CBD, it is one of over 99 chemical compounds understood as cannabinoids within the cannabis or marijuana plant, Cannabis sativa.
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the psychoactive cannabinoid found in cannabis, and causes the sensation of getting “high” that’s associated with marijuana. unlike Not like THC, CBD is not psychoactive.
Not having THC within makes CBD an attractive option for those who are looking for relief from pain and other ailments (symptoms) without the mind-altering effects (THC) of marijuana or certain pharmaceutical drugs.
CBD is manufactured by extracting CBD from the cannabis plant and then diluting it with a “carrier” oil like coconut or hemp seed oil.
It’s has exploded in the health and wellness world, with scientific studies confirming it may ease symptoms of ailments like chronic pain and anxiety.
Here are some health benefits of CBD oil that are backed by scientific evidence.
Can Relieve Pain
- Marijuana has been used to treat pain as far back as 2900 B.C. (Trusted Source).
- In recent times, scientists have discovered that certain components of marijuana, CBD, attributes to pain-relieving effects.
- The human body contains a specialized system called the endocannabinoid system (ECS). This system is involved in regulating a variety of functions; sleep, appetite, pain and immune system response (Endocannabinoid System).
- Our bodies produce endocannabinoids, neurotransmitters, which bind to cannabinoid receptors in your nervous system.
- Research studies have pointed in the direction that CBD may help reduce chronic pain by impacting endocannabinoid receptor activity, reducing inflammation and interacting with neurotransmitters (Pain Reduction).
As example, a research study in rats found that CBD injections reduced pain response to surgical incision, while another rat study found that oral CBD treatment significantly reduced sciatic nerve pain and inflammation (RAT Study 1, RAT Study 2).
Human studies have shown that a combination of CBD and THC is effective in treating pain related to multiple sclerosis and arthritis.
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CBD, especially in combination with THC (less than .3%), may be effective in reducing pain associated with diseases like multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Could Reduce Anxiety and Depression
Anxiety and depression, two mental health disorders, can have devastating impacts on health and well-being.
According to the World Health Organization, depression is the single largest contributor to disability worldwide, while anxiety disorders are ranked sixth.
Anxiety and depression are normally treated with pharmaceutical drugs, which can have side effects including drowsiness, agitation, insomnia, sexual dysfunction and headache (Anxienty and Depression side effects).
Some of these pharmaceutical drugs, like benzodiazepines, can be addictive and may set you up for substance abuse (Substance Abuse).
CBD oil, , from hempsupermart, is used as a treatment for both depression and anxiety, allowing individuals with these disorders to become interested in this natural approach. Again, hempsupermart has a larger variety of CBD Oil to choose from.
A study in Brazilian that 57 men received either an oral CBD or a placebo 90 minutes prior to undergoing a simulated public speaking test. This study found that a 300-mg dose of CBD was the most effective at significantly reducing anxiety during the test.
Interesting, the placebo, a 150-mg dose of CBD, and a 600-mg dose of CBD had little to no effect on anxiety (Brazilian Study).
CBD oil has even been used to safely treat insomnia and anxiety in children with post-traumatic stress disorder.
In animal studies, CBD has also shown antidepressant-like effects. (Animal Study 1, Animal Study 2).
This is due to CBD’s ability to act on the brain’s receptors for serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates mood and social behavior.
Using CBD has been shown to reduce anxiety and depression in both human and animal studies.
Can Alleviate Cancer-Related Symptoms
CBD may help with the reduction of symptoms related to cancer and side effects related to cancer treatment, like nausea, vomiting and pain.
A study was conducted of the effects of CBD and THC in 177 people with cancer-related pain, who did not experience relief from pain medication.
Those treated with an extract containing both CBD and THC (less then .3%) had shown a significant reduction in pain compared to those who received only THC extract (Cancer pain reduction).
CBD may also help reduce chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, one of the most common chemotherapy-related side effects of cancer patients (Cancer nausea and vomiting reduction).
Because of the side effects, individuals are being lead to seek alternative to these pharmaceutical drugs.
In yet another study, 16 people undergoing chemotherapy found that a one-to-one combination of CBD and THC administered via mouth spray reduced chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting better than standard treatment alone (Chemotherapy CBD and THC via mounth).
A few test-tube and animal studies have also shown that CBD may have anticancer properties. As an example, one these test-tube studies found that concentrated CBD induced cell death in human breast cancer cells (Cancer reduction test-tube).
An additional study even showed that CBD inhibited the spread of aggressive breast cancer cells in mice (Breast Cancer inhibiter in mice).
Of course, the test tube and animal studies don’t mean it will necessarily work on humans!
Even though CBD has been shown to help reduce symptoms related to cancer and cancer treatment in varies studies (animal and test-tube), and may even have cancer-fighting properties, more research is needed to assess its efficacy and safety.
May Reduce Acne
Acne is a common skin condition affecting more than 9% of the population (Acne and population).
It is caused by a number of factor; genetics, bacteria, underlying inflammation and the overproduction of sebum, an oily secretion made by sebaceous glands in the skin (Causes of acne, 23).
Recent scientific studies have shown that CBD oil may help treat acne because of its anti-inflammatory properties and ability to reduce sebum production.
In a test-tube study, CBD oil prevented sebaceous gland cells from secreting excessive sebum, exerted anti-inflammatory actions and prevented the activation of “pro-acne” agents like inflammatory cytokines (Acne Cbd Oil prevented).
In a similar study, CBD may be an efficient and safe way to treat acne, again due to its anti-inflammatory qualities (CBD Anti-inflammatory).
More human studies exploring the effects of CBD on acne are needed.
CBD may have beneficial effects on acne
Might Have Neuroprotective Properties
Many believe that CBD’s ability to act on the endocannabinoid system and other brain signaling systems may provide benefits to those with neurological disorders.
One of the most studied uses for CBD is in treating neurological disorders like epilepsy and multiple sclerosis. Studies have shown promising results.
Another study found that Sativex reduced spasms in 75% of 276 people with multiple sclerosis, experiencing muscle spasticity that was resistant to medications (Multiple Sclerosis and CBD).
One study gave 214 people with severe epilepsy 0.9–2.3 grams of CBD oil per pound (2–5 g/kg) of body weight. Their seizures reduced by a median of 36.5% (Reduction in Seizures).
An additional study has shown that CBD oil significantly reduced seizure activity in children with Dravet syndrome, a complex childhood epilepsy disorder, compared to a placebo (Children Dravet Syndrome seizures).
CBD has also been researched for its potential effectiveness to other neurological diseases.
Several studies have shown that using CBD treatment improved quality of life and sleep quality for people with Parkinson’s disease (Parkinson Disease 1, Parkinson Disease 2).
In animal and test-tube studies, CBD may decrease inflammation and help prevent the neurodegeneration associated with Alzheimer’s disease (Alzheimer).
With some research having been conducted, CBD has been shown to ease symptoms related to epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease. CBD has also been shown to reduce the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
Could Benefit Heart Health
More recent research has shown CBD having several benefits for the heart and circulatory system, including the lower high blood pressure.
Research studies have shown that CBD may be able to help with high blood pressure.
A recent study treated nine healthy men with one dose of 600 mg of CBD oil and found it reduced resting blood pressure, compared to a placebo.
Men stress tests that normally increase blood pressure. A single dose of CBD showed men experiencing a smaller blood pressure increase than normal in response to these tests.
Researchers have suggested that the stress- and anxiety-reducing properties of CBD are responsible for its ability to help lower blood pressure.
Additionally, several animal studies have demonstrated that CBD may help reduce the inflammation and cell death associated with heart disease due to its powerful antioxidant and stress-reducing properties.
One study suggested treatment with CBD reduced oxidative stress and prevented heart damage in diabetic mice with heart disease (reduced oxiddation).
CBD could benefit the heart in several ways, such as by reducing blood pressure and preventing heart damage.
Several Other Potential Benefits
Other studies show that CBD helps in treating other health issues not seen above.
CBD may also provide the following health benefits:
- Antipsychotic effects
- Substance abuse treatment
- Anti-tumor effects
- Diabetes prevention