CBD is a naturally occurring chemical that may be derived from the cannabis or hemp plant. CBD oil may be purchased in a variety of formats, including capsules, tinctures, vape oil bases, food products, and many more.
May Relieve the Pain
People have been using cannabis as a pain reliever since 2900 B.C. Recently, researchers discovered that specific cannabinoid chemicals, such as CBD, may be responsible for cannabis’s pain-relieving benefits. The endocannabinoid system is a specialized system found in the human body that is in charge of regulating a variety of functions. Sleep, hunger, pain perception, and immune system reactions are examples of these functions.
Endocannabinoids are neurotransmitters that the body produces spontaneously. Endocannabinoids interact with cannabinoid receptors in the neurological system. CBD may help treat chronic pain by modifying the activation of endocannabinoid receptors, reducing inflammatory levels, and interacting with neurotransmitters, according to some studies.
Cannabidiol may help relieve several types of pain when taken alone, including nerve and back pains. However, it seems to have the greatest effect when combined with THC. Cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) work well together to treat painful diseases like multiple sclerosis (M.S.) and arthritis.
Sativex, an oral spray containing a 1:1 combination of THC and CBD, has been approved in many countries for the treatment of pain associated with M.S. The effects of using Sativex for one month were explored in a study that included 47 people with multiple sclerosis. The subjects reported less pain and better walking abilities. Because there was no control group in the study, it is hard to rule out the potential of a placebo effect. According to the results of one study, patients suffering from chronic severe neuropathic pain and MS-associated neuropathic pain may benefit from Sativex medication. Based on the review’s results, Sativex may also be beneficial in reducing concern and stress, both of which are key contributors to chronic pain. In contrast to its close cousin, THC, the extracted oil from a CBD dispensary near Sacramento, California, did not result in any feelings of intoxication or other psychoactive effects. Those who advocate for the use of CBD oil and other products containing CBD believe that the compound has the potential to aid with a wide variety of issues, including the following:
Could Alleviate Symptoms of Various Mental Illnesses
Anxiety disorders and other conditions related to mental health may have devastating effects. Psychiatric medications have the potential to cause side effects such as drowsiness, agitation, inability to sleep, sexual dysfunction, and headaches. There is some evidence that benzodiazepines may lead to addiction and misuse. Because CBD oil has shown promise as a treatment for a variety of mental health conditions, including anxiety disorders, it has attracted a large number of patients.
The inability to sleep and anxiety that is associated with PTSD have been treated with CBD oil in some cases. A 2019 study found that CBD can help adults with PTSD, like those who have nightmares, feel better.
According to the findings of several studies, CBD has the potential to assist with social anxiety as well as other forms of anxiety. There is little research involving humans. It has been shown in some studies that it may relieve depressive symptoms in cannabis users.
May Ease Some of the Symptoms of Cancer
CBD can relieve some of the unpleasant side effects of cancer treatment, such as nausea and vomiting, as well as pain. Sativex was shown to be effective in reducing the pain associated with cancer in five separate investigations. Studies on cannabis and cannabinoids like CBD for cancer-related nausea, pain, and appetite loss have found conflicting results.
Further research is necessary to determine whether or not CBD should be used often to treat cancer symptoms. If you have cancer, you should discuss using CBD or any other product derived from cannabis with your primary care physician first. Some people with cancer may find that these products are dangerous, don’t work, or are neither safe nor effective.
Could Help Protect Nerve Cells
The ability of CBD to influence the endocannabinoid system, as well as other brain-signaling systems, may be beneficial in treating neurological conditions. CBD is effective in treating a variety of neurological conditions, including epilepsy and multiple sclerosis. Quite a bit of research conducted in this field has shown encouraging results.
Sativex can relieve the spasticity caused by M.S. in a way that is both safe and effective. Spasms were reduced in 75% of 276 people with multiple sclerosis who were resistant to medication.
Researchers gave 0.9–2.3 grams of CBD oil per pound of body weight to each of 214 individuals who suffered from severe epilepsy (2–5 grams per kg). Their epilepsy improved by 36.5 percentage points. When children with Dravet syndrome were given CBD oil instead of a placebo, their seizures were much less severe.
After receiving CBD, some individuals reported having seizures, fevers, and feelings of fatigue throughout both trials. CBD might also help cure other neurological conditions.
As the findings of some studies, CBD may improve patients’ overall quality of life as well as their ability to sleep. There just is not enough evidence to support the use of CBD as a treatment for Parkinson’s disease. Now, only one CBD product has been approved by the FDA to treat disorders that cause seizures.
In 2018, the Food and Drug Administration gave its approval for the use of Epidiolex, a cannabidiol medicine available only with a doctor’s prescription, to treat seizures caused by Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome. In 2020, the FDA gave its approval for the drug Epidiolex to treat tuberous sclerosis complex seizures, a rare inherited condition that may lead to the development of benign brain tumors.
It May Be Good for the Heart
One study has shown CBD may help lower blood pressure. The chance of having a stroke, a heart attack, or metabolic syndrome is increased when a person has hypertension. According to the findings of several studies, CBD may be beneficial to people who suffer from high blood pressure.
Stress tests that raise blood pressure were also performed on the people as part of the same investigation. After receiving a single dose of CBD, the men’s blood pressure raised less than before. In another study, participants who took 600 milligrams of CBD daily for seven days had significant, placebo-controlled reductions in their blood pressure. The effects were felt for a week. Even after numerous administrations, CBD remained superior to the placebo in maintaining blood pressure that was lower in reaction to stress.
In comparison to the placebo group, repeated CBD treatment resulted in a reduction in arterial stiffness and an increase in blood flow. These findings show that CBD may have beneficial effects on heart health.
According to the findings of several studies, using CBD oil might help alleviate the symptoms of neurological diseases and anxiety. It also has the potential to alleviate pain and improve heart health.
It is important to keep in mind that some of these health advantages are associated with the use of CBD in conjunction with THC and not just CBD on its own. Since researchers are still trying to figure out how CBD affects a wide range of illnesses, people who use it should be very careful.