Cannabis Health Insider

Cannabidiol (CBD) oil is derived from cannabis and is a type of cannabinoid. Despite coming from cannabis, CBD doesn’t create a high or any other form of intoxication, which is caused by another cannabinoid –THC.

Although, because of recreational cannabis use, controversies have surrounded cannabis products like CBD oil, there has also been growing awareness about the health benefits of CBD oil. Here are six potential medical uses of CBD –

ANXIETY RELIEF

CBD can help with the management of anxiety. According to researchers, CBD may change the way of response by the brain’s receptors to serotonin, which is a chemical linked to mental health. Receptors are tiny proteins attached to cells that are the recipient of chemical messages which consequently help the cells in responding to different stimuli.

One study concluded that a 600mg dose of CBD helped socially anxious people give a speech. Other earlier studies that were done with animals have shown that CBD may help with the alleviation of anxiety by

• reduction in stress
• the decrease in physiological effects of anxiety (such an increase in heart rate)
• improvement in symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• inducement of sleep in cases of insomnia

Anti-seizure

CBD has gained popularity before as a potential treatment for epilepsy. However, the research is still in its early days, and researchers are testing how much CBD is needed for the reduction in the number of seizures in people with epilepsy, along with its safety. The American Epilepsy Society states that cannabidiol research provides hopes for seizure disorders, and there is current research that is being conducted to understand the safe use of CBD.

A study was conducted on 214 people with epilepsy in 2016. The study participants, to their existing anti-epilepsy medications, added oral doses of 2 to 5mg of CBD per day. Meanwhile, the researchers of the study were monitoring the participants for 12 weeks and were recording any negative side effects along with keeping a check on the frequency of their seizures. Overall, the results concluded that participants had 36.5 percent fewer seizures per month. However, in 12 percent of the participants, severe adverse effects were recorded.

Neuro-protective

Researchers are looking at a receptor, CB1, located in the brain to better understand the ways that CBD could potentially help people with neurodegenerative disorders.

Researchers are currently studying the use of CBD oil for the treatment of

• Alzheimer’s disease
• Multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Parkinson’s disease
• Stroke

Furthermore, a reduction in inflammation can be seen by CBD oil. However, further research is needed to fully understand the effects of CBD oil for these diseases.

Pain relief

CBD oil can help with the management of pain due to its effects on the brain’s receptors. Clinical studies sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, are trying to look into the role of cannabis in relief of symptoms caused by

• Arthritis
• Chronic pain
• MS pain
• Muscle pain
• Spinal cord injuries

Anti-acne

The effects of CBD on receptors in the immune system can help with the reduction of overall inflammation in the body was a human study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, found that the activity of sebaceous glands was prevented by the oil.

However, before considering CBD for acne treatment, one should consult with their dermatologist.

Treatment of Cancer

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has said that CBD may cause the alleviation of cancer symptoms and the side effects caused by cancer treatments. However, any form of cannabis isn’t fully endorsed yet by the NCI, as a cancer treatment. The action of CBD shows potential due to its ability to moderate inflammation and the reduction of the ability of some types of tumor cells to reproduce.