In recent years, there has been a significant increase in interest surrounding the potential benefits of CBD flowers because in 2018, hemp-derived CBD flowers have become federally legal in the US, and recently it has become widely available in the market.
Additionally, amongst a wide range of hemp-derived CBD products available in the market, CBD flowers stand out as a clean, unprocessed, and most natural choice of CBD consumption, if you are seeking to get the most out of it.
In this article, we will uncover all the benefits of smoking a CBD flower and we will further discuss its potential for enhancing your overall quality of life.
What are CBD flowers?
CBD flowers are the raw, and processed buds of the hemp plant that are rich in a wide range of natural cannabinoids, terpenes, and other beneficial plant compounds.
CBD hemp flowers come in various strain forms, each with unique measures of cannabinoids (CBD, CBN, CBG, CBG…). Once smoked, these compounds work in synergy and produce an entourage effect in your body, which leads to a wide range of potential benefits.
Note that different strains of CBD flowers will have different cannabinoid constituents, so their effects and benefits on your body will also be different.
Benefits of smoking CBD flowers:
1. Natural stress and anxiety relief
One of the most sought-after benefits of consuming CBD flowers is their ability to promote relaxation and reduce stress and anxiety, almost immediately.
When smoked, CBD flowers interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), which plays a fundamental role in regulating mood and stress responses.
CBD helps the ECS maintain a sense of balance by reducing feelings of stress and anxiety and promoting a sense of calmness. This benefit of CBD flowers can be particularly helpful for individuals dealing with the hustles of everyday life.
A study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology found that participants who received CBD experienced reduced anxiety levels during a public speaking test, indicating the anxiolytic potential of CBD flowers (1).
2. Pain management
CBD flower’s potential as a natural pain reliever has caught significant attention from researchers and many individuals who are seeking alternatives to traditional medications.
Smoking CBD flowers can also offer relief for various types of pain, including chronic pain, headaches, and inflammation, thanks to the compound’s anti-inflammatory properties.
The pain-relieving benefits occur when the CBD molecule interacts with the cannabinoid receptors in your body, particularly the CB1 and CB2 receptors which are present all over your body. By binding with these receptors, CBD modulates pain signals, which in turn reduces inflammation and pain in your body.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine found that CBD significantly reduced chronic pain and inflammation in animal models. (2)
Furthermore, CBD flower’s pain-relieving properties may be especially useful for conditions like arthritis, where inflammation plays a major role in joint pain and discomfort.
3. Sleep quality improvement
Smoking an adequate strain of CBD flowers can also help people who are struggling with sleeping troubles and insomnia because the strain of CBD flowers can interact with receptors that influence our body’s circadian rhythm.
Additionally, the relaxation induced by any CBD flowers can also promote you in a mood where you can naturally experience a night of more restful and rejuvenating sleep.
A study in the Permanente Journal suggested that CBD can help improve sleep in individuals with insomnia (3).
Another study published in the Frontiers in Pharmacology journal suggested that CBD has a therapeutic potential for managing insomnia due to its calming effects on the central nervous system (4).
Furthermore, unlike certain sleep medications, CBD flower does not produce any morning grogginess the next day or impair cognitive function, making CBD flower a natural and promising option for many people who seek a better sleep-promoting solution without the side effects.
4. Mood enhancement
CBD flowers can positively impact your mood and emotional well-being by potentially alleviating symptoms of depression and enhancing feelings of joy and happiness.
Additionally, CBD flowers can help manage mood swings and promote emotional stability, which could potentially benefit those with bipolar disorder or other mood-related conditions.
A 2019 study (5) indicated that CBD could produce rapid and sustained antidepressant-like effects. CBD flower’s potential as an antidepressant has opened new avenues for future researchers.
Although further research is needed to fully understand CBD flower’s long-term benefits on mood and depression, the early findings are promising.
5. Neuroprotective benefits
Smoking CBD flowers can also provide neuroprotective benefits by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation in your body and brain.
A 2019 study (6) found that CBD has antioxidant properties, which help protect neurons from oxidative damage which are caused by free radicals present in your body.
A study in Science Direct (7) also discovered the therapeutic potential of CBD, where it can help prevent neurodegeneration and protect brain cells from the toxic effects of beta-amyloid proteins, which are associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
Although more research is needed to determine the exact mechanisms and potential applications of CBD flowers in neurodegenerative diseases, the initial findings suggest that CBD flower could hold promise as a neuroprotective agent.
6. Addiction Prevention Aid
Surprisingly, smoking CBD flowers can also help individuals quit smoking tobacco or other substances.
A study (8) suggests that CBD can reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings associated with substance addiction, while further offering potential support during the quitting process by inhibiting drug-seeking behaviour.
Another study (9) explored the effects of CBD on cigarette smokers who wanted to quit. The researchers found that participants who received CBD reduced the number of cigarettes smoked by 40% during the study. Moreover, the participants reported experiencing fewer cravings for nicotine.
CBD’s potential as a nicotine cessation aid could have far-reaching implications for public health, as tobacco smoking remains a major cause of preventable diseases and premature death worldwide.
Nevertheless, further research is needed to fully understand the long-term effects of using CBD flowers for nicotine and addiction cessation, but the early results are encouraging.
How long does it take to notice CBD flower benefits?
The time it takes to notice the benefits of smoking CBD flowers can vary from person to person and it also depends on several factors like individual body chemistry, CBD flower strain, and dosage.
Still, you can feel the initial benefits of CBD flowers between 1 to 15 minutes after smoking a puff, because smoking CBD provides faster absorption compared to other methods like edibles or tinctures, as the cannabinoids enter your bloodstream directly through the lungs.
However, it is essential to note that the full extent of CBD flower’s benefits may take some time to manifest. That’s why you have to consistently use CBD flowers in an appropriate dosage over a couple of weeks to experience the full potential benefits.
Additionally, the effectiveness of CBD flowers can also be influenced by the dosage, quality, and potency of a strain.
It’s also worth mentioning that the ratio of CBD’s benefits to its dosage follows a biphasic curve, meaning that if you increase the dosage of CBD flower the benefits may also grow to some extent. Still, it will go down with the further increase in dosage.
So, finding a sweet dosage of CBD flower that works for you is essential to get the most benefits.
It is crucial to understand that each individual’s responses to CBD flowers can vary. Some people may feel the benefits immediately after smoking a puff of CBD flower while some do not experience any significant effects at all.
As with any natural supplement, your individual results may differ based on various factors including the quality of CBD flowers, genetics, overall health, and lifestyle choices.
Final Thoughts
CBD flowers offer a natural and potent way to tap into the benefits of CBD and maximize your wellness.
Although the CBD flower market is still relatively new, and product quality can vary significantly between brands it’s crucial that you purchase CBD flowers from reputable brands that provide third-party lab test results to ensure their purity and potency.
It’s also essential to consult with a healthcare professional before you incorporate CBD flowers into your wellness routine, especially if you are taking other medications or have pre-existing health conditions.
Additionally, it’s worth noting that long-term smoking of anything can be dangerous to you, so exercise necessary caution and check out other safer methods of CBD consumption, like CBD edibles.
Disclosure:
The information in this article is intended for general use only and may not always be appropriate for everyone’s needs. Your health and wellness are unique to you, so before acting on anything we say, seek personalized advice from a medical professional.
We value the accuracy and editorial integrity of all our articles, and we strive to ensure that the content we publish is accurate and up-to-date to the best of our knowledge.