Forbes and CBD

What does FORBES say about CBD?

Let’s bring you an article from Forbes where they review 9 benefits of CBD backed by science.

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a compound found in the cannabis sativa plant. CBD interacts with neuroreceptors in your endocannabinoid system, which sends signals between your cells to help regulate your movement, mood, homeostasis, and immune system.

CBD is often extracted from the cannabis sativa plant in the form of oil and mixed with an inert carrier oil such as hemp seed oil for consumption. In recent years, CBD oil has skyrocketed in popularity thanks to its purported calming effects. It can now be found in a variety of products.

Research on CBD is also growing. Here are nine ways studies suggest that CBD could benefit your health.

1. Compensate for anxiety and depression

CBD’s ability to soothe is perhaps its most popular effect and the reason why its use is so widespread. A 2017 study in the Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry assessed the anxiety levels of 57 men in a mock public speaking test. Some received a placebo, while others received 150 milligrams, 300 milligrams, or 600 milligrams of CBD before their speeches. Those who received 300 milligrams of CBD experienced a significant reduction in anxiety during the trial compared to those who received the placebo. Interestingly, participants who received 150 or 600 milligrams of CBD experienced more anxiety during the test than the 300-milligram group.

Meanwhile, at least one study in mice revealed that CBD had similar effects to the antidepressant imipramine. However, human trials are needed to confirm whether CBD can induce this same antidepressant reaction in our bodies.

2. Treat some epilepsy syndromes

In some cases, CBD can be used to treat epileptic seizures.

In 2018, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of CBD under the brand name Epidiolex to treat seizures resulting from Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome, two rare forms of epilepsy, in patients at least 2 years of age.

Three well-examined studies provide the basis for supporting the FDA’s decision. In these trials, 516 patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome or Dravet syndrome received either Epidiolex or a placebo. Epidiolex, when taken in conjunction with other prescription medications, decreased the frequency of participants’ seizures compared to placebo.

3. Reduce PTSD symptoms

In a small 2018 study in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine , 11 people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were given CBD along with routine psychiatric care for eight weeks in an outpatient psychiatric clinic. Ten of the 11 experienced a decrease in their PTSD symptoms. CBD was generally well-tolerated, the researchers write.

Margaret Rajnic, a doctor of nursing practice with expertise in medical cannabis and CBD, emphasizes the importance of using therapy in conjunction with any type of cannabis or CBD for PTSD. “There’s a lot of therapy that’s needed for PTSD,” she says. “But CBD will give you a little bit of diminished anxiety.”

Four other human trials from 2012 to 2016 suggest that CBD reduces PTSD symptoms, although some include THC or tetrahydrocannabinol, the main mind-altering element in cannabis. When THC and CBD work together, they create what’s called an “entourage effect,” which complements each other’s benefits and potency. For example, taking the same dose of THC and CBD together softens the “high” of THC, while a little THC combined with more CBD enhances the effects of CBD.

4. Treat Opioid Addiction

Some studies, both preclinical clinical trials in animals and humans, suggest that CBD could be used to help treat people who are dependent on opioids.

In one such study, researchers administered CBD to people with heroin use disorder. Over the course of a week, CBD significantly reduced cure-induced cravings from heroin users, withdrawal anxiety, resting heart rate, and cortisol levels in saliva. No serious adverse effects were found.

Other studies find that CBD is helpful in reducing various psychiatric and medical symptoms such as anxiety, insomnia, and pain in patients with substance use disorders, indicating that CBD may be an effective treatment for opioid addiction. However, more studies are needed.

5. Relieve ALS symptoms

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a disease that causes nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord to deteriorate, resulting in a loss of muscle control that worsens over time. Exactly why ALS occurs is not yet understood, although it can run in families. There is no known cure, and there are only two FDA-approved drugs to help treat ALS symptoms.

Research suggests that people with ALS may benefit from the entourage effect created by the combination of THC and CBD, similar to people with PTSD. In a 2019 study, patients were given a combination of THC and CBD in different doses depending on their needs and preferences. Those with mild, moderate, or severe spasticity (muscle tension and stiffness) due to ALS reported high levels of satisfaction with treatment, and those with moderate to severe spasticity reported higher satisfaction rates than those with mild spasticity.

6. Relieve excruciating pain

In 2005, Canada approved the use of Sativex, a mouth spray (which is absorbed into the lining of the mouth) with equal proportions of THC and CBD, for the treatment of central neuropathic pain related to multiple sclerosis. In 2007, Canada again approved the drug for cancer pain that did not respond to other drugs.

Meanwhile, ongoing studies in the U.S. indicate that CBD is effective in treating chronic non-cancer pain. In a 2020 study, researchers administered CBD topically to a group of patients with symptomatic peripheral neuropathy (as a result of brain nerve and spinal cord nerve damage) while another group with the same condition received a placebo. The results showed a significant reduction in severe, sharp aches and pains and cold, itchy sensations in those who used topical CBD compared to those who used placebo. No participants reported adverse side effects.

When introduced topically, CBD oil does not affect the systemic problem as it would if it were introduced directly into the bloodstream. Topical CBD, on the other hand, is more localized and treats pain in a certain area. Since it is more direct, it can have a more pronounced effect.

7. Relieve Diabetic Complications

For starters, tests on human cells found that CBD helps reduce the effects of high glucose levels on other cells in the body, which usually precedes the development of diabetes and various complications. The researchers concluded that with further studies, CBD could have significant benefits when used in patients with diabetes, diabetic complications, and plaque buildup on artery walls.

In another small study, 13 patients with type 2 diabetes who were not on insulin treatment were given CBD and a placebo (instead of insulin). The researchers found that CBD decreased their levels of resistin (which causes insulin resistance, the protein that regulates sugar levels) and increased their levels of glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (a hormone that ensures sufficient insulin release from digested food) compared to their baseline values. before they started the test. These results suggest that CBD could be a natural treatment for diabetes by helping the body regulate levels of insulin-related hormones.

8. Protection against neurological diseases

Preclinical and clinical studies show that CBD has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The researchers deduce that these features may provide significant neuroprotection or protection against numerous pathological disorders.

Several preclinical studies suggest that CBD may produce beneficial effects against Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and multiple sclerosis. Huntington’s disease and cerebral ischemia were also tested, although no significant positive results were recorded. More clinical studies are needed to confirm the benefits of CBD when used as a treatment for these disorders.

9. Inhibit arthritis symptoms

Arthritis involves the deterioration of tissues in and around the joints. There are several types of arthritis, and symptoms include pain, stiffness, and loss of movement. Arthritis treatment is usually aimed at relieving pain and improving joint function.

A 2006 study found that Sativex, a CBD-based botanical drug approved in the United Kingdom in 2010, promoted statistically significant improvements in sleep quality, pain during movement, and pain at rest in patients with rheumatoid arthritis compared to a placebo. It was the first controlled trial of Sativex as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, involving 58 patients. CBD was found to have an analgesic effect, as well as the ability to suppress disease activity.

In 2018, in a study of a more localized treatment, researchers administered a synthetic CBD gel in doses of 250 milligrams or 500 milligrams per day or a placebo to patients with knee pain due to osteoarthritis. The patients also stopped taking other anti-inflammatory or analgesic medications, with the exception of acetaminophen, before and during the study period.

The results were interesting, although not entirely conclusive. For one, those treated with CBD did not experience much change in pain compared to patients who received placebo. On the other hand, there were statistically significant differences between the group that received the 250-milligram dose and the placebo group when measuring the average weekly improvement of their worst pain levels and their WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index) physical function rating. In addition, men appeared to benefit from CBD more significantly than women in this test.

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