CBD, also known as cannabidiol oil, comes from the Cannabis sativa plant, or better known as the marijuana plant.
After removing tetrahydrocannabinol, or better known as the THC, and terpenes, CBD sleep oil has simply CBD as the active component.
However, it doesn’t have the same psychoactive traits as marijuana. Still, it works as a sedative and hallucinogen, making it an excellent treatment for pain and other health problems without experiencing the mind altering effects of marijuana or specific pharmaceutical medications.
The oil is created by diluting CBD extract from the cannabis plant with a carrier oil such as coconut or hemp seed oil.
CBD is gaining popularity in the health sciences due to its therapeutic benefits in treating chronic pain and anxiety.
We will look at some of the medical conditions where CBD has already proven to be beneficial. But before we do, keep in mind that:
We do not advise or promote the usage of CBD in any type or form. We are just sharing information that some readers might find helpful. It’s always the smartest decision to consult with your doctor before making an important decision for your health.
The 6 Most Known Benefits of CBD Oil:
1. Epilepsy.
The FDA authorized Epidiolex, a plant based CBD formulation, to treat seizures in children and adults with Dravet syndrome or Lennox Gastaut syndrome, LGS, these are two different types of epilepsy.
CBD also has various kinds of treatment for resistant epilepsy, usually in conjunction with standard epileptic drugs.
Although the results varied, several studies found that CBD reduced seizure frequency by over 44% in most patients.
CBD interacts with other epileptic drugs, and severe specific side effects have been documented, including a decline in liver function in those who are also taking valproate.
Therefore, CBD can help with epilepsy treatment in some cases.
2. Pain.
CBD has anti inflammatory properties, and it reduces pain by acting on the endocannabinoid and pain sensing systems. Unfortunately, few human trials have been conducted to examine the efficacy of CBD as a single pain relieving drug, with the majority of research mixing CBD and THC.
Notably, Health Canada has approved medicines that combine THC and CBD in a 1:1 ratio to treat central nerve related pain in multiple sclerosis and cancer that has not responded to optimum opioid therapy.
Observational research of CBD treatment found a statistically significant improvement in self reported quality of life measures for those with non cancer related pain.
But no statistically significant improvement has been found in those with cancer related pain or neurological symptoms.
According to a case study, combining CBD with THC reduced pain and muscle spasms in 47 people with multiple sclerosis.
CBD has been confirmed to have a favorable effect on serotonin levels in the brain in animal tests. Serotonin deficiency is hypothesized to play a function in both mood and pain.
According to some research, both animal and human, CBD has anti inflammatory properties, reducing pain through this mechanism.
It would be best to consult the doctor before using CBD to take other drugs for heart problems or immunosuppressants. Thus, CBD may aid with pain alleviation. However, no high quality human trials are available to support this claim.
According to animal research, topical CBD treatments reduce pain and inflammation linked with arthritis in animals with few adverse effects.
Since CBD is poorly absorbed when taken orally and might cause gastrointestinal problems, it works best as a topical supplement.
CBD topically applied to the skin may be beneficial in the treatment of arthritis. There are, however, no high quality human studies to support this claim.
3. Anxiety.
In 57 healthy males who underwent a simulated public speaking test, pretreatment with 300mg CBD significantly reduced anxiety.
However, doses of 150mg CBD and 600mg CBD did not affect the participant’s anxiety levels.
CBD worked effectively for anxiety in 21 out of 400 people in observational research.
Anxiety levels reduced in a large case series of 72 patients, with 57 patients, or around 79.2%, reporting reduced ratings within the first month of CBD treatment.
CBD may help with anxiety before public speaking or other activities.
The ideal dose, however, is uncertain.
4. Depressed mood.
CBD has been shown to aid with depression in animal studies, owing to its potent anti stress effect after acute or recurring dosing.
CBD also has a positive effect on serotonin levels in the brain and serotonin. Serotonin deficiency plays a function in both mood and pain. Thus, CBD may be effective in the treatment of depression, but additional research is needed.
5. Disruptions in sleep.
CBD helped improve sleep for 31% of patients taking it for reasons other than cancer, such as anxiety and pain. In a large case series of 72 participants, 48 or 66.7 percent, reported improved sleep ratings during the first month.
However, these varied across time.
CBD appeared to sustain sleep cycle in other trials using 300 mg of CBD in persons with anxiety or depression. This indicates that it was unlikely to have any negative impacts on sleep quality.
CBD appears not to affect sleep and may even help people sleep better.
6. Acne.
According to a laboratory study, CBD suppressed the generation of excessive sebum by human sebocytes.
It had an anti inflammatory effect, preventing the activation of inflammatory cytokines.
Since acne is caused by excessive sebum and inflammation, topical CBD may be an effective treatment and prevent or minimize future breakouts.
Topical CBD may help with acne related inflammation.
It can help with excessive sebum production.
However, additional research is needed.
What You Should Remember?
There is still a lot to learn about CBD oil, and Dr. Ring is continuously looking for answers.
She recently completed a preliminary investigation into CBD oil.
“I believe that at this time, both professionals and patients are unsure about which product to use or how often to use it,” she says. “I believe that knowing the answers to such questions will be beneficial.”
Since CBD oil can interfere with other medications you may be taking, it’s necessary to speak with your doctor before starting to take it.
Dr. Ring also recommends reading labels and purchasing high quality items. Due to the lack of regulation, anything posted on the internet can be readily tampered with, and quality can vary greatly.
“Read the reviews to make sure it’s been tested, the ingredients are authentic, and there are no contaminants,” she adds.