Cannabidiol (CBD) oil is a product that’s derived from
cannabis. It’s a type of cannabinoid, which are the chemicals naturally found
in marijuana plants. Even though it comes from marijuana plants, CBD doesn’t
create a “high” effect or any form of intoxication — that’s caused by another
cannabinoid, known as THC.
Because of recreational marijuana use, there’s been some
controversy around cannabis products like CBD oil. But there’s growing
awareness about the unique health benefits of CBD oil and other cannabis products.
Here’s what you need to know about six potential medical uses of CBD:
Health benefits of CBD oil and other cannabis products
1. Anxiety relief
CBD may be able to help you manage anxiety. It may change
the way your brain’s receptors respond to serotonin, a chemical linked to
mental health. Receptors are tiny proteins attached to your cells that receive
chemical messages and help your cells respond to different stimuli. One study found
that a 600mg dose of CBD helped people with social anxiety give a speech. Other
early studies done with animals have shown that CBD may help relieve anxiety
by:
·
reducing stress
·
decreasing physiological effects of anxiety, such
as an increased heart rate
·
improving symptoms of post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD)
·
inducing sleep in cases of insomnia
2. Anti-seizure
CBD has been in the news before, as a possible treatment for
epilepsy. The American Epilepsy Society states that CBD research offers hope
for seizure disorders, and that research is currently being conducted to better
understand safe use.
The research worked with 214 people with epilepsy in 2016.
The study participants added oral doses of 2 to 5mg of CBD per day to their
existing anti-epilepsy medications. Overall, participants had 36.5 percent
fewer seizures per month.
3. Neuroprotective
Researchers found that CBD could help people with
neurodegenerative disorders, which are diseases that cause the brain and nerves
to deteriorate over time. The use of CBD oil for treating:
·
Alzheimer’s disease
·
multiple sclerosis (MS)
·
Parkinson’s disease
·
stroke
CBD oil may also reduce the inflammation that can make neurodegenerative symptoms worse. More research is needed to fully understand the effects of CBD oil for neurodegenerative diseases.
4. Pain relief
The effects of CBD oil on your brain’s receptors also help
you manage pain. Studies have shown that cannabis can offer some benefits when
taken after chemotherapy treatments. Other pre-clinical studies sponsored by
the National Institutes of Health are also looking at the role of cannabis in
relieving symptoms caused by:
·
arthritis
·
chronic pain
·
MS pain
·
muscle pain
·
spinal cord injuries
Nabiximols (Sativex), a multiple sclerosis drug made from a
combination of TCH and CBD, is approved in the United Kingdom and Canada to
treat MS pain.
5. Anti-acne
CBD oil may offer benefits for acne management. A human
study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation found that the oil
prevented activity in sebaceous glands. These glands are responsible for
producing sebum, a natural oily substance that hydrates the skin. Too much sebum,
however, can lead to acne.
However, more human studies are needed to evaluate the potential
benefits of CBD for acne.
6. Cancer treatment
Some studies have investigated the role of CBD in preventing
cancer cell growth. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) says that CBD may help
alleviate cancer symptoms and cancer treatment side effects. The action of CBD
that’s promising for cancer treatment is its ability to moderate inflammation
and change how cell reproduce. CBD has the effect of reducing the ability of
some types of tumor cells to reproduce.