Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a trendy natural cure for a wide variety of typical ills.
Cannabidiol, or CBD for short, is one of more than a hundred chemical components in cannabis called cannabinoids (1Trusted Source).
The principal psychoactive cannabinoid in cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is responsible for the high associated with marijuana use. CBD, in contrast to THC, does not cause intoxication.
Because of this property, CBD is an attractive choice for folks who want to alleviate pain and other symptoms but are wary of the psychoactive effects of cannabis or the negative side effects associated with other pharmaceutical medications.
Cannabidiol (CBD) oil is produced by diluting CBD isolate from the cannabis plant with a carrier oil such as coconut oil or hemp seed oil. You may get CBD in the form of food, drinks, and even body goods like bath bombs and body washes.
It’s gaining popularity in the wellness community thanks to promising research suggesting it can reduce the discomfort of illnesses including chronic pain and anxiety. Are you sure that’s the best option, though?
This article discusses the possible risks and adverse effects of using CBD products, in addition to the six documented health advantages of CBD.
1. May Relieve Pain
As long back as 2900 B.C., people were using cannabis to alleviate their suffering (2Trusted Source).
Newer research has pinpointed CBD, one of cannabis’s active compounds, as the source of the drug’s analgesic effects.
The endocannabinoid system is a complex network of receptors and enzymes in the human body that regulates processes as diverse as sleep, appetite, pain perception, and immunological response (3Trusted Source).
Endocannabinoids are naturally occurring neurotransmitters that interact with cannabinoid receptors in the neurological system.
CBD’s potential to alleviate chronic pain stems from its ability to modulate endocannabinoid receptor activation, decrease inflammation, and interact with neurotransmitters, according to research (4Trusted Source).
Some studies have shown that CBD when administered alone, may be useful in relieving pain, particularly nerve pain and back pain. Though it appears to work best when paired with THC (5Trusted Source, 6Trusted Source).
Multiple sclerosis (MS) and arthritis pain have both been shown to be alleviated by a combination of CBD and THC in human studies.
Sativex (nabiximols), an oral spray containing a 1:1 ratio of THC to CBD, has been licenced for use in the treatment of multiple sclerosis-related pain in a number of countries.
The results of a month’s worth of Sativex use in 47 MS patients were analysed. Improvements in pain, mobility, and muscle spasms were reported by the individuals (7Trusted Source).
However, because there was no placebo group in this study, its results should be interpreted with caution (7Trusted Source).
Sativex was suggested to help with persistent severe neuropathic pain and neuropathic pain related to multiple sclerosis in a review. Anxiety and stress are significant contributors to chronic pain, and the research revealed that Sativex may help alleviate these conditions (8Trusted Source).
There is also evidence that CBD can help with the pain and inflammation associated with rheumatic conditions like fibromyalgia.
Survey data from 2,701 patients with fibromyalgia showed that those who took CBD for pain treatment generally reported slight to a major improvement in symptoms (9Trusted Source).
Furthermore, preclinical evidence from rat research suggests that CBD may have positive benefits on pain and inflammation associated with arthritis; however, human trials are currently missing (10Trusted Source).
More high-quality studies are needed to determine CBD’s efficacy in pain management, although experts are optimistic that it may be beneficial in the treatment of various forms of pain, especially when paired with THC.
This approach has the potential to alleviate the signs and symptoms of certain mental health conditions, which is why
Negative effects on physical and mental health from conditions like anxiety and depression are well-documented.
Pharmaceutical medications are commonly used to treat mental health conditions, but they can have negative side effects such as sleepiness, agitation, sleeplessness, sexual dysfunction, and headaches (11Trusted Source).
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2. Could Reduce Symptoms Related to Some Mental Health Disorders
Many people who suffer from mental health concerns, such as anxiety disorders, have grown interested in trying CBD oil as a treatment because of its promising results.
A total of 57 males participated in a simulated public speaking test 90 minutes after taking CBD or placebo orally in a Brazilian study. CBD doses of 300 milligrammes were found to be optimal for dramatically lowering test-day anxiety (12Trusted Source).
Those who took a placebo, 150 mg of CBD, or 600 mg of CBD reported barely any impact (12Trusted Source).
It has been shown that cannabidiol (CBD) oil is a safe and effective treatment for PTSD-related symptoms like insomnia and anxiety in youngsters (13Trusted Source).
CBD was also found to be useful in lowering PTSD-related symptoms, such as nightmares, in adults in a short study published in 2019. (14Trusted Source).
Researchers in a number of additional research has indicated that CBD shows promise as a treatment for social anxiety and other forms of anxiety (15Trusted Source).
Human evidence for CBD’s possible antidepressant capacities is currently limited, despite the fact that some people feel that CBD helps depression-related symptoms (15Trusted Source).
Nonetheless, evidence from a number of studies suggests that marijuana may aid in the reduction of depressive symptoms in people who suffer from cannabis use disorders (15Trusted Source).
3. May Alleviate Certain Cancer-Related Symptoms
In fact, by April 2022, researchers want to have finished studying the effects of 150-300 mg of CBD per day on anxiety and depression symptoms in persons with bipolar disorder.
It has the potential to reduce the severity of some cancer-related symptoms
Some people who have cancer or who are undergoing cancer treatment may find relief from nausea, vomiting, and pain by using CBD.
177 persons with cancer-related pain who did not find relief from conventional pain medication were included in a previous investigation of the effects of cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
The pain was significantly reduced for individuals given an extract containing both components, as opposed to those given just THC extract (16Trusted Source).
Sativex may be useful in relieving the pain associated with cancer, according to a review of five research (17Trusted Source).
The effects of cannabis and cannabinoids like CBD on cancer-related nausea, pain, and decreased appetite have been the subject of a number of scientific research, with varying results (18Trusted Source).
Although preliminary evidence suggests that cannabidiol (CBD) may help some cancer patients, more study is required to determine whether CBD should be used routinely in the management of cancer symptoms.
Consult your healthcare provider before trying CBD or any other cannabis-based product if you are currently dealing with cancer. Not everyone with cancer will find these products to be safe or useful.
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4. May Have Neuroprotective Properties
CBD has been shown to have effects on the endocannabinoid system and other brain-signalling systems, leading researchers to speculate that it may be useful in the treatment of neurological illnesses.
As a matter of fact, CBD has been extensively researched for usage in treating neurological illnesses like epilepsy and multiple sclerosis. The investigations conducted so far have revealed some encouraging findings, despite the fact that this field of study is quite young.
Reducing muscle stiffness with Sativex has been proven to be a safe and effective treatment option for persons with multiple sclerosis.
Seventy-five per cent of 276 MS patients with treatment-resistant muscular spasticity saw their spasms lessen after receiving this treatment (19Trusted Source).
Another study administered between 0.9 and 2.3 grammes of CBD oil per pound of body weight (2-5 grammes per kg) to 214 persons with severe epilepsy. They saw a 36.5 percentage point decrease in their seizure frequency (20Trusted Source).
Another study indicated that compared to a placebo, CBD oil was highly effective in reducing seizure activity in children with Dravet syndrome, a severe form of paediatric epilepsy (21Trusted Source).
Convulsions, fever, and weariness were reported by a small number of CBD-treated participants throughout both studies.
The potential efficacy of CBD in treating a variety of different neurological illnesses has also been investigated.
Several studies have demonstrated that cannabidiol (CBD) medication has the potential to improve the quality of life and sleep in persons with Parkinson’s disease (22Trusted Source).
However, experts say there is currently a dearth of reliable information. Unfortunately, this means that the clinical use of CBD for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease is not yet supported by sufficient data (22Trusted Source).
However, the FDA has given its blessing to one CBD medicine for treating multiple types of seizure disorders.
In 2018, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorised the use of Epidiolex, a prescription cannabidiol medication, to treat seizures caused by two very severe forms of epilepsy: Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome.
The Food and Drug Administration approved Epidiolex in 2020 to treat seizures related to tuberous sclerosis complex, a rare genetic disorder that can cause benign tumours to form in the brain and other parts of the body.
5. May Benefit Heart Health
CBD has been related to many cardiovascular advantages, including the capacity to reduce excessive blood pressure, according to some studies.
Stroke, heart attack, and metabolic syndrome are just some of the many health problems that are associated with hypertension (24Trusted Source).
CBD has shown promise as a potential treatment for hypertension in research settings.
Nine healthy men were given 600 milligrammes of CBD oil in brief research. There was a significant decrease in resting blood pressure after CBD administration compared to placebo (25Trusted Source).
The males in the study also underwent stress tests, which are known to elevate blood pressure. Interestingly, the guys who had taken a single dose of CBD had a lower blood pressure response to the tests (25Trusted Source).
Another study including 26 healthy men revealed that 600 mg of CBD resulted in significant reductions in blood pressure in the short term compared with a placebo group. Seven days later, though, the effect had worn off (26Trusted Source).
Chronic dosing with CBD resulted in consistently reduced blood pressure in response to stress compared to placebo.
After repeated dosage with CBD, researchers discovered that arterial stiffness was decreased and blood flow was enhanced compared to the placebo group (26Trusted Source).
These results are promising, but further research is needed to fully understand the impact CBD therapy could have on cardiovascular health.
6. Other Potential Benefits
Additionally to the aforementioned conditions, CBD has been investigated for its potential to cure a wide range of other health problems.
Even though additional research is needed, CBD is thought to have the following health benefits:
- Antipsychotic effects. Studies suggest that CBD may help people with schizophrenia and other mental health conditions by reducing symptoms of psychosis (27Trusted Source).
- Substance abuse treatment. CBD may be helpful for relieving anxiety and depression in people who have a dependence on certain drugs, including heroin (28Trusted Source, 29Trusted Source).
- Possible extension of life in those with glioblastoma. Recent studies suggest that treatment with a combination of CBD and THC may help extend the life of some people with an aggressive form of cancer called glioblastoma, yet research is limited (30Trusted Source).
- Possible improvement in sleep. Some studies suggest that CBD might help improve sleep in people with certain sleep disorders, though more research is needed
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Summary
Researchers have looked into the effects of CBD oil on a wide range of illnesses, from anxiety to neurological disorders, with promising results. In addition, it may improve cardiovascular health and alleviate some forms of discomfort.
Remember that some of these purported health advantages are tied to THC usage in conjunction with CBD, not CBD use alone.
There is still a lot to learn about the potential benefits of CBD, and research into its effects on particular illnesses is underway.
Consult your doctor before using CBD to treat an existing medical problem or as preventative maintenance. They will be able to advise you on the best CBD product to use and whether or not incorporating CBD into your routine is a good idea.
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