific questions. Therefore, do not be embarrassed to bring a list of questions along with you.
A few examples of questions that you can ask include –
- Which cannabis compound will be most effective for my condition?
- Which would be the best way to consume cannabis?
- Which websites should I look for reliable information regarding cannabis use?
- Will the cannabis compounds interact with any of my medications?
- Will I be experiencing any side effects after using cannabis?
Be Open and Transparent
If you want to discuss your options with your physician, it is best to remain honest. Doctors are known to take confidentiality very seriously. Therefore, do not hesitate from telling them everything, starting from why you think CBD or cannabis can help you to your concerns regarding its prolonged usage. The more transparent and honest you are, the more your doctor is likely to understand your situation.
Listen to the Concerns of Your Doctor
You might be tempted to undermine your physician’s opinion. It is never a bad idea to take charge of your health through stress management, a proper diet, and sensible use of cannabis. However, you cannot trust Google for everything. When you discuss CBD with your doctor, realize they may not condone its use. If your doctor has concerns with respect to the use of cannabis, you should at least listen to them and try to understand their perspective.
Look for Second Opinion, If Necessary
Though you should keep your doctor’s perspective in mind, you shouldn’t hesitate from taking a second opinion. Doctors don’t always get things right, especially when it comes to cannabis. The herb has recently become popular in mainstream culture. Due to this reason, many doctors don’t learn about it in school. If you have are worried that your doctor might have overlooked a few things, you should follow your gut and look for another physician to get a second opinion.
Log Your Experience with Cannabis
When you write things down, you are able to remember things better. Therefore, you will be able to track your experiences better if you keep a record. By trial and error, you will be able to find out how different CBD products affect you. You can track your sensations and thoughts better by writing them down.
Closing Thoughts
You might dread the idea of talking to your doctor about using cannabis. But if you think it can really help you, find the courage to talk about it.
The views expressed in this guest post do not necessarily reflect the views of KindHealth, nor its affiliated doctors or staff. This blog post was sponsored by Subhankar Sarkar. Go here for more information about the author.
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