By Hadley Gavin
CBD, which was only approved by the American FDA earlier this year, is one of the year’s top wellness trends, according to a new list of interesting health and wellness trends published by Vogue.
Used for a range of medical purposes, CBD oil has grown massively in popularity over the last few years. Laws regarding CBD oil in the UK changed in 2017, making the substance legal for use as a treatment for a range of health conditions.
With the American FDA approving Epidiolex, an anti-seizure medication that uses CBD oil, in June of 2018, public use of CBD oil and other products containing CBD could grow at an even faster pace as we enter 2019.
Vogue isn’t the first publication to recognise the growing popularity of CBD oil. CBD has been a popular topic in the media for the last two years, with newspapers and magazines alike covering the surge in interest and usage around the world.
CBD is a non-psychoactive chemical that’s found inside the cannabis plant. Unlike THC, which is the ingredient responsible for cannabis’s psychoactive effects, CBD does not cause a “high” and isn’t an illegal substance.
Instead, CBD offers a range of potential health benefits that have made it a popular treatment for everything from anxiety to chronic pain. Data indicates that there are hundreds of thousands of CBD oil users in the UK alone, many of whom use the substance for chronic conditions.
Clinical research into the benefits of CBD oil is still ongoing, meaning there’s little study data to back up many of the health claims made about CBD. However, countless CBD users claim that it’s responsible for significant improvements in their symptoms and quality of life.
There’s also some research showing that CBD oil can play an important role in treating epilepsy in both adults and children. In a recent study, researchers found that even a small dose of CBD oil can have positive results for treating seizures in people with epilepsy.
As an oil, CBD can be administered in a variety of ways. Many CBD oil users apply the oil as a topical cream or lotion, while others take CBD oil sublingually (under the tongue) or orally using products such as CBD vape pens.
Other wellness trends included on Vogue’s list include an increase in the level of awareness of gut flora, which experts believe could play an important role in supporting the immune system and overall health, as well as a surge in interest in nootropics and adaptogens.
Promoted as cognitive and physical performance enhancers, nootropics aim to improve focus, mood and productivity. Like many other wellness products, the scientific evidence is mixed, but users claim they’re helpful tools for improving brain function and overall quality of life.
With awareness of CBD oil increasing, it’s likely that 2018 won’t be the only year it appears on lists of popular wellness trends. In fact, current estimates of the CBD market indicate that CBD oil is poised for several years, or even an entire decade, of steady, significant growth.
