What Is CBD Oil? Can It Help You Quit Smoking?

Can CBD oil really help you quit smoking? It may sound far-fetched, but research suggests it could be true…
 
What is CBD oil? Can it help you quit smoking?

What is CBD oil? First of all, I am not suggesting that you start smoking cannabis to quit smoking. CBD is a special compound derived from cannabis that can provide many of the potential wellness benefits associated with cannabis, but without the mind-altering effects of THC, the compound in cannabis that produces a “high.”

Simply put, cannabis oil is a concentrated liquid extract of the cannabis plant. Like other herbal extracts, the chemical composition of cannabis oil varies depending on how the extract is made and what compounds were present in the plant to begin with. Cannabis plants can produce thousands of compounds, but the best known are cannabinoids. There are several cannabinoids, but the two most familiar to consumers are THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol). THC is the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis, and it is what people seek when they want a product that gives them a “high.”

Second, smoking is harmful because tobacco is toxic, and because our lungs were not designed to handle smoke. When a cigarette burns, the hot smoke is inhaled into the lungs, affecting these vital organs and raising serious concerns for the body as a whole. Over time, the lungs and their natural defense mechanisms are damaged, which is why smoking is strongly linked to chronic health problems.

But what if you could avoid those conditions while still taking advantage of an alternative? More importantly, what if you could use it to help quit smoking and improve your health, especially by using vaporized CBD oil?

A current study suggests that CBD oil may be an alternative aid for quitting smoking. Researchers at University College London published an editorial in the journal Addictive Behaviors arguing that the non-psychoactive compound in cannabis—known scientifically as cannabidiol, or CBD oil—may reduce the number of cigarettes people smoke.

So here comes the tricky part: CBD oil is often consumed through an inhaler, which means that to some extent, users are still “smoking.” But what makes it different? If anything?

The difference is that a vaporizer heats CBD oil at a much lower temperature than combustion. That means you may get two benefits: you can maintain the behavioral ritual associated with smoking while working to overcome nicotine dependence, and at the same time reduce your reliance on cigarettes while potentially improving your health in other ways. A look at the growing research on CBD oil and various health issues helps explain why this idea has attracted attention.
 
Previous studies had already shown that CBD may help reduce addictive behaviors, but this particular study was an early attempt to examine CBD’s specific effects on cigarette dependence.

In this observation, 24 smokers were recruited and divided into groups. One group received an inhaler containing CBD, while the other received a placebo inhaler. Each group was instructed to use the inhaler whenever they felt the urge to smoke over a seven-day period.

The study found that while the placebo group reported no meaningful change in smoking behavior, the group using the CBD inhaler reduced the number of cigarettes they smoked by an average of 40%. That is a fairly impressive figure.

Dr. Morgan, one of the researchers involved in the study, suggested that “CBD may mean that the rewarding memories associated with smoking become less prominent over time.” Although there are many treatments for nicotine addiction, researchers are still working to find more effective options. CBD oil appears to be a promising candidate. However, Dr. Morgan also noted that it is difficult to make direct comparisons with other treatment methods based solely on this study.

She added: “This (40%) was higher than we anticipated. However, it is difficult to evaluate it against other smoking cessation interventions because we did not ask people to stop smoking completely; rather, whenever they wanted a cigarette, they were asked to try using the inhaler instead.” #p#Page Title#e#

Surprisingly, this may offer a significant psychological benefit for people trying to quit, because the behavioral patterns associated with smoking can be very persistent, especially in stressful or social situations.

So how can you use this information? First, it is worth considering that the danger may lie less in the plant itself and more in the way it is burned at excessively high temperatures.

Second, replacing smoking with a vaporizer may be beneficial, because the heating temperature is much lower and may therefore cause less damage to the lungs.

Third, if you want to support the process of quitting smoking, you might consider trying CBD oil, which may also bring broader health benefits.