Studies are ongoing, but CBD appears promising for treating mood disorders and other conditions. One small study revealed that CBD reduced drug cravings among those suffering from substance use disorder.
Before using CBD, especially if you take other medications such as blood thinners and antiepileptics, always consult your physician first. CBD may interfere with how your liver processes these drugs and may result in increased side effects for these treatments.
1. Reduces anxiety
CBD products may offer relief for many different conditions, with anxiety being one of them. CBD can help alleviate symptoms associated with anxiety but should only be used as part of an overall mental health treatment plan.
How it Works: By engaging with the body’s natural endocannabinoid system, CBD interacts with it. This may enhance signalling of anandamide endocannabinoids that help relieve feelings of stress and promote relaxation, potentially helping reduce feelings of tension. Furthermore, it appears to suppress activity in amygdala and prefrontal cortex which are known to increase anxiety (Bloomfield et al. 2020).
CBD is generally well tolerated and shouldn’t lead to significant changes in vital signs; however, people may experience side effects like diarrhoea, reduced appetite or drowsiness if taken inappropriately; for this reason it’s recommended that before beginning any CBD regimen for anxiety relief you consult a licensed medicinal cannabis physician first.
2. Relieves pain
Researchers are exploring CBD’s effectiveness against various health conditions, but the strongest scientific evidence thus far relates to seizure reduction. Epidiolex was recently approved by the FDA as a prescription CBD oil treatment option for two rare childhood epilepsy syndromes.
CBD may help ease neuropathic (pain from nerve damage) and chronic arthritis or fibromyalgia pain. Animal studies support these claims; human studies show it may promote sleepiness while decreasing need for opioid pain relievers such as narcotics.
Before trying CBD, consult your physician. As it may interact with certain medications such as blood thinners, antiepileptics and immunosuppressants; and may affect liver enzymes negatively – therefore requiring frequent blood work if taken regularly.
3. Reduces inflammation
CBD helps balance the endocannabinoid system, which regulates pain and inflammation. Studies have demonstrated its efficacy at relieving nerve-damage-related discomfort for those suffering from diabetes or other diseases.
CBD products have been shown to effectively treat autoimmune disorders like psoriasis. Oral CBD products such as tinctures or capsules may be taken sublingually while topical creams and ointments may be applied topically; vape juice offers another popular method for those who don’t want to swallow anything.
Note of caution: CBD supplements should be taken with care as it competes with liver enzymes that breakdown some medications such as blood thinners and antiepileptics, leading to possible interactions. Therefore, before beginning any CBD regimen it would be advisable to check with your physician first.
4. Treats acne
Acne is a skin condition caused by bacteria, dead skin cells, and oil blocking hair follicles. CBD may reduce sebum production in skin which could prevent pimples from forming and could help stop acne outbreaks altogether.
Research also indicates that CBD may help to regulate sebocytes, which are the cells responsible for sebum production. Overactive sebocytes have long been seen as contributing to acne by producing excess oil which then combines with dead skin cells and bacteria, creating clogged pores which lead to breakouts.
CBD’s ability to both reduce inflammation and regulate oil production makes it a powerful acne treatment, unlike traditional methods like benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid that are used solely to kill bacteria while exfoliating skin.
5. Treats psoriasis
If you follow health podcasts and/or social media, chances are good that you already know CBD products can provide relief from chronic pain, insomnia, anxiety, depression and arthritis – not to mention epilepsy! But can creams or tinctures applied directly to the skin help relieve itching and pain associated with psoriasis?
Studies have demonstrated the potential benefits of CBD for managing psoriasis plaques by inhibiting new skin cell production and inflammation caused by itchy patches of skin, while creams and ointments made with CBD may provide hydration while supporting skin’s barrier functions to alleviate dryness and itchiness. It’s best to talk to your physician before initiating any new treatment plan; CBD should only be included as one component in an overall management strategy that may include prescription medication as well.
