CBD For Seniors: Understand The Benefits & How It Works

CBD—Everyone’s talking about it, from young athletes to the over 50 crowd. The popular cannabinoid is one over 500 compounds derived from the hemp plant. It has many benefits for people of all ages, but is CBD for seniors a good idea, and how does it work for them? Keep reading for an overview of how CBD works for seniors.

CBD is Derived from Industrial Hemp

CBD is a phytocannabinoid that’s extracted from the industrial hemp plant. As mentioned above, these plants are full of beneficial compounds, including cannabidiol, which is better known as CBD. You may think the cannabinoid is something new. However, it was first isolated in the 1930s by Alexander Todd.

Research later increased significantly in the 1990s after the discovery of the endocannabinoid system, a complex signaling system in the human body that interacts with CBD and other cannabinoids. It would be this scientific update that would help researchers understand how CBD works for seniors (and all other people and animals with backbones.)

CBD is 100% Legal and Non-Euphoric-Inducing

In December 2018, the U.S. president signed the 2018 Farm Bill, which made farming hemp legal across all American states and territories. With this approval, products derived from hemp, including CBD, are legal if they contain less than .3% of THC. The Federal Register, a daily journal of the United States Government, explains on 10/31/2019,

“Hemp is a commodity that can be used for numerous industrial and horticultural purposes including fabric, paper, construction materials, food products, cosmetics, production of cannabinoids (such as cannabidiol or CBD), and other products.”

CBD from hemp doesn’t have more than .3% THC and doesn’t lead to feelings of euphoria or a “high.” A 2017 report from the World Health Organization (WHO), explains,
“… in general, clinical studies have reported that even high doses of oral CBD do not cause those [psychoactive] effects that are characteristic for THC and for cannabis rich in THC.”

The document continues with,
“in a study of healthy volunteers administered 200mg oral CBD, CBD did not produce any impairments of motor or psychomotor performance.”

Additionally, the minute amount found in plant derivatives can be removed. For more information about THC-free CBD products, read about our broad spectrum infused items below.

CBD Benefits for Sleep

Your body goes through many changes as you age. One problem that pops up for many seniors is sleep disturbances. In fact, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH), close to 50% of people over 60 reported problems sleeping. When you don’t get a good night’s rest, whether its having difficulty falling or staying asleep, it can have severe repercussions. 

When over-the-counter techniques, such as melatonin and Nyquil don’t work, physicians often turn to prescription medications, like Ambien, to help patients get much-needed rest. However, most of these medical solutions come with a foggy morning and other unpleasant side effects.

Susheel Patil, a clinical director at John Hopkins Sleep Medicine, explained to the HuffPost,
“These medications have an elimination half-life of 10 to 12 hours, which means they are often circulating [in] your blood after you are waking up.” He also added, “Some people also report “palpitations or a fast heart rate. In older individuals, there can be concerns about constipation and urinary retention.”

Yikes! Luckily, there are safer options that won’t leave you groggy or put you in danger of falling in the middle of the night. A single dose of CBD nightly can help consumers fall asleep faster, improving their overall sleep quality.

CBD for Seniors with Inflammation

Similar to sleep and possibly a reason why you’re not getting a full night’s rest, is inflammation. Conditions that lead to inflammatory pain can reduce the quality of sleep. Many seniors are now turning to CBD as a safe alternative to other pain medications, including opioids, which can be deadly. An article in AARP highlights these positive changes. Dr. Mikhail Kogan, a medical director for the George Washington University Center for Integrative Medicine, explains that cannabinoids like CBD are

“safer than Tylenol or caffeine by tenfold. If you compare them to opiates, they’re about 10,000 times safer.”

Dr. Kogan also recommends seniors use tinctures for the best delivery method.

CBD Benefits for Seniors with Anxiety

Anxiety is a big problem for people over 50. During the current COVID-19 pandemic, those numbers are rising quickly. Between health and economic worries, feelings of anxiousness are rising to dangerous levels. While some people are turning to prescription medications, these medications, much like drugs for sleeping and inflammatory pain, come with hazardous side effects.

CBD has the potential to relieve mild and severe cases of anxiety and panic, helping you stay calm, relax more, and get a full nights’ rest, despite the worlds’ continuing troubles. And best of all, as Dr. Kogan explains above, it is much safer than other items on the market, even ones that come with a prescription.

Choose Between Broad Spectrum, Full-Spectrum, and an Isolate

Products with CBD for seniors are not created equal. They differ by potency and nearly as important, what’s in them. Broad spectrum comes with everything but THC. Full-spectrum CBD contains all the compounds found in the hemp plant, including THC. In addition to broad and full-spectrum products, you can choose an isolate. This is 99.99% pure CBD and may cause more side effects than broader products.

Benefits of Broad Spectrum CBD Oil for Seniors

EZlief premium-grade hemp-derived oils are all broad spectrum, so you’ll never have to worry about THC. While many people can tolerate small amounts of THC, seniors may have trouble with it. To reduce the chances of side effects from the THC, without losing the benefit of the 499 other compounds, including over 65 non-psychoactive cannabinoids, in the plant extract, seniors should consider only using broad spectrum products. Additionally, scientists have found that the best way to reduce side effects and get the benefit of the whole plant, is through a full or broad spectrum product.

Different Ways for Seniors to Take CBD Oil

As you may see, there are several methods for taking CBD. After safely extracting the compound from the hemp plant, using a supercritical CO² extraction technique, the oil can be infused into nearly any other product. The most popular include

• CBD Tinctures (dosages under the tongue for sublingual use)
• Edibles (gummies, chocolates, and drinks)
• Vape oils (requires a special device)
• Vape juice or e-liquid (requires a special device)
• Creams or salves (topical use only)
• Transdermal patches (topical use only)
• Capsules (acts as an edible)

Each of these methods has different onsets and durations. Some ways work better than others, depending on the reason you’re taking CBD.

Are There Any Side Effects with CBD for Seniors?

Yes. There are some mild side effects of CBD. However, as you can see, these are very minor and are easy to fix, compared to prescription medications offered through big pharmaceutical companies. The most common issues consumers report includes,

• Drowsiness
• Stomach upset
• Irritability
• Headache

Although it’s not a side effect, unflavored CBD oil can have an unpleasant taste for some consumers, especially older ones. EZlief CBD oil is available in three premium, all-natural flavors, Minty Green, Tangy Lemon, and Citrusy Orange, to help take the edge off the not-so-pleasant plant taste. Choose a natural and delicious tincture for an all-around enjoyable experience.

How Much Should You Take?

Along with asking how CBD works for seniors, many want to know how much they need with each dose. Everyone’s body is different, so there are no specific doses like traditional medicines. Instead, most professionals will advise you to start low and increase the dose slowly. For example, a good starting range is between 5mg and 10 mg as needed and increase the dosage from that point once a week as necessary. You can achieve this using gummies, oils, and capsules.

Now you know how CBD works for seniors and understand the immense benefits of the hemp-derived compounds. Consider picking up a bottle of our premium hemp-derived CBD oil or trying some yummy gummy candies at night to sleep better or during the day to decrease anxious feelings or reduce inflammation.