The Emerging Health Benefits of CBD

More research is needed, but early studies point to CBD’s potential to address a wide array of health problems.

It’s hard to ignore the hype surrounding the health benefits of CBD oil. It’s showing up in an increasingly wide range of consumables and supplements – everything from food, beverages, bath bombs, creams, and tinctures – even clothing and wearables. The claims surrounding CBD oil’s health benefits vary from relieving anxiety to treating chronic pain to reducing acne to alleviating the unpleasant symptoms associated with cancer treatments.

Introduction to cannabidiol

Cannabidiol, often called CBD oil or hemp oil, is a chemical compound derived from the marijuana or hemp plant. It is one of a handful of active ingredients in marijuana called cannabinoids. Unlike its psychoactive counterpart tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD does not cause the “high” and sometimes paranoid feeling associated with consuming or smoking marijuana. Instead, CBD has a gentler, more subtle effect on mood and feelings of well-being while also touting anti-inflammatory properties and a whole host of other potential health benefits.

The emergence of CBD oil has not been limited to the retail and consumer market. It’s also captured the attention of the scientific community and medical establishment. Most notably, in 2018, the FDA approved a prescription CBD solution called Epidiolex for the treatment of two serious but uncommon forms of epilepsy in children. A round of clinical trials involving hundreds of patients proved CBD’s ability to measurably reduce the frequency of seizures in this cohort of epileptic patients.

So, what is CBD, exactly? How does it work, and what are the health benefits of CBD on the human body? Most importantly, can the wide range of claims regarding the healing and beneficial properties of cannabis oil be trusted and believed given what we currently know?

How CBD works

First of all, it’s important to understand the biological mechanisms by which CBD affects various systems and processes in the body. In simple terms, CBD closely mimics certain molecules naturally produced in humans and many other living things called endocannabinoids. In fact, the reason that cannabis affects us the way it does when we consume it is precisely because it imitates these naturally-occurring molecules so well.

The endocannabinoid system

In every human (regardless of whether or not that human consumes cannabis), endocannabinoids work together with a network of receptors and enzymes to comprise the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is responsible for a wide range of important functions that scientists are only now beginning to understand.

Part of the reason our understanding of the ECS is still actively evolving is that scientists only first examined the psychoactive components of marijuana in the 1990s. In so doing, they inadvertently discovered this previously unknown but dazzlingly complex system in the human body – one that spans multiple systems, cell types, and nearly all our vital organs.

It appears that the endocannabinoid system is largely responsible for functions relating to homeostasis – that is, ensuring that conditions within the body remain stable and consistent even in the face of ever-changing external conditions. We know that the ECS has a role to play in cognitive and emotional functions such as memory, the perception of pain, and mood. Research also indicates that it affects the nervous system, the reproductive system, inflammation, the immune system, and various metabolic functions.

Types of cannabinoid receptors

There are at least two known types of cannabinoid receptors – CB1 receptors, which are found mostly in the brain and nervous system, and CB2 receptors, which are found in the immune system and circulatory system. CB1 receptors play a role in the psychoactive effects of THC, while CB2 receptors are involved in controlling inflammation and regulating immune system response. Most cannabinoids, including CBD, can bind to both types of receptors.

Endocannabinoids and their function in the body have been described by one scholar as “literally a bridge between body and mind.” Some even hypothesize that deficiencies in the ECS may be directly tied to serious chronic conditions such as IBS, migraines, and fibromyalgia.

With this knowledge in hand, CBD is emerging as a powerful tool for positively influencing the ECS and thereby enhancing the body’s ability to regulate vital functions and promote optimal conditions for healing and health. The health benefits of CBD are just beginning to be uncovered.

The health benefits of CBD oil

CBD oil has only recently become a topic of active medical research. Legal restrictions that classify cannabis as an illegal drug on the federal level in the United States (even as many states now permit its sale and use) means that our scientific understanding of CBD as a treatment for various health problems is limited. More funding for clinical research and fewer restrictions are needed to thoroughly test CBD on human subjects.

That being said, humans have relied on the potent healing powers of cannabis for thousands of years, and the limited studies that we do have demonstrate great promise and potential. Current research suggests that CBD oil may be useful for addressing or alleviating a wide range of health conditions including:

• Chronic pain
• Chronic mood disorders such as anxiety and depression
• Cancer symptoms and cancer treatment side-effects such as nausea, vomiting, and pain
• Inflammation and autoimmune disorders
• Psychotic and neurodegenerative disorders
• Acne
• Epilepsy and seizures

The available research on CBD’s role in treating these conditions is explored in more detail below.

CBD oil and chronic pain

A growing body of academic and medical research examines the use of cannabis for the treatment of chronic pain. These studies tend to involve CBD working in tandem with THC, as it does when marijuana is smoked or consumed in an edible. Cannabis is a compelling option for chronic pain patients as it can help reduce or alleviate the need for opiate prescription pain medications, which are notorious for their addictive properties and devastating side effects.

A meta-analysis published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) looked at a nearly 20-year span of published research on marijuana use and its clinical applications. In its 2017 committee conclusions, NASEM stated that there is “conclusive or substantial evidence that cannabis or cannabinoids are effective for the treatment of chronic pain in adults.”

But even in the absence of THC, it appears that CBD has a direct effect on how we experience pain. One study published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine demonstrated that cannabinoids such as those found in CBD oil have a powerful pain-relieving effect on mice and rats in the lab setting. Another explored CBD’s connection to serotonin, an important neurotransmitter that has been proven to affect not only our mood but our perception of pain.

Hence, the available research on CBD and chronic pain shows great promise, demonstrating the mechanisms at play within the endocannabinoid system that may lead to a noticeably reduced perception of pain among CBD oil consumers.

Anxiety, depression, and mood disorders

While cannabis has been used by humans for its mood-altering effects for thousands of years, science is only just beginning to recognize exactly how and why it works. CBD in isolation (as found in CBD oil) is an appealing option for sufferers of anxiety and depression because it produces fewer side effects than THC and positively influences mood without the “high” associated with consuming marijuana. Additionally, CBD could help people with anxiety who wish to avoid the laundry list of undesirable side effects associated with prescription antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications.

A 2014 meta-analysis reviewing a series of studies conducted on animals found that CBD consumption had a positive effect on the brain’s serotonin receptors. Serotonin plays an important role in regulating mood, and it’s the same system targeted by a widely-prescribed class of antidepressant prescription drugs called SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors).

Further research on the mental health benefits of CBD

A testimony delivered to Congress in 2015 by researchers from the NIH (National Institutes of Health) lobbied for fewer barriers to researching cannabidiol’s therapeutic effect in humans while stating the following:

CBD has shown therapeutic efficacy in a range of animal models of anxiety and stress, reducing both behavioral and physiological (e.g., heart rate) measures of stress and anxiety. In addition, CBD has shown efficacy in small human laboratory and clinical trials. CBD reduced anxiety in patients with social anxiety subjected to a stressful public speaking task.

A more recent study on mice published in 2019 made the exciting discovery that CBD’s antidepressant properties are almost immediately observable, unlike antidepressants which can take weeks to start working. This led the researchers to conclude that “the data support a promising therapeutic profile for CBD as a new fast-acting antidepressant drug.”

Of course, more research – particularly research on humans – is needed to deepen our understanding of how CBD can be used to treat anxiety and depression. But the initial findings by the medical community are encouraging, and the mental health benefits of CBD may prove to change the landscape of the mental health treatment community.  

Cancer and cancer treatment side-effects

Another health benefit of CBD is tied to cancer and cancer treatment side effects. There are two FDA-approved prescription drugs containing THC-like cannabinoids for the treatment of nausea, poor appetite, and weight loss for patients undergoing chemotherapy cancer treatment. A strong case can also be made for CBD’s use in alleviating the symptoms directly caused by cancer and cancer treatments.

An article published in the medical journal Current Oncology recognized cannabis for its ability to address poor appetite, nausea, insomnia, vomiting, pain, and depression in cancer patients.

The use of CBD to combat cancer itself also shows some promise in studies conducted in laboratories and on animals, though more research is needed to confirm whether or not it could play such a role in treating cancer in humans.

Inflammation and autoimmune support

A growing body of research draws links between the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and processes of inflammation throughout the body. This spells exciting potential for sufferers of chronic inflammation at the hands of autoimmune disorders like arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and vasculitis.

Furthermore, an analysis of current research on the use of CBD for the treatment of osteoarthritis acknowledged the ECS’ apparent regulatory role in controlling inflammation, pain, and the progression of arthritis. A later study confirmed cannabinol’s effect on inflammation and joint degeneration in rats affected by osteoarthritis.

Another branch of studies found that CBD combats inflammation by reducing oxidative stress – or, in other words, by acting as an antioxidant. Oxidative stress occurs when unstable molecules called free radicals are out of balance with antioxidants. Inflammatory damage ensues, and this kind of damage is present in a number of autoimmune disorders including arthritis, diabetes, and MS. CBD’s antioxidant properties could play a role in slowing or controlling the progression of these degenerative disorders.

Broader research studies – particularly controlled trials with human subjects – are needed before CBD’s ability to treat chronic inflammation caused by autoimmune disorders is fully understood, but the data collected so far is exciting and encouraging.

CBD for psychotic and neurodegenerative disorders

While marijuana is known to cause or worsen psychotic symptoms at high doses, these effects are due to the cannabinoid THC. CBD, on the other hand, is thought to play a role in counteracting THC’s psychoactive effects, leading researchers in the medical community to hypothesize that CBD oil could have antipsychotic properties and benefit patients suffering from serious neurologic disorders such as schizophrenia. Small-scale studies indicate that CBD is well-tolerated by patients using it for its antipsychotic effects, but larger-scale, randomized studies are needed.

Neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and multiple sclerosis (MS) may also benefit from CBD. MS is already being treated in most European countries and a few other nations by a prescription drug called Sativex, which contains both CBD and THC and is proven effective at reducing symptoms in MS patients.

Moreover, a study in Brazil found measurable quality-of-life improvements in Parkinson’s patients taking CBD versus those receiving a placebo, further underscoring the need for wider research into CBD’s potential for treating these serious and debilitating diseases. Thus, another health benefit of CBD is the potential treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.

CBD and acne

Early research indicates that CBD might be useful for treating acne, particularly the type that’s caused by the overproduction of oil on the face called sebum. A 2014 study found that CBD has an effect on cells called sebocytes that produce this pore-clogging oil. CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties could also benefit acne sufferers in the midst of a breakout or flare-up, and its effect on anxiety could reduce acne caused or worsened by stress.

Therefore, anyone considering a topical CBD product for the treatment of acne should first ensure that it does not contain any pore-clogging oils or irritating additives.

Epilepsy and seizures

CBD is FDA-approved to treat two forms of severe childhood epilepsy– Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, and Dravet syndrome. In a series of clinical trials, the prescription CBD drug Epidiolex was shown to substantially reduce the incidence of seizures in children suffering from these two difficult-to-treat presentations of epilepsy. In a landmark 2018 decision, Epidiolex became the first FDA-approved (and therefore federally legal) form of CBD to enter the medical market in the United States.

Despite receiving approval for prescription use, scientists are still unclear as to why exactly CBD reduces the number of seizures these epileptic sufferers experience – only that CBD changes brain chemistry in such a way that the conditions are less favorable for seizures to occur. It is also not yet clear whether CBD might be useful for other types of epilepsy, as the clinical trials for Epidiolex focused solely on these two rare forms.

CBD oil side effects and risks

While it is often chosen because its effects are better-tolerated and more mild than marijuana’s main active ingredient THC, CBD can cause unwanted side effects in some. These include:

• Dry mouth
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Appetite changes
• Diarrhea

CBD can also interact with certain prescription medications, affecting the body’s ability to properly metabolize the medicine. For this reason, patients taking prescription medications should always discuss CBD oil with their prescribing physician before beginning a CBD regimen.

Lastly, because over-the-counter CBD supplements are not currently regulated by the FDA, it is important for consumers to be mindful of the purity and production process of the supplements they are purchasing. CBD oils and CBD supplements currently on the market vary widely in terms of quality, concentration, and the presence of additives, so thorough research into how the CBD is extracted and prepared for consumption is very important.

We recommend viewing our comprehensive CBD review page to help you select a CBD product that is right for you.

The bottom line on the health benefits of CBD

Cannabinoids like CBD show great promise in the treatment of a swath of difficult-to-treat health conditions. The recent discovery of the endocannabinoid system and its role in the body is spurring curiosity in the scientific and medical communities.

However, due to tight restrictions on medical research and the murky legal status of cannabis in the United States, the FDA has so far only approved CBD for the treatment of two rare forms of childhood epilepsy. Still, the limited but growing body of medical research related to CBD oil for the treatment of a wide array of health maladies is growing, and the early scientific findings are encouraging.

Above all, anyone wishing to use CBD oil for the treatment of a health condition or for the betterment of their overall well-being should always do so in partnership with their doctor.

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