The Health Benefits of CBD OilPosted by Mason Dalrymple on January 25th, 2021 The Health Benefits of CBD Oil This cannabis extract may help treat nerve pain, anxiety, and epilepsy CBD oil is an extract of Cannabis indica or Cannabis sativa—the same plants that, when dried, make marijuana. CBD oil is believed by some to treat pain, reduce anxiety, and stimulate appetite in the same way that marijuana does, but without its psychoactive effects. CBD has also shown promise in treating certain types of seizures. CBD is the short name for cannabidiol, one of the two chemicals—among the dozens in cannabis—that have the most health benefits. The other, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is what gets people "high." CBD oil generally does not contain THC, although some legal trace amounts may be present. CBD oil contains CBD mixed with an inert carrier oil, such as coconut oil or hemp seed oil. The bottled oil, called a tincture, is sold in various concentrations. There are also CBD capsules, CBD gummies, and under-the-tongue CBD sprays. Health Benefits CBD's exact mechanism of action is unclear. Unlike THC, CBD has a relatively low affinity for cannabinoid receptors in the brain. These are the molecules to which THC binds to elicit its psychoactive effects. Instead, CBD is thought to influence other receptors, including opioid receptors that regulate pain and glycine receptors involved in the regulation of the "feel-good" hormone serotonin. Proponents claim that CBD oil can treat a wide variety of health problems, including: Acne Anorexia Anxiety Chronic pain Depression Drug addiction and withdrawal Epilepsy Glaucoma High blood pressure Insomnia Muscle spasms Parkinson's disease Despite the growing popularity of CBD use, CBD oil remains sorely under-researched. As such, some of these claims are better supported by studies than others. Here is just some of what the current evidence says. Anxiety CBD shows promise in the treatment of anxiety disorders, suggests a 2015 review of studies in the journal Neurotherapeutics.1 According to the investigators, CBD demonstrated potent anxiolytic (anxiety-relieving) effects in animal research, albeit with counterintuitive results. In all but a few studies, lower doses of CBD (10 milligrams per kilogram, mg/kg, or less) were better able to treat symptoms of anxiety. Higher doses (100 mg/kg or more) exhibited virtually no effect. Part of this response could be explained by the way that CBD acts in the brain. In many cases, CBD works as an agonist, meaning that it triggers an opposite response when binding to a receptor. It is possible that low doses can elicit a positive agonist response, while high doses overwhelm the brain and trigger a compensatory effect to fight CBD's effects. Among the few human trials evaluating CBD's anxiolytic effects was one published in the Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry in 2019.2 For this study, 57 men were given either CBD oil or a placebo before a public-speaking event. Anxiety was evaluated using physiological measures (such as blood pressure, heart rate, etc.) and a relatively reliable test for mood states known as the Visual Analog Mood Scale (VAMS). According to the investigators, men provided 300 mg of CBD exhibited less anxiety than those given a placebo. Interestingly, those provided 100 mg or 600 mg of CBD oil did not. Addiction CBD oil may benefit those with drug addiction, suggests a 2015 review of studies published in Substance Abuse. In an analysis of 14 published studies (nine involving animals and five involving humans), scientists with the University of Montreal concluded that CBD "showed promise" in treating people with opioid, cocaine, or psychostimulant addiction. However, the effect of CBD on each addiction type was often very different. With opioid addiction, for example, CBD showed little effect in minimizing withdrawal symptoms in the absence of THC. By contrast, CBD on its own appeared effective in minimizing drug-seeking behaviours in users of cocaine, methamphetamine, and other psychostimulant drugs. There have also been suggestions that CBD may aid in the treatment of cannabis and nicotine addiction. Further research is needed. Nerve Pain Medical marijuana is frequently prescribed to people with intractable (treatment-resistant) pain, including those with terminal cancer. There is some evidence that CBD contributes to this benefit. According to a 2012 study in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, rats injected with inflammatory chemicals in their hind feet experienced less inflammation and neuropathic pain when treated with an oral dose and spinal injection of CBD. Cbd leicester believe that CBD reduces nerve pain by binding to glycine receptors in the brain that regulate the speed at which nerve signals pass between nerve cells. Human studies evaluating the use of CBD in treating chronic pain are lacking. Those that do exist almost invariably include THC, making it difficult to isolate CBD's distinct effects. Heart Health CBD oil may reduce the risk of heart disease by alleviating hypertension (high blood pressure) in certain people, suggests a 2017 study in JCI Insight. For this study, nine healthy men took either 600 mg of CBD or the same dose of a placebo. According to the researcher, those treated with CBD had lower blood pressure before and after exposure to stressful stimuli (including exercise or extreme cold). In addition, the stroke volume (the amount of blood remaining in the heart after a heartbeat) was significantly reduced, meaning that the heart was pumping more efficiently. The findings suggest that CBD oil may be a suitable complementary therapy for people whose hypertension is complicated by stress and anxiety. However, there is no evidence that CBD oil can treat hypertension on its own or prevent hypertension in people at risk. While stress is known to complicate high blood pressure, it cannot cause hypertension. Seizures In June 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Epidiolex, a CBD oral solution used for the treatment of certain rare forms of epilepsy in children under 2—Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Both are exceptionally rare genetic disorders causing lifelong catastrophic seizures that begin during the first year of life. Outside of these two disorders, CBD's effectiveness in treating seizures is uncertain. Even with Epidiolex, it is uncertain whether the anti-seizure effects can be attributed to CBD or some other factor. There is some evidence that CBD interacts with seizure medications such as Onfi (clobazam) and "boosts" their concentration in the blood. This would not only make the drugs more effective but extend their half-lives as well. Further research is needed. Interactions CBD oil can interact with certain medications, including some drugs used to treat epilepsy. CBD inhibits an enzyme called cytochrome P450 (CYP450), which certain drugs use for metabolization. By interfering with CYP450, CBD may either increase the toxicity or decrease the effectiveness of these drugs. Potential drug-drug interactions with CBD include: Anti-arrhythmia drugs like quinidine Anticonvulsants like Tegretol (carbamazepine) and Trileptal (oxcarbazepine) Antifungal drugs like Nizoral (ketoconazole) and Vfend (voriconazole) Antipsychotic drugs like Orap (pimozide) Atypical antidepressants like Remeron (mirtazapine) Benzodiazepine sedatives like Klonopin (clonazepam) and Halcion (triazolam) Immune-suppressive drugs like Sandimmune (cyclosporine) Macrolide antibiotics like clarithromycin and telithromycin Migraine medications like Ergomar (ergotamine) Opioid painkillers like Duragesic (fentanyl) and alfentanil Rifampin-based drugs used to treat tuberculosis Many of these interactions are mild and require no adjustment to treatment. Others may require a drug substitution or the separation of doses by several hours. To avoid interactions, advise your doctor and pharmacist about any drugs you are taking, whether they are prescription, over-the-counter, herbal, or recreational. Dosage and Preparation There are no guidelines for the appropriate use of CBD oil. CBD oil is usually delivered sublingually (under the tongue). Most oils are sold in 30-milliliter (mL) bottles with a dropper cap. There is currently no known "correct" dose of CBD oil. Depending on who you speak to, the daily dose can range anywhere from 5 mg to 25 mg. The tricky part is calculating the exact amount of CBD per millilitre of oil. Some tinctures have concentrations of 1,500 mg per 30 mL, while others have 3,000 mg per mL (or more). How to Calculate CBD Dose To determine an exact dose of CBD, remember that each drop of oil equals 0.05 mL of fluid. This means that a 30-mL bottle of CBD oil will have roughly 600 drops. If the concentration of the tincture is 1,500 mg/mL, one drop would contain 2.5 mg of CBD (1,500 mg ÷ 600 drops = 2.5 mg). To use CBD oil, place one or more drops under the tongue and hold the dose there for 30 to 60 seconds without swallowing. Capsules and gummies are easier to dose, although they tend to be more costly. CBD sublingual sprays are used mainly for convenience.Like it? Share it! More by this author |