CBD has taken the world by storm. By now, you have probably seen it in stores, in common products, and even in treats for pets. Despite the craze, there is one question you have to ask yourself if you plan on trying CBD. Is CBD proven to be effective through research? Or are the benefits of CBD pure myth? Research has a little something to say about that.
The fact of the matter is that CBD has benefits, but research still needs to be done on the extent of those effects.
What Is CBD?
First, in order to understand what CBD does and how it works, you must first know what it is. CBD is short for “cannabidiol,” the name of a phytocannabinoid found in cannabis and hemp [1]. There are more than 100 cannabinoids found in cannabis Sativa, including tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. Yet, while some of the compounds like THC are psychoactive, there are others, like CBD, that do not cause any high.
The fact that CBD is not psychoactive is one of the reasons the sale of CBD products in the US is legal. So long as CBD products contain less than 0.3% THC, they may be sold in most states. With the legalization of recreational cannabis coming into favor, this may change in the future, but for right now, CBD is legal—but unregulated.
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Is CBD Proven To Be Effective?
Presently, cannabidiol is being thoroughly investigated for a number of health conditions. Within the accumulating evidence of what CBD may do, there are studies looking into its effectiveness of it.
Here are some of the main studies suggesting the beneficial potential of CBD:
CBD For Anxiety & Depression
A retrospective observational study published the results of its 3-month and 6-month investigations in June 2021 [2]. The basis of the study was to gather real-world evidence from places that have a robust framework for CBD use within a clinical setting. Thus, the study took place in Quebec, Canada, and followed 279 participants over the age of 18. Two groups using either CBD or a combination of CBD and THC were observed and tested for a specific period of time.
It was noted that CBD helped decrease the severity of anxiety and depression in a majority of the patients with moderate or severe cases.
An earlier breakthrough study suggested that CBD may be able to modulate serotonin transmission in the brain. The study, which was conducted in 2019, found that when rats were given CBD for a period of time, their anxious behaviors decreased significantly [3].
Although more investigations on the effect of CBD on anxiety and depression must be done, the evidence is optimistic.
CBD For Neurological Conditions
The approval of Epidiolex is one of the biggest milestones in the history of CBD-related treatments. Epidiolex is used for the treatment of several forms of treatment-resistant epilepsy, including Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome [4].
However, epilepsy is not the only neurological disorder that may be treated with CBD. Further research points to the possibility of CBD being useful for Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and multiple sclerosis (MS) [5, 6. 7]. In fact, there are clinical studies underway to see if Epidiolex may be approved for MS in the future [8].
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CBD For Pain and Inflammation
Many people have turned to CBD based on anecdotal evidence about it eliminating pain and swelling. Yet, these stories are not unfounded. Research has found time and again that cannabidiol is useful for inflammation and pain.
One review of pre-clinical and clinical trials from 2018 looked into the effects of CBD on the endocannabinoid system and found that there is evidence of CBD protecting against intestinal inflammation and alleviating neuropathic pain [9].
Following that review was a study looking into the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties of CBD [10]. Published in 2019, the researchers suggested that CBD has therapeutic applications and is non-toxic to most people. The interaction of CBD within the endocannabinoid system suggests that it can be used to limit the damage caused by inflammation related to various diseases.
Another study from September 2020 called CBD a “killer for inflammatory rheumatoid arthritis” [11]. Researchers found that CBD may increase intracellular calcium levels and limit the number of cells responsible for rheumatoid arthritis flare-ups.
Lastly, a recent review published in 2021 called cannabinoids “anti-inflammatory agents” investigated the viability of using CBD for pain and inflammation [12]. The review looked at 22 studies on CBD, CBG, and a THC: CBD combination. It was found that in a majority of the studies, CBD and other cannabinoids (but not THC) reduced the levels of inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, some improvements in disability or disease were noted.
Where Should You Purchase CBD?
If you want to try CBD, it is best to seek out high-quality products, like those sold at a dispensary. There are also online sellers, like Sugar Bottom Hemp, that you can visit. However, not all establishments are equal. You want CBD products with the amount of CBD in the formula displayed on the package, as well as visible COAs to show the CBD extracts were examined in independent third-party labs [13].
Again, CBD is neither standardized nor regulated. Therefore, you should seek out manufacturers that source their hemp locally and do not use any additives in their formulas. Once you find a reputable source, feel free to try their products to see which works for you.
Get Your High-Quality CBD From Sugar Bottom Hemp
At Sugar Bottom Hemp, we take great pride in our hemp and CBD. Our minimally processed CBD comes from organic hemp and undergoes strict testing to ensure you are getting a pristine product every time. Check out our wide selection of CBD products, including the ones for your pets. You are bound to find something that you love. Have questions or concerns? Drop us a message.
Bibliography
1. Maroon, J., & Bost, J. (2018). Review of the neurological benefits of phytocannabinoids. Surgical Neurology International, 9(1), 91. https://doi.org/10.4103/sni.sni_45_18
2. Rapin, L., Gamaoun, R., El Hage, C., Arboleda, M. F., & Prosk, E. (2021). Cannabidiol use and effectiveness: real-world evidence from a Canadian medical cannabis clinic. Journal of Cannabis Research, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-021-00078-w
3. De Gregorio, D., McLaughlin, R. J., Posa, L., Ochoa-Sanchez, R., Enns, J., Lopez-Canul, M., Aboud, M., Maione, S., Comai, S., & Gobbi, G. (2018). Cannabidiol modulates serotonergic transmission and reverses both allodynia and anxiety-like behavior in a model of neuropathic pain. Pain, 160(1), 136–150. https://doi.org/10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001386
4. Patel, A. D., Mazurkiewicz‐Bełdzińska, M., Chin, R. F., Gil‐Nagel, A., Gunning, B., Halford, J. J., Mitchell, W., Scott Perry, M., Thiele, E. A., Weinstock, A., Dunayevich, E., Checketts, D., & Devinsky, O. (2021). Long‐term safety and efficacy of add‐on cannabidiol in patients with Lennox–Gastaut syndrome: Results of a long‐term open‐label extension trial. Epilepsia, 62(9), 2228–2239. https://doi.org/10.1111/epi.17000
5. Rieder, C. R. (2020). Cannabidiol in Parkinson’s disease. Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry, 42(2), 126–127. https://doi.org/10.1590/1516-4446-2019-0810
6. Cheng, D., Spiro, A. S., Jenner, A. M., Garner, B., & Karl, T. (2014). Long-Term Cannabidiol Treatment Prevents the Development of Social Recognition Memory Deficits in Alzheimer’s Disease Transgenic Mice. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 42(4), 1383–1396. https://doi.org/10.3233/jad-140921
7. Zajicek JP, Sanders HP, Wright DE, et al Cannabinoids in multiple sclerosis (CAMS) study: safety and efficacy data for 12 months follow up Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry 2005;76:1664-1669.
8. Braley, T. J. (2022, March 5). Mechanisms of Cannabidiol in Persons With MS: the Role of Sleep and Pain Phenotype. ClinicalTrials.gov. Retrieved December 26, 2022, from https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05269628
9. Bruni, N., Della Pepa, C., Oliaro-Bosso, S., Pessione, E., Gastaldi, D., & Dosio, F. (2018). Cannabinoid Delivery Systems for Pain and Inflammation Treatment. Molecules, 23(10), 2478. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23102478
10. Atalay, S., Jarocka-Karpowicz, I., & Skrzydlewska, E. (2019). Antioxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Cannabidiol. Antioxidants, 9(1), 21. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox9010021
11. Lowin, T., Tingting, R., Zurmahr, J. et al. Cannabidiol (CBD): a killer for inflammatory rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts. Cell Death Dis 11, 714 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-020-02892-1
12. Henshaw, F. R., Dewsbury, L. S., Lim, C. K., & Steiner, G. Z. (2021). The Effects of Cannabinoids on Pro- and Anti-Inflammatory Cytokines: A Systematic Review of In Vivo Studies. Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, 6(3), 177–195. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2020.0105
13. How To Read A CBD Certificate Of Analysis (COA). (2021, May 18). Proper. https://www.getproper.com/blog/how-to-read-cbd-certificate-of-analysis
