Benefits and Functions of CBD Cannabidiol
The Functions of CBD oil
There is a diversity of benefits and functions of CBD oil to assist a person’s health.
Natural pain relief and anti-inflammatory properties
People tend to use prescription or over-the-counter drugs to relieve stiffness and pain, including chronic pain.
Some people believe that CBD offers a more natural alternative.
Authors of a study published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine found that CBD significantly reduced chronic inflammation and pain in some mice and rats.
The researchers suggested that the non-psychoactive compounds in marijuana, such as CBD, could provide a new treatment for chronic pain.
Quitting smoking and drug withdrawals
Some promising evidence suggests that the functions of CBD oil use may help people to quit smoking.
A pilot study published in Addictive Behaviors found that smokers who used inhalers containing CBD smoked fewer cigarettes than usual and had no further cravings for nicotine.
A similar review, published in Neurotherapeutics, found that CBD may be a promising treatment for people with opioid addiction disorders.
The researchers noted that CBD reduced some symptoms associated with substance use disorders. These included anxiety, mood-related symptoms, pain, and insomnia.
More research is necessary, but these findings suggest that CBD may help to prevent or reduce withdrawal symptoms.
Epilepsy
After researching the safety and effectiveness of CBD oil for treating epilepsy, the FDA approved the use of CBD (Epidiolex) as a therapy for two rare conditions characterized by epileptic seizures in 2018.
In the U.S., a doctor can prescribe Epidiolex to treat:
- Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), a state that appears between the ages of 3 and 5 years and involves unusual types of seizures
- Dravet syndrome (DS), a rare genetic condition that appears in the first year of life and affects frequent, fever-related seizures
The types of seizures that characterize LGS or DS are difficult to control with other types of medication.
The FDA specified that doctors could not prescribe Epidiolex for children younger than two years. A physician or pharmacist will determine the right dosage based on body weight.
Other neurological symptoms and disorders
Researchers are studying the effects of CBD on various neuropsychiatric disorders.
Findings suggested that CBD may also treat many complications linked to epilepsy, such as neurodegeneration, neuronal injury, and psychiatric diseases.
Another study, published in Current Pharmaceutical Design, found that CBD may produce effects similar to those of certain antipsychotic drugs and that the compound may provide a safe and effective treatment for people with schizophrenia. However, further research is necessary.
Fighting cancer
Some researchers have found that CBD may prove to combat disease.
Authors of a review published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology found evidence that CBD significantly helped to prevent the spread of cancer.
The researchers also noted that the compound tends to suppress the growth of cancer cells and promote their destruction. Conclude
They pointed out that CBD has low levels of toxicity. They called for further research into its potential as an accompaniment to standard cancer treatments.
Anxiety disorders
Doctors often advise people with chronic anxiety to avoid cannabis, as THC can trigger or amplify feelings of anxiousness and paranoia.
However, authors of a review from Neurotherapeutics found that CBD may help to reduce anxiety in people with certain related disorders.
According to the study, CBD may reduce anxiety-related behaviors in people with conditions such as:
- post-traumatic stress disorder
- general anxiety disorder
- panic disorder
- social anxiety disorder
- obsessive-compulsive disorder
The authors noted that current treatments for these disorders could lead to additional symptoms and side effects, which can cause some people to stop taking them.
No further definitive evidence currently that links the benefits and function of CBD oil to the adverse impacts, and the authors called for further studies of the compound as a treatment for anxiety.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes results from inflammation that occurs when the immune system attacks cells in the pancreas.
Research published in 2016 by Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation found that CBD may ease this inflammation in the pancreas. It may be the first step in finding a CBD-based treatment for type 1 diabetes.
A paper presented in the same year in Lisbon, Portugal, suggested that CBD may reduce inflammation and protect against or delay the development of type 1 diabetes.
Acne
Acne treatment is another promising use for CBD. The condition is caused, in part, by inflammation and overworked sebaceous glands in the body.
A 2014 study published by the Journal of Clinical Investigation found that CBD helps to lower the production of sebum that leads to acne, partly because of its anti-inflammatory effect on the body. Sebum is an oily substance, and overproduction can cause acne.
The benefits and function of CBD oil could become a future treatment for acne vulgaris, the most common form of acne.
Alzheimer’s disease
Initial research published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease found that CBD was able to prevent the development of social recognition deficits in participants.
It means that CBD could help people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s to keep the ability to recognize the faces of people that they know.
It is the first evidence that CBD may slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
Legal note
The current legality over CBD is hazy. Hemp and hemp-derived products are legal under the Farm Bill, as long as their THC content is less than 0.3%.
However, there is still some confusion over the benefits and functions of CBD oil and its specific uses.
People should check the laws in their state and any travel destination. They should keep in mind the FDA has not yet approved any nonprescription products.
Recent developments: CBD oil for epilepsy
In June 2018, the FDA approved the use of CBD to treat two types of epilepsy.
Dr. Scott Gottlieb, writing for the FDA on 25 June, stated:
“Today, the FDA approved a purified form of the drug cannabidiol (CBD). It is one of more than 80 active chemicals in marijuana. The new product was approved to treat seizures associated with two rare, severe forms of epilepsy in patients two years of age and older.”
Dr. Scott Gottlieb
Dr. Gottlieb is careful to point out that:
- The FDA has not approved the use of marijuana or all of its components.
- The association has only approved a purified version of one CBD medication, for a precise therapeutic purpose.
- The decision based to recommend the product was on the results of sound clinical trials.
- Patients will receive the medicine on a regular dosage.
Side effects
No noteworthy side effects on the central nervous system, the vital signs, or frame of mind, even with people who utilized high dosages.
The most common side effect is tiredness. Also, several people reported diarrhea and adjustments in appetite or weight.
Even so, people should speak with their doctor before pursuing a course of CBD. It may act together with some over-the-counter (OTC) aids, dietary supplements, and CBD medicine, in particular those that caution against consuming grapefruit.
CBD may also disturb an enzyme called cytochrome P450 complex. This disturbance can impinge on the liver’s capacity to break down toxins, escalating the threat of liver toxicity.
Risks
There is still a deficiency in available long-term safety information.
Also, to date, researchers have not completed any studies concerning children.
Epidiolex
Concerning Epidiolex that the FDA approved to treat two types of epilepsy, researchers noticed these adverse effects in their trials
Risks
There is still a lack of available long-term safety data.
Also, to date, researchers have not performed studies involving children.
Side effects of Epidiolex
Concerning the product that the FDA approved to treat two types of epilepsy, researchers noticed the following adverse effects in clinical trials:
- liver problems
- symptoms, such as bad temper and exhaustion
- a diminished desire for food
- gastrointestinal difficulties
- infections
- rashes and other sensitivity reactions
- decreased urination
- breathing predicaments
The patient information leaflet notes that there is a risk of deteriorating depression or suicidal thoughts. It is important to monitor anyone who is using this drug for indications of mood change.
Research suggests that a person taking the product is doubtful to form a reliance.
Side effects of other uses of CBD
There is often a lack of evidence regarding the safety of new or alternative treatment options. Usually, researchers have not performed the full array of tests.
Anyone who is considering using CBD should talk to a qualified healthcare practitioner beforehand.
The FDA has only endorsed CBD for the action of two unusual and harsh forms of epilepsy.
When drugs do not have FDA approval, it can be challenging to know whether a product contains a safe or adequate level of CBD.
Unapproved products may not have the properties or contents stated on the packaging.
It is important to note that researchers have linked marijuana use during pregnancy to impairments in the fetal development of neurons. Regular use among teens is associated with issues concerning memory, behavior, and intelligence.
How to use
CBD is just one of many compounds, and it is not psychoactive. Smoking cannabis is not the same as using CBD oil.
Using CBD oil is disproportionate as using or smoking whole marijuana.
A person can use CBD oil in different ways to relieve a variety of symptoms.
CBD-based products come in many forms. Some can be mixed into different foods or drinks or taken with a pipette or dropper.
Others are available in capsules or as a cream can be massaged into the skin. Some products are available as sprays.
Recommended dosages vary between individuals, and depend on factors such as body weight, the concentration of the product, and the health issue.
Some people consider taking CBD oil to help treat:
- chronic pain
- epilepsy
- Parkinson’s disease
- Huntington’s disease
- sleep disorders
- glaucoma
Due to the lack of FDA regulation for most CBD products, seek advice from a medical professional before determining the best-prescribed amount.
As a management in the U.S. develops, more specific dosages and preparations will start to come out.
After discussing risks with a doctor and researching regional local laws, it is essential to understand the functions of CBD oil and compare different brands of CBD oil.
References
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/cancer-oncology/
https://www.fda.gov/downloads/advisorycommittees/committeesmeetingmaterials/drugs/peripheralandcentralnervoussystemdrugsadvisorycommittee/ucm604736.pdf
https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/can.2016.0034
