CBD may revolutionize medical care in the near future. With the opioid crisis at an all-time high (1) many are looking for alternative options for pain management. Current studies on CBD have been going on with promising results for the following conditions:
Pain
Anxiety
Insomnia
Epilepsy & Seizures
Inflammation
Blood Pressure Management
PTSD
Stroke Rehabilitation
Pain
Pain in the body can occur for a multitude of reasons but CBD can help. CBD can stop the body from absorbing anandamide, a compound associated with regulating pain. So, increased levels of anandamide in the bloodstream may reduce the amount of pain a person feels.
Anxiety
Anxiety Disorders affect 18.1 percent of adults in the United States (approximately 40 million adults between the ages of 18 to 54). – National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Current estimates put this number much higher – approximately 30 percent – as many people don’t seek help, are misdiagnosed, or don’t know they have issues with anxiety. (2) According to a survey published in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research in 2018, almost 62 percent of cannabidiol users reported that they used CBD to treat a medical condition, with the top three conditions being a pain, anxiety, and depression. (3) Letting anxiety go untreated can deplete your quality of life and lead to physical health manifestations that CBD may be able to help with.
Insomnia
Preliminary research into cannabis and insomnia suggests that cannabidiol (CBD) may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of insomnia. (4) According to a report by the WHO, “In humans, CBD exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential…to date, there is no evidence of public health-related problems associated with the use of pure CBD.” (5) This is good news for the 1 in 3 people who suffer from insomnia. (6)
Epilepsy & Seizures
Cannabis has been used for centuries to treat seizures. Recent anecdotal reports, accumulating animal model data, and mechanistic insights have raised interest in cannabis-based antiepileptic therapies. Recently, mounting anecdotal reports and media coverage have sparked intense interest among parents, patients, and the scientific community regarding the potential of medical cannabis to treat seizures. A potential alternative or supplement to current AEDs, the cannabis plant includes >100 diverse phytocannabinoids that, in part, target an endogenous endocannabinoid signaling network, as well as other networks. Two major phytocannabinoids derived from cannabis are psychoactive Δ9- tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and nonpsychoactive cannabidiol (CBD). Both Δ9-THC and CBD can prevent seizures and reduce mortality in animal models of seizure with low toxicity and high tolerability. (7)
Inflammation
Inflammation is a defense mechanism in the body. The immune system recognizes damaged cells, irritants, and pathogens, and it begins the healing process. (8) Chronic inflammation in the body can lead to Rheumatoid Arthritis and some cancers. Inflammation can also hurt, People will feel pain, stiffness, discomfort, distress, and even agony, depending on the severity of the inflammation. CBD can help the pain (as explained above) but also help with inflammation by According to the formal classification, the ECS consists of two cannabinoid receptors, their endogenous fatty acid-derived ligands, and a number of enzymes involved in their synthesis and breakdown. However, many endogenous congeners of classical endocannabinoids have now been discovered, together with a set of receptors structurally or functionally related to the
cannabinoid receptors. (9)
Blood Pressure Management
A new study published in JCI Insight has found that cannabidiol (CBD) reduces systolic pressure. The findings suggest that CBD could potentially play a therapeutic role in the treatment of certain cardiovascular disorders. (10) Previous research has found CBD to be a vasodilator, meaning it allows for greater blood flow to normalize blood pressure and reduce the damage to arterial walls. Studies have also found CBD provides neuroprotective and cardio-related effects that are beneficial for cardiovascular disease and stroke. CBD has shown to restore regular heart rhythm following an ischemic attack and to significantly reduce infarct size, oxidative stress, inflammation, and preserve the performance of the left ventricle following a heart attack. (11)
PTSD
CBD oil is still a question for many; however, it has been showing promising results in treating PTSD and relieving its symptoms. Multiple recent studies have shown that CBD can help with PTSD symptoms, such as having nightmares and replaying negative memories. These studies have looked at CBD as both a standalone PTSD treatment as well as a supplement to traditional treatments like medication and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Numerous studies revealed that a human body consists of an optimum amount of anandamide that functions to keep the person emotionally stable. However, low levels of cannabinoid receptors result in causing PTSD, therefore, supplementing this deficiency by taking CBD oil can assist in filling the gap produced by PTSD. Also, CBD helps in blocking the mood receptors that regulate stress hormones, stimulate sleep hormones, and prevent flashbacks. (12)
Stroke Rehabilitation
Current research studies investigated whether CBD could be an effective treatment option during rehabilitation. This theory has been supported by other preliminary research studies, which have all found that CBD shows encouraging signs as a potential post-stroke therapy for ischemic strokes (one of two types of stroke, along with hemorrhagic). (13) The current body of research seems to show speedier and broader recovery in patients and incredible neuroprotection. Only two treatment options are available, so having another effective option for stroke recovery is compelling news for both stroke victims and their families. There is now hope that CBD therapy could allow more people to live an independent life after suffering a stroke.
Reference:
- https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/opioids/opioid-overdose-crisis
- https://www.anxietycentre.com/anxiety-statistics-information.shtml
- https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/can.2018.0006
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28349316
- https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/cannabidiol-cbd-what-we-know-and-what-wedont-2018082414476
- https://www.better-sleep-better-life.com/insomnia-statistics.html
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4604191/
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/248423.php
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=The%20endocannabinoid%20system%3A%20an%20emerging%20key%20player%20in%20inflammation
- https://news.medicalmarijuanainc.com/study-finds-cbd-reduces-bloodpressure/
- https://insight.jci.org/articles/view/93760
- https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2018.00502/full
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28012949
Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or prior to using any CBD products.