Cannabidiol (CBD) is most widely known as a natural remedy for a whole host of unwanted ailments. Many users have found it to help relieve unwanted symptoms and restore their overall health and rest in their body. But many people are still new to the industry and have no idea about CBD's benefits, side effects, and dosage. So before we explore these topics, let's first discuss what CBD is.
What is CBD?
There are over 100 different phytocannabinoids found in the Cannabis Sativa plant. The first most prominent is Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC for short. The second most prominent is Cannabidiol, or CBD for short. The legality of CBD is a bit complicated. To date, hemp-derived CBD products labeled "hemp extract" are often sold throughout all 50 states without any issues. This is because hemp-derived CBD contains no more than 0.3% THC by volume.
Unlike THC, CBD is completely non-psychoactive, meaning it does not cause the feeling of being "high". In fact, some studies have shown that CBD can actually counteract THC's mind-altering effects. This makes CBD much more appealing and acceptable to those who don't want the psychoactive effects of THC from marijuana or even from certain prescription drugs.
This leads to our next question: What are the benefits of CBD?
CBD benefits
CBD is best known for its anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic, antipsychotic, antioxidant, and neuroprotectant properties. For years scientists have studied how CBD works in the body, and in doing so they discovered an entirely new biological signaling system found in all mammals — The Endocannabinoid System (ECS).
The ECS is made up of ubiquitous receptor cells that communicate balance and regulation in our appetite, digestion, emotions, mood, perception of pain, sleep, reproduction, memory, immunity, and overall health. In other words, our ECS helps communicate a balance of homeostasis throughout our body, thus maintaining stability in the body. When our ECS is not working properly, unwanted symptoms can arise, inevitably causing our body to feel pain, sick, or completely worn down.
In fact, some scientists theorize that some major diseases — such as depression, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), types of neuropathy, menstrual cramps, bipolar disorder, and other serious conditions — are correlated with an endocannabinoid deficiency. This means that whenever there's a disturbance within the ECS, unwanted symptoms arise, which then leads to sickness and disease.
However, according to studies, researchers have found that when balance is reintroduced to the ECS, homeostasis can be restored throughout the whole body. One of the ways to improve our ECS is by naturally regulating and modulating our own endogenous endocannabinoids. This is where CBD comes in. While we know CBD is in no way a "cure all" supplement and still needs to be researched more extensively, here are a few science-backed benefits of how CBD helps regulate and improve our ECS function and production.
CBD for acne
According to research, more than 9% of the global population is affected by acne. While we know that maintaining a healthy complex isn't always easy, it's important to understand that acne is a common skin condition. Hormones, genetics, lifestyle, and diet play a huge role in how we develop and maintain acne. It's also believed that bacteria, an overproduction of oily skin (sebum), and inflammation, may all play a role in how we develop acne.
But studies show that CBD's potent anti-inflammatory properties help manage and even reduce the overproduction of sebum. In fact, studies even suggest that CBD is more effective than vitamin C and E when treating skin conditions like acne.
CBD for depression
Depression is defined as a serious mental illness that not only affects how you feel; it also affects how you act, think, and function on a daily basis. Studies show that depression is one of the most common mental disorders in America. According to research, low levels of serotonin may be the cause of depression. While CBD may not increase serotonin levels, it does affect how our brain addresses the serotonin that naturally exists in our system.
In a 2014 study, researchers found that CBD had quite an effect on the receptor cells found in the brain, by producing calming and soothing anti-anxiety and antidepressant effects. Researchers also found that CBD produces anti-stress effects, which may help reduce depression related to unwanted stress.
CBD for inflammation (Arthritis & Ulcerative Colitis)
Scientists believe that persistent inflammation is the cause of most common diseases. Thankfully, however, CBD is mostly studied for it's potent anti-inflammatory properties. In fact, according to a study backed by The Arthritis Society, CBD blocked acute inflammation and even pain in models with Osteoarthritis. Additionally, when CBD was applied topically, researchers noted an arthritic relief. No adverse effects were observed in either study.
As for intestinal inflammation, one study showed that CBD reduced intestinal damage and inflammation in Ulcerative Colitis sufferers. Other studies show that CBD's potent anti-inflammatory properties combined with THC's sedative-like effects help relieve unwanted pain and inflammation related to arthritis and Multiple Sclerosis.
CBD for epilepsy and seizures
Over the last decade or so, scientists have focused most of their attention on understanding the phenomenon of epilepsy and seizures. Amazingly, a story of a young girl named Charlotte Fiji helped pave the way for CBD's mass adoption. Charlotte suffered from 300 seizures a week and was later diagnosed with Dravet syndrome — a rare form of epilepsy primarily found in children.
After much research and countless doctor's appointments, Charlotte's parents turned to CBD. Within the first fews hours of taking CBD, her parents noticed absolutely no seizures. This led to a study conducted by GW Pharmaceuticals. Three placebo-controlled, double-blind trials were conducted on patients diagnosed with Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut syndromes. 14 weeks into these trials, scientists noticed a huge decrease in seizures in several of the patients that were administered CBD. Soon after these trials, the FDA approved the first synthetic-free, plant-derived, cannabinoid based drug called Epidiolex — a prescription drug designed to treat epilepsy and seizures in patients with Lennox-Gastaut and Dravet Syndromes.
CBD for pain and stress
According to scientists, one of the ways CBD addresses pain is by stimulating endorphins and preserving Anandamide — an endogenous cannabinoid known as the "bliss molecule" that regulates our appetite, perception of pain, mood, cognitive function, memory, etc. Unfortunately, this "bliss molecule" only lives in our body for a short amount of time before it dies off. According to experts, it's believed that those who struggle with chronic pain don't produce enough anandamide. However, studies have shown that when CBD is consumed, it actually prevents anandamide from breaking down too quickly in our body, thus allowing the body to self regulate when it's in pain.
The same is the case with endorphins. These little chemicals found in our body help alleviate pain and stress. When we consume CBD, it helps stimulate more endorphins throughout our body so that it can address pain and inflammation from within.
CBD for anxiety and panic
Anxiety comes in all forms and situations. While occasional anxiety is a common reaction to stress or panic, recurring or chronic anxiety may be the beginning signs of a disorder.
Neuroimaging studies have shown that CBD not only reduces anxiety in patients who struggle with Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), it also improves the state of their well being. Other studies show that CBD helped reduce anxiety in patients who participated in a Simulated Public Speaking (SPS) test. Scientists have also seen a huge reduction of anxiety, stress, and elevated heart rates in animal models.
While it's possible to list study after study regarding CBD's therapeutic effects on the mind and body, more in-depth studies are desperately needed.
But it's safe to say that CBD advocates see tremendous improvements in their health and wellbeing.
Are there side effects to CBD?
While CBD is known to be well tolerated among its users, each person may react differently to it. Possible side effects of CBD include:
- Nausea
- Irritability
- Fatigue
- Increased blood levels
For the most part, these side effects are rarely reported and fade rather quickly, if felt at all. According to studies, CBD is well tolerated and has a relatively good safety profile. The main concern regarding CBD is the possible interaction with medications. In fact, consuming CBD may affect the way our body processes certain pharmaceutical drugs. This means that when we take certain medications, our body first metabolizes it and then filters it through the liver. It's within the liver that we contain a family of enzymes known as Cytochrome P450 (CYP450). These enzymes help convert these medications to do their job and finally leave the body. This process is known as drug metabolism. However, certain medications and other substances can highly affect the CYP450 enzyme's rate or speed of metabolism and filtering processes.
Like certain pharmaceutical drugs and other substances, the CYP450 family of enzymes metabolizes CBD. More importantly, it's the CYP3A4 (a highly important enzyme found in the CYP450 family) that's responsible for metabolizing close to 60% of prescription drugs. It can also be interfered by CBD.
So what does it all mean? When you combine certain medications that inhibit the CYP3A4 enzyme and CBD, it may slow the metabolism process way down, increasing the amount of medication in your system, even if you're following the recommended doses from your doctor. This can quickly enhance the effects of these certain medications or even increase their unwanted side effects. The reverse can also happen. CBD may speed up how quickly you metabolize certain medications, thus not having enough of the medication in your body to address your health issue. For example, blood thinners should not be combined with CBD.
If you're considering CBD for yourself, or for a loved one who is currently on prescription drugs, it's best to consult with a doctor. They can determine if your current medications will be affected by CBD and may want to monitor you while you consume it. Never stop taking prescription drugs to try CBD without consulting with your doctor first. If you are interested in trying CBD, topical CBD products may be a good option if you are on prescription medications. Topical CBD products don't typically enter the bloodstream directly like CBD oils, edibles, and vapes.
How much CBD should I take? - the best CBD dosage
It can be overwhelming trying to figure out the right amount of CBD that's best for you and your health issues. For the most part, CBD dosage is determined by a number of biological factors:
- What are you using CBD for?
- What is your body weight?
- Are you currently on any prescription drugs?
- Are you taking CBD oil, CBD edibles, or other forms of CBD?
Answering these questions will help you determine just how much CBD you should be taking.
If you are still unsure of how much CBD you should be taking, consult with your doctor. Your doctor may be able to determine the best dosage to fit your needs. However, it's important to note that CBD is not a one-size-fits-all supplement. Your doctor may need to play around with dosage in order for you to reach the desired effects.
Nevertheless, if you are new to CBD, be sure to start with a low dosage and gradually increase until you reach the desired effect. If your doctor recommends a certain dosage, follow their protocol. 25mg of CBD is usually the most recommended dosage. Remember to discontinue if you notice any adverse effects. And always consult with your doctor if you are currently on any prescription medications.
Finally, remember that not all CBD is created equal, so it's highly imperative to purchase CBD products from reputable CBD companies. Unfortunately, not all CBD companies are looking out for your best interest. Be sure to purchase from CBD companies that offer third party testing results on their websites. This ensures that more than one company is testing their products to confirm that they are accurately labeled and safe for consumption. Reputable CBD companies are always transparent and willing to answer any questions you may have.
