Cannabidiol (CBD)-what we know and what we don’t

Cannabidiol (CBD) gets a lot of media coverage, and you may see it as an added booster to your post-workout smoothie or your morning coffee. You can even buy a CBD-infused sports bra. But what exactly is CBD? And why is it so popular?

How is cannabidiol different from marijuana, cannabis, and hemp?

CBD or cannabidiol is the second most common active ingredient in cannabis (marijuana). Although CBD is an essential part of medical marijuana, it is extracted directly from the hemp plant, a cousin of marijuana, or made in a laboratory. CBD is one of the hundreds of ingredients in marijuana and does not cause a “high” by itself. According to a report by the World Health Organization, “CBD does not show any effects in humans that indicate a potential for abuse or dependence…. To date, there has been no evidence of public health issues associated with the use of pure CBD. “

Is Cannabidiol Legal?

CBD is readily available in most of the United States, although its exact legal status is changing. All 50 states have laws legalizing CBD with varying degrees of restrictions. In December 2015, the FDA relaxed regulatory requirements to allow researchers to conduct CBD studies. In 2018, Farm Bill made hemp legal in the United States, making it virtually impossible to keep CBD illegal – that would be like making oranges legal but keeping orange juice illegal.

The Farm Bill removed all hemp-derived products, including CBD, from the Controlled Substances Act, which criminalizes drug possession. In essence, this means that CBD is legal when it comes from hemp, but not when it comes from cannabis (marijuana) – even though it’s the exact same molecule. Currently, many people are getting CBD online without a medical marijuana license, which is legal in most states.

Proof of the health benefits of cannabidiol

CBD has been touted for a wide variety of health problems, but the strongest scientific evidence is of its effectiveness in treating some of the cruelest childhood epilepsy syndromes, such as Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), which are normally unresponsive to anti-epileptic drugs . In numerous studies, CBD has been able to reduce the number of seizures and in some cases even stop them altogether. Epidiolex, which contains CBD, is the first cannabis-derived drug to be approved by the FDA for these conditions.

Animal studies and self-reports or research on humans suggest that CBD may also help with the following:

• anxiety Studies and clinical trials examine the joint report that CBD can reduce anxiety.
• Insomnia. Studies suggest that CBD can help you fall asleep as well as help you sleep through the night.
• Chronic pain. More human studies are needed to substantiate the claim that CBD helps with pain control. An animal study by the European Journal of Pain suggests that when applied to the skin, CBD could help relieve pain and inflammation due to arthritis. Other research shows how CBD can inhibit inflammatory and neuropathic pain that is difficult to treat.
• Seeks. CBD can help lower tobacco and heroin cravings under certain conditions, according to some research in humans. Animal models of addiction suggest that it can also help reduce cravings for alcohol, cannabis, opiates, and stimulants.

Is CBD Safe?

Side effects of CBD include nausea, fatigue, and irritability. CBD can increase the levels of blood thinning and other drugs in your blood by competing for the liver enzymes that break down these drugs. Grapefruit has a similar effect with certain medicines.

People who take high doses of CBD may have abnormalities in liver-related blood tests. Many over-the-counter drugs, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), do the same thing. Hence, if you are taking CBD regularly, you should let your doctor know.

A significant safety risk with CBD is that it is primarily marketed and sold as a supplement, not a drug. Currently, the FDA does not regulate the safety and purity of dietary supplements. So you cannot be sure that the product you have bought contains active ingredients in the dose indicated on the label. In addition, the product may contain other unknown elements. We also don’t know the most effective therapeutic dose of CBD for any given medical condition.

How can CBD be taken?

CBD comes in many forms, including oils, extracts, capsules, patches, vapes, and topical preparations for use on the skin. If you want to reduce inflammation and relieve muscle and joint pain, a topical CBD-infused oil, lotion or cream – or even a bath bomb – may be the best option. Alternatively, CBD can get directly into the bloodstream through a CBC patch or tincture or spray placed under the tongue.

Outside the United States, the prescription drug Sativex, which uses CBD as an active ingredient, is approved for muscle spasticity in multiple sclerosis and cancer pain. In the United States, Epidiolex is approved for certain types of epilepsy and tuberous sclerosis.

The conclusion on cannabidiol

Some CBD manufacturers have come under government scrutiny over wild, untenable claims that CBD is a panacea for cancer or COVID-19, which it is not. We need more research, but CBD could prove to be a helpful, relatively non-toxic option for treating anxiety, insomnia, and chronic pain. Without sufficient high quality evidence in human studies, we cannot determine effective doses, and since CBD is currently typically available as an unregulated supplement, it is difficult to know exactly what you are getting.

If you do decide to give CBD a try, make sure you are getting it from a reputable source. Talk to your doctor to make sure it does not affect any other medicines you are taking.

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