Unless you’re totally off the grid (in which case you wouldn’t be reading this!), I’m betting you’ve heard a lot about CBD  oil by now! This natural remedy is all the rage, and for so many good reasons. Read on to learn a bit more about what it’s good for. If you’re looking for a good brand to buy, we’ll also talk a bit about why Diamond CBD is a good option.

As someone with major anxiety disorder, sleep problems, back problems, carpal tunnel and all around aches and pains, I am always interested in natural remedies that will help me live a better life. While I have nothing against modern medicine (and make full use of it!), I can’t pop 50 pills a day and still function. So, I spend a lot of time researching alternative medicine that will complement my regularly prescribed regimen.

CBD oil has been on my radar for a few years but it’s only been legal in my state for about two years now. Plus, up until relatively recently, it was way too expensive for my meager budget! Now that it’s both legal and widely available (even the convenient store down the street sells it now), I’ve finally had a chance to try it.

While I’m not about to call it a miracle treatment (I abhor when people use that term), it’s definitely proven beneficial. Let’s talk a bit about what it is (and isn’t), then we’ll get into the potential CBD oil benefits.

Before we go any further, though, I want to add a common sense disclaimer: this is NOT medical advice and shouldn’t replace your doctor’s recommendations. If your doc is up on modern therapies, he (or she) will be able to talk to you about whether CBD is right for you. Mine is totally hip and told me to go ahead and give it a try, but really, talk to your own doctor first.

What is CBD Oil (and What it Isn’t)

CBD oil, aka cannabidoil, is one of the many compounds found in the cannabis plant. Yes, the same plant that gives us Mary Jane. However, CBD oil contains no THC, aka the stuff that makes you wonky when you smoke (or otherwise ingest) marijuana.

Let me repeat that: CBD oil will not make you high. However, it can slightly alter your mood, which is why people with anxiety and depression use it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not going to make you act funny, but like certain other herbal remedies (Valerian, Kava, St. John’s Wort, etc) it can make you feel different. That’s kind of the point, though, right?

Is it legal?

Yes, as far as I can find out (and I’ve cross-checked on like 7 different sites), CBD oil is currently legal in all 50 states when it’s derived from hemp and sold as a dietary supplement. In other words, as long as a brand doesn’t say, “hey, buy this great cure for anxiety” or make any other claims about the health benefits, they can sell it to you no matter what state you live in.

Again, this is as far as I can tell through my research. Double check by looking up “is CBD oil legal in XX,” replacing the Xs with your state, of course.

5 Ways CBD Oil May Help Improve Your Life

Note the word “may” in the subheading. CBD oil isn’t allowed to make medical claims right now so I can’t guarantee that you will have the same results that I did. Honestly, though, there’s no guarantee that an FDA-approved drug will improve your life, either. I have horrific reactions to pretty much all anti-depressants, and they’re FDA-approved. So, there you go. Still, I use the word “may” in this case to avoid any issues.

Now that we cleared that up, let’s talk about benefits.

1. Relieving anxiety

CBD oil was first recommended to me by a friend who uses it solely for anxiety disorder. She said that it helped her quite a bit, so I thought it was definitely worth a try.  One study showed promise in using CBD oil to help with generalized anxiety disorder and others are currently underway.

For me, CBD oil doesn’t completely obliterate my anxious feelings but it worked about as well as my prescription anti-anxiety medication (which I save for major attacks) but without the side effects (headaches and drowsiness, namely). I have rather extreme anxiety so even mild relief is a huge help to me.

2. Helping with pain

One of the most popular reasons that people try CBD oil is to help relieve chronic pain. I have that in spades (did you see the part about the back, wrists, and general all-around ouchies?). Promising studies show that it’s potentially beneficial for those with pain related to diseases like cancer.

Personally, it’s helped quite a bit with certain types of pain in my body. Not so much for the massive back pain, but it makes my carpal tunnel and arthritis (from years of typing) much more bearable. It also significantly helped me when I pinched a nerve in my neck and shoulder a few months ago. Nothing worked at all except for the CBD oil.

3. Nausea relief

If you’re prone to nausea like I am, CBD oil may really help improve your life. I have a very sensitive stomach, to the point that my doctor gave me a prescription to stop my daily retching. Gross, sorry, but for reasons unknown to me or my doctor, I can’t seem to make it through the day without getting sick to my stomach.

Unfortunately, my insurance only covers about half a month’s worth of my anti-nausea medication and they won’t cover the type that dissolves under my tongue, so I have to be able to keep it down for at least 20 minutes. CBD oil helps me on the days after my meds run out as well as when I can’t keep them down (like when I’m in the middle of a migraine attack). Since I have the type that goes right under your tongue, it doesn’t need to get into and stay in my stomach to work. FYI, if you’re using it for nausea, I definitely recommend the unflavored oil.

4. Improving sleep quality

Yet another potential benefit of CBD oil that I have experience with! Yep, I’m a mess! While I manage to fall asleep quickly I inevitably wake up 30 minutes later. Then, I toss and turn before falling back to sleep, only to awaken an hour later. I get maybe 6 hours of sleep a night and it’s never unbroken.

I tried using CBD oil about an hour before bedtime and I’ve noticed a difference. I don’t end up with that first waking a half an hour in. I still wake up in the middle of the night but I do manage to sleep a little later in the morning. I think if I remembered to try it every night before bed it would help more.

5. Skin Care

Very recent studies suggest that CBD might help clear up acne. I haven’t tried it for that because I don’t have acne, but I do know that hemp oil in general is extremely good for your skin. I’ve used it on dry patches with great results. Note that hemp seed oil and CBD aren’t really the same thing. I’ve only tried hemp seed for skin care. Diamond CBD has a few different options for skin care, including hemp seed oil creams and CBD oil bath bombs if you want to give it a try.

Where to Buy CBD Oil

Like I said earlier, you can find CBD oil pretty much anywhere now. That’s both a good and a bad thing. Good because you don’t have to go to a specialty store, but bad because there’s a lot of junk out there that barely has any actual CBD in it.

If you’re looking for one of the most reputable places to buy CBD I recommend Diamond CBD because they have a massive selection of high-quality products (they even have CBD Gummie products). Their team is made up of doctors and scientists, and all of their products are lab-tested & 100% natural.

Remember, talk to your doctor before using CBD oil, especially if you’re taking other medications or have preexisting medical conditions such as heart, kidney or liver disease. Use common sense and never stop taking prescription medications without first discussing it with your doc. CBD oil has been great for me, but I make no guarantees about its effectiveness for others.