CBD has been shown to reduce both pain and anxiety through controlled clinical trials, but more research needs to be conducted into its effectiveness for treating mental conditions.
CBD significantly decreased anxiety ratings in subjects who underwent a simulated public speaking task, according to an experimental anxiety study.
Epidiolex, an FDA-approved CBD therapy, has proven successful at managing seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut and Dravet syndromes. More research is currently being conducted into its efficacy for other refractory epilepsy disorders.
Seizures
CBD has been shown to possess anticonvulsant properties, particularly among those suffering from Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut syndromes. These intractable epilepsies often prove resistant to classical seizure medications and cause serious side effects like sedation and cognitive deficits for their patients.
In a placebo-controlled study, 92 children and adults with Dravet or Lennox-Gastaut syndromes or other forms of pharmacoresistant epilepsy experienced decreased monthly seizures after receiving CBD for an average 19.8 month. Quality of life measurements as well as caregiver global impression of change score increased as well. A repeated measures two-way ANOVA revealed significant sources of variance at each timepoint between CBD/placebo and timepoint x placebo, statistically significant at p 0.05.
Anxiety
CBD has been shown to have anxiolytic effects in animal studies as well as among psychiatric patients [89, 90]. Furthermore, CBD may help alleviate restraint stress while attenuating physiological and behavioral responses to simulated threatening situations by blocking activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis.
No formal clinical trials exist regarding CBD’s effectiveness for use with psychiatric patients; to address this knowledge gap, we conducted retrospective observations of patients using CBD at our clinic who reported improved anxiety and sleep. This process followed the principles outlined by Declaration of Helsinki as well as good clinical practice; evaluations for anxiety and sleep were obtained prior to initiating CBD treatment as well as during monthly follow-up appointments for regular check-in visits with our psychiatrist. Finally, improvements assessed using the HADS questionnaire were also noted during these evaluations.
Pain
Pain management is of great concern to those using CBD. Traditional painkillers such as opioids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and acetaminophen can be highly effective at managing pain; however, excessive use can result in long-term health consequences like ulcers, bleeding gastrointestinal, heart attacks or liver damage.
Studies and trials conducted so far demonstrate the ability of CBD to alleviate pain and inflammation, making it an attractive long-term solution for individuals dealing with addiction or looking to avoid potentially risky substances.
Cannabis as a treatment for chronic musculoskeletal pain is becoming more and more popular as research indicates CBD may provide a viable alternative or supplement to current pharmaceutical treatments; however, most studies do not demonstrate significant superiority over placebos.
Depression
CBD has been found to possess both anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) and antidepressant properties, possibly by acting upon the endocannabinoid system to modulate neurotransmitters involved with mood regulation, while at the same time acting to decrease physiological response to stress by decreasing heart rate and cortisol levels.
Abstinent heroin users receiving 400 or 800 mg of CBD daily reported two- to three-fold decreases in cue-induced drug cravings compared to placebo, along with lower self-reported anxiety and decreased physiological measures caused by cue-induced drug cravings.
Before beginning CBD use, it’s essential that you consult with a healthcare provider first in order to ascertain whether the effects could interfere with any current treatments for depression or anxiety. Furthermore, make sure you use only high quality products with third-party lab testing and an appropriate dosage.
Cancer
CBD is an effective anti-cancer compound that inhibits tumor growth, invasion, angiogenesis, apoptosis and autophagy while interfering with gene transcription related to cancer progression. CBD acts as a tumour suppressor as well as being combined with other cancer drugs for adjunct therapy treatment.
Recent research conducted with human leukemia cells EL-4 and Jurkat demonstrated that CBD caused dose- and time-dependent killing of cancer cells, along with upregulating intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression and inducing apoptosis.
CBD inhibits cancer cell proliferation and metastasis by targeting CB1 and CB2 receptors, TRPV1 ion channels, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) [52]. Additionally, CBD prevents epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) activation while downregulating expression of angiogenic factors like vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) expression in breast cancer cells [53].
