Cannabidiol (CBD) is a chemical found in the Cannabis sativa plant, commonly known as cannabis or hemp. One specific type of CBD has been cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for usage as a seizure medication in the United States.
Cannabis sativa contains over 80 chemicals known as cannabinoids. THC is the most well-known chemical in cannabis. However, CBD is derived from hemp, a type of Cannabis sativa plant that only includes trace amounts of THC. CBD appears to impact certain brain chemicals differently than THC does.
CBD is available in pill and liquid forms, which are used to treat seizure disorders (epilepsy). CBD is also used to treat anxiety, pain, a type of muscular dystonia known as lateral limbclip Dystonia, Parkinson disease, Crohn disease, and a variety of other ailments. However, there is no scientific data to support these applications.
Hemp and hemp products are now legal in the United States. However, that doesn’t indicate that all CBD products derived from hemp are lawful. Because CBD is a prescription drug, it cannot be used in foods or dietary supplements because it is illegal. Only “cosmetic” items can contain CBD. However, there are still dietary supplements on the market containing CBD. The amount of CBD contained in these goods may not always match what is stated on the label.
How is cannabidiol different from marijuana, cannabis and hemp?
Cannabidiol, often abbreviated as CBD, is a chemical component of cannabis (marijuana) that is second only to THC. CBD is an important element in medical marijuana, but it comes from the hemp plant, a cousin of marijuana, or created in a laboratory. CBD is one of hundreds of components found in marijuana; it does not produce a “high” on its own. According to the World Health Organization’s findings, “CBD has no indications associated with any abuse or dependency potential…. There is presently no evidence suggesting public health concerns related to the use of pure CBD.”
Is cannabidiol legal?
Although full-spectrum CBD is readily available throughout the United States, its legal status has been volatile. Every state has legislation legalizing CBD, although the degree of limitation varies. In December 2015, the FDA reduced the regulatory standards to allow researchers to perform CBD studies. Hemp was made lawful in the United States in 2018 as a result of the Farm Bill, making it near-impossible to keep CBD illegal – that would be like making oranges legal but prohibiting orange juice.
The 2018 Farm Bill removed all hemp-derived products, including CBD, from the Controlled Substances Act, meaning it is now legal in all 50 states. Because of this, CBD produced from hemp is legal if it does not contain any cannabis (marijuana) ingredients – even though they are the same chemical. Many people nowadays buy CBD online without a medical marijuana license, which is permissible in most jurisdictions.
The evidence for cannabidiol health benefits
While there is a lot of hype surrounding cannabidiol (CBD), the strongest scientific evidence supports its efficacy in treating some of the most devastating epileptic conditions, such as Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), which are resistant to antiepileptic drugs. CBD was found in numerous studies to decrease the number of seizures and, in some circumstances, even eliminate them. Epidiolex, a drug containing CBD, was approved by the FDA for these problems.
CBD may help with a variety of problems, including pain, anxiety, depression, addiction, and inflammation. CBD has also been shown in animal studies to have anti-inflammatory effects by reducing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the brain. CBD’S BENEFITS IN HUMANS
- Anxiety CBD may help people with anxiety and stress, according to several studies and clinical trials.
- Insomnia. CBD appears to facilitate both falling asleep and remaining asleep, according to studies.
- Chronic pain. Human studies are required to back up claims that CBD helps with pain management. According to a study published in the European Journal of Pain , CBD applied to skin might help reduce pain and inflammation caused by arthritis. Other research has shown how CBD may block inflammatory and neuropathic pain, making it difficult to cure.
- Addiction. According to certain research in humans, CBD may aid in the reduction of smoking and heroin cravings under particular circumstances. The addiction of animals suggests that it can also aid in reducing urges for alcohol, cannabis, opioids, and stimulants.
Is CBD safe?
CBD has been reported to have a wide range of side effects, including tiredness, nausea, and irritability. CBD can interfere with the breakdown of medicines in your blood by competing for the liver enzymes that break them down. Grapefruit has a similar effect on certain medicines.
CBD users who take higher doses may have abnormal liver-related blood tests. This is also seen in non-prescription medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol). So, if you’re using CBD on a regular basis, let your doctor know.
CBD is a dietary supplement rather than a drug, which might raise certain safety issues. The FDA does not regulate the quality or purity of nutritional supplements right now. So you can’t be sure that the thing you’re buying has real components at the dosages mentioned on the label. Furthermore, other unknown substances may be present in the product. We also don’t know what is the finest therapeutic dose of CBD for each disease.
Side Effects
When taken by mouth: CBD may be safe to consume in specific amounts. For up to 13 weeks, individuals have used dosages of up to 200 mg daily without issue. A particular prescription CBD product (Epidiolex) (and other high-dose CBD products with varying levels of THC) has been utilized at higher doses under the supervision of a healthcare provider.
CBD may cause undesirable effects such as dry mouth, low blood pressure, light-headedness, and drowsiness. High doses of the prescription CBD form called Epidiolex have been linked to liver damage in some cases.
When applied to the skin: There isn’t enough reliable knowledge about CBD’s safety and potential negative effects to know for sure what they are.
Special Precautions and Warnings
- Pregnancy and breast-feeding: CBD is not advised for pregnant or nursing women because it may be dangerous to their baby. CBD products might include other elements that are harmful to the fetus or infant. To stay on the safe side, avoid using CBD products.
- Children: Children may safely consume a particular prescription CBD product (Epidiolex) in doses up to 25 mg/kg per day by mouth. This medication is authorized for use in children with specific diseases who are at least 1 year old. It’s unclear if other CBD products are safe for youngsters.
- Liver disease: Those with liver disease may require lower dosages of CBD. End
How can CBD be taken?
Cannabidiol is a cannabinoid chemical made from the cannabis plant that has shown promise in treating epileptic seizures, diabetes, and other health conditions without causing intoxication. Cannabinoids can be found in various forms: oils, extracts, capsules, patches, vapes, and topical lotions and creams for use on the skin. If you want to relieve muscular and joint pain while also reducing inflammation, a topical CBD-infused oil or lotion (or even a bath bomb) could be your best bet. A CBC patch or tincture or spray designed to be placed under the tongue allows CBD to enter the bloodstream directly.
Outside of the United States, Sativex, a prescription drug that contains CBD as a therapeutic agent, is authorized for muscular stiffness caused by multiple sclerosis and cancer pain. Epidiolex is lawful in the US for certain epilepsy types and tuberous sclerosis.
The bottom line on cannabidiol
CBD has been the subject of several government investigations for wild, indefensible claims such as CBD being a cure-all for cancer or COVID-19, which it is not. CBD may be a beneficial, if somewhat non-toxic, anxiety management option. We need more study but CBD might prove to be an effective and relatively non-harmful way to manage anxiety, sleeplessness, and chronic pain. We can’t pinpoint effective doses without high-quality evidence in people studies since CBD is usually sold as an unregulated supplement; we can’t know exactly what you’re getting because it’s currently very difficult to identify specific active components.
If you decide to use CBD, be sure you’re purchasing from a reliable source. Also, see your doctor to ensure that it won’t interfere with any other medicine you take.
