Posted On October 24, 2019 By CBD Expert

24
Oct

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves ‘cannabidiol‘ as a drug to treat seizures. Epidiolex is a pure CBD prescription drug approved for the treatment of seizures in:

• Dravet syndrome, and
• Lennox-Gestaut syndrome.

Both these conditions are rare and severe forms of childhood epilepsy. They are difficult to treat. CBD is a powerful anti-convulsant that controls both the:

• frequency, and
• intensity

of seizures.

Studies are still going on to confirm the other benefits of CBD. CBD oil is essentially a cannabis extract. It might come from:

• hemp plants (cannabis containing less than 0.3% THC), or
• marijuana plants (cannabis containing 0.3% THC or more).

Are There Any CBD Oil Side Effects

CBD is the same – whether it comes from hemp or marijuana. But CBD hemp oils are preferred because they contain very little or no THC and they would not show on drug tests. THC is the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis plants that induce a ‘high’. Marijuana CBD oils may contain more than 0.3% THC and may cause mild intoxication effects. People who are wary of CBD oil side effects like to use THC-free hemp oils.

CBD oils are the most popular products in the CBD market. But CBD products are also available as:

• CBD vapes or e-cigarettes,
• CBD tea,
• CBD oil capsules,
• CBD gummies or candies, 
• CBD-infused foods, 
• CBD-infused beauty products,
• CBD topicals (such as balms and salves),
• CBD transdermal patches, and
• pure CBD crystals or powder.

Current studies focus on CBD oil use and its effects on medical conditions like:

• anxiety,
• depression,
• psychosis,
• schizophrenia,
• chronic pain,
• multiple sclerosis,
• diabetes,
• Alzheimer’s disease,
• Parkinson’s disease etc.

But the research on CBD’s effects on patients with these conditions is still limited.

The WHO’s report on cannabidiol states that CBD is safe for humans and pets. It also states:

• CBD does not have any abuse potential. It is not addictive.
• CBD is well tolerated in humans, even at high doses of more than 1,000 mg per day.

Side-effects of CBD are pretty mild and temporary. These include:

• dry mouth,
• diarrhea,
• drowsiness,
• reduced appetite, and
• fatigue.

They usually wear off after stopping the use of CBD for some time.

One major problem with CBD is that it interacts with most other medications. Popular medications (such as blood thinners or NSAIDs) are processed by a set of liver enzymes. CBD inhibits these enzymes from processing other medicines. This can lead to toxicity. Hence, people who take daily medications must consult their doctors before using CBD oil.

Those who buy CBD online need to be careful. Marcel Bonn-Miller et al conducted a study on 84 CBD products bought online in 2017. He found:

• 26% of products had less CBD than mentioned on their labels,
• 42% of products had more CBD than mentioned on their labels,
• 18 THC-free CBD products had THC in them.

When a CBD product contains less CBD than expected, patients may not get the proper dose for their conditions. On the other hand, products contain more CBD may cause overdosing or other side-effects. The amount of THC found in the products was enough to intoxicate a child. Hence, they were not safe for children.

7 Benefits And Uses Of CBD Oil That Makes It Your Best Friend

Any CBD oil side effects? Research on various effects of CBD oil is still on. For now, one can look at the hundreds of online user reviews that provide anecdotal evidence of the benefits of CBD oil. Many reviews recommend CBD oil for a wide range of ailments. Here are some of the most talked-about effects of CBD oils:

1. CBD Oil is Good for Your Joint Pain

The mechanism by which CBD oil soothes pain and inflammation is not entirely understood. Healthline says that CBD oil interacts with two main cannabinoid receptors:

• CB1, and
• CB2.

This helps in reducing pain and inflammation. Dr. Faye Rim, a pain management specialist, says:

“CB1 and CB2 receptors regulate:

• body coordination, 

• movement,

• perception of pain,

• mood, and
• the immune system.”

The involvement of CB2 receptors in the immune system is the reason CBD oil has anti-inflammatory effects on arthritis patients. Dr. Rim warns that CBD oil should only be used as an adjunctive treatment for arthritis and not as the first-line treatment.

People with inflammatory auto-immune forms of arthritis can use CBD in the following ways to experience its effects:

• vaping CBD (the quickest way to experience relief in pain and inflammation),
• taking CBD tinctures sublingually (next best way to experience quick pain relief in joints),
• applying CBD balms or salves on joints, and
• adding a few drops of CBD oil to foods and drinks (takes 2-4 hours to show its effects but they last for longer duration).

One may also use transdermal CBD patches for quick relief. In the case of CBD topicals and transdermal patches, it is a good idea to test them on a small skin area first. 

A 2017 issue of the journal ‘Pain‘ published a study on rodents. It found that CBD oil relieves joint pain in rat models of osteoarthritis. A small-scale study in 2016 found that CBD oil helped in:

• relieving pain,
• improving the quality of sleep, and
• improving the quality of life in general

in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients.

Dr. Rim says:

“CBD is very effective in some patients. It does not work for others. But CBD has no major side-effects. Hence, arthritis patients may try it and see how it affects them.”

2. CBD Oil is Good for Your Back Pain

CBD oil is quite effective in back pain management. It:

• soothes pain and inflammation,
• combats anxiety associated with chronic pain, and
• helps the patients to relax and sleep better.

Experts suggest that CBD oil targets pain in full body. It helps patients to relax. Low back pain presents a unique challenge for doctors. About 10% of patients with low back pain go on to develop chronic low back pain. The cause of this progression is not understood yet.

A recent study focused on the effects of medical cannabis on low back pain in fibromyalgia patients. It found that medical cannabis therapy showed:

• improvement in pain scores,
• improvement in spinal range of motion, and
• a decrease in opiate consumption (as a treatment for back pain).

CBD topicals, however, work only in the targeted area. In the case of CBD pain creams, cannabidiol never reaches the bloodstream. It affects the receptors near the skin to provide relief in pain in the area.

3. CBD Oil is Good for Neuropathic Pain

Neuropathic pain happens due to damaged nerves. It is different from pain caused by damaged tissues (due to cut or injury). In 2017, a clinical review was done on the effects of cannabis oil on chronic neuropathic pain in adults. Cannabis-based medicines used in studies included:

• Oromucosal spray containing THC and CBD,
• Inhalation of herbal cannabis and THC derived from cannabis,
• synthetic THC called nabilone, and
• nabilone with a pain killer (dihydrocodeine).

The study results showed:

• substantial and moderate pain relief in all cases,
• reduction of pain intensity,
• improvement in sleep problems, and
• low-to-moderate improvement in psychological distress.

The authors concluded that good quality of evidence is lacking in this field.

Another clinical review studied the effect of cannabis on patients with peripheral neuropathy. It recommends cannabis as an effective alternative treatment for the condition. The authors concluded:

• Cannabis is beneficial in:
  • reducing pain,
  • improving sleep, and
  • improving function

even in patients who do not respond well to standard therapies.

• High doses of cannabis may cause side-effects such as:
• irritation in the throat,
• headache,
• dizziness, and
• serious neuropsychiatric effects.

CBD oil may help avoid the last of these side-effects.

• Cannabis samples supplied by the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) are less potent than ones available in the market. Hence, the safety profile of commercially-available cannabis is not assessed adequately.

A recent study focused on the efficacy of cannabidiol in surgically-induced neuropathic pain in rat models. It found that opioid-based pain medication:

• affect the quality of life of patients,
• are addictive, and
• have withdrawal symptoms.

CBD can be an effective alternative to these medications for the treatment of nerve injuries.

Another study on rat models of neuropathic pain was published in the journal ‘Pain’. It found that CBD interacts with the serotonin (5-HT)1A receptor. CBD dosage of 5 mg/kg/day for seven days:

• normalized the activity of 5-HT neurons,
• decreased anxiety-like behavior in rat models through TRPV1 activation, and
• reduced mechanical allodynia.

5-HT neurons produce serotonin which contributes to feelings of well-being and happiness. The reduction of allodynia means that the cells become desensitized to pain.

More large-scale studies are needed to confirm these findings.

4. CBD Oil is Good for Your Mental Health

The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) agrees that CBD oil may be effective in treating anxiety and depression. Pre-clinical and limited clinical evidence also suggests that CBD is good for treating several conditions. It is:

• analgesic,
• anti-asthmatic,
• antiepileptic,
• anti-inflammatory,
• antipsychotic,
• antitumor,
• anxiolytic (anti-anxiety),
• hypoxia-ischemia (insufficient oxygen in the blood), and
• neuroprotective.

Properly controlled clinical trials are needed to evaluate CBD as a potential treatment for these conditions.

Psychology Today published an article which claimed CBD:

• helps in lowering feelings of isolation,
• relieving symptoms of autism,
• reducing the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),
• calms the brain, and
• supports the hippocampus (which helps in regulating memory and emotions).

A 2011 study focused on cannabidiol effects on social anxiety. A double-blind randomized study found that the pretreatment with CBD significantly reduced:

• anxiety,
• cognitive impairment, and
• discomfort
• in speech performance.

It also decreased the alertness of social anxiety patients in anticipatory speech tasks.

A study was published in Schizophrenia Bulletin in 2018. It studies the effects of CBD oil on early psychosis. Patients within the first seven years of psychotic illness were given 800 mg of CBD per day. The CBD treatment was given for two sessions of four weeks separated by a break of two weeks. The study found that CBD shows potential efficacy in the treatment of psychotic patients.

5. CBD Oil is Good for Your Sleep Quality

CBD oil is good for people with insomnia. It alleviates anxiety. Those who are not able to sleep due to pain or discomfort can find relief by using CBD oil. If taken in small amounts, CBD can also promote daytime wakefulness. 

Tuck.com claims that CBD oil minimizes the symptoms of RBD (REM Behavior Disorder). This is a parasomnia disorder in which patients:

• shout,
• become physically agitated, or
• act out

during sleep.

RBD can be a symptom of a more serious condition, such as:

• PTSD, or
• Alzheimer’s disease.

Anxiety and depression may disrupt sleep. CBD oil activates serotonin receptors in the brain. Thus, it is an effective antidepressant and anxiolytic agent.

Healthline published a CBD recipe for a good sleep cocktail. You should take CBD oil with:

• a cup of tart cherry juice, 
• a cup of grape juice, and 
• half-a-dropper of valerian root tincture.

Insomniacs may enjoy this cocktail before bed and enjoy a good night’s sleep.

6. CBD Oil is Good for Your Beauty

The beauty and wellness market has embraced CBD oil. Marie Claire’s guide on CBD oil suggests:

• Check that your CBD products contain minimal THC. Any product with more than 2% THC is illegal in the UK. In the US, CBD beauty products with more than 0.3% THC may be illegal in some states.
• CBD oil is a great moisturizer. It is very good for people with:
  • dry and dull skin (or dehydrated skin), or
  • acne-prone skin.
• CBD has a sebostatic effect. It means that it balances sebum and skin oils. This prevents skin breakouts and acne.

New skincare products with CBD oil may also be good for:

• psoriasis, and
• eczema.

7. CBD Oil is Good for Your Pet

CNET published an interview with a leading veterinary cannabis researcher – Stephanie McGrath. CBD pet care products are available as:

• Edibles, such as:
  • chewable treats, and
  • CBD capsules.
• CBD oils that can be:
  • added to pet foods, or
  • placed under the tongue of your dogs and cats.
• CBD topical creams or balms to be rubbed directly on the skin.

McGrath found that CBD oil has the best pharmacokinetic profile for animals. It:

• reached the highest concentration in the blood,
• stayed in the bloodstream for the longest period, and
• performed most consistently across dogs.

Scientific evidence suggests:

• A 2018 study found that CBD increases comfort and activity in dogs with osteoarthritis.
• A recent study by McGrath found that CBD may help reduce the number of seizures in dogs with epilepsy.

McGrath warns that CBD should not be given to dogs with liver disorders.

Pet owners also suggest that CBD oil use can also improve the quality of the fur coat of their canine friends.

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