People make all sorts of claims about CBD and its uses for a variety of medical conditions. In truth, Epidiolex, an FDA-approved, purified, pharmaceutical-grade form of CBD, has indeed been shown in clinical trials to treat severe childhood seizures in patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome. But what about the many CBD oil uses touted by cannabis and hemp enthusiasts? For informational purposes only, let’s take a look at three supposed uses of CBD oil and what the research shows.
Can CBD relieve anxiety? A 2019 study in the journal Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior showed that CBD reduced “anxiety-like behavior” in mice while they performed certain tasks but not others. A 2011 controlled human trial published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology showed that a single dose of CBD relieved anxiety in participants taking part in a simulated public speaking experiment. A 2015 academic review published in the journal Neurotherapeutics cited additional preliminary research studies with positive results in both humans and animals. More research would determine how well CBD relieves anxiety, especially in people with anxiety disorders. More information is also needed regarding appropriate dosages.
People with psychotic disorders like schizophrenia may experience hallucinations, delusions, and other unpleasant symptoms. A 2020 academic review in the journal Current Psychiatry reviewed four clinical trials that assessed whether people with psychotic disorders who were given CBD experienced an improvement in either their psychotic symptoms, learning, memory, or other cognitive tasks. Results were promising, but mixed, since not all studies cited showed positive results. Some symptoms improving more than others among trial participants, and especially when CBD was used along with other therapies, according to the review. Additionally, as cited in a 2012 academic review in the journal Current Pharmaceutical Design, CBD also “prevented human experimental psychosis” and had “a remarkable safety profile” in related clinical trials. It’s important to note that dosages varied across studies, and the authors of both reviews stressed that more research is needed before they could tout CBD as an effective treatment.
According to a 2012 study in The Journal of Experimental Medicine, when researchers injected rodents with CBD, they discovered that it suppressed both nerve pain and pain caused by inflammation in rodents with certain characteristics. In a 2016 study in the European Journal of Pain, researchers applied CBD gels to the knee joints of rats with induced arthritis. The researchers found that CBD reduced swelling, as well as behaviors that may indicate pain in rats. Additionally, a 2018 article published in the Journal of Pain Research reviewed the use of THC and CBD combined to treat pain conditions in humans. According to the review, several clinical trials have shown positive results. Clearly, more research is needed across the cannabis landscape, and especially for hemp CBD oil, which legally must contain less than 0.3% THC.
It’s important to understand that our full-spectrum hemp CBD oil products are not intended as food, drugs, or dietary supplements.
Some people experience allergic reactions and/or rashes when they use CBD oil and other CBD products. Additionally, a 2019 academic review published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine reported the side effects of the prescription drug Epidiolex. According to the article, although CBD has “no addiction potential,” it does interact with many commonly prescribed and over-the-counter drugs. For instance, “…over-the-counter naproxen and ibuprofen could lead to significant side effects (e.g., bleeding) with both medical and consumer use of CBD,” the article stated. Adverse reactions to Epidiolex reported in clinical trials, as cited in the review, have included elevated liver enzymes, decreased appetite, weight loss, sedation/fatigue, infections, sleep disturbance, gait disturbance, and suicidal thoughts or behaviors. Liver damage is another risk of CBD use, according to the FDA. Notably, these side effects also occur with many commonly prescribed medications, and the review’s authors stated that this side effect profile is “not fully generalizable to all users,” since people in the trials had significant medical conditions like severe epilepsy and multiple sclerosis. Additionally, the FDA strongly advises that pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers not use CBD, THC, or other cannabis products. If you have specific concerns about how CBD oil might affect your body, please consult your doctor or pharmacist.
The CBD oil market can be quite confusing, even to people who have purchased online CBD products before. Many customers ask us about the purity of our CBD oil product line, so we’re taking this opportunity to answer that question fully. So what is CBD isolate and is it the right CBD for you? As a trusted hemp CBD oil brand, we’d like to talk about some of the common, often misunderstood terms associated with hemp and cannabis products.
We’re hearing more and more about using and buying CBD oil these days: in the news, in trusted healthcare publications, and from our friends and neighbors. Many people say CBD oil calms them down, reduces their seizures, enhances their mood, and relieves aches and pains. You can purchase various forms of CBD: from capsules to tinctures, edibles to topicals. CBD is so ubiquitous that you can find it in all sorts of products, including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and even food and drink.