7 Benefits and areas of application of CBD oil

Cannabidiol is a popular natural remedy that is used for many ailments. Better known as CBD, it is one of over 100 compounds known as cannabinoids found in the cannabis or marijuana plant Cannabis sativa (1).

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the primary psychoactive cannabinoid found in cannabis and causes the high associated with cannabis use. Unlike THC, however, CBD is not psychoactive.

This quality makes CBD an inviting alternative for those looking for relief from pain or other symptoms without the mind-altering effects of marijuana or certain pharmaceutical ingredients.

CBD oil is made by extracting CBD from the cannabis plant and then diluting it with a carrier oil such as coconut oil or hemp seed oil.

CBD oil is becoming increasingly popular in the health and wellness world and some studies confirm that it can alleviate many symptoms of illness and disease, including chronic pain and anxiety.

Here are seven health benefits of CBD oil that are supported by scientific research.

CBD oil can relieve pain

Marijuana has been used to treat pain since 2900 BC (2). In modern times, scientists have discovered that certain compounds in marijuana, including CBD, are responsible for its pain-relieving effects.

The human body has a specialized system known as the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is involved in regulating a number of functions including sleep, appetite, pain and immune system response (3).

The body produces endocannabinoids, which are neurotransmitters that bind to cannabinoid receptors in the nervous system. Studies have shown that CBD may help reduce chronic pain by influencing endocannabinoid receptor activity, reducing inflammation and interacting with neurotransmitters (4).

For example, a study conducted in rats found that CBD injections can reduce the pain response to surgical incisions, while other studies conducted in rats have found that oral CBD treatment can significantly reduce sciatic nerve pain and inflammation (5, 6).

Several human studies have found that a combination of CBD and THC is effective in treating pain associated with multiple sclerosis and arthritis. An oral spray called Sativex, which contains a combination of THC and CBD, is approved in several countries for the treatment of pain associated with multiple sclerosis.

A study conducted with 47 subjects with multiple sclerosis investigated the effects of taking Sativex over a period of one month. The study participants experienced relief from pain and muscle twitching and an improvement in walking. However, this study did not include a control group and therefore a placebo effect cannot be ruled out (7).

Another study of 58 subjects with rheumatoid arthritis found that Sativex significantly reduced pain on movement and at rest and improved sleep quality (8).

Summary: CBD, especially in combination with THC, could be effective in reducing pain associated with diseases such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

CBD could reduce anxiety and depression

Anxiety and depression are common mental disorders that can have devastating effects on health and well-being. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is by far the biggest contributor to disability and incapacity to work, while anxiety is sixth on the list (9).

Anxiety and depression are usually treated with pharmaceutical medications that can cause a range of side effects such as drowsiness, agitation, insomnia, sexual dysfunction and headaches (10).

In addition, drugs such as benzodiazepines can be addictive and lead to abuse (11).

CBD oil has been shown to be promising as a treatment for depression and anxiety, which has led to many people suffering from such disorders becoming interested in a natural approach to treatment.

As part of a Brazilian study, 57 men were given either oral CBD or a placebo 90 minutes before they had to undergo a simulated public speaking test. The researchers found that a 300 mg dose of CBD was the most effective in significantly reducing anxiety during the test. Both the placebo, a 600 mg and a 150 mg dose of CBD had minimal or no effect on reducing anxiety during the test (12).

CBD oil has also been used to safely treat insomnia and anxiety in children with post-traumatic stress disorder (13).

In addition, CBD has also shown antidepressant effects in several studies conducted with animals (14, 15).

These qualities are associated with CBD's ability to act on the brain's receptors for serotonin - a neurotransmitter that regulates mood and social behavior.

Summary: CBD has been shown to relieve anxiety and depression in both animal and human studies.

CBD may alleviate symptoms associated with cancer

CBD could help alleviate symptoms associated with cancer, as well as the side effects of chemotherapy such as nausea, vomiting and pain.

One study looked at the effects of CBD and THC in 177 subjects with cancer-related pain who were unable to get relief from painkillers. The subjects who were treated with an extract containing both compounds experienced a significant reduction in their pain compared to subjects who received only a THC extract (16)

CBD may also help to alleviate side effects caused by chemotherapy, such as nausea and vomiting, which are the most common side effects of chemotherapy (17).

Although there are drugs that help reduce these symptoms, they are sometimes ineffective, leading some people to look for alternatives.

A study of 16 subjects undergoing chemotherapy found that a 1:1 combination of CBD and THC administered in the form of an oral spray relieved nausea and vomiting in response to chemotherapy better than standard treatment (18).

Some test tube and animal studies have even shown that CBD may have anti-cancer effects. For example, one test tube study showed that concentrated CBD induced cell death in human breast cancer cells (19). Another study showed that CDB inhibited the proliferation of aggressive breast cancer cells in mice (20).

However, these are only test tube and animal studies that can only suggest what might work in humans. Further human studies are needed before definitive conclusions can be drawn.

Summary: Although CBD has been shown to help reduce symptoms associated with cancer and cancer treatment and may even have anti-cancer effects, further research is needed to determine the safety and efficacy of CBD in these areas.

CBD could reduce acne

Acne is a common skin condition that affects more than 9% of the population (21). Acne is believed to be caused by a number of factors including genetics, bacteria, inflammation and overproduction of sebum (22, 23).

Based on current scientific research, CBD oil may help treat acne due to its anti-inflammatory properties.

A study conducted in a test tube found that CBD oil prevented the cells of the sebaceous glands from producing excessive amounts of sebum, that it showed anti-inflammatory effects and that it prevented the activation of acne-promoting agents such as pro-inflammatory cytokines (24).

Another study observed similar results and concluded that CBD could be an effective and safe way to treat acne thanks to its amazing anti-inflammatory qualities (25).

However, although these results are promising, further human studies are needed on the effects of CBD on acne in humans.

Summary: CBD may have beneficial effects on acne due to its anti-inflammatory properties and its ability to control sebum production in the skin's sebaceous glands.

CBD could have neuroprotective effects

Scientists believe that CBD's ability to act in the endocannabinoid system and other signaling systems of the brain could have benefits for people with neurological disorders.

One of the most frequently cited studies related to CBD deals with the treatment of neurological disorders such as epilepsy and multiple sclerosis. Although this research is still relatively new, several studies have yielded promising results.

Sativex, an oral spray consisting of CBD and THC, has been shown to be a safe and effective way to reduce muscle twitching in people with multiple sclerosis. One study found that Sativex reduced muscle spasms in 75% of 276 subjects with multiple sclerosis who experienced muscle spasms that were resistant to medication (26).

In another study, 214 subjects with severe epilepsy were given 2 to 5 grams of CBD oil per kilogram of body weight. This reduced seizures by an average of 36.5% (27).

Another study found that CBD oil significantly reduced seizure activity in children with Dravet syndrome - a complex childhood epileptic disorder - compared to a placebo (28).

However, it should be noted that in both of these studies, some subjects experienced adverse side effects associated with CBD, such as convulsions, fever and fatigue.

CBD has also been studied for its potential efficacy in several other neurological conditions.

For example, several studies have shown that treatment with CBD can improve quality of life and sleep quality in people with Parkinson's disease (29, 39).

Other animal and test tube studies have shown that CBD may reduce inflammation and help prevent the neurodegeneration associated with Alzheimer's disease (31).

In a long-term study, scientists administered CBD to mice with a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer's and found that this treatment helped prevent cognitive decline (32).

Summary: Although the number of studies is limited, CBD has been shown to alleviate symptoms associated with epilepsy and Parkinson's disease. CBD has also been shown to reduce the progression of Alzheimer's disease in test tube and animal studies.

CBD could promote heart health

Recent research has linked CBD to several benefits for heart health and the circulatory system, including a reduction in high blood pressure. High blood pressure is associated with a higher risk of a number of diseases including stroke, heart attack and metabolic syndrome (33).

Studies suggest that CBD may be able to help with high blood pressure. In one study, nine healthy men were treated with a dose of 600 mg CBD oil. It was observed that this led to a reduction in blood pressure at rest compared to a placebo.

As part of the same study, the test subjects had to complete stress tests that normally increase blood pressure. Interestingly, even a single dose of CBD oil resulted in the subjects experiencing a lower increase in blood pressure, which was below the levels normally observed in tests of this type (34).

Scientists suspect that the stress- and anxiety-reducing properties of CBD are responsible for its ability to lower blood pressure.

In addition to this, several studies have shown that CBD may help reduce the inflammation and cell death associated with heart disease due to its strong antioxidant and stress-relieving effects.

For example, one study found that treatment with CBD in diabetic mice with heart disease reduced oxidative stress and prevented damage to the heart (35).

Summary: Although further studies are needed, CBD may have positive effects on heart health in several ways including lowering blood pressure and preventing heart damage.

Other potential health benefits of CBD oil

CBD has been studied for its role in treating a number of other health issues beyond those described above. Although more studies are needed, it is believed that CBD may have the following additional health benefits:

• Antipsychotic effects: Studies suggest that CBD may help people with schizophrenia and other mental disorders by reducing psychotic symptoms (36).
• Treatment of addictions: CBD has been shown to modify circuits in the brain that are associated with addiction to drugs. In rats, CBD has been shown to reduce morphine dependence and addiction to heroin (37).
• Anti-tumor: In test tube and animal studies, CBD has been shown to have anti-tumor effects. In animals, CBD has been observed to prevent the spread of breast cancer, prostate cancer, brain cancer, colon cancer and lung cancer (38).
• Diabetes prevention: In diabetic mice, treatment with CBD reduced the incidence of diabetes by 56% and significantly reduced inflammation (39).

Summary: Some studies suggest that CBD could help with diabetes, addiction, mental disorders and certain types of cancer. However, more studies are needed.

What side effects can CBD oil have?

Although CBD is generally well tolerated and considered safe, it may cause unwanted side effects in some people.

Side effects observed in studies include (40):

• Diarrhea
• Changes in appetite and weight
• fatigue

CBD is also known to interact with some medications. For this reason, a doctor should be consulted before starting CBD treatment if concomitant medication is being taken (41).

This is especially important for medications that are warned not to be taken with grapefruit products. Both grapefruit and CBD affect the group of cytochrome P450 enzymes, which are responsible for the metabolism and degradation of a number of active pharmaceutical ingredients (42).

A study conducted with mice also showed that CBD-rich cannabis extracts have the potential to exhibit liver toxicity. However, in this study, some mice were injected with extremely high doses of this extract (43).

Summary: Although CBD is generally considered safe, it can cause side effects such as diarrhea and fatigue in some people and can also interact with certain medications.

Conclusion

CBD has been studied for its potential role in alleviating symptoms of many health problems and conditions including anxiety, depression, acne and heart disease. For cancer patients, CBD could also provide a natural alternative for relieving pain and other symptoms.

Research into the potential health benefits is ongoing, which means that more therapeutic applications are sure to be found.

While we still have much to learn about the therapeutic efficacy and safety of CBD, results of recent studies suggest that CBD could be a safe and effective natural treatment for many health problems.

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Source: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/cbd-oil-benefits