Cannabidiol, also known as CBD, is a chemical compound that can be found within the plant of cannabis sativa. If applied topically, or taken via smoke inhalation or a food consumption CBD is able to interact with neuroreceptors of the endocannabinoid system. This transmits signals between cells to control your mood, movement as well as homeostasis and the immune system.
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CBD is usually taken by the Cannabis sativa flower in oil form , and is blended together with an oil carrier that is inert, such as hemp seed oil to be consumed. In the past few years, CBD oil has skyrocketed in popularity because of its claimed beneficial effects on calming. CBD oil is now found in a variety of products that range from simple oil tinctures as well as CBD-infused chips for potatoes.
CBD research is expanding, as well. There are nine different ways that studies suggest CBD oil can improve your well-being.
1. Offset Depression and Anxiety
CBD’s ability for calming is possibly its most well-known feature and the reason for which CBD’s use is so popular. A study from 2017 published in the Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry tested the anxiety levels of 57 males who were simulated to speak in a test. The majority of them received placebos while others were given 150 milligrams 300 milligrams, 300 milligrams or 600 milligrams CBD prior to their speech. Participants that received the 300 milligrams CBD experienced significantly less anxieties during the tests in comparison with those receiving placebo. Incredibly, those who received the 150 milligram or 600 milligram dose CBD felt more anxious in the course of the test than the 300 milligrams.
Additionally, at the very least, one mouse study revealed that CBD produced effects that were similar to imipramine, an antidepressant. Human studies are required however, to determine the possibility that CBD could trigger the same antidepressant effect in our body.
2. Treat Select Epilepsy Syndromes![]()
In some cases CBD is sometimes used to treat epileptic seizures.
In the year 2018 in 2018, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of CBD under the brand name Epidiolex to treat seizures that result from Lennox-Gastaut disorder and Dravet syndrome, two rare forms of epilepsy that are only available to patients who are at least two years old.
Three well-tested studies form the evidence needed to support this FDA’s choice. In these studies 516 patients suffering from Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome were treated with either Epidiolex or an alternative. Epidiolex is a medication that, when used in conjunction with other medications prescribed, has reduced the frequency of seizures, compared to placebo.
3. Reduce PTSD symptoms
In a study of a limited size in 2018 published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 11 patients suffering from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) were treated with CBD alongside regular treatment for psychiatric disorders for 8 weeks in an outpatient psychiatric facility. Ten of the 11 participants experienced an improvement of the severity of their PTSD symptoms. CBD was generally well-tolerated as the researchers wrote.
Margaret Rajnic, a doctor of nursing practice who is skilled in CBD and medical cannabis She stresses the importance of using therapy in conjunction with any kind of CBD or cannabis to treat PTSD. “There is a certain amount of therapy required to treat PTSD,” she says.
Four other human trials from 2012 to 2016 suggest CBD reduces PTSD symptoms, although some include THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, the main mind-altering element in cannabis. In the event that THC and CBD are combined and interact, they produce what’s known as the “entourage result,” complementing each other’s advantages and potency. For instance using the same dose of THC and CBD will reduce the “high” that comes from THC and CBD, while the slightest amount of THC combined with CBD can enhance the effects of CBD.
4. Treat Opioid Dependence
Certain studies — both preclinical animal as well as human clinical trials — suggest CBD may be used in the future to those dependent on opioids.
In one of these studies researchers conducted a study in which they administered CBD to those suffering from heroin abuse disorders. Over the course of one month, CBD dramatically reduced the heroin user’s cravings for cues and withdrawal anxiety, as well as resting heart rate , and blood levels of cortisol in saliva. There were no serious adverse reactions discovered.
Other studies show CBD beneficial in the reduction of various medical and psychiatric symptoms, such as anxiety as well as insomnia and pain in people suffering from addiction disorders. This suggests that CBD might be a successful treatment for addiction to opioids. However, more research is needed.
5. Reduce ALS-related symptoms
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a condition that causes nerve cells within the spinal cord and brain to degrade, leading to losing muscle control that becomes more severe with time. It’s still unclear the reason ALS is a problem, but it is possible to inherit the condition in some instances. There’s no cure that’s been discovered and there are just two FDA-approved medicines to manage ALS symptoms.
Studies suggest that those suffering from ALS may benefit from the effects of the entourage caused through the combination of CBD and THC which is similar to those suffering from PTSD. In a study in 2019 the patients were treated with a mixture of THC and CBD in different doses based on their requirements and preferences. Patients suffering from mild, moderate and severe spasticity (muscle stiffness and tightness) because of ALS were found to have the highest levels of satisfaction with the treatment. Patients with severe or moderate spasticity reported higher levels of satisfaction than those who have mild spasticity.
6. Help to manage pain
As of 2005, Canada allowed the use of the drug Sativex, an oral (absorbed by the mouth’s lining) spray that has equal amounts to THC and CBD for the treatment of central nerve pain. In 2007 Canada allowed the use of the medication again to treat cancer pain that was unresponsive to other treatments.
While ongoing research conducted in studies in the U.S. indicate CBD is effective in treating non-cancer, chronic pain. In a study in 2020 researchers applied CBD on a daily basis to a set of patients suffering from peripheral neuropathy that is symptomatic (a result of a damaged brain nerve or injury to the spinal cord) and another group of patients with similar conditions received placebo. Results showed a significant decrease in sharp, intense discomforts as well as itchy, cold sensations among those who received the topically applied CBD in comparison to those who took the placebo. There were no reports of adverse negative side effects.
When applied on the skin, CBD oil doesn’t affect the systemic problem like it would when it is in the bloodstream directly. However, CBD oil applied topically is more specific and addresses pain in a particular region. Since it’s much more immediate in its effects, it can have a greater impact.
7. Help to Reduce Diabetic complications
To begin, tests on human cells revealed that CBD aids in reducing the negative effects of elevated glucose levels on other cells within the body. This usually leads to the progression of diabetes and other complications. Researchers concluded that with more research, CBD could have significant benefits for those suffering from problems with diabetes, and plaque buildup on the walls of arteries.
In a smaller study, 13 people with type 2 diabetes who were not receiving insulin therapy were given both CBD as well as placebo (in place or in addition to insulin). Researchers found that CBD decreased the levels of the hormone called resistin (which creates resistance to insulin the protein that regulates the levels of sugar) and raised their levels of glucose-dependent , insulinotropic protein (a hormone that allows for the release of insulin in digested foods) in comparison to their baseline levels before the start of the study. The results suggest CBD could be a possible natural treatment for diabetes, as it helps the body control the levels of insulin-related hormones.
8. Secure Against Neurological Disease
Clinical and preclinical studies have shown that CBD has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The researchers have concluded that these properties can offer significant neuroprotection or protection from a range of diseases that are pathological.
Numerous preclinical studies indicate that CBD could have beneficial results against Parkinson’s Disease MS and Alzheimer’s disease. The brain ischemia and Huntington’s diseases also were studied, however significant positive results weren’t observed. More clinical studies are required to verify CBD’s advantages in the treatment for these diseases.
9. Inhibit Arthritis Signs and Symptoms
Arthritis is the result of the degeneration of the tissues that are located in and around joints. There are many kinds of arthritis. The symptoms can include stiffness, pain and loss of mobility. The treatment for arthritis usually focuses on the relief of joint pain and improves joint function.
A study from 2006 found that Sativex, a CBD-based plant-based drug that was approved in the United Kingdom in 2010–promoted statistically significant improvements in the quality of sleeping, pain movement , and pain during rest for patients suffering from arthritis rheumatoid when compared to placebo. This was the very first study of Sativex in the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis, which involved the participation of 58 patients. CBD was shown to possess an effect on pain relief and the ability to reduce the activity of the disease.
In the year 2018 in the study of more localized treatments the researchers gave synthetic CBD gel in 250 milligram or 500-milligram doses every day, or as a placebo to patients suffering from knee pain caused by osteoarthritis. Patients were also advised to stop taking other painkillers or anti-inflammatory drugs except for Acetaminophen prior to and during the research period.
The results were fascinating but not conclusive. One thing is for certain, people receiving CBD did not notice any changes in pain when compared to placebo subjects. However there were statistically significant differences in those who received the 250 milligram dosage and the control group measuring the average improvement weekly of their highest pain levels as well as the WOMAC (Western Ontario, and McMaster Universities Arthritis Score) physical function ratings. Also, men appeared to gain from CBD more than women in this study.
