CBD Oil’s Health Advantages — and a Look at the Drawbacks

Cannabidiol is a popular natural treatment for a variety of ailments.

CBD is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid, also known as ganja oil, that has been used in China for thousands of years to treat depression and anxiety. It is one of more than 100 chemical compounds called cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant, Cannabis sativa.

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the most psychoactive cannabinoid found in cannabis, which means it produces the sensation of being high that is often associated with cannabis. CBD, on the other hand, does not produce a euphoric effect.

CBD is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid, meaning it causes no euphoria or intoxication. As a result, it’s becoming increasingly popular among those looking for pain and other symptoms to be relieved without suffering the mental effects of cannabis or other pharmaceutical side effects.

CBD oil is made by extracting CBD from the cannabis plant and diluting it with a carrier oil like coconut oil or hemp seed oil. CBD may be found in a variety of items online, including dietary supplements, bath soaks, beverages, and food.

With some medical research finding that it may help with symptoms of chronic pain and anxiety, it’s gaining steam in the health and wellness sector. Is it the best option for you?

The benefits of CBD are covered in greater detail in this post, as well as the risks and safety issues associated with CBD products.

Heads up: Is CBD legal?

On the federal level, hemp-derived CBD products (with less than 0.3 percent THC) are legal, but some states ban them.

Cannabis-derived CBD products are prohibited under federal law, although they may be lawfully sold in certain states.

Check with your state and any other places you visit to see what the regulations are. Also note that nonprescription CBD items aren’t FDA-approved, so they might be mislabeled.

1. May relieve pain

Cannabis has been used to alleviate pain since at least 2900 B.C., according on historical accounts.

Scientists have also discovered that certain components in cannabis, such as CBD, are responsible for the pain-relieving effects of marijuana. The endocannabinoid system, which is found in the human body, regulates a variety of functions, including sleep, hunger, pain sensation, and immune function.

The endocannabinoid system, which is comprised of cannabinoid receptors in the brain and nervous system, is designed to regulate pain and inflammation. CBD has been shown in studies to help reduce chronic pain by modulating endocannabinoid receptor activity, inflammation, and neurotransmitters.

CBD appears to be quite beneficial in treating certain types of pain, according to some studies. When used alone, CBD seems to work best when combined with THC. A number of human studies have indicated that a combination of CBD and THC is effective in treating pain associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) and arthritis.

Sativex (nabiximols), a THC/CBD oral spray, is authorized in several nations to help with MS-related pain.

A month-long trial of Sativex was conducted in a research with 47 persons with MS. The participants’ pain, walking ability, and muscular spasms all improved.

However, because the study did not include a control group, placebo effects cannot be excluded.

Although CBD seems to be effective in the treatment of certain types of pain, such as fibromyalgia, chronic neuropathic pain, and post-surgical pain, more rigorous research is needed to assess its efficacy in pain management.

2. Could reduce symptoms related to some mental health disorders

Anxiety and other mental health conditions can have a major negative impact on one’s physical and mental health.

Pharmaceutical drugs are frequently used to treat mental health problems, which might include drowsiness, restlessness, insomnia, sexual dysfunction, and headaches.

Furthermore, medications like benzodiazepines have the potential for addiction and might result in a substance use disorder. CBD oil has shown promise as a treatment for certain mental health conditions, such as anxiety disorders, prompting many people who live with these problems to look into this natural therapy.

A small 2019 study also discovered that CBD was beneficial for decreasing PTSD-related symptoms, such as nightmares, in adults.

CBD has been found in several other studies to be beneficial for those suffering from social anxiety and other anxiety-related issues.

Despite the fact that CBD has been shown to help with symptoms of depression in humans, there is presently no human evidence of CBD’s ability to treat depression.

In April 2022, a research on the effectiveness of 150–300 mg of CBD per day for 12 weeks on anxiety and depressive symptoms in individuals with bipolar disorder is planned to be completed.

3. May alleviate certain cancer-related symptoms

CBD, which is found in cannabis plants, has been shown to help with a variety of cancer-related symptoms and negative effects associated with cancer treatment, such as nausea, vomiting, and pain.

The study’s goal was to examine the effects of CBD and THC on people with cancer-related pain who had previously failed to get relief from pain pills. It included 177 participants with cancer-related pain who did not respond well to medication.

A combination of cannabinoids and opioids has shown to be especially effective at treating chronic pain. Patients who were given an extract containing both compounds reported a greater reduction in pain than those who received only THC extract.

Several studies have investigated the analgesic effects of Sativex. According to a review of five studies, it appears that Sativex can help people with cancer-related pain.

Cannabis and cannabinoids containing CBD, on the other hand, have been shown to reduce nausea and pain in patients with advanced cancer. However, findings from studies evaluating the effects of cannabis and cannabinoids like CBD on cancer-related nausea, discomfort, and hunger have been contradictory.

Despite the fact that CBD may aid some people with cancer, more study is needed to see whether CBD should be utilized more frequently in treating cancer symptoms.

If you have cancer and are considering utilizing CBD or other cannabis-derived therapies, talk to your doctor first. These items may not be suitable, effective, or safe for all people with cancer.

4. May have neuroprotective properties

CBD’s ability to communicate with the endocannabinoid system and other brain-signaling systems may help those suffering from neurological problems, according to researchers.

CBD is an increasingly popular dietary supplement that has shown promise in the treatment of a variety of diseases, including neurological disorders such as epilepsy and multiple sclerosis. Although this area of study is relatively young, several studies have revealed encouraging results.

In patients with MS who experience muscle spasticity, Sativex has been found to be a safe and effective therapy for this condition.

It helped reduce muscular spasticity in 75% of individuals with MS who had been unable to relieve their condition with existing medications.

Researchers gave 214 individuals with severe epilepsy 0.9–2.3 grams of CBD oil per pound (2–5 grams per kg) of body weight in another trial. The majority had a reduction in seizure frequency of more than 36.5 percent.

In both studies, some people experienced unpleasant CBD reactions, such as convulsions, fever, and tiredness.

Cannabidiol (CBD) has also been studied for its potential usefulness in treating a variety of neurological ailments.

For example, many studies have shown that CBD may improve quality of life and sleep quality in people with Parkinson’s disease.

There is, however, a scarcity of high-quality data at present. This implies there isn’t enough evidence to suggest that CBD may be used in the clinical management of Parkinson’s disease.

CBD is a component of cannabis that has shown promise in the treatment of epilepsy. However, one CBD product has actually been authorized by the FDA for use in the management of several seizure disorders.

FDA in 2018 for the treatment of seizures caused by Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome.

Epidiolex was authorized by the FDA in 2020 for the treatment of tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) seizures, a rare genetic disease that causes malignant tumors to develop in the brain and other tissues.

5. May benefit heart health

CBD has been studied to see if it can help with a number of heart and circulatory problems, including high blood pressure.

Blood pressure levels are associated with an increased risk of a number of health problems, including stroke, heart attack, and metabolic syndrome. CBD has been shown in studies to aid people with high blood pressure.

In a limited study, 9 healthy men were given 600 mg of CBD oil. Resting blood pressure was reduced with CBD treatment compared to the placebo. In the same research, the men also underwent a stress test that usually raises blood pressure. Surprisingly, in comparison to typical, the single dose of CBD caused the subjects’ blood pressure to rise less than usual during these tests.

A recent study published in the Journal of Neuroanatomy reported that CBD treatment (600 mg per day for 7 days) reduced blood pressure in healthy men by as much as 21% in the short term. The effect was lost after 7 days, however.

After multiple doses over time, the CBD group showed lower blood pressure levels in response to stress than the placebo group.

After three months of CBD treatment, the researchers discovered that the CBD group had reduced arterial stiffness and enhanced blood flow through their arteries compared to the placebo group.

Overall, these results are positive, but we need more research on the advantages of CBD therapies for heart health.

6. Other potential benefits

CBD has been researched for its effects on a variety of health problems in addition to the ones mentioned above.

CBD, which is a chemical extracted from cannabis that has no psychoactive side effects and may help with multiple ailments, appears to provide the following health advantages:

• Antipsychotic effects: CBD has been shown in studies to help people with schizophrenia and other mental health issues by reducing symptoms of psychosis.
• Substance abuse treatment: CBD may be beneficial for alleviating anxiety and sadness in individuals who are addicted to prescribed medications such as heroin.
• Possible extension of life in those with glioblastoma; Several studies have revealed that treatment with a combination of CBD and THC can improve the lives of some people with an aggressive form of cancer known as glioblastoma, but there is little evidence.
• Possible improvement in sleep: CBD has shown promise in the treatment of certain sleep problems. CBD, on the other hand, appears to assist with sleep in persons who suffer from specific sleep problems, according to a few studies.

The bottom line

Cannabidiol (CBD) oil has been studied for its potential role in the treatment of a variety of common health problems, including anxiety and neurologic disorders. It may also be useful in heart disease prevention and the treatment of a variety of ailments.