CBD Oil Effects

Cannabis and cannabis-related products continue to be a controversial issue in many places around the world. However, that perception has shifted over the last few years as more and more people see and experience the benefits of the cannabis plant. Although many people know cannabis for the molecule that makes its users high (tetrahydrocannabinol), there is much more to the plant than often meets the eye. Among the several other compounds found in the cannabis plant is cannabidiol (CBD), a molecule that, according to research studies, has profound benefits for many of its users. Let’s take a look at what science says about CBD.

It Relieves Both Pain and Inflammation

One of the most common uses of CBD is for natural pain relief. However, it isn’t just anecdotal evidence from people that support the natural pain relief claim. Based on what researchers have found thus far, it appears that CBD reduces pain by inhibiting neuronal transmission in pain pathways. In fact, a study published in 2012 in the Journal of Experimental Medicine examined the effects of CBD in rodents. Through this study, researchers discovered that CBD significantly reduced chronic inflammatory and neuropathic pain in the rodent without causing analgesic tolerance. What this means is that CBD, and other non-psychoactive chemicals found in cannabis, may create a class of therapeutic agents that can treat chronic pain.

CBD Has Antipsychotic Effects

Although there have been significant breakthroughs in antipsychotic medication over the years, there has been a natural treatment in front of us for thousands of years. The latest research, while limited, shows that another one of CBD’s benefits is that it acts as an antipsychotic. The pharmacological profile displayed by CBD is similar in nature to that of many atypical antipsychotic drugs. Also, recent studies have shown that CBD can prevent human experimental psychosis.

Anxiety Reduction

Anxiety is an incredibly common problem that many people, both children and adults, will experience at some point in their lives. The good news for anyone experiencing anxiety out there is that CBD has been shown to feature an anxiolytic-like effect on patients. What this means is that CBD reduces anxiety in patients with social anxiety disorders, and it may also be useful for patients with panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Even better news for many people out there; CBD has also been shown to reduce anxiety in individuals who are speaking in public. A study in 2011 found 24 patients with a social anxiety disorder to examine the effects of CBD on their level of anxiety for their speech. In this study, half of the group was given CBD an hour and a half before their presentation, and the other half were given a placebo before their speech. The results showed that the people who took the CBD exhibited significantly less anxiety, less cognitive impairment, and less discomfort in their speech. The placebo group? They reported higher levels of all of these symptoms during their speech.

It Helps to Fight Cancer

Scientists are always searching for ways to both cure cancer and to reduce the pain that patients experience. Although CBD isn’t necessarily a cure for cancer, it does show signs of providing relief for patients. In a landmark study released in 2006 in the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, researchers found that CBD can inhibit the growth of different breast tumor cell lines.

Furthermore, CBD acts as a non-toxic compound. To prove this, researchers put patients on doses of 700 milligrams per day for six weeks to see whether there were any side effects. As patients did not show any significant side effects, scientists believe that patients can use CBD for prolonged treatment. In summary, research indicates that this non-toxic compound has the potential to fight breast cancer cells, inhibit the invasion of both lung and colon cancer, and has been shown to have potential in treating leukemia.

Nausea Relief

Throughout history, people have used cannabis to provide relief from nausea and vomiting. Among the approximately 80 different chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant, researchers have found that both THC and CBD are useful compounds for nausea relief. A 2012 study found that CBD relieved symptoms of nausea and vomiting in rats when the molecule was administered on moderate doses.

Seizures and Neurological Disorders

CBD’s ability to treat seizures is part of what catapulted the molecule into the national spotlight. Stanford University decided to give this treatment more credibility with their 2014 experiment. Researchers from the University reached out to parents in a Facebook group that had children who were experiencing seizures or suffered from epilepsy. Based on those who responded and met the requirements for the study, the average amount of anti-epileptic drugs taken before this study was 12. After using CBD to treat their child’s symptoms, 84% of the parents involved in the survey reported that their child had a reduced seizure frequency. In addition to slowing down the frequency of seizures, parents also reported that their children experienced increased energy, improved mood, and improved sleep.

In another study performed later in 2014, researchers examined the use of CBD in the treatment of children with treatment-resistant epilepsies (part of the “compassionate use program”). In this study, researchers gave patients a 98% oil-based CBD extract. After taking the CBD medicine for three months, 39% of the patients reported more than a 50% reduction in their symptoms. As such, this experiment supports what researchers found in the previous study.

Diabetes

In addition to the previous uses, researchers have also found that CBD significantly brings down the incidence of diabetes in rats that are not obese. The study found that CBD brought the incidence rate down from 86% in the untreated mice to 30% in the ones who received CBD treatment. Also, the rats also experienced a reduction in the plasma levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

However, that isn’t all. The American Journal of Medicine published a study in 2013 that focused on the impact of cannabis on glucose, insulin, and insulin resistance in American adults. This wide-ranging study featured 4,657 adult men and women from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey from 2005-2010. In this study, researchers discovered that people who were currently using cannabis experienced 16% lower fasting insulin levels. Also, they found that there was a connection between cannabis use and smaller waist sizes.

Cardiovascular Health

There have been several studies that have shown users of CBD have the potential to improve cardiovascular health. The British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology reported in a study in 2013, that CBD helps to protect users against the vascular damage that people experience in a high glucose environment. In addition, they proved that CBD reduces the vascular hyper permeability associated with these conditions.

Side Effects of CBD

Although there have been several studies that show that CBD is effective in treating a range of disorders and diseases, there are still side effects just like many other types of treatment. However, patients often find that the benefits of CBD far outweigh the side effects. Some of the more common side effects are as follows:

  1. Dry mouth: One of the most common side effects in users is that they experience a dry mouth. Researchers believe the endocannabinoid system’s involvement in saliva secretion causes this.
  2. Low Blood Pressure: In very high doses, users of CBD often find that they experience a drop in their blood pressure. This usually happens within a few minutes of the molecule entering the body. When this happens, users report that they feel slightly lightheaded. It’s important that you consult with your doctor before taking CBD if you are already taking medicine for blood pressure.
  3. Drowsiness: If you are taking higher doses of CBD, you may find that it causes you to become drowsy or sleepy. If you ever feel this way, it’s important that you do not operate heavy machinery.

For patients experiencing any of the disorders or diseases that we discussed, it’s important to do your research before taking CBD. With that said, there have been several studies that show that CBD is highly effective and safe in treating symptoms in these disorders. As CBD becomes more and more accepted across the United States and the world, you can expect to see increased availability of research on the topic. If you decide to use CBD to treat your symptoms, we encourage you to consult with your doctor first.