CBD oil is an extract of hemp, the same plant that can be made into hemp when dried. Some people believe that CBD oil can treat pain like hemp, reduce anxiety and stimulate appetite, but it is not psychoactive. CBD also shows promise in treating certain types of seizures.
CBD is short for cannabidiol, and cannabidiol is one of the two most beneficial chemicals for the human body (one of dozens of chemicals found in hemp). The other is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which can get people high. CBD oil generally does not contain THC, although there may be traces in products sold.
CBD oil contains CBD mixed with inert carrier oils such as coconut oil or hemp seed oil. Bottled oils (called tinctures) are sold in different concentrations. There are CBD capsules, CBD glue, and an under-the-tongue CBD spray.
Health Benefits
CBD’s exact mechanism of action is unclear. Unlike THC, CBD has a low affinity for cannabinoid receptors in the brain. These are molecules that THC binds to in order to induce its psychoactive activity. In contrast, CBD is thought to affect other receptors, including opioid receptors that regulate pain and glycine receptors involved in the regulation of serotonin, a sensory hormone. Proponents claim that CBD oil can treat a variety of health problems, including:
- Acne
- Anorexia
- Anxiety
- Chronic pain
- Depression
- Addiction and withdrawal
- Epilepsy
- Glaucoma
- High blood pressure
- Insomnia
- Muscle spasms
- Parkinson’s disease
Although the use of CBD is becoming increasingly popular, there are still few studies on CBD oil. Therefore, some of these claims are better supported by research than others.
Anxiety
CBD has shown promise in treating anxiety, according to a review of research published in the journal Neurotherapeutics in 2015. Researchers say CBD has demonstrated effective anti-anxiety effects in animal studies, although the results are counterintuitive. In all but a few studies, lower doses of CBD (10 mg per kilogram, mg/kg or less) may better treat anxiety disorders. Higher doses (100 mg/kg or more) have little effect.
Part of the response can be explained by the way CBD works in the brain. In many cases, CBD acts as an agonist, meaning that when it binds to the receptor, it triggers the opposite response. Low doses can cause a positive agonist response, while high doses can overwhelm the brain and trigger a compensation to counteract the effects of CBD.
Of the few human studies evaluating the anti-anxiety effects of CBD, one was published in the Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry in 2019. In this study, 57 men were treated with CBD oil or a placebo before the event. Use physiological measures (such as blood pressure, heart rate, etc.) and relatively reliable emotional state tests (called visual analogs of the mood scale (VAMS)) to assess anxiety.
The researchers said that men who received 300 mg of CBD showed less anxiety than men who received a placebo. Interestingly, those who received 100 mg or 600 mg of CBD oil did not.
Addiction
A review of research published in Drug Abuse in 2015 pointed out that CBD oil may be beneficial for addicts.
Scientists at the University of Montreal analyzed 14 published studies (9 animal and 5 human) and concluded that CBD “shows an effect on treating opioid, cocaine, or mental arousal addiction. Patient Hope.”
However, the effects of CBD on each addiction are generally very different. For example, in the case of opioid addiction, in the absence of THC, CBD has little effect in minimizing withdrawal symptoms. In contrast, CBD alone appears to be effective in reducing drug-seeking behavior in users of cocaine, methamphetamine, and other psychostimulants. It has also been suggested that CBD could help treat hemp and nicotine addiction. More research is needed.
Nerve pain
Medical hemp is often prescribed to people with persistent (treatment-resistant) pain (including those with advanced cancer). There is evidence that CBD may help achieve this benefit.
According to a 2012 study published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, rats treated with oral doses and injections of CBD3 into the spinal cord had less inflammation and neuropathic pain when injected with inflammatory chemicals in their hind legs.
Scientists believe CBD may relieve nerve pain by binding to glycine receptors in the brain, which regulate the rate at which nerve signals are transmitted between nerve cells.
There are no human studies evaluating the use of CBD in the treatment of chronic pain. Those that do exist almost always contain THC, making it difficult to isolate the unique effects of CBD.
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