Cannabis is a species of plant. There are two main types of Cannabis: Cannabis Indica and Cannabis Sativa. You can get CBD and marijuana from both, but CBD and hemp are only made from Cannabis Sativa. Federal law requires that hemp contains less than 0.3% of THC to be labeled as hemp. If hemp contains more, it could lead to prosecution. Hemp seed oil is an ideal resource for producing 100% biodegradable products that are environmentally friendly, such as clothing, packaging, and biofuel.
CBD derived solely from hemp is less than 0.3% THC. While it is legal federally, some states have made CBD illegal. Cannabis-derived CBD products, however, are illegal under federal laws but are legal under state laws.
CBD, unlike THC, has no psychoactive effects and will not give you any “high”. It is not known to cause any dependence or abuse, and there are no reports of any serious side effects.
We’ll be looking at nine medical conditions where CBD can be or has been, helpful.
Epilepsy
The FDA approved Epidiolex (a CBD-based CBD formula) in June 2018. It is intended to treat seizures in children 2 years old and older with Dravet or Lennox/Gastaut syndromes (LGS).
CBD has also been explored for its use in treating other forms of epilepsy that are resistant to treatment. While results varied, many trials revealed that CBD reduced seizure frequency by nearly 44% in almost all people.
CBD can interact and cause side effects in patients with epilepsy.
Pain
Animal studies show that CBD has anti-inflammatory and pain-sensing effects.
CBD treatment has been shown to improve the quality of life in individuals with non-cancer-related pain. However, the study did not show statistically significant differences in patients suffering from neurological symptoms or cancer-related discomfort.
47 patients suffering from multiple sclerosis reported improvement in pain, walking, and muscle spasms following treatment with CBD and THC.
CBD is shown to have a positive effect on brain and body serotonin levels. Low levels are believed to be key in mood and pain.
Other research (both human and animal) has shown CBD’s anti-inflammatory effects and that it can relieve pain.
Arthritis
Studies on animals have shown that CBD creams can reduce inflammation and pain associated with arthritis. Topical CBD treatment is beneficial because CBD cannot be absorbed through the mouth. This can lead to gastrointestinal side effects.
Anxiety
A study in which 21 patients had anxiety was conducted and CBD was found to reduce anxiety, showing positive results for anxiety.
Anxiety scores dropped in large cases of 72 patients. 57 patients (79.2%), reported decreased anxiety scores within the first 30 days after CBD treatment.
Depression
CBD was found to have a positive effect on depression in animals. Its strong anti-stress effect may be related to repeated or acute administration.
CBD is shown to have a positive effect on brain and body serotonin levels. Low levels are believed to be key in mood and pain.
Sleep Disorders
CBD is used to treat anxiety, non-cancer pain, and 31% of CBD users reported better sleep.
However, these scores fluctuated as time went on.
Additional studies of CBD 300 mg given to people with anxiety or depression have shown that CBD seems to preserve sleep architecture and is unlikely to cause any disruptions to sleep quality.
Acne
A laboratory study revealed that CBD prevents human sebocytes from creating too much oil. In addition, CBD has anti-inflammatory properties and inhibits the activation of inflammatory mediators. Topical CBD can be used to reduce inflammation and excess sebum that are common signs of acne.
Parkinson’s Disease
Many studies with small numbers have looked into CBD as a treatment for Parkinson’s Disease. They found encouraging results. The majority of studies showed no differences between groups in terms of movement outcomes.
Other Conditions
There have been many other studies that CBD may be beneficial for those suffering from autoimmune diseases or chronic inflammation.
Additionally, further trials are needed to examine its potential use for many other conditions including muscle-spasticity with multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease.
CBD can have side effects like nausea, tiredness, or irritability.
