Does CBD Oil Work?
Over the years, the topic of cannabis and CBD oil, its uses and benefits, have been prominent in medical discussions worldwide.
While every natural substance has its usefulness to humans, hemp-derived CBD products’ full effect is products’ full effect is yet to be 100% determined. Especially among people of different ages and medical statuses.
This article will take an in-depth look at CBD oil, CBD products, what it does, and how it affects those that consume it.
Keep reading.
Table of Contents
What Is CBD Oil?
CBD oil is a substance that is gotten from the cannabis plant. There are several naturally occurring chemicals in the cannabis plant, and CBD is one of them.
Marijuana is popular for giving consumers a “high,” but unlike other products containing THC, CBD oil is not responsible for that effect.
As you would expect, several controversies are surrounding using any product derived from the marijuana plant. This is because its use is still illegal in many countries.
Many medical experts believe that CBD might have many potential benefits. Nonetheless, more research is needed to determine the true effects of CBD oil on the human body.
Does CBD Oil Actually Do Anything?
It’s no longer news that the use of marijuana is being legalized in a lot of states in the USA. Cannabis derivatives are also being sold for consumption.
One of such derivatives, cannabinoid, is a non-intoxicating substance found in CBD products. It has many health benefits. So it’s no surprise that individuals try CBD oils for health remedies.
Marijuana is known for getting people “high,” but since CBD oil is non-intoxicating, people have asked the question – what does CBD oil do in particular?
This cannabis derivative can be found in many modern products. These include skin patches, tinctures, lotions, massage oils, intimacy oils, and salves.
It is common for manufacturers of the products to claim that the CBD additive helps enhance well being and relieve pain. As a result, you can find products with CBD to be more expensive than regular ones.
But the question remains the same; What does the oil do?
The answer remains inconclusive among medical experts. Even though there is substantial evidence to prove cannabis itself is beneficial, there is a disagreement about whether CBD oil plays any part in such benefits.
It seems the hype surrounding cannabis and CBD oil has actually gone beyond research and the facts. This is because it is easy for a consumer, who already knows the benefits of consuming marijuana, to be convinced that CBD oil can do the same for them.
To be clear, all cannabinoids interact with the receptors in the human body. As we know, medical marijuana is any marijuana product that is prescribed and administered strictly for medical purposes. These products may contain THC, CBD, or even both.
It is very typical for consumers to assume that CBD oil is the medicinal part of cannabis, while THC is the recreational part of it.
This assumption is wrong because THC itself is known for its anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving abilities.
How Does CBD Oil Make You Feel?
As we have pointed out earlier, people may get high on hemp. THC is the cannabinoid responsible for that.
Nonetheless, many people have claimed that ingesting CBD oil has worked for them in stress and anxiety relief. Others have claimed it helped them ease off their pain.
According to Drew Todd, a co-founder of a CBD brand called“FEALS,” the oil isn’t just about how it makes one feel, and it’s more about what it makes you not to feel. This is about its supposed anxiety and stress-relieving properties.
In his own words – “The way we describe taking CBD is that it’s not about what you feel, but it’s more about what you don’t feel.”
“If you have pain or anxiety, once the effects of CBD start setting in, it’s almost like it’s whisked away,, and it’s not there anymore.” But it’s not about totally changing your current state”.
“It’s not about getting high or really feeling any psychoactive effects; it’s more about melting away whatever’s getting in your way of living so that you can focus on living your life.”
It would be wise to note that CBD oil doesn’t make everyone feel the same way. This is because anxiety, stress, and pain levels differ and other medical conditions among individuals.
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What Are The Side Effects Of CBD Oil?
As with most substances, CBD also has some adverse effects. Although how one person reacts to it would be different from the way another person does. Depending on several already-existing health conditions.
Even though CBD usage is safe, below are a few side effects you might experience from consuming it.
• It may cause some users to be fatigued
• It may cause diarrhea
• It may cause changes in appetite ( which may lead to weight gain or weight loss)
Research has also proven that high CBD intake interacts with other medications. This means that you should check with your doctor first before you start ingesting CBD oil. For the sake of your health and wellness.
Your doctor will be in the best position to give you some medical advice depending on your current medical status,, of course.
Proper consultation will also spare you from potentially harmful interactions and side effects in the future.
If you’re currently on any medication with a “grapefruit warning,” then you must stay off CBD and grapefruit, as they are both known to interfere with cytochromes.
In case you didn’t know, cytochromes are enzymes that play a vital role in drug metabolism.
One study performed on mice revealed that CBD-rich marijuana extracts could potentially lead to liver toxicity. We have to mention,, though, some of the mice used in the research were fed very high CBD extracts.
This may have been the reason for the high liver toxicity. More research is needed to be sure.
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What Are The Benefits Of CBD?
Several studies have attested to the many benefits of CBD oil. Depending on the user’s unique conditions, CBD oil has the following benefits.
1. It May Ease Chronic Pain
Historically, marijuana has been used to ease pain since as far back as 2900 BC. In recent years, scientific research has revealed that derived CBD products and other components of cannabis, can help relieve a patient of pain.
In the human body, there is a specialized system known as ECS (endocannabinoid system). This system plays a big role in the regulation of a wide variety of functions. These include appetite, sleep, immune system response, and pain.
The human body produces endocannabinoid,, which act as neurotransmitters. They bind cannabinoid receptors in the human nervous system.
Medical studies have shown that CBD can help suppress chronic pain by triggering endocannabinoid receptor activities, interacting with neurotransmitters, and reducing inflammation.
A certain study conducted on rats revealed that CBD injections suppressed pain during surgical incision. Another study discovered that oral CBD administration reduced sciatic nerve pain and inflammation significantly.
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Other studies on humans have shown that combining CBD and THC can be used to treat the arthritic pain.
There is an oral spray called Sativex, which is made up of CBD and THC. It has been approved in several countries for the treatment of sclerosis-related pain.
A study involving 47 people who had multiple sclerosis took a close look at the effects of taking Sativex oral spray for a 30 day period.
The patients saw an improvement in pain relief, including walking and muscle spasms.
We must point out that the study did not include any control group. Therefore placebo effects cannot be overruled.
A separate study involving 58 people with rheumatoid arthritis discovered that Sativex improved pain associated with movement on significant proportions. It also improved the quality of rest and slept among the participants.
2. It May Improve Mental Health
Depression and anxiety are among the most common mental health disorders in humans. Both of which can have adverse effects on the way a person lives his or her daily life.
The World Health Organization states that depression is the largest contributor to disability in the world. They also stated that anxiety is the 6th largest contributor.
It is common practice to use pharmaceutical drugs to treat both of these mental health issues. However, these over-the-counter drugs can have negative side effects on some patients.
These side effects include insomnia, drowsiness, headaches, sexual dysfunctions, and drowsiness.
Some of these pharmaceutical medications are addictive and can prompt a patient to abuse the substance.
As far as derived CBD products are concerned, it has shown promise in treating anxiety and depression. It is also a safe and natural approach,, and that is why many people who suffer from depression and anxiety are leaning towards it for treatment.
A study conducted in Brazil involving 57 men who received oral CBD 90 minutes before they underwent a simulated public speaking test showed that a 300 mg dose of CBD was very effective in reducing each participant’s anxiety levels.
The same test showed that a 150 mg CBD placebo dose and a 600 mg dose of CBD, didn’t have any significant effect on the participants.
CBD oil is also known to treat anxiety and insomnia in young children who have PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).
Anti-depressant properties are also among the many benefits CBD oil is said to have after being tested on animals.
CBD can act on the brain’s receptors for serotonin, a neurotransmitter responsible for regulating mood and behavior.
3. CBD May Treat Cancer-related Symptoms
Symptoms that are related to cancer can be treated using CBD. These include pain and nausea. A study involving 177 people with cancer-related pain examined the effects of hemps derived from CBD products. The participants were not responsive to over-the-counter pain medication.
The participants treated with extracts containing both THC and CBD experienced a great deal of reduced pain compared to those who took extracts containing only THC.
Chemotherapy-induced vomiting and nausea can also be treated using CBD. Both of these are the most common side effects of chemotherapy treatment among cancer patients.
Cancer patients can take pharmaceutical drugs to treat these symptoms, but not all of them are effective. This is why CBD oil has become a preferred alternative.
One study involving 16 participants undergoing chemotherapy showed that a one-to-one combination of THC and CBD administered through mouth spray significantly reduced chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
It did this more effectively than regular treatment. There have been test-tube animal studies that have shown CBD’s potential in managing anti-cancer properties.
One such study showed that concentrated CBD could induce cancer cells’ death in the human breast. A similar study revealed that CBD could slow the spread of breast cancer cells in mice.
Keep in mind, these are just test-tube studies, so they may not produce the same results in humans.
More human studies are needed to reach any definite conclusions.
4. CBD May Reduce Acne
According to statistics, about 9% of the population suffers from acne. Several factors cause acneSeveral factors cause acne. These include bacteria, genetics, too much sebum, and underlying inflammation.
Recent scientific studies have shown that CBD oil can help in the treatment of acne. This is because it has anti-inflammatory properties and its ability to reduce the production of sebum.
A test-tube study revealed that the secretion of excessive sebum is inhibited by CBD oil. According to the study, CBD oil also prevents the activation of pro-acne agents such as inflammatory cytokines.
In a different study, similar findings were made. It concluded that CBD is a safe and effective means of acne treatment. This can be credited to the anti-inflammatory properties it carries.
The test results mentioned above are encouraging, yet more human studies are needed to determine CBD oil’s true effect on acne.
5. CBD May Have Neuro-protective Properties
According to a good number of researchers, the ability of CBD to act on the endocannabinoid system as well as other brain signaling systems can be beneficial to patients suffering from neurological disorders.
Among the many potential uses of CBD, its treatment of neurological disorders is the most studied. These disorders include sclerosis and epilepsy.
The good news is, test results in this field have shown great promise though more testing is required.
Sativex has shown to be safe and effective in reducing muscle spasticity in patients with multiple sclerosis.
A study showed that Sativex could reduce spasms. The study was conducted with 276 participants,, and 75% of them had their spasms reduced significantly after using Sativex.
A separate study involving 214 people who had severe epilepsy showed that upon administering 0.9-2.3 grams of CBD oil per pound, their seizures were reduced by as much as 36.5%.
Another study discovered that CBD oil could reduce seizures in children with Dravet syndrome.
We have to point out that some individuals who participated in these studies experienced adverse side effects. These include fatigue, fever, and convulsions.
In other studies, CBD oil has been proven to improve the quality of sleep among individuals who have Parkinson’s disease.
Other studies in animals showed that CBD could reduce inflammation and prevent Alzheimer’s neurodegeneration.
A long-term research involving mice predisposed to Alzheimer’s disease showed that CBD oil administered to them helped prevent a cognitive decline.
6. CBD May Help Improve Heart Health
Some research has shown that CBD can be used to improve the heart’s circulatory system. Among these are its ability to reduce high blood pressure.
It is well known that high blood pressure can lead to other health complications, like heart attack and stroke inclusive.
A recent study that involved 9 healthy men had them treated with a single 600mg dose of CBD oil. After the treatment, it was discovered that it reduced resting blood pressure, compared to a placebo.
In the same study, the healthy men were given stress tests, which, should increase blood pressure. However, a 600mg dose of CBD oil helped the men experience a significantly lower blood pressure increment than normal.
Thanks to its anxiety and stress-relieving properties, CBD oil can be used to lower blood pressure.
Other tests conducted on animals have revealed that CBD can help reduce the inflammation and cell death directly linked with heart disease. Thanks to its anti-oxidants and stress-reducing ability.
In one study using diabetic mice, treatment using CBD oil significantly reduced oxidative stress in the test subjects. There was also a reduction in the risk of heart damage.
Other Possible Benefits Of CBD Oil
Besides treating the several health issues mentioned so far, CBD oil potentially has other benefits to humans.
We also have to mention that more studies are needed to be 100% certain about the following benefits.
1. CBD May Have Antipsychotic Uses
According to some studies, CBD may help patients suffering from schizophrenia as well as other mental illnesses.
It can achieve this using its ability to reduce psychotic symptoms.
2. CBD May help Control Substance Abuse
Some researchers suggest that CBD could modify brain circuits responsible for drug addiction. In rats, for example, CBD has been proven to reduce dependence on morphine.
3. Anti-tumor Effects
During some test-tube and animal studies, Cannabidiol (CBD) has shown to have some anti-tumor effects. These tests revealed that CBD might help the spread of brain, prostate, and breast cancer.
4. Prevention Of Diabetes
In tests conducted using diabetic mice, CBD treatment reduced the occurrence levels by 56%. It also helped reduce inflammation in diabetic mice.
Conclusion
Over the years, more and more people prefer to use CBD oil for chronic medical ailments, especially the ones that seem to be resistant to pharmaceutical drugs. All thanks to its potential.
Some of the effects of this substance (derived from the marijuana plant) on people and animals have been proven, while others require much more human and animal testing.
As more states and countries legalize marijuana use, you can expect further breakthroughs in CBD uses and benefits.
You can also expect to see more commercially sold CBD products in the future.
However, you need to know that if you use CBD, the results you get may be different from others. You may consult your doctor for some medical advice before use. At least for the sake of your health and wellness.
Accurate health information is important before the use of CBD oil. We hope this article has been helpful.
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