The cannabis sativa plant contains a substance known as cannabidiol, or CBD. CBD interacts with your body’s neuroreceptors in the endocannabinoid system, which helps regulate your immune system, mobility, mood, and homeostasis. You can apply CBD topically, inhale smoke, or consume it as an edible.

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CBD oil is often derived from the cannabis sativa plant and mixed with an inert carrier oil, such hemp seed oil, to make it suitable for consumption. Of the 2,000 Americans polled by OnePoll for Forbes Health, 55% use CBD tinctures and oils, making up 55% of the 60% of Americans who say they have used CBD in the past.

1. Combat Anxiety and Depression

Calming qualities are arguably the most well-known advantage of CBD and the primary reason for its widespread usage. A 2017 study that was published in the Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry looked at the anxiety levels of 57 males using a public speaking practice test. Some received a placebo, while others received 150, 300, or 600 mg of CBD before presenting their work. Those who took 300 mg of CBD during the test reported much lower levels of anxiety as compared to those who received a placebo. It’s noteworthy to notice that those who received 150 or 600 milligrams of CBD throughout the test reported feeling more worried than those who received 300 mg.

Meanwhile, at least one study using mice has demonstrated that the effects of CBD are comparable to those of the antidepressant imipramine. However, human trials are necessary to ascertain whether CBD may have the same antidepressant impact in human bodies.

2. Address Specific Epileptic Syndromes

In certain circumstances, CBD may be used to treat epileptic seizures.

In 2018, the FDA approved the use of CBD under the brand name Epidiolex to treat seizures in children who were at least 2 years old and caused by two rare forms of epilepsy: Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.

Three thoroughly examined studies served as the foundation for the FDA’s decision. In these studies, 516 patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome or Dravet syndrome received either Epidiolex or a placebo. Compared to a placebo, epidiolex decreased the number of seizures per individual when administered with other prescription medications.

3. Lessen the Symptoms of PTSD

In a small 2018 study, eleven PTSD patients got regular psychiatric therapy in an outpatient clinic for eight weeks, along with CBD, as reported in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. Ten of the eleven individuals showed a reduction in PTSD symptoms. According to the researchers, CBD was often well accepted.

Margaret Rajnic, a doctor of nursing practice with experience in medical cannabis and CBD, emphasizes the significance of combining therapy with any kind of cannabis or CBD for PTSD. According to the expert, “PTSD requires a certain amount of therapy.” On the other hand, CBD will make you feel a little less nervous.

Four more human trials conducted between 2012 and 2016 found that CBD reduced PTSD symptoms; however, tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, was utilized in many of the trials. THC and CBD work together to create a “entourage effect,” which amplifies the benefits and potency of each substance separately. For example, taking the same dosage of THC and CBD at the same time reduces the “high” from THC, while taking more CBD in combination with only a modest quantity of THC enhances its advantages.

4. Deal with Opioid Addiction

Preclinical studies conducted on both human and animal subjects suggest that CBD may be useful in the treatment of opioid dependency.

In one such experiment, researchers gave CBD to people who had heroin use problems. Over the course of a week, CBD significantly reduced the cue-induced cravings, withdrawal symptoms, resting heart rate, and salivary cortisol levels in heroin users. No serious adverse effects were found.

Research has demonstrated that CBD helps alleviate a variety of psychological and physical symptoms, including as pain, insomnia, and anxiety, in those suffering from drug use problems. This shows that CBD may work well as an opioid addiction treatment. Still, more investigation is needed.

5. Diminish the ALS Symptoms

The disease known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) causes nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord to degenerate, progressively exacerbating the loss of muscle function. The exact etiology of ALS is still unclear, despite the fact that the disease can occasionally run in families. There is no known cure for ALS; there are only two FDA-approved medications to help treat its symptoms.

Research suggests that ALS patients and PTSD sufferers alike may benefit from the entourage effect that THC and CBD combined create. In a 2019 study, patients received varying doses of THC and CBD based on their needs and preferences. People with ALS-related spasticity (tightness and stiffness in the muscles) indicated high levels of satisfaction with the therapy; those with moderate to severe spasticity reported higher satisfaction rates than those with mild spasticity.

6. Reduce Excruciating Pain

In 2005, Sativex, an oromucosal spray (absorbed in the mouth lining) with equal parts THC and CBD, was approved for use in Canada to treat central neuropathic pain linked to multiple sclerosis. In 2007, Canada approved the drug’s repurposing for cancer pain that did not respond to traditional therapies.

According to ongoing American research, CBD may be helpful in the management of chronic, non-cancerous pain. In a 2020 trial, researchers administered topical CBD to patients with symptomatic peripheral neuropathy, a condition brought on by damage to the brain and spinal cord, while another group of patients with the same ailment received a placebo. Comparing the topical CBD group to the placebo group, the patients showed a statistically significant reduction in both intense, piercing pain and cold, itchy sensations. No unfavorable side effects were reported by the participants.

When used topically, CBD oil doesn’t address the underlying issue the same way as an intravenous injection. Conversely, topical CBD is more targeted and provides localized pain relief. Because it is more direct, it may have a more pronounced effect.

7. Lower Diabetes-Related Complications

First off, studies using human cells have shown that CBD can mitigate the effects of high blood sugar on other body cells. This impact typically manifests before diabetes and all of its complications do. Further research on CBD may provide significant benefits for individuals with diabetes, diabetic complications, and artery wall plaque formation, according to the findings of the study.

In a brief, independent study, thirteen type 2 diabetes patients not on insulin therapy were given CBD and a placebo in place of insulin. The researchers found that CBD reduced the levels of resistin, the protein that controls blood sugar levels, and raised glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide, a hormone that ensures an adequate release of insulin from digested food, compared to their baselines prior to the test. These results suggest that CBD may function as a natural diabetes treatment by assisting the body in regulating hormones linked to insulin.