How effective is CBD oil?

How effective is CBD oil?

In the last few years, CBD oil products have been rising in popularity. Many celebrities have started promoting CBD oil on social media and through other channels, claiming that it can improve various aspects of your health and wellbeing. For some, this is enough reason to buy CBD oil products. However, like with anything new, skepticism is to be expected. Indeed, there are a number of people who, understandably, want to know how effective a product actually is before committing to it.

In this blog, we're going to try and help those curious people by taking a look at the effectiveness of CBD oil. Plenty of advertisements claim that the product can help with chronic pain, depression, anxiety and seizures. We're going to take a look at each of those issues and see how effective CBD oil is in treating it.

Chronic pain

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a chemical compound found in the cannabis plant. Like THC, CBD is a cannabinoid that interacts with our endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is responsible for regulating various aspects of our body including our nociceptors. When you take CBD oil, it is said that CBD interacts with our nociceptors in a way that reduces pain. There is plenty of anecdotal evidence suggesting that CBD can mitigate chronic lower back pain, migraines and arthritis.

In terms of medical research, one study found that CBD injections were able to reduce nerve pain and inflammation in rats. Additionally, CBD improved the rats' pain response to deliberate surgical incisions.

This is certainly a promising sign for CBD oil. However, it is important to keep in mind that more human studies will need to be conducted before we can fully understand the efficacy of CBD in regard to chronic pain.

Depression and anxiety

Some users also report that CBD oil is effective in mitigating the symptoms of anxiety and depression. Similar to how it interacts with our nociceptors, CBD also has a positive effect on our serotonin receptors. Serotonin is a hormone that regulates our mood and therefore our 'happiness'. Because of this, CBD is said to be beneficial for those who suffer from cognitive impairment as well as nervousness before a public presentation.

There are various studies that back up this claim. In 2014, a study found that CBD demonstrated anxiolytic (anti-anxiety), antipsychotic and antidepressant effects in rats. The studies also found that CBD oil takes a shorter time to come into effect compared to existing antidepressants. Additionally, CBD also has fewer side effects, reducing the user's risk of insomnia and sexual dysfunction.

Again, it will take some time before we can firmly say that CBD is effective in treating depression and anxiety. Current studies even suggest that the mitigated symptoms of anxiety and depression might be a by-product of reduced chronic pain.

Seizures

One aspect of CBD that's backed up by overwhelming evidence is its neuroprotective qualities. This refers to CBD's ability to protect neurons in the brain from cell death. Studies have shown that CBD is able to significantly reduce the occurrences of seizures in users who suffer from various types of epilepsy. In fact, CBD was so effective in mitigating the severity and frequency of seizures that, in 2018, the FDA approved Epidiolex, the first cannabis-derived drug that treated epilepsy.

CBD oil is also said to be effective in treating Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurological disorders.

All in all, CBD oil has a lot of potential. Judging from early studies, it seems to offer a lot of health advantages with just a few possible side effects. If you think you'll benefit from CBD products, please consult a medical professional and see if they're right for you. Though the studies might show promise, there's still a lot to be discovered about CBD.