Investigating the Benefits of CBD
CBD could be a beneficial support in your journey to health. CBD is a naturally occurring compound found in hemp and cannabis. CBD is in both hemp (the male plant) and Cannabis (the female plant). THC is only found in the female buds and flowers. CBD derived from hemp only has minute amounts of THC and does not cause any high.
The healing properties associated with CBD are exciting to study.
CBD affects more than one process in the body so it could benefit numerous medical conditions. So many studies are currently underway, that new discoveries and personal testimonies make an undeniable case for using CBD as an aid in treating many conditions.
CBD naturally enhances the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) which helps to improve homeostasis. The ECS plays a major role in the homeostasis of the body. Every cell has cannabinoid receptors. Cannabinoids are molecules produced by your body that are very similar to CBD from hemp and cannabis.
According to Kent E Vrana, Chair of Pharmacology at Penn State,
“As of early 2023, there are 202 ongoing or completed scientific trials examining the effectiveness of CBD in humans on such diverse disorders as chronic pain, substance abuse disorders, anxiety and arthritis.” “In particular, CBD appears to be an anti-inflammatory agent and analgesic, similar to the functions of aspirin. This means it should be helpful for treating people suffering with inflammatory pain, like arthritis, or headaches and body aches.”
Autoimmune Diseases
Studies suggest the anti-inflammatory properties in CBD can help ease osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis pain as well as neuropathic pain and other chronic inflammation or pain in the body. CBD can help reduce inflammation which helps reduce pain. Also, by attaching to specialized receptors, CBD affects the way your brain responds to pain signals.
Stress Reduction
There is extensive clinical evidence that CBD safely and effectively reduces the stress response. There have been many clinical trials of CBD for reducing stress. All showed that CBD was effective in drastically reducing the stress response. The clinical trials that included a comparable pharmaceutical showed that CBD is just as effective as the pharmaceutical drug.
Headaches & Migraines
A migraine is a headache that typically affects one side of your head and is often accompanied by nausea, light, sound or smell sensitivity, vision disturbances, throbbing and nausea. Approximately 12% of people experience migraines. Migraines are more common in women than men.
Tension and cluster headaches can not only originate in the central nervous system but may also be triggered by tense muscles, often caused by stress.
Initial results of numerous CBD studies for the treatment of headaches & migraines have shown a positive outcome for many patients. Most participants experienced a decrease in the frequency and intensity of their headaches. In some cases, the patients’ headaches ceased entirely even after they stopped using the CBD.
In addition to helping the headaches, CBD reduced the nausea and anxiety that often accompanies a headache or migraine. An added benefit is the seeming safety of long-term CBD use with no apparent side effects except occasional drowsiness.
Seizures
CBD could help prevent some types of seizures in people and animals. Clinical trials have shown a significant reduction in seizures for people taking CBD to treat these seizures. Research is still in the early stages, but there are indications that CBD may help prevent some types of seizure or increase the efficacy of anti-seizure medications. In addition, CBD appeared to retain its effectiveness over the length of the clinical trials.
Neurological Conditions
CBD is proven to reduce the impact of ailments such as dementia (including Alzheimer’s), Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, stroke, and Huntington’s disease. By reducing the oxygen buildup produced by inflammation in brain cells, CBD may reduce the decline of memory and other brain functionality. One study found that CBD promotes the growth and development of brain cells, working as a brain stimulant and neuroprotectant. Another study found that activating the cannabinoid receptors in the brain increased blood flow and brain cell activity and helped reduce brain cell damage commonly associated with vascular dementia.
Research has shown that CBD can reduce and help manage the various motor skill symptoms such as spasms, tremors, muscular rigidity, or bradykinesia (slow, imprecise movement), that accompany many diseases. CBD also helps maintain circadian (sleep) rhythms, and stimulate the appetite.
Dementia
CBD has proven therapeutically potent for patients with dementia-related health conditions.
Alzheimer’s Disease
In recent studies, CBD has been shown to reduce or remove the impact of inflammation, oxygen buildup and brain cell decline.
The inflammation that is a cause of Alzheimer’s symptoms can often be reduced by using CBD. When inflammation happens in the brain, oxygen is released. The greater the inflammation, the greater the negative impact on brain functions are. Brain functions negatively impacted by oxygen stress can be improved by using CBD.
In clinical trials, CBD has been shown to reverse and even prevent the development of Alzheimer’s negative impact. A 2011 study by Australian researchers Tim Karl and Carl Group found that CBD promotes the growth and development of brain cells, which reduces the decline of memory and other brain functions.
Vascular Dementia
Vascular dementia is caused by brain damage from impaired blood flow to the brain. Symptoms include problems with reasoning, planning, judgment, memory and other thought processes. A 2016 study by the US National Institute of Health found that activating CB2 (cannabinoid) receptors in the brain helped recover better blood flow to the brain. Activating the CB2 receptors with CBD has increased brain cell activity and helped reduce brain cell damage commonly associated with vascular dementia.
Lewy Body Dementia
CBD is shown to have an anti-inflammatory & detoxifying effect that reduces motor symptoms such as tremors, rigidity and slow or delayed movement (bradykinesia). Research has shown that CBD can be beneficial for managing Lewy Body Dementia.
Huntington’s Disease
Huntington’s disease is an inherited disorder that results in death of brain cells. A general lack of coordination and an unsteady gait often follow. According to 2016 research from the University of Madrid, because of CBD’s effectiveness as an antioxidant and its anti-inflammatory properties CBD can be beneficial for managing Huntington’s disease. CBD has been shown to be safe and tolerable at high doses which are necessary for improvement.
Cancer
Recent studies by Fei Wang and Gabriele Multhoff have found that CBD may hold potential for use in cancer therapy, although it has not been approved by the FDA for this purpose.
The use of CBD in the treatment of cancer is twofold:
First, there is evidence that it can directly kill cancer cells, enhancing the ability of traditional therapies to treat the disease. This is not to say that CBD will replace those traditional therapies; the data is not that compelling.
Second, because of its ability to reduce pain, inflammation, and anxiety, the addition of CBD to a treatment plan may reduce side effects and increase the quality of life for people with cancer.
In summary, there is clear evidence that CBD has effective anti-tumor properties and is well tolerated in human cancer patients.
Know your source
In a 2018 study, researchers obtained samples of CBD products and analyzed their content. Virtually none of the 21 samples contained the advertised quantity of CBD. 13 had little or no CBD and many contained significant levels of THC which should not have been present.
In an effort to help prevent unwanted interactions Dr. Paul Kocis, a clinical pharmacist, has created a free online resource called the
CANNabinoid Drug Interaction Resource. (https://cann-dir.psu.edu)
It identifies how CBD could potentially interact with other prescription medications.
Remember to always consult your physician regarding the use of any substance or medication.