CBD (Cannabidiol) has become one of the most popular supplements and alternative remedies in recent years.
There are many reasons behind the surging popularity in CBD and why many consumers are choosing to opt for the likes of CBD (Cannabidiol) preparations over traditional pharmaceutical medications which often come with much heavier side effect profiles.
Some of the most common reasons for using CBD include anxiety, stress, sleep/insomnia, depression, pain disorders and general well-being.
In this article we’re going to look at some of the most common reasons why people use CBD (Cannabidiol).
1. Anxiety
One of the most popular reasons for individuals using CBD Oil is to manage and reduce symptoms of anxiety or panic disorder.
CBD (Cannabidiol) is one of the most promising natural compounds available in my opinion for treating anxiety disorder and I personally find it to be hugely effective for managing anxiety.
CBD has shown strong anxiolytic properties in studies with the evidence pointing towards a calming effect in the central nervous system. [2]
2. Stress & PTSD
Cannabis Sativa has a long traditional history of being used medicinally to reduce the symptoms of stress and PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder).
Whilst there are only a small number of studies at present, the available evidence appears to indicate that CBD can reduce PTSD symptomology such as sleep disturbances and nightmares. [3]
3. Sleep & Insomnia
Another common reason users supplement with CBD and CBD Oil products is to aid sleep and as a natural treatment for insomnia.
CBD’s relaxing, calming effect on the nervous system makes it a popular alternative supplement for individuals struggling with sleep disorders and an inability to get to sleep.
Preliminary research into cannabis and insomnia suggests that cannabidiol (CBD) may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of insomnia.
CBD may hold promise for REM sleep behavior disorder and excessive daytime sleepiness. [4]
4. Reduce Cannabis Withdrawal Symptoms and/or Counteract/Reverse Negative THC Effects
CBD has shown huge promise in heavy cannabis users to reduce the mild “withdrawal” effects associated with long-term daily cannabis usage and addiction.
Cannabidiol can be very effective for minimizing and reducing many of the initial brief symptoms some long-term cannabis users can experience when stopping such as anxiety, depression, irritability, nausea/poor appetite and sleep/insomnia.
CBD has shown promising pro-cognitive and neuroprotective effects which may reverse some of the cognitive deficits associated with cannabis dependence. [5]
5. Chronic Pain Disorders, Arthritis/Joint Pain, Fibromyalgia etc
Chronic pain disorders such as fibromyalgia are notoriously difficult to treat and many of the conventional medications used for pain relief often come with serious side effects such as causing dependence, liver issues and more.
CBD (Cannabidiol) on the other hand has shown a much better safety profile and tolerability from the growing body of research.
The endocannabinoid system is involved in a numerous homeostatic and physiologic functions, including modulation of pain and inflammation.
CBD was also seemingly effective in treatment of chronic pain associated with kidney transplantation and when given topically to patients suffering from peripheral neuropathy of their lower extremities (Cuñetti et al., 2018; Xu et al., 2019).
As well, in patients with fibromyalgia, CBD treatment decreased pain by more than 30% in significantly more patients than placebo (Van De Donk et al., 2019). [6]
6. Post-Workout Relief
CBD has fast become the post workout supplement of choice for many athletes in recent years for helping to reduce inflammation, pain, muscle soreness and to aid the body in relaxation after intense workouts or sporting events.
Unlike the intoxicating cannabinoid, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), CBD is no longer prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency and appears to be safe and well-tolerated in humans. [7]
7. Depression
Depression has been reported to be a common reason for using CBD in a cross-sectional study of 2409 cannabidiol users from the USA. (Corroon and Phillips 2018).
CBD has shown mild anti-depressant activity in some studies and many users report a subjective feeling of improved mood and reduced symptoms of depression, along with a reduction in stress.
8. Epilepsy
Research has found that CBD (Cannabidiol) has strong anticonvulsant activity and can help to reduce seizure frequency in those with intractable epilepsy.
A systematic review and meta-analysis published 2018 evaluated the efficacy of Cannabidiol in Epilepsy.
The systematic review and meta-analysis concluded:
Adjunctive CBD in patients with LGS or DS experiencing seizures uncontrolled by concomitant anti-epileptic treatment regimens is associated with a greater reduction in seizure frequency and a higher rate of AEs than placebo. [8]
9. Schizophrenia
Despite the fairly accepted notion that Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) the main psychoactive component of Cannabis induces acute psychotic effects and cognitive impairment.
CBD (Cannabidiol) on the other hand is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid that has shown potent antipsychotic activity.
CBD appears to have pharmacological profile similar to that of atypical antipsychotic drugs as seem using behavioral and neurochemical techniques in animal models.
Additionally, CBD prevented human experimental psychosis and was effective in open case reports and clinical trials in patients with schizophrenia with a remarkable safety profile. [9]
A systematic review published 2020 evaluating the therapeutic role of Cannabidiol in mental health concluded that:
There is Grade B recommendation supporting the use of CBD for the treatment of schizophrenia. [10]
10. Management Of Other Chronic Illnesses & Health Problems
CBD Oil has become a hugely popular adjunct supplement in the chronic illness community and for good reason too.
Anecdotally many individuals have reported amazing testimonials and improvements in symptoms associated with a variety of conditions including autism spectrum disorder, ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, autoimmune and inflammatory disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis, functional GI disorders and many others.
References
[2] Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series
[4] Cannabis, Cannabinoids, and Sleep: a Review of the Literature
[5] Cannabidiol: a novel treatment for cannabis dependence?
[6] A Balanced Approach for Cannabidiol Use in Chronic Pain
[8] Efficacy and Safety of Cannabidiol in Epilepsy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
[10] The therapeutic role of Cannabidiol in mental health: a systematic review
The information in this article has not been evaluated by the FDA and should not be used to diagnose, cure or treat any disease, implied or otherwise.
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