While western medicine costs keep skyrocketing, and actual results and side effects seem to get worse, there’s been a serious shift in the world of natural health remedies. One of the very special ones is CBD, or Cannabinoid Oil Derived from non-psychoactive hemp plants. This plant and its by-products have slowly been replacing deadly, addictive drugs for patients of all ages. CBD has been far more effective for treating: 1. Pain: this miraculous plant has been shown to reduce crippling nerve pain, back pain, joint pain, and many other hard-to-treat pain for millions of patients. In one 2020 study of patients with peripheral neuropathy and given a topical CBD oil experienced a significant reduction in sharp pain and cold, itchy sensations compared to those who received a placebo. Another study showed that CBD was 30 times more effective than aspirin and 10 times more effective than morphine in treating causes of pain. 2. Sleep: there’s a catastrophic sleep-loss epidemic happening in this country due to our hyper-connected lifestyles and this incredible plant can restore the restful, refreshing sleep you experienced in your younger days. Whether it’s caused by diet, stress, lifestyle, or the aches and pains in our bodies, good sleep has become harder and harder to come by. According to scientists, sleep deprivation affects every aspect of our biology. But you knew that, it’s common sense. After food and water, sleep is our most biologically essential activity, and we can wake up with less stiffness and soreness after a good night’s rest thanks to CBD’s ability to ease the pain and relax your muscles. A study of people with insomnia found those who had even one dose of CBD slept better. 3. Anxiety: another seldom-reported symptom of our modern lifestyle is a gnawing anxiety that, before now, has only been treatable with dangerous psychotropic drugs. All that will potentially change with CBD. A 2022 Nature publication reported that people with moderate to severe anxiety experienced a 60% to 70% reduction in symptoms after four weeks of treatment with CBD. One study found that treatment with CBD significantly reduced anxiety, cognitive impairment and discomfort. It also gives you that laser focus so that you can get more done, faster. 4. Inflammation: recent research has shown that most of our health problems stem from some form of inflammation.
Fortunately, CBD has been shown to fight inflammation better than any other single remedy in the last 20 years. Joint pain, swelling, and inflammation was reduced by as much as 47% in a study published in the European Journal of Pain.
5. Addictions: some research shows promise for reducing drug cravings for patients with opioid use disorder, alcohol use disorder and tobacco-related results. Extensive CBD research is underway. In fact, researchers are conducting nearly 200 clinical trials examining the effectiveness to treat PTSD, cancer, schizophrenia, cognitive impairment, ADHD, Parkinson’s disease, and other conditions. In a few years, researchers hope to have concrete information about the best dosing protocols of CBD for specific symptoms and conditions.
Many people I know have struggled with sleep, chronic pain, inflammation and/or anxiety for most of their lives. They have been so frustrated that they have used medications or they have just given up and attributed it to old age. Fortunately, CBD has become recognized as a treatment in the U.S. in recent times, even though it has been around for centuries. For example, in India the plant is considered sacred and has been used in rituals, spiritual ceremonies, and health practices since 1400 BC. According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, 2.6 million people in America are addicted to opioids and about 72,000 died in 2025, many prescribed to opioids by our medical system. Fortunately, last year it has been estimated that 64% of U.S. adults reported trying a CBD product.
Since CBD is derived from the hemp plant (marijuana) many think it is illegal in many states. However, CBD has less than 0.3% THC which is the high ingredient and is absolutely 100% legal. One does not get high with CBD as determined by our government and numerous scientific studies which have determined CBD to be nonpsychoactive and will not impair one’s mental capabilities. Since CBD does not get you high, it does not impair your ability to drive, work, or perform everyday tasks. It does calm you down, help you focus, relieve anxiety, sleep, and deal with pain, but not make you high.
If you mention to someone that you take CBD and they accuse you of being a “pot-head”, you could inform them that you are not taking “pot” but CBD which is one of the most studied plants over the last decade. In 2018 the World Health Organization report called CBD generally well-tolerated, with a good safety profile. They also found that CBD was not addictive.
The research that has been done, more is needed, shows the tremendous impact that CBD has on a variety of conditions especially for elders. Obviously, we need to be mindful with our use, research the product and venders and communicate with your medical team. In our purchasing quest we need to check out the company and see if they have the CBD product tested by an outside third party to assess aspects of safety, including whether it’s free of contaminants. The best check is a lab-generated certificate of analysis (COA). Another option in purchasing CBD is a cannabis dispensary, for example “Sol Cannabis” in south Reno.
The result of my research of CBD is that with the above guidance try it, but start low and go slow. What better way to “add life to years”.
Lawrence J. Weiss, Ph.D. is CEO of the Center for Healthy Aging. Dr. Weiss welcomes your comments on this column. Write to him at larryjweiss@gmail.com or c/o Center for Healthy Aging, 11 Fillmore Way, Reno, NV 89519.
