Cannabidiol, known by the acronym CBD, is one of more than 100 cannabinoids found in the Cannabis Sativa L. plant and is the second most active ingredient in cannabis.

However, unlike cannabis itself, CBD is not psychotropic, which means it does not get those who consume it high, unlike another molecule, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Typically, consumers of CBD products use them to combat anxiety, and pain or facilitate sleep. But are these uses validated by science?

Health benefits of CBD

1: Improve mental health
One of the many benefits of CBD is that it potentially has a profound effect on a variety of mental disorders, offering an alternative treatment for millions of people around the world who struggle with their mental health. A systematic review1 of 23 studies provided a grade B recommendation for the use of CBD in the treatment of schizophrenia, social anxiety disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

The analysis also gave a grade C recommendation for CBD as a remedy for insomnia, anxiety, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and Tourette’s syndrome. Another study published in The Permanente Journal found that in a cohort of anxiety patients, 79% of people experienced a reduction in anxiety when using CBD.

2: Reduction of epileptic seizures
A recent study confirmed CBD’s ability to reduce epileptic seizures. The Midori-no-way (Green Circle) program for children with refractory epilepsy was launched in Japan in 2020 as a collaborative project between Green Zone Japan and Always Pure Organics to analyze whether CBD could reduce seizures.

The program included 50 participants, of which 50% reported improvements and 10% experienced significant effects. One of the participants – a two-and-a-half-year-old girl who continued to suffer from seizures even after brain surgery – is seizure-free after CBD treatment.

3: Anti-cancer properties
CBD can have beneficial effects for even the most serious diseases like cancer. Although research is limited and inconclusive, a case in the UK sheds light on the fact that CBD may contain anti-cancer qualities. An 80-year-old woman in the UK was diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer in June 2018. She was a smoker and also had mild chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, osteoarthritis, and high blood pressure.

At the time of diagnosis, her tumor measured 41 mm and showed no signs of local or further spread. However, the patient refused traditional treatments of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy and was placed under surveillance, where she underwent CT scans every three to six months.

By February 2021, the maximum diameter of her tumor had decreased by 75% to 10 mm. During this time, she used 0.5 ml of CBD oil three times a day, and while the mechanisms behind this are not fully understood, CBD may have played a role in the regression of the tumor.

4: Improve sleep
There is a wide range of sleep aids, such as herbal remedies and melatonin pills. However, research suggests that CBD may be an effective method to optimize your sleep.

The endocannabinoid system plays a key role in regulating sleep and circadian rhythms and contains a network of cannabinoid receptors. Research suggests that CBD may interact with specific receptors that could affect the sleep cycle.

Another study analyzed the benefits of CBD on patients with anxiety and sleep disorders. The survey included 103 adults, with the final sample size being 72. The results showed that by using CBD, sleep scores improved within the first month in 48 of the participants (66.7%), although this fluctuated over time. Find the best cbd uk on this website.

5: Pain relief
The benefits of CBD for pain relief are somewhat ambiguous due to the limited human experimental evidence of the drug’s effectiveness. However, researchers at Syracuse University tested these queries in the first systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental research on CBD’s effects on pain.

Comparing pure CBD isolate to a placebo drug to reduce pain, the researchers found that CBD did not reduce the amount of pain but instead made the perception of pain less unpleasant for the patient. Other studies have shown that CBD can relieve pain by reducing inflammation, interacting with neurotransmitters, and influencing endocannabinoid receptor activity.