Today, most of us could certainly get a miracle cure-all, especially those of us who struggle with chronic pain, overwhelming anxiety, cancer-related symptoms and/or hard-to-treat neurological disorders. So, it's no surprise that CBD oil is popping up within our search results. But can we really depend on CBD oil to positively impact our symptoms in the ways hopefully? Internal medicine specialist, DO, explains why CBD oil may possibly not be as effective as we'd like.

 

What is CBD?

CBD, or cannabidiol, is one of more than 100 chemical compounds present in the cannabis sativa plant. But it's THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), not CBD, that's the main psychoactive compound in cannabis that offers you a euphoric high.

 

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CBD is pulled from hemp, a form of cannabis plant which contains really low quantities of THC, so that it doesn't allow you to get high. CBD oil is just an item which contains CBD extract and an oil, like coconut oil, typically for topical use.

 

It's important to learn that because the implementation of the 2018 Farm Bill, the production and sale of CBD products in the U.S. has been legalized on the federal level provided that they contain significantly less than .3% of THC. However, it's still illegal under some state laws.

 

Explains the market has been oversaturated with CBD products — from bath bombs to gummies, lotions, creams, tinctures and oil — none that are Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved and may possibly not be 100% pure CBD. By mid-December 2021, the FDA has only approved one cannabis-derived and three cannabis-related products, each of which you can safely get with a prescription from an authorized healthcare provider.

 

“There's no oversight of nearly all CBD products from a regulatory authority, “A lot of the CBD that you're buying, unless they've a rigorous marketing campaign and quality control that says it's 100% CBD oil, most likely, it's contaminated with other cannabinoids, including THC.”

 

What're a number of the advantages of CBD?

Several studies show the advantages of pure CBD might have wide-ranging positive effects, though. To understand those benefits cbd oil reviews, it's important to think about our body's endocannabinoid system, a complicated system of enzymes, neurotransmitters and receptors that plays a significant role in the development of our central nervous system. This method helps regulate a number of functions, including pain, motor control, memory, appetite, inflammation and more. By further studying CBD's effects in these specific areas, we might better know how CBD impacts a number of conditions and disorders.

 

Helps with neurological-related disorders

The FDA has approved Epidiolex as cure for a number of seizure disorders, including two rare disorders referred to as Duvet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Several case studies suggest CBD may also be good for patients who're resistant to anti-epileptic drugs. “With epilepsy, there's a threshold in your brain that gets excitatory, and you get into a seizure,” says Dr. Terpeluk. “CBD increases that threshold.”

 

Other studies suggest CBD may also be useful in managing outward indications of multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease, as it has neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory properties. More studies are essential, however, as much claim that it's not only CBD alone, but a mix of CBD and other cannabinoids, which could reduce a number of these symptoms.

 

It may benefit pain relief

By interacting with neurotransmitters in your central nervous system, CBD may potentially relieve pain linked to inflammation, arthritis and nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy). In one single four-week trial, people who'd nerve damage in the lower half of their body reported an important reduced amount of intense, sharp pain after using a topical CBD oil.

 

“All of our different anti-pain drugs affect some part of our pain system, whether it's Tylenol®, Aspirin®, morphine or opioids,” explains Dr. Terpeluk. “No body wants to be dependent on opioids, so if there's a cannabinoid you can take that's not addictive but can repress the pain, that would be the Holy Grail with chronic pain.”

 

Still, he cautions, there's a lot left to be studied, including whether you will find significant adverse long-term effects of CBD when used for pain relief.

 

“If you're taking it within an unregulated fashion, you do not discover how much is in there, and you're not exactly sure how it affects you outside of your particular pain,” says Dr. Terpeluk.

 

It may assistance with anxiety and mood disorders

 

Anxiety and mood disorders like depression or post-traumatic stress disorder can have a serious effect on your own lifestyle and may often cause both physical and emotional stress that might result in other underlying conditions like sleep disorders, high blood pressure, chronic pain and heart disease. It's too soon to comprehend the full gamut of effects that CBD might have on anxiety and mood disorders, but individual studies seem to suggest varying positive results. In one single study of 57 men who received either oral CBD or perhaps a placebo 90 minutes before participating in a simulated public speaking test, researchers learned that a 300-mg dose of CBD significantly reduced social anxiety throughout the test.

 

And while there are always a wide variety of treatments readily available for anxiety and mood disorders — ranging from talk therapy and counseling to prescribed medications — Dr. Terpeluk suggests the most important thing is to get at the basis of the underlying reasons for the anxiety you're experiencing.

 

“Anxiety is better approached by looking at what's causing it in your lifetime as opposed to trying to find out which drugs can reduce it,” says Dr. Terpeluk.

 

It could assistance with cancer-related symptoms

CBD may assistance with nausea, vomiting and fat loss due to chemotherapy treatments. The FDA has approved three cannabis-related products to help alleviate these symptoms, as well as help increase the appetite for folks who have AIDS. These drugs all contain some amount of THC or synthetic THC and are not purely CBD alone.

 

However many studies seem to claim that CBD will help decrease how big tumors and avoid the spread of cancerous cells in skin cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer and more. Just like other areas of study, further human clinical trials are essential to comprehend the full effect CBD has on several types of cancer.

 

What're the medial side effects or risks of CBD?

If you're purchasing CBD oil and other products online or from a local vendor, Dr. Terpeluk says there's no real way of knowing the purity of the CBD you're using, as maybe it's blended with other cannabinoids, like the dangerous delta-8, or THC.

 

It's slightly mysterious. It's much less harmless as you believe,” says Dr. Terpeluk. “Invest the CBD oil because you buy it available on the market, you have a very high likelihood that one could turn a drug test positive for THC because it may actually contain THC.

 

CBD can also affect a number of medications, including pain medications, antidepressants, antipsychotics and more. It could also cause several side effects which could include:

 

The most effective advice? Before considering CBD oil or other CBD products, ensure you talk to your healthcare provider to determine whether it's safe for you personally and to make certain it doesn't have harmful interactions with any medications you're currently taking.