How does CBD for aging parents work? The sight of our aging parents sometimes hits us when we least expect it and leaves us wondering where the time went.
Did time pass by so fast that we didn’t notice the development of wrinkles on their skin? Or how they’re now shuffling a little when walking? Have we become so engrossed in our own lives that we’ve failed to notice how fragile they’ve become?
It’s painful to watch our parents grow old. In our mind’s eye, they’re always the strong, capable, and invincible people we know them to be when we were small.
But we all age, and with aging comes a myriad of symptoms.
It’s never too late to show our parents a little love through CBD and its therapeutic effects on an aging body. If you want to learn how CBD oil can improve the life of your aging parent, then read on.
Improve Joint Pain and Mobility
Arthritis is very common among the elderly. Through wear and tear and trauma, their joints degenerate and become weaker. Walking, standing for long periods of hours, and even sitting can cause pain in their joints and back.
If your elderly parent is suffering from joint pain and swelling, know that CBD has powerful analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. Not only does it work on the endocannabinoid system, but it also stimulates other non-cannabinoid receptors as well like the vanilloid receptor.
CBD can help relieve arthritis pain — may it be from osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. It can also ease back pain. CBD’s anti-inflammatory effects can also help reduce joint swelling associated with these joint problems.
By reducing pain and swelling, CBD allows them to be more mobile and active.
Improve Mood and Ease Stress, Anxiety, and Depression
Many factors can affect the elderly’s mental health. These include chronic health conditions, disabilities, fear of dying, social isolation, loneliness, or cognitive decline.
Your presence can help improve their mood. So, even if you’re very busy with work and your own family, always save special time for your aging parents. What better way to express your love than by spending quality time with them? A time well spent with our elderly loved ones can definitely help improve their mood and lift their spirits.
If your aging parent has been diagnosed with depression or anxiety though, then know that CBD also has properties that can help them. It can reduce their stress levels and ease their anxiety. CBD can also boost mood and improve depression.
CBD oil can even help improve symptoms caused by medical conditions like chronic pain, fibromyalgia, arthritis, and low back pain, among others. All these chronic health problems can impact one’s mental health.
Boost Quality Sleep
Aging also causes changes in sleep patterns and habits. Sleep duration becomes shorter, and the time it takes to fall asleep becomes longer. Frequent sleep interruptions also affect the quality of their sleep.
Sleep problems among the elderly are very common and can be caused by several issues. These include chronic health conditions, sleep problems like insomnia, restless legs syndrome, sleep apnea, or mental health issues. The medications they’re taking can also affect their sleep quality.
Now, CBD can help address some of these issues. It can decrease pain, ease cramps, and relax the muscles. It can also ease symptoms of mental health problems like depression and anxiety. A relaxed mind can help them sleep better.
Fight Cancer Cells and Reduce Cancer Symptoms
If your aging parent has been diagnosed with cancer, then CBD also has therapeutic benefits that can help them fight cancer cells. CBD can even help control nausea and vomiting induced by chemotherapy.
According to studies, CBD can kill cancer cells. And it does this by prompting apoptosis or cell death of the cancer cell. It triggers a cascade of signals inside the cell, disrupting its chemical balance and inducing its death. By inducing its death, CBD can help prevent or slow down cancer growth.
In addition to this, CBD also prevents the formation of blood vessels in cancer growth. Called angiogenesis, the formation of these new blood vessels gives the cancer growth its own blood supply. They supply the abnormal growth with nutrients and oxygen, allowing it to grow and invade other structures. They also give cancer cells a way to travel to other parts of the body.
CBD inhibits angiogenesis. It prevents cancer growths from getting their own blood supply. By inhibiting angiogenesis, CBD also prevents cancer cells from traveling to other parts of the body via the blood vessels. This can help reduce metastasis risk.
Improve Cognitive Functions
It’s normal for our aging parents to develop some memory problems. It’s a normal part of the aging process. But if the cognitive problems start affecting their day-to-day lives, then you have to take your parent to see their doctor. The cognitive problems may be a sign of dementia.
Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia problems have no known cure. Medications are prescribed to at least delay the disease progression and improve symptoms.
Now, CBD has therapeutic effects that can also help people with dementia. It has neuroprotective properties. It can help protect healthy neurons from the compounds or chemicals that speed up the process of dementia. It can also help delay disease progression.
One study done on an animal model showed that long-term use of CBD can help prevent memory deficits caused by Alzheimer’s disease. It also reduced neuroinflammation caused by oxidative damage, harmful proteins, and damaging compounds.
Conclusion
These are just some of the beneficial effects of CBD on your aging parent’s health. If you wish to give them CBD oil, make sure that it’s manufactured by a trustworthy provider. We also encourage you to read reviews about the product and the company itself.
Be sure to check its THC level as well. Some elderly people can’t tolerate THC, and if your parent is one of them, you might want to consider getting them THC-free CBD products. Be sure to look for the CBD product’s certificate of analysis. This can show you the quality, potency, and safety of the product.
Lastly, be sure to speak with your parent’s doctor as well. This is especially important if they’re taking maintenance medications for chronic health problems. CBD is known to interact with other drugs metabolized by the liver. The cannabinoid can either enhance the beneficial effects of the pharmacological drugs or worsen their side effects.
