The media frequently highlights Cannabidiol, commonly marketed as an enhancement for your morning coffee or a post-workout smoothie, and it has even found its way into products like CBD-infused sports bras. But what is CBD, and what accounts for its immense popularity? In this article, our team at Uplfit CBD will answer all of your questions regarding CBD.
How Is Cannabidiol Different From Marijuana, Cannabis, and Hemp?
CBD is the second-most prevalent active ingredient found in marijuana (cannabis). While CBD is a constituent of medical marijuana, it is sourced either from hemp, a relative of marijuana, or produced in laboratories.
CBD is just one of the numerous components present in marijuana and does not induce a “high.” According to a report by the World Health Organization, “CBD does not exhibit any effects indicative of abuse or dependence potential.” Furthermore, there is currently no evidence suggesting that the use of CBD has any adverse effects on public health.
Is Cannabidiol Legal?
CBD is widely available in the United States. However, its legal status remains fluid. In all 50 states, CBD is legalized but with varying restrictions. In December 2015, the FDA eased regulatory requirements to enable researchers to conduct CBD trials. In 2018, the Farm Bill legalized hemp across the United States, essentially rendering the illegality of CBD virtually untenable. This is akin to legalizing oranges while outlawing orange juice.
The Farm Bill, enacted in 2013, extracted hemp-derived products, including CBD, from the Controlled Substances Act, which criminalizes drug possession. Consequently, CBD can be deemed legal only if sourced from hemp. Conversely, CBD derived from marijuana remains illegal, despite their identical molecular structures. Many individuals can now purchase CBD online without the necessity of a medical marijuana card, legality recognized by most states.
The Evidence for Cannabidiol Health Benefits
CBD is often promoted as a remedy for various health issues. Yet its most compelling scientific support stems from its treatment of severe childhood epilepsy disorders, such as Dravet Syndrome and Lennox Gastaut Syndrome (LGS), which typically do not respond to antiseizure medications.
CBD has demonstrated its effectiveness in diminishing and even halting seizures entirely. A prime example is Epidiolex, an FDA-approved medication derived from CBD, marking the first cannabis-derived medicine sanctioned for addressing these specific conditions.
Human studies and animal studies suggest that CBD can also help:
- Anxiety: Clinical trials and studies are exploring the report that CBD can reduce anxiety.
- Insomnia: According to studies, CBD can help you fall asleep and stay asleep.
- Pain: More human studies are required to prove that CBD can help control pain. A study in the European Journal of Pain found that CBD can help reduce pain and swelling caused by arthritis. Another study shows how CBD can inhibit neuropathic and inflammatory pain.
- Addiction: According to human research, CBD can lower cravings for heroin and tobacco under certain conditions. According to animal models of addiction, it could also reduce cravings for alcohol and cannabis.
Is CBD Safe?
CBD may induce nausea, fatigue, and irritability. Furthermore, it has the potential to augment the effects of blood-thinning medications and other drugs within your bloodstream, as it competes with liver enzymes responsible for their breakdown. Similar to grapefruit, CBD can exert a comparable influence on certain medications.
Elevated CBD dosages might lead to the detection of abnormalities in liver-related blood tests. This phenomenon is not exclusive to prescription medications; even common non-prescription drugs like acetaminophen can produce similar outcomes. It’s imperative to inform your doctor if you have a regular CBD consumption habit.
One must recognize that CBD poses substantial safety concerns, largely due to its predominant marketing and sale as a supplement, rather than a medicine. Presently, the FDA lacks regulatory oversight on the safety and purity of dietary supplements. Consequently, the assurance of the active ingredient’s presence at the indicated dosage on the label is uncertain.
Additionally, these products could potentially harbor undisclosed constituents. It’s noteworthy that the optimal therapeutic CBD dosage for specific medical conditions remains elusive.
How Can CBD Be Taken?
CBD is available in a wide array of forms, ranging from oils, extracts, and capsules to patches, vapes, and topical skin preparations. If your goal is to alleviate muscle and joint pain and inflammation, opting for topical CBD oil, cream, lotion, or bath bombs might be your best bet. On the other hand, if you’re aiming for CBD to enter your bloodstream, a sublingual CBD spray or tincture administered under the tongue is a suitable choice.
Sativex is a prescription medication sanctioned beyond the borders of the US for managing cancer-related pain and muscle spasticity arising from multiple sclerosis. Within the US, Epidiolex has gained approval for treating specific forms of epilepsy, as well as tuberous sclerosis.
6 Health Benefits of CBD Oil
1. Relieves Pain
Since 2900 BCTrusted source, cannabis has been utilized in Chinese medicine to alleviate pain, with researchers positing that CBD components might be accountable for this effect. The endocannabinoid system oversees functions including pain perception, facilitated by the body’s production of endocannabinoids that bind to cannabinoid receptors.
Studies show that CBD can aid in chronic pain reduction by modulating endocannabinoid receptor activity, mitigating inflammation, and interacting with neurotransmitters. According to research, preclinical evidence further suggests that CBD could potentially prove effective for treating rheumatic conditions like Fibromyalgia.
2. Reduces Symptoms Related to Some Mental Health Disorders
CBD oil is emerging as a promising treatment for specific mental disorders, capturing the attention of individuals grappling with these conditions who are intrigued by this natural avenue.
A Literature Review regarding CBD and mood disorders unveiled that numerous studies indicated CBD’s potential in mitigating symptoms of depression, anxiety, and even psychosis.
In a modest-scale study conducted in 2019, CBD exhibited effectiveness in diminishing PTSD symptoms among adults, including the alleviation of night terrors. However, the existing research falls short of providing doctors with adequate grounds to endorse CBD as a definitive treatment for these conditions.
3. Alleviates Certain Cancer-Related Symptoms
According to published research in 2022, CBD can help reduce cancer-related side effects and symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, and pain.
In addition to cancer-related symptoms, CBD has also been shown to have potential therapeutic benefits for a variety of conditions, including anxiety, depression, epilepsy, and chronic pain. However, more research is needed to fully understand the mechanism of action and potential health benefits of CBD.
4. Has Neuroprotective Properties
CBD can provide benefits to those who suffer from neurological disorders. According to a 2022 study, nabiximols spray (Sativex), which contains both CBD and THC, may reduce pain and spasticity among people with MS.
A 2017 study found that CBD oil reduced seizures in children with Dravet Syndrome, but also had some adverse effects.
FDA approved one CBD product, Epiidiolex for the treatment of disorders and seizures due to tuberous sclerosis (TSC). TSC is a genetic disorder that causes benign tumors in the brain.
5. Benefits Heart Health
High Blood Pressure increases the risk of stroke, heart attacks, and metabolic syndrome.
CBD is beneficial for those with high blood pressure because it affects the contraction of the heart and helps widen the blood vessels.
One study from 2020 included 26 healthy males and found that the treatment with 600 mg of CBD over 7 days resulted in significant blood pressure reductions in the short-term compared to a control group. The effect was lost within 7 days.
Although these results are encouraging, further research is needed to determine the potential benefits of CBD on heart disease.
6. Other Potential Benefits
CBD is being studied to see if it can be used for other health problems than the ones listed above.
CBD may have the following potential health benefits, though more research is required.
- Treatment for substance abuse: According to preclinical studies, CBD can help reduce anxiety and depression among people with a dependency. This includes heroin.
- A combination of THC and CBD could help some people who have an aggressive cancer called Glioblastoma live longer, but research on this is limited.
- Possible improvement of sleep: CBD may help improve sleep for people with certain sleeping disorders. However, more research is required.
