CBD and Erectile Dysfunction
CBD and Erectile Dysfunction (ED) are two subjects that you just can’t seem to get away from if you are on the internet these days. Most people, both men, and women have a spam folder in their email with promotions for each. ED advertisements are geared towards the purchase of a magic pill or an appointment for a “Male Enhancement Clinic.” What you don’t see are any advertisements toating CBD as a remedy for ED. You do see and hear about CBD having a potential benefit for almost everything else. So, it seems only natural to wonder, could CBD potentially help with ED?
Causes of Erectile Dysfunction
Before we can get into possible benefits CBD could have to this issue, it is important to understand the causes of ED. This post specifically relates to the type of ED that inhibits the ability to get or maintain an erection. To broadly summarize, ED can be comprised of two major categories, physical and psychological.
Physical ED can be caused by several health problems. Issues that interfere with blood flow such as heart disease, obesity, and alcoholism are just a few examples. Another major cause of physical ED is low testosterone (Low-T). Simply, the body does not produce enough testosterone to stimulate an erection.
Psychological ED manifests itself from psychological issues in the brain and is also caused by many different sources. Abuse, trauma, stress, and depression are just a few psychological causes of ED. These causes can be ongoing or temporary. Like physical issues, they can be affected by your environment and lifestyle choices or not depending on the root cause.
Because ED is a secondary symptom of a larger issue it is important to consult a health care provider if you experience ED.
Potential Benefits of CBD
To be clear, the FDA prohibits making any medical claims about CBD. With that being said there have been multiple studies showing what benefits CBD could offer. Below are potential benefits CBD could offer to help ED.
First, it’s important to understand how the body reacts to CBD through what we have discovered about the Endocannabinoid System (ECS). For more detailed information on this, please review our post on CBD and ECS. To give a broad description, CBD works with two different receptors in the body. These are referred to as the CB1 and CB2 receptors.
Research suggests that CB1 receptors primarily deal with the release of chemicals from the brain into the body that helps to maintain homeostasis. While no claims can be given that CBD can cure anything, studies have shown that CBD and THC may make an impact on these systems. This could possibly result in increased relaxation and sleep while decreasing depression. The same issues are some of the contributing causes of psychological ED. Currently, CBD, as well as Delta-8 THC, are currently federally legal.
CB2 receptors are believed to deal more with the body’s immune, gastrointestinal, and peripheral nervous systems. In dealing with these receptors, CBD could possibly help to influence immune resistance and cardiovascular function. All symptoms of some of the issues causing the physical ED.
Conclusion
No claims may be able to be made about the medical benefits of CBD but studies have shown it has potential benefits. These benefits are still being discovered as research continues. The benefits currently believed to be offered by CBD do not appear to be a “cure” for ED. However, many of the benefits that may be offered by CBD could lend a hand in the recovery of the ailments that lead to ED.
These ailments include both physical and psychological issues. As CBD appears to work with both CB1 and CB2 receptors it has potential benefits for both physical and psychological ailments. If you experience ED you should visit a health care professional to find and treat the primary health issues. If you believe CBD may assist as an alternative treatment of these issues, it is recommended that you take the purest form in a method appropriate to your lifestyle.
