As CBD (Cannabidiol) begins to become available throughout the United States, the number of people finding it to be a solution for what ails them is growing. Sales are robust in areas of the country in which CBD is available and a growing demographic for the product is certainly the senior community.
CBD, a derivative of the Industrial Hemp Plant and a cousin to the more notorious Marijuana plant, is still relatively new in the public consciousness but is gaining a level of respectability and legitimacy not seen before. Among the converted believers is a growing population of senior citizens. They are finding the results to be noticeable and they are incorporating CBD in to the daily regimen to combat chronic pain and help them sleep.
Senior Citizens in today’s world have lived a life filled with change. The level of inventions and progress just in their lifetimes is nothing short of amazing. This means they are more open to try new things than people may think and certainly more than prior generations.
Not only are they familiar with change, they also have a working familiarity with the cannabis plant and its history. As baby boomers, today’s senior citizens came to age in the flower power movement of the sixties and many used marijuana at some point. The concept of trying a cannabis product doesn’t repulse them but it is something they left behind years ago.
This doesn’t mean they aren’t open to reintroducing it in to their lives if it will hep them cut down on prescription drugs and help them with the myriad of problems that living a long life may present.
CBD products come in many shapes and sizes and most seniors are interested in trying a topical solution to help with arthritis. A quality topical product can provide relief to problem areas rather quickly and opens the door to the idea of ingesting CBD to provide similar relief throughout the body.
According to a University of Pittsburgh study released in February 2019, CBD appears to be an anti-inflammatory for the brain and the central nervous system[1]. This provides relief to people in a myriad of ways including relief from pain and anxiety and can also help with sleep.
It is apparent that by ingesting CBD, overall relief can be attained where a topical, other than a nanotechnology patch, cannot and this is especially helpful to a generation of people dealing with a myriad of physical issues.
Once a person has determined that CBD works for them it is a matter of finding the correct dose in the best medium. If they are open to ingesting the product, the best results can be achieved by taking the product sublingually (under the tongue). This allows the glands to absorb the CBD where it can begin to go to work balancing out the person’s Endocannabinoid System, resulting in less firing of pain and inflammation signals.
Some seniors are just fine with the MCT oil under the tongue but some others are turned off by the idea of straight oil. Funny enough, this too is rather generational as many of them grew up with Castor Oil being a dietary supplement requirement for them as children. If you have ever tasted Castor Oil you can probably empathize!
For customers seeking the full body relief from CBD but are not interested in the sublingual solution, there are a couple of options. The first option people may consider is an edible product.
Edibles are very much available throughout the cannabis marketplace but they all share the same set of challenges. The first challenge is that many food products do not consistently contain equal amounts of CBD, THC or whatever cannabinoid you may be seeking. This inconsistency can be an ongoing frustration as results may vary.
The second issue some people may have with edible CBD products is the fact that when it is eaten, the CBD is subject to the “pass through” effect. This effect results in another level of inconsistency as the product passes through the digestive system. This results in not only a reduced amount of CBD entering a person’s system but an inconsistent amount over time. Again, frustration with inconsistent results can manifest.
It is important that people experience a level of consistency with their CBD or they will give up on it and seek relief elsewhere; often in pharmaceuticals or other less healthy/natural solutions.
For a truly consistent dose of CBD, customers often use a nanotechnology patch. Similar to other patches including nicotine and lidocaine patches, a CBD patch utilizes advanced nanotechnology to introduce CBD into a persons system with regularity over a set period of time. This is a very desirable product for many people.
Once a senior citizen determines the best CBD answer for them, they then need to know how and where to buy it. Despite the fact that many people from this generation avoid computers, many do not. They know how to shop for products online and certainly appreciate the convenience of delivery to their front door.
The challenge to this, however, is that seniors shopping for CBD do not know which products contain what they claim or if the price is fair. This is where seminars can be helpful.
Most senior living communities have a central gathering center or lodge in which educational meetings or seminars are held. CBD Seminars are very popular and productive. People gather to learn about CBD and to share their experiences with CBD, positive or not. These seminars are a way to provide information to a group that appreciates someone taking the time to explain things to them and answer their questions.
CBD is a fantastic product for many people for many
reasons. Senior citizens are just as interested in benefiting from this amazing
molecule as anyone and with a bit of education they are eager to give it a try.
[1] Review of the Neurological Benefits of Phytocannabinoids
Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Joseph Maroon: ude.cmpu@cjnooram; Jeff Bost: ude.cmpu@jtsoB
* Corresponding author
Received 2018 Feb 5; Accepted 2018 Feb 19
