More people these days seem to be taking their health more seriously and are interested in enhancing their physical health with a cannabinoid that is increasingly becoming more mainstream called CBD. CBD oil has also caught the interest of a lot of researchers who have been performing studies to understand its efficacy and ability to assist in treating certain ailments.
As of a few years ago, most people had never heard of CBD, and now the entire cannabis industry is accelerating quicker than almost all industries. Maybe this is because states are softening their stance on CBD’s cousin, THC, or maybe because in 2018 the Farm Bill was signed which federally granted the approval to grow hemp.
Are you familiar with the potential health benefits of CBD oil? Do you know where it originates from, and what CBD oil may be able to assist with treating? Let’s dig in!
What is CBD Oil?
READ: Take a Deeper Dive into What is CBD
Cannabidiol, or CBD, is one of the different phytocannabinoids or chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant. In order to produce CBD oil, the resin that is present in marijuana plants must first be extracted. CBD is one of about 100 cannabinoids that are found in the cannabis plant. Some other cannabinoids you may know of or see products that feature them are CBN, CBG, CBC, Delta-8 THC, and THC.
What Does CBD Oil Treat?
This subject is a bit tricky as CBD has not been approved by the FDA to be a supplement, and therefore CBD School, and any CBD brand out there are not able to claim that CBD is a cure for any health condition.
Discover: Cannaflower CBD
What can be communicated is that CBD has been researched and many studies have been conducted about the efficacy of CBD1, and the possibilities of CBD being beneficial in assisting in the treatment of many conditions. While additional studies need to be performed, what we can relay is that many people have found some relief by using CBD products, which include CBD topicals, CBD gummies, CBD flower, CBD oil, CBD capsules, and additional products.
CBD and Anxiety
READ: Using Cannabidiol for Anxiety
According to studies, “CBD displays promise as a tool for reducing anxiety in clinical populations”, although it is recommended that “formal studies on efficacy and dose-finding are much needed.” The participants in the study exhibited fewer behavioral indicators of anxiousness, and “CBD appears to be better tolerated than routine psychiatric medications.”2 Their physical anxiety signs, such as an irregular heartbeat, also diminished.
CBD may also aid those with social anxiety and PTSD, along with possibly alleviating insomnia due to anxiety. Studies have also been completed that showed CBD may assist people with public speaking phobias.3
CBD, Seizures, and Epilepsy
READ: Is Using CBD Oil for Epilepsy Effective?
It is unknown precisely how CBD assists in suppressing seizures. The cannabinoid unit is composed of neurotransmitters and receptors throughout the human body. This system is expected to regulate bodily activities, including food, relaxation, pain, and the immune state’s reaction.
It is believed that CBD can change these processes by engaging with the endocannabinoid system and its receptors. Experimental findings suggest that CBD’s anticonvulsant properties may result from its action on the receptor to reduce neuronal excitability.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a CBD-prescribed drug called Epidiolex that helps with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome, two rare and extremely serious forms of epilepsy.
CBD and Skin Issues
Some data supports that cannabidiol oil may help in the treatment of acne by normalizing a “pro-acne agent.” As the compound’s direct action on the cells is responsible for producing sebum, both oil supply and inflammation can be reduced.
CBD may also assist in the healing of wounds by reducing inflammation, which is influenced by the endocannabinoid system.4 If you’re looking to find some relief from some minor skin-related issues you may want to check out our best CBD topicals guide which breaks down some additional information, while also recommending some products that we’ve found useful.
Pain, Inflammation, and Arthritis
One of the more popular reasons people turn to CBD is to help with chronic pain and arthritis in the body. CBD has shown a great effect on reducing inflammation which is why people have found relief with using CBD. The reason that CBD may help is that when it binds to the CB2 receptors of the overactive immune cells, it will stimulate a certain type of anti-inflammatory protein called the caspase.
Inflammation reduction is the key to why CBD may assist with these types of pains in the body. Studies have shown that cannabinoids, including CBD, suppress the production of cytokines, which are chemical signals utilized by the immune system to start and stop inflammation.5
Different CBD Applications
CBD comes in many different forms which we touched on a few earlier. While all CBD products that are produced by reputable CBD brands contain CBD, certain products are meant for certain treatments.
For instance, if you are having an issue with arthritis in your hand or are looking for some relief from muscle and joint pain, you may want to seek out a CBD topical lotion that you can rub into your hands. CBD topicals generally act very quickly, compared to CBD oil, which also may be beneficial to your arthritis issue.
Enjoying your read? Sign up to be a part of the CBD School community, and we’ll send you a free eBook called The Beginner’s Guide to CBD. It will get you caught up in all things CBD. Additionally, you’ll get updates on the best CBD products and discounts in the industry.
If the hazards of smoking do not worry you, CBD flower and CBD cigarettes, are two quick-acting CBD products that you should try. A great thing about purchasing these two forms of CBD is that you can find a CBD strain that is specific to assisting with a certain ailment. You can find CBD strains for sleep related issues, along with CBD strains that will energize you like Cannaflower CBD’s Gelato Sunset.
Before using CBD products, you should consult with your primary care physician.
Recommended Dosage for CBD
While there is no specific recommendation for what dosage is right for you when it comes to CBD, the best rule to follow is to go slow and add as you go. Some factors that you should consider when trying to figure out how much CBD you can take includes your body weight. Someone that is 200lbs will most likely need a high dose of CBD than someone that is 120lbs.
Other factors are how familiar you are with CBD. Are you new to CBD or someone that has a regular regimen? Your body does build up a tolerance to CBD so someone that has been taking it regularly will most likely continue to add additional dosages of CBD.
Possible Side Effects
READ: Side Effects of Using CBD Oil Products
Research in clinical settings has demonstrated that CBD oil may have some unwanted side effects. The particularly adverse effects that a person experiences and the severity of those side effects can vary from person to person and from one type of CBD to another.
The following are some of the most often reported adverse effects associated with the use of CBD:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Dry mouth
- Alterations in one’s appetite
Conclusion
While CBD has not been fully approved and regulated by the FDA, it has been shown to assist with many health conditions. If you are interested in seeing if CBD is right for you, you should first consult with your doctor, especially if you take medications, as CBD can have a drug interaction.
With all that said, CBD doesn’t give most people any side effects, and if someone does have a reaction, the reaction isn’t something that lingers or is too harmful.
references
1Larsen C, Shahinas J. Dosage, Efficacy and Safety of Cannabidiol Administration in Adults: A Systematic Review of Human Trials. J Clin Med Res. 2020 Mar;12(3):129-141. doi: 10.14740/jocmr4090. Epub 2020 Mar 2. PMID: 32231748; PMCID: PMC7092763.
2Shannon S, Lewis N, Lee H, Hughes S. Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series. Perm J. 2019;23:18-041. doi: 10.7812/TPP/18-041. PMID: 30624194; PMCID: PMC6326553.
3Bergamaschi, M. M., Queiroz, R. H., Chagas, M. H., de Oliveira, D. C., De Martinis, B. S., Kapczinski, F., Quevedo, J., Roesler, R., Schröder, N., Nardi, A. E., Martín-Santos, R., Hallak, J. E., Zuardi, A. W., & Crippa, J. A. (2011). Cannabidiol reduces the anxiety induced by simulated public speaking in treatment-naïve social phobia patients. Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, 36(6), 1219–1226. https://doi.org/10.1038/npp.2011.6
4Baswan, S. M., Klosner, A. E., Glynn, K., Rajgopal, A., Malik, K., Yim, S., & Stern, N. (2020). Therapeutic Potential of Cannabidiol (CBD) for Skin Health and Disorders. Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology, 13, 927–942. https://doi.org/10.2147/CCID.S286411
5Hammell, D. C., Zhang, L. P., Ma, F., Abshire, S. M., McIlwrath, S. L., Stinchcomb, A. L., & Westlund, K. N. (2016). Transdermal cannabidiol reduces inflammation and pain-related behaviours in a rat model of arthritis. European journal of pain (London, England), 20(6), 936–948. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejp.818