CBD has been shown to reduce anxiety in clinical trials and laboratory studies on humans and animals alike, while improving pain both animal models and humans alike.
Abstinent heroin users given Epidiolex(r) reported reduced drug cue-induced craving and self-reported anxiety measures relative to placebo, but further research needs to be completed in randomized controlled studies for this result to be confirmed.
Anti-seizure
CBD is an effective anti-seizure agent that can effectively decrease seizure frequency for those suffering from epilepsy. This treatment has been demonstrated in various clinical trials and was recently approved by the FDA as a treatment option for Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome for which traditional medications do not work effectively.
CBD can be taken either orally in the form of gummies, cookies or drinks; oral CBD administration generally delivers an efficient dosage that lasts for hours; however some prefer taking CBD as a spray or tincture under their tongue for easier absorption into their bloodstream.
Sleepiness is a common side effect of CBD use; to minimize it, try decreasing your dose or taking it before bed. CBD may interact with certain medications as it inhibits CYP P450 enzymes involved in metabolism of many prescription and over-the-counter drugs – thus necessitating ongoing monitoring of liver function and dosage adjustments as part of ongoing management plan.
Anti-anxiety
CBD has been demonstrated as an effective anti-anxiety treatment in several clinical trials. One such trial published in 2022 by Nature found that those taking CBD 90 minutes before an oral public speaking exam reported significantly less anxiety compared to those given placebo.
More research needs to be conducted into the effectiveness of CBD as an anti-anxiety agent, in terms of dosage and administration route. While no definitive proof exists yet, some unblinded clinical trials and case reports show evidence that CBD can improve sleep for those suffering from insomnia.
As the market for CBD products remains unregulated, it’s crucial that you purchase them from companies with ethical manufacturing practices – either certified by a recognized industry group like American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP or USP) or by state regulators (if regulated). Furthermore, CBD may interact with various medications; therefore it’s wise to consult your physician prior to beginning use if taking other medicines that affect liver health.
Anti-inflammation
CBD oil is an effective anti-inflammatory and can ease symptoms associated with many chronic diseases. Furthermore, CBD has neuroprotective properties; one study of rats with Alzheimer’s demonstrated this by reduced seizures and decreased levels of oxidative stress in their brains after receiving CBD treatment.
CBD has shown great promise for decreasing drug cravings. A small double-blind trial of cigarette smokers found that CBD significantly reduced cigarette smoking seven days post treatment using an inhaler; additionally, CBD may reduce cravings for alcohol and other substances as well.
CBD can be an effective and safe treatment option for many conditions, but it should be taken with caution if taking other medications. CBD has the potential to alter liver enzymes CYP P450 and alkaline phosphatase production and how other drugs work within your body, altering how other meds function within the body. Therefore it is advisable to speak to your healthcare professional about using CBD if taking corticosteroids such as prednisone, antidepressants or blood thinner warfarin; and choose high quality products which have been third party tested to ensure purity and potency.
Pain Relief
CBD alleviates pain by inhibiting sensory neuronal activity that sends pain signals to the brain. Evidence of its effectiveness lies in its ability to inhibit Nav1.8 channel activation in rodent spinal cords, thus decreasing cells’ ability to transmit pain signals. Furthermore, it inhibits pro-inflammatory molecules like cytokines from producing inflammation; and prevents inflammatory cells from secreting substances that trigger pain or inflammation within vitro cultures like chondrocytes as well as suppressing activation of pain-causing NMDA receptors within rat fibroblast cells.
CBD acts as a positive allosteric modulator at micromolar concentrations for anionic ligand-gated ion channels such as the a3 GlyRs and voltage-dependent calcium or sodium channels (VDAC1). Furthermore, CBD acts as an inhibitor of cationic currents via NMDA receptors.
CBD reduces experimental neuropathic pain in mice by inhibiting conditional place preference development and mechanical allodynia, by activating 5-HT1a receptors and augmenting dorsal horn neurons with glycine currents, but not CB1 or CB2 receptors [67]. An open-label study with patients suffering chronic chemotherapy-related neuropathy showed CBD significantly lowered self-reported pain levels while improving physical component scores on the Short Form Health Survey questionnaire in 12 out of 14 cases after three months of treatment [68].
