CBD – what’s all the fuss about?

Find out what properties this unique chemical compound has and why it has gained such huge popularity around the world?

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a chemical compound found in the hemp plant. Despite its origins, CBD itself does not cause psychoactive, intoxicating or addictive effects – these are the effects wrongly attributed to it by laypeople. 

CBD should not be confused with its psychoactive counterpart, THC – although both belong to the same family of cannabinoid compounds and both are obtained from hemp.

When applied topically or ingested, CBD interacts with neuroreceptors in the endocannabinoid system, which is generally responsible for our mood, homeostasis, and immune system.

CBD is extracted from the hemp plant through an extraction process and mixed with an inert carrier oil such as hemp seed oil or coconut oil.

Over the past few years, CBD has become one of the most popular ingredients in countless products. CBD can be found in pharmacies and grocery stores, as well as drug stores, restaurants, cafes and street vending machines. Anyone who has not yet heard about the miraculous properties of CBD may feel uneasy.

CBD has long been popular among people suffering from chronic pain, especially those looking for an alternative to traditional prescription painkillers.

CBD, alongside THC, is one of the most studied and described cannabinoids. CBD is also the subject of countless studies looking for its therapeutic benefits similar to those of medical marijuana, but without the “high.”

Did you know that hemp plants, which have been cultivated on Earth for thousands of years, have only recently been disappeared from our daily diet and therapy, only to return to it today? What was the cause?  The growing popularity of psychoactive marijuana, which is not a plant in itself, but only a dried product produced from the inflorescences of those species of cannabis that contain a high concentration of psychoactive THC. It is because of this that all other varieties of cannabis have suffered and practically since the 1930s their cultivation has been banned or severely restricted.

Ironically, the same marijuana that is responsible for halting the growth of the cannabis market in the 1930s contributed to the revolutionary medical discovery and the end of cannabis prohibition. 

Since 2010, scientists have published more than 23,000 peer-reviewed articles on the benefits of hemp and CBD, and that number is growing every year. By comparison, from the early 1980s to 1999, there were fewer than 5,000 publications in this area.

This growing interest of scientists and researchers and their confirmation of the therapeutic potential of cannabis, along with the lifting of cannabis prohibition, helped to destigmatize this unique plant and appreciate its extraordinary properties.

Nine major benefits of CBD, documented by research:

1. Relieving anxiety and depression

CBD’s ability to calm you down is probably its most popular effect and why its use is so widespread. A 2017 study in the Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry tested the anxiety levels of 57 men in a simulated public speaking test. Some were given a placebo, while others were given 150 milligrams, 300 milligrams, or 600 milligrams of CBD before their speeches. Those who received 300 milligrams of CBD experienced significantly less anxiety during the test compared to those who received a placebo.

Meanwhile, at least one study in mice has shown that CBD has effects similar to the antidepressant imipramine. However, human studies are needed to confirm whether CBD can trigger the same antidepressant response in our bodies.

2. Treatment of selected epilepsy syndromes

In some cases, CBD may be used to treat seizures.

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

The FDA’s decision is based on three well-studied studies. In these studies, 516 patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome or Dravet syndrome received either Epidiolex or placebo. Epidiolex, taken with other prescribed medications, reduced the frequency of seizures in study participants compared with placebo.

3. Reducing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

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

Four other human studies from 2012 to 2016 suggest that CBD reduces PTSD symptoms, although some include THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol. When THC and CBD work together, they create a so-called “entourage effect,” complementing each other’s benefits and potency. For example, taking the same dose of THC and CBD together can reduce the “high” caused by THC, while a small amount of THC combined with a larger amount of CBD can enhance the effects of CBD.

4. Treating Opioid Addiction

Some research, both preclinical in animals and clinical trials in humans, suggests that CBD may be used to treat people with opioid addiction.

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

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

5. Relief of symptoms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a disease in which nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord become damaged, leading to a loss of muscle control that worsens over time. It is not yet known exactly why ALS develops, although in some cases it may be hereditary. There is no known cure for the disease, and there are only two FDA-approved medications that help treat the symptoms of ALS.

Studies suggest that people with ALS may benefit from the “entourage effect” created by combining 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. People with mild, moderate, or severe spasticity (muscle tightness and stiffness) due to ALS reported high levels of treatment satisfaction, and those with moderate or severe spasticity reported higher satisfaction rates than those with mild spasticity.

6. Pain reduction

In 2005, Canada approved the use of Sativex, an oral spray (absorbed through the lining of the mouth) containing equal parts THC and CBD, for the treatment of central neuropathic pain associated with multiple sclerosis. In 2007, Canada reapproved the drug for the treatment of cancer pain that had not responded to other drugs.

Meanwhile, further research from the U.S. suggests that CBD is effective in treating chronic non-cancer pain. In one 2020 study, researchers administered CBD topically to a group of patients with symptomatic peripheral neuropathy (the result of damage to the nerves in the brain and spinal cord), while another group with the same condition received a placebo. The results showed significant reductions in intense, sharp pain, coldness, and itching in those who applied CBD topical, compared with those who applied a placebo. None of the participants reported adverse side effects.

When applied topically, CBD oil does not affect the systemic system as it might if applied directly into the bloodstream. Instead, topical CBD is more localized and treats pain in a specific area. Because it is more direct, it may have a more pronounced effect.

7. Alleviating Diabetic Complications

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

In another study, 13 patients with type 2 diabetes who were not taking insulin were given both CBD and a placebo (instead of insulin). The researchers found that CBD lowered their levels of resistin (which causes resistance to insulin, a protein that regulates blood 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 levels before the study began. These results suggest that CBD may be a natural treatment for diabetes because it helps the body regulate hormones related to insulin.

8. Protection against neurological diseases

Preclinical and clinical studies show that CBD has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Scientists have concluded that these properties may provide significant neuroprotection, or protection against numerous pathological disorders.

Several preclinical studies suggest that CBD may have beneficial effects on Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and multiple sclerosis. Huntington's disease and cerebral ischemia have also been studied, but no significant positive results have been reported. Further clinical trials are needed to confirm the benefits of CBD in treating these disorders.

9. Inhibiting the symptoms of arthritis

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

A 2006 study found that Sativex, a CBD-based drug approved in the UK in 2010, produced statistically significant improvements in sleep quality, pain with movement and pain at rest in patients with rheumatoid arthritis compared with placebo. This was the first controlled trial of Sativex as a drug for rheumatoid arthritis, involving 58 patients. CBD was found to have pain-relieving effects as well as the ability to inhibit disease activity.

In a 2018 study of more localized treatment, researchers gave a synthetic CBD gel at doses of 250 milligrams or 500 milligrams per day or a placebo to patients with knee pain caused by osteoarthritis. The patients also stopped taking any other anti-inflammatory or pain medication, except acetaminophen, before and during the study period.

Summary:

The most important reasons for the ever-increasing popularity of CBD include:

1. Documented health benefits of CBD. CBD is mainly used for pain relief, muscle relaxation, insomnia, anticonvulsant, anti-inflammatory, and to treat anxiety and addiction.

2. Safety of use and natural origin of CBD. CBD is usually recommended as a natural therapy and is chosen as a safe alternative to chemical compounds, often toxic. (However, it is worth remembering that not every CBD product is natural in 100%, because CBD can also be produced synthetically).

3. Growing availability of products containing CBD – food, cosmetics, supplements and medicines. Analysts estimate that the global market value of hemp and CBD products will exceed USD 22 billion in 2026. Interest in hemp products is and will continue to grow!