CBD, short for Cannabidiol, is a substance taken from the Cannabis Sativa plant. It is applied topically or consumed through smoke inhalation or edible consumption. CBD interacts with nerve receptors in your endocannabinoid system, sending signals between cells to help regulate movement, mood, homeostasis, and your immune system.
CBD is usually extracted from the Cannabis Sativa plant as oil and mixed with an inert carrier oil such as hemp seed oil for consumption. To learn more about CBD oil, you may read here about it. In fact, of the 60% of US adults who report having used CBD, 55% specifically use CBD oils and tinctures, according to a recent Forbes Health survey conducted by OnePoll of 2,000 US adults.
Benefits of CBD
1. Compensate for anxiety and depression
CBD’s calming powers are perhaps its most common effect and the reason why its use is so popular. The Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry published research in 2017 that examined the anxiety levels of 57 men on a public speaking test. Some men were given a placebo, while others were given 600 milligrams, 300 milligrams, or 150 milligrams of CBD before they started their speech.
Those receiving 300 milligrams of CBD experienced a significant reduction in anxiety during the trial compared to those who got a placebo. It was an interesting finding that participants who received 150 or 600 milligrams of CBD experienced more anxiety during the test than the 300-milligram group.
Meanwhile, at least one rat study has found CBD to have effects similar to the antidepressant imipramine. However, human trials are needed to confirm whether CBD can induce a similar antidepressant response in our bodies
2. Treatment of epileptic syndromes
In some cases, CBD can be used in the treatment of epileptic seizures. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the year 2018 approved the use of CBD under the brand name Epidiolex to treat seizures caused by Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome – two forms of rare epilepsy – in patients at least two years old. Three well-controlled studies provide the basis for FDA decision support. In these trials, 516 patients having Lennox-Gastaut syndrome or Dravet syndrome were given either Epidiolex or a placebo. Epidiolex, when taken with other prescribed medications, reduced participants’ seizure frequency compared with the placebo.
3. Relieve PTSD Symptoms
In 2018, a small study in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine indicated that 11 people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) received CBD treatment along with routine psychiatric care for eight weeks in a single room. Outpatient psychiatric examination suggested that ten out of 11 people had a reduction in their PTSD symptoms. CBD is generally well tolerated, the researchers wrote. Margaret Rajnic, Doctor of Nursing Practice with experience in medical marijuana and CBD, emphasizes the importance of using tandem therapy with any cannabis or CBD for PTSD. “There is a dose of therapy needed for PTSD,” she says. “But CBD will make you a little less anxious.” Shop Cannabidiol Gummies for Pain from JustCBD or Shop Cannabidiol Gummies for Pain from Olio Lusso.
Potential side effects of CBD products
While CBD is generally well tolerated and considered safe, it can cause side effects in some people.
Side effects reported in studies include:
- diarrhea
- appetite and weight change
- weariness
Other side effects, including abnormal liver function test results, drowsiness, sedation, and pneumonia, have been reported in epilepsy studies in children. However, these effects may come from CBD’s interactions with other drugs, such as clobazam.
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