Good News About CBD Oil Effects & Your Body
CBD oil is prized for its extensive range of beneficial therapeutic effects. Many people use CBD to find relief from the physical or psychological conditions that ail them.
From anxiety and insomnia to epilepsy and physical pain, CBD oil has proven to be useful in treating a variety of conditions and symptoms.
Keep reading to learn more about CBD’s therapeutic potential and how it may be able to help you.
1. CBD Oil Effects on Pain
According to current research, CBD is capable of alleviating two kinds of pain: inflammatory pain, and neuropathic pain.
Inflammatory pain is incredibly common and can affect everyone from teenage athletes to seniors suffering from arthritis. Moreover, chronic inflammation can be especially debilitating and can even lead to life-threatening conditions like cancer and diabetes.
Research shows that CBD is capable of modulating inflammation (and pain) by interacting with cell receptors such as TRPV1 receptors and glycine receptors in the body. CBD also mitigates inflammation by reducing oxidative stress in the body.
Neuropathic pain is typically the result of damage to the body’s nervous system. Neuropathic pain is characterized by prickling, burning, or throbbing sensations and numbness.
Neuropathic pain is primarily created and maintained by the glutaminergic system, a major neuronal pathway that CBD is capable of interacting with. CBD inhibits glutamate release, dulling and mitigating neuropathic pain in the process. By restricting the release of glutamate, CBD prevents the activation of neurons which may cause pain.
The cannabinoid THC has also been shown to be effective in alleviating certain kinds of pain. This is especially true for inflammatory pain.
A 2007 study review found THC to possess 20 times the anti-inflammatory effect of aspirin. As such, products containing a mixture of the two will likely be more effective than just one or the other.
2. CBD Oil & Epilepsy
In 2013, Charlotte Figi, an 8-year old from Colorado suffering from a rare epileptic condition make global headlines when she successfully treated it with CBD. Since then, CBD has gained worldwide recognition as a surprisingly successful treatment for various forms of epilepsy. While CBD rarely stops seizures from happening altogether, it can decrease their frequency and intensity.
A 2015 study on rare epileptic conditions such as Dravet Syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome found that CBD was able to reduce seizures at rates similar to commonly prescribed epilepsy medications.
CBD was found to be relatively safe for this purpose with fewer than 3% of test subjects discontinuing use due to side effects. Amazingly, the study found that CBD was actually able to completely cure 2% of test subjects of all symptoms.
CBD has also been found to be effective in the treatment of other epileptic conditions. A 2017 study treating Sturge-Weber Syndrome with CBD found that several test subjects reported a decrease in seizure frequency and an increase in quality of life.
A much earlier study from 1980 similarly found that CBD was able to reduce the frequency of convulsions, stopping them altogether in some patients.
3. CBD’s Effects on The Skin
The human skin plays a vital role in protecting our bodies from infections and potential threats in our environment. However, the skin can also suffer from a number of disorders such as eczema, acne, and psoriasis among others.
Research shows that cannabinoids like CBD and THC are able to interact with the body’s inner endocannabinoid system (ECS) through cell receptors on the skin’s surface.
Similarly, as it does with mood, sleep, and appetite, the endocannabinoid system also works to maintain homeostasis (balance) in the skin. Lotions and creams infused with CBD oil are an excellent way to take advantage of the many therapeutic benefits of CBD oil.
For instance, acne typically occurs due to an overproduction of sebum (oil) on the skin, leading to infection and inflammation in the form of whiteheads and pimples.
A 2014 study found that CBD may be able to regulate the overproduction of oil and inflammation, the two primary mechanisms by which acne develops. The study found that CBD exerted “lipostatic, antiproliferative, and anti-inflammatory effects” that could potentially make it an effective tool in the treatment of acne.
CBD has also shown promise in the treatment of eczema. CBD is believed to treat eczema by helping to support the skin’s protective barrier, and regulating the balance of bacteria on the skin’s surface. Moreover, CBD’s ability to modulate inflammatory responses on the skin may be able to relieve some of eczema’s symptoms.
Researchers believe that CBD may even help to prevent the effects of aging, like wrinkles. Free radical oxidants are believed to be one of the primary causes of skin wrinkles. CBD’s antioxidant properties allow it to track down these free radicals and destroy them before they have the opportunity to do any damage. Making CBD-infused lotions a regular part of your skincare regimen can help to protect your skin in the long-run.
4. CBD’s Effects on Mental Health
Research shows that the cannabinoids CBD and THC may present a novel treatment for certain mental health disorders. A 2014 review of animal studies found that CBD was capable of exerting both anti-anxiety and anti-depressive effects.
CBD’s anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) and antipsychotic properties may make it a versatile treatment option capable of alleviating a number of symptoms that typically accompany mental illness.
CBD has proven to be an effective treatment for a variety of anxiety disorders ranging from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
CBD has been shown to work through several different cell receptor systems throughout the body and may even affect the brain’s serotonin system. Perhaps best of all, because it is not intoxicating or mind-altering, it is a versatile treatment that can be safely consumed at any time of the day or night.
CBD’s effects on the serotonin system may also make it effective in the treatment of depression. A 2016 animal study found CBD to exert “fast and maintained antidepressant-like effects” while increasing levels of serotonin, a neurochemical known for modulating feelings of pleasure and happiness.
5. CBD Oil Side Effects
How much CBD is too much?
A 2017 study review found CBD to be a relatively safe treatment with minor side effects. Side effects are rare and uncommon but can include issues such as stomach problems, fatigue, drowsiness, dry mouth, and appetite changes.
In fact, numerous studies have shown that CBD is perfectly tolerable even at very large doses. A 2011 review found that doses up to 1500 mg per day were tolerable for human use.
Despite this, CBD’s side effects may become more prevalent at larger doses and most people should not be consuming doses of this magnitude unless necessary.
However, a 2019 study raised concerns about CBD oil side effects on the liver. This could be especially problematic if CBD is mixed with other medications that may stress the liver. Always be careful when mixing CBD with other medications or supplements, especially at large doses!
Concerns have also been raised over CBD oil side effects on kidneys. A recent study found that cannabis use may actually lead to a faster decline in kidney function for patients suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Despite this, many people use cannabis to treat the symptoms of CKD. If you are suffering from CKD or a similar decline in kidney function, you should consult with your doctor about safe cannabis use.
