WHAT ARE THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF CBD OIL?

WHAT ARE THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF CBD OIL?

Over the last 4 years, the hype around CBD oil has drastically increased, yet more is expected in the coming years. This follows the legalization of CBD oil courtesy of the Farm Bill of 2018, which has made states decriminalize CBD oil with less than 0.3% THC, and states that have not legalized CBD oil are making progress toward this. Although much is unknown about CBD oil, including how it works, the cannabinoid is claimed to help with many challenges. This article helps to understand how CBD oil is believed to work and some of the medical benefits. While this blog might show that CBD oil may help with anxiety, sleep, inflammation, and other issues, there is not enough scientific evidence to prove the claims, thereby,  not recommended for any of the claims. whoever chooses CBD oil for anything should consult his doctor beforehand.

The Basics About CBD Oil

Most of the claimed benefits of CBD oil are linked to how it interacts with the body, making it critical to understand its works. It is a chemical compound and one of the active components in cannabis plants. Although CBD oil can be extracted from hemp and marijuana plants, the Farm Bill considers only hemp-derived CBD oil with less than 0.3% THC legal. Still, state CBD laws differ, and some states have legalized marijuana-derived CBD oil, even with more than 0.3%. A person must meet some requirements, including having a medical marijuana card, before legally possessing such CBD oil.

How CBD Oil Works

Studies show that the human body and other life forms have a network of endocannabinoids, receptors (CB1 and CB2), and enzymes that form the endocannabinoid system (ECS). This system is yet to be studied further, but research claims that it has the mentioned receptors all over the body and affects crucial processes and functionalities, including sleep, temperature regulation, pain, mood, anxiety, perception, satiety and digestion. Besides, when a person takes CBD oil, its products, or other cannabinoids, they bind with the ECS receptors, affecting the very processes that the ECS controls. As such, CBD oil interacts with the ECS receptors to exert the many health benefits linked to the cannabinoid, as detailed below. However, many knowledge gaps surround CBD oil, and there is a need for further in-depth research to confirm the claims before recommending CBD oil for any of them.

CBD Oil for Heart Condition

Although there are not enough scientific studies to prove that CBD oil can boost the heart condition, initial research claims that taking CBD oil has something positive for the heart. For instance, one study by Jadoon, et al., (2017)., involving 9 men recorded that taking about 600 mg of CBD led to reduced blood pressure within a short time. The same study also noted that the same subjects showed indications of better stress management after taking CBD oil. Still, this is just but a small study involving a few subjects.

CBD Oil for Pain

According to a study by Argueta, et al., (2020), there are claims that CBD oil might relieve a person of pain. Many CBD users take the cannabinoid in the hope that somewhat the pain might be reduced. Yet, one review involving many CBD studies for pain from 1975-2018 noted that CBD oil could reduce pain among people suffering from neuropathy, cancer, and fibromyalgia. Some studies covered in the review even claimed that CBD oil could help arthritic patients manage pain. While these findings are quite promising and show some light on CBD oil, the studies covering them mostly involved animals. Therefore, results from such research cannot form the basis for scientific assumptions as there is no certainty that the results will be 100% replicated in human beings.

CBD Oil for Anxiety

We live in critical times that are hard to deal with, and people have to manage anxiety every day. Workplaces, homes, and the general public areas have some forms of stress, including the Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing wars that inflict anxiety and fear in many people. It is no wonder that many people are now taking CBD oil to manage anxiety, partly because the antidepressant and antipsychotic drugs they use are costly and have side effects. Although one study by Linares, et al., (2018)., claims that taking CBD oil before a stressful situation could help calm a person and slow down anxiety, there is a need for further scientific study. The research also administered a placebo or different CBD oil dosages to 57 men before public speaking, and it noted significant relaxation and reduction in anxiety. Still, this was a small study, considering that it only involved 75 subjects.

CBD Oil for Schizophrenia and Other Mental Conditions

Schizophrenia is a mental condition that results in one’s loss of sense of reality. A person with such a condition may speak or act without forethought and often suffers hallucinations and delusions. One study by Iseger & Bossong, (2015). shows that CBD oil may help with psychosis, which results in losing the sense of reality and is common among schizophrenic people. However, there is a need for further studies before recommending CBD oil for psychosis, because the existing studies are mixed, and some link cannabis to worsening symptoms of schizophrenia.

CBD Oil for Sleep and Insomnia

Pain, stress, anxiety, and other underlying conditions often contribute to poor sleep quality and insomnia, where one takes long to sleep or sleeps for a short time and wakes up. In line with a study by Suraev, et al., (2020)., it shows that people with certain conditions might improve their sleep and anxiety by taking CBD oil. However, as with other claims, there is a need for further studies before recommending CBD oil for sleep.

Conclusion

CBD oil has attracted much popularity since its legalization in 2018 once the Farm Bill was passed. As such, people take CBD oil more than ever and claim that it can help the heart, reduce anxiety, promote sleep, reduce pain, and manage mental disorders like schizophrenia. Even so, there is not enough scientific evidence to prove these claims. As such, whoever chooses CBD oil for any of these benefits should consult a doctor beforehand.

References

Argueta, D. A., Ventura, C. M., Kiven, S., Sagi, V., & Gupta, K. (2020). A Balanced Approach For Cannabidiol Use In Chronic Pain. Frontiers In Pharmacology, 11, 561.

Iseger, T. A., & Bossong, M. G. (2015). A Systematic

Review Of The Antipsychotic Properties Of Cannabidiol In Humans. Schizophrenia

Research, 162(1-3), 153-161.

Jadoon, K. A., Tan, G. D., & O’Sullivan, S.

E. (2017). A Single Dose Of Cannabidiol Reduces Blood Pressure In Healthy Volunteers

In A Randomized Crossover Study. JCI Insight, 2(12).

Linares, I. M., Zuardi, A. W., Pereira, L. C., Queiroz,

R. H., Mechoulam, R., Guimarães, F. S., & Crippa, J. A. (2018). Cannabidiol

Presents An Inverted U-Shaped Dose-Response Curve In A Simulated Public

Speaking Test. Brazilian Journal Of Psychiatry, 41, 9-14.

Suraev, A. S., Marshall, N. S., Vandrey, R.,

Mccartney, D., Benson, M. J., Mcgregor, I. S., … & Hoyos, C. M. (2020). Cannabinoid

Therapies In The Management Of Sleep Disorders: A Systematic Review Of

Preclinical And Clinical Studies. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 53, 101339.

Charlotte Cremers
Latest posts by Charlotte Cremers (see all)

MS, University of Tartu
Sleep specialist

Using the acquired academic and professional experience, I advise patients with various complaints about mental health - depressed mood, nervousness, lack of energy and interest, sleep disorders, panic attacks, obsessive thoughts and anxieties, difficulty concentrating, and stress. In my free time, I love to paint and go on long walks on the beach. One of my latest obsessions is sudoku – a wonderful activity to calm an unease mind.

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