The CBD Oil Craze

Abstract Cannabis contains more than one hundred and twenty distinct chemical compounds known collectively as cannabinoids. One of those canabinoids is cannabidol, commonly abbreviated and referred to as CBD. While CBD has no psychoactive properties, it may be beneficial for treating specific medical conditions including chronic pain. CBD can be used orally or topically. In its topical form, CBD is typically added to a carrier oil. Topical applications of CBD oils include the management of pain due to arthritis and inflammation.

Research continues to mount suggesting the additional benefits of oral administration of CBD to treat epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, and anxiety. Because CBD does not produce known side effects, euphoric or otherwise, it has also garnered attention for its relative safety especially vis-a-vis its sister compounds found in cannabis. CBD also presents tremendous opportunities for market-related growth in the budding international cannabis industry. Introduction Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the many unique chemical compounds found in cannabis or hemp.

Unlike its more famous cousin tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD has no psychoactive properties. While CBD may seem to take the fun out of cannabis, the compound has recently been isolated, tested, and marketed on its own as a substance that may be useful for treating various medical conditions. In fact, its lack of psychoactive properties makes it a far more versatile substance than THC and possibly safer to use without any known side effects.

Before it can be touted as a miracle drug, though, CBD needs to continue undergoing systematic clinical trials on human subjects. A progressive legal environment and the promise of economic gain from promoting CBD products on the market have together ensured ongoing and fruitful research into its health and therapeutic benefits. The Legal Environment Cannabis is legal for medical or recreational purposes in dozens of states and counting, as well as being legal for recreational use across the border in Canada.

The increased liberality of cannabis laws has encouraged CBD research and product development. Many states, including a handful of those without legalized recreational cannabis, do tacitly allow for the sale of CBD in spite of its nebulous legal status at the federal level (Rath, n.d.). Currently, only Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming have laws that specifically mention CBD (Thompson, 2018).

More robust and transparent laws would ensure that CBD products would be safe and produced with standardized doses. Products containing CBD often have false or misleading labels due to a lack of regulation on the market. This means consumers may not receive the dosage actually printed on the package and could even be taking products containing THC in them (Thompson, 2018). The FDA has specifically approved only the pharmaceutical brand of CBD-containing medication Epidiolex.

In fact, the only medical condition for which Epidiolex can be legally prescribed throughout the United States is for Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) and Dravet syndrome (DS). Both LGS and DS are forms of childhood epilepsy (Johnson, 2018). Other than for these rare conditions, the FDA has not yet approved CBD at all and the supplement remains technically illegal except in states with legal medical or recreational marijuana. However, CBD is typically derived from hemp and not its narcotic cousin cannabis.

Since hemp itself does not contain THC, it is likely that CBD will become legal nationally before long. A pending revision to the national Farm Bill would in fact legalize hemp and CBD (Rath, n.d.). Until then, the legal status of CBD products varies from state to state.

States with legal (medical or recreational) cannabis are by far the easiest—and of course the safest—places to purchase CBD products either in person or online.  Forms of CBD and Types of Products on the Market CBD has been successfully isolated and the extract can be used in an infinite variety of products. The most common among them include capsules, pills, tinctures/extracts, infusions (such as tea), topical creams, ointments, gels, or oils, and also edible products like candies, chocolates, cookies, honey, or beverages.

As with THC-containing cannabis products, it is also possible to purchase smokable or vapable forms of CBD and CBD oil. Dosage and method of administration varies considerably from brand to brand and product to product; therefore, it is necessary to consult with a specialist or a physician prior to self-administration. CBD can be found in small-production cottage industry products like soaps, body creams, and bath bars, as well as in larger-scale production. The latter presents opportunities for greater product standardization and industry oversight, as well as being attractive for investors.

Some of the largest CBD companies now include Charlotte’s Web and Green Roads. Reputable suppliers are more likely to use standardized extraction methods and procedures, as well as to grow help without the use of harmful pesticides that could counteract the health benefits of the CBD. Moroever, larger CBD companies can also afford laboratories and rigorous product testing. Charlotte’s Web The company Charlotte’s Web has become one of the most renowned of all the CBD purveyors.

Charlotte’s Web sells all sorts of products containing CBD, including capsules, oil, gummies and other edibles, and CBD products for pets. Green Roads Another notable CBD company is Green Roads. Green Roads sells an array of topical and edible CBD products for humans and pets. Medical Conditions Medical conditions that may respond well to the oral or topical application of CBD include inflammation, chronic pain, and anxiety. Most of the controlled clinical trials using CBD have been done on animals, and not on human subjects.

The lack of abundant scientific support for the use of CBD to treat specific medical conditions warrants some precautions when purchasing products. Anecdotal evidence, however, does abound regarding the benefits of CBD. Arthritis One of the most common uses of CBD is to treat arthritis. Topical CBD products like CBD oils are used to treat arthritis, especially since some preliminary research has shown that CBD oil is effective topically for pain and/or inflammation relief.

While most of the studies done so far have not involved human subjects, future research may yield promising results. Oral administration of CBD, particularly when combined with THC, has also shown some promise in the long-term management of arthritis-related pain (Kubala, 2018). According to the Arthritis Foundation, low doses of CBD seem to work best for arthritis pain management (Rath, n.d.).  Pain Management (Chronic and Acute Pain) The chronic pain associated with arthritis is not the only type of chronic pain linked to inflammation.

A large number of studies—including systematic reviews—have been done on the potential for CBD to alleviate chronic pain in human subjects. In fact, there is already “substantial evidence that cannabis is an effective treatment for chronic pain in adults,” (Johnson, 2018). Other research has shown that CBD “significantly reduced sciatic nerve pain and inflammation,” (Kubala, 2018, p. 1). CBD could also prove helpful for immediate analgesic effects.

For instance, a study done on rats showed that CBD injections reduced the rats’ pain response to a surgical incision (Kubala, 2018). Interestingly, the same set of studies has shown that unlike other pain relief drugs, CBD does not lead to tolerance or dependency/addiction (Johnson, 2018).  Muscle Spasms Because one study showed that CBD may reduce the frequency, intensity, and duration or muscle spasms, it may be useful for people who experience these symptoms acutely or chronically.

People suffering from chronic muscle conditions like multiple sclerosis (MS) could soon find “modest,” albeit meaningful, relief in CBD products (Johnson, 2018). As with arthritis, MS may be more responsive to products that contain a combination of CBD and THC. One brand name pharmaceutical called Sativex contains a combination of THC and CBD and has been approved in some countries—not the United States—for the management of MS-related symptoms including pain and spasm (Kubala, 2018).

Sativex is an oral spray, which has been tested in human trials for MS and also rheumatoid arthritis (Kubala, 2018).  Addiction and Eating Disorders Addiction to any substance can lead to severe mental and physical health problems. CBD can be used in conjunction with other therapeutic interventions to reduce the symptoms of drug withdrawal, thereby limiting the intensity of cravings that could lead to relapse among persons addicted to drugs (Johnson, 2018). CBD may be helpful for any type of substance abuse problem including smoking cessation (Johnson, 2018).

In fact, CBD may also be useful for people with eating disorders because of the fact that the ECS is also involved in appetite regulation (Kubala, 2018). Therefore, compulsive eating, bulimia, and anorexia may be responsive to the use of CBD.  Anxiety and Depression (Mood Disorders) While THC can enhance anxiety symptoms in some people, CBD may help reduce anxiety symptoms. The current range of pharmacological interventions used to treat mood disorders like anxiety and depression is unfortunately problematic.

For example, many patients experience unwanted side effects that can be even worse than the symptoms of the condition. Some pharmaceutical interventions used to treat mood disorders are addictive, too. CBD, on the other hand, offers the potential for a milder approach with few to no side effects and no addictive potential. CBD is still being tested for its efficacy in treating anxiety, depression, and related problems like insomnia (Kubala, 2018).

Psychosis The reduction of psychotic symptoms in patients with or without chronic diseases like schizophrenia is another possible use for CBD, but more research is needed. Seizures/Epilepsy CBD especially shows promise as a treatment for epilepsy, and the only FDA-approved drug containing CBD is one for treating epilepsy.

Memory/Cognition Preliminary research has been done on the potential for CBD to reduce the severity of symptoms associated with cognitive decline, such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (Johnson, 2018).  Acne In part due to its possible anti-inflammatory properties, CBD has been tested for use on acne. One study showed that CBD could also reduce the production of sebum, implicated in the formation of acne; another study showed that CBD also reduces the body’s production of the cytokines implicated in acne inflammation (Kubala, 2018).

Cancer/Chemotherapy Unfortunately, CBD is not a cure-all that blasts tumors on contact. However, some studies are showing that CBD may have some anticancer/tumor reducing qualities—including one in vivo study that showed “CBD inhibited the spread of aggressive breast cancer cells in mice,” (Kubala, 2018, p. 1). In vitro studies have also shown the anti-tumor potential of CBD. Further research on animal subjects showed CBD may “prevent the spread of breast, prostate, brain, colon and lung cancer,” (Kubala, 2018, p.

1).  Moreover, cancer patients may find relief when taking CBD because of the compound’s ability to reduce uncomfortable side effects associated with the disease and also with radiation and chemotherapy. Nausea, vomiting, and pain are all debilitating side effects that CBD may help alleviate.  Cardiovascular Health Indirectly, CBD may be helpful in managing or preventing hypertension and heart disease. The anti-anxiety properties of CBD make it useful for blood pressure reduction in some subjects. In fact, CBD could have a more direct impact on the heart.

Research is showing that CBD may have antioxidant effects that reduce oxidative stress, lower inflammation, and minimize heart cell death (Kubala, 2018). Diabetes CBD for diabetes? Yes. Mice with diabetes were given CBD, resulting in a 56% reduction in measurable symptoms (Kubala, 2018). Side Effects Compared with most prescription drugs and recreational drugs, CBD presents relatively few side effects. Those that can occur tend to be mild, such as feeling sleepy after eating a product containing CBD.

Appetite changes resulting either in weight gain or loss may also result from taking CBD products orally. Rarely, people ingesting CBD will experience digestive upset (Johnson, 2018). Many of the symptoms associated with taking CBD orally may also be related to other ingredients as opposed to the CBD itself. It is unknown whether CBD can interfere with other drugs, or present serious contraindications. Similarly, there is insufficient evidence regarding the long-term health impact of taking CBD products orally or topically.

Smoking CBD products of course carries with it the same risk associated with any other type of smoke inhalation. Because of the paucity of evidence on CBD, and the lack of dosage standardizations, it is not recommended to administer CBD to children, pregnant women, or with persons whose immune system may be compromised. The only exception would be if a doctor were to prescribe the CBD-containing pharmaceutical drug Epidiolex for childhood.