What Is CBD Oil, Know Its Benefits and Side Effects

Today CBD oil, or Cannabidiol is used to treat a lot of symptoms; and may have some potential health benefits. However there are also some risks or side effects of CBD oil and that is why the use of this oil is quite controversial. Now in America, products containing cannabidiol is legal; however the risk that it might possess is of a real concern.

We will talk more about CBD oil and know about the benefits and side effects of CBD oil.

CBD oil or Cannabidiol, is an abundant cannabinoid chemical present in cannabis or the Marijuana plant.⁽¹⁾ In June 2018, USA’s FDA approved the prescription use of Epidiolex, which is the purified form of Cannabidiol or CBD oil used to treat epilepsy.

CBD oils are actually the oils containing concentrations of CBD. The concentrations and the oils’ uses vary.

Below are some of the benefits of CBD oil.

There are some real promising evidences which suggest that CBD oil might be used to help quit smoking.

In one study that was published in Addictive Behaviours, it was found that those smokers that make use of inhalers that contained CBD, smoked quite fewer cigarettes than usual and they had no more cravings for nicotine.⁽¹⁾

There was also one similar kind of review that was published in Neurotherapeutics and it found that CBD oil may be prove quite promising in treating people having opioid addiction disorders. Researchers have found that CBD reduced some of the noted symptoms, such as mood-related symptoms, anxiety, pain and sleeping issues; which are generally associated with any kind of substance abuse or substance use disorders.

Though more research is still required, however the findings suggest that CBD oil may be beneficial in reducing drug and smoking withdrawal symptoms.

There are some research studies that show that CBD oil may also prove beneficial for cancer patients.

• A review that was published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, has shown that there are some evidence that the spread of cancer was significantly prevented by CBD.⁽²⁾
• The researchers even noted that CBD tends to suppress the cancer cells growth and also promote their destruction.
• It was found in a research that CBD oil triggered breast cancer cell death and even down-regulated the gene that prepares some aggressive strains of breast cancer proliferate.⁽³⁾
• CBD oil even inhibited the invasion and metastasis of lung cancer.⁽⁴⁾

One of the best benefits of CBD oil is that it treats anxiety disorders. It was found that the compound reduced social anxiety by regulating Amygdala or the part of the brain that is known to control fear.⁽⁵⁾

There is a review published in the Neurotherapeutics that found that CBD oil may aid in reducing anxiety in some people having some related disorders such as panic disorder, general anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, post traumatic stress disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder.⁽⁶⁾

CBD in a higher dose, i.e. 160 milligrams, helped participants to sleep, even in the patients who suffered typically from insomnia.⁽⁷⁾

CBD oil also benefits in treating Type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes occurs because of the inflammation occurring when body’s immune system begins to attack the pancreatic cells.

A research that was published in the year 2016, by Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation showed that CBD might ease the pancreatic inflammation and this might be the first step to find a treatment that is CBD- based, for type-1 diabetes.⁽⁸⁾

Acne is a very common skin condition that affects more than 9% of the total population.⁽⁹⁾ Acne is a skin condition that is caused by inflammation and also by the overworked sebaceous glands of your body.

CBD oil is also known to treat acne. This is because of the anti-inflammatory abilities that the CBD oil possess and because of its ability to lower the production of sebum.
A test-tube study showed that CBD oil was able to prevent the cells of the sebaceous gland from secreting more or sebum, able to exert anti-inflammatory actions as well as prevent the inflammatory cytokines’ or the “pro-acne” agents’ activation.⁽¹⁰⁾

One more study also had some same kind of findings that concluded that CBD might be a real efficient and safe way for treating acne, because of its anti-inflammatory properties.⁽¹¹⁾

It must be noted that there is a need of more research or human studies exploring this benefit of CBD.

Another benefit of CBD oil is that it might benefit in treating Alzheimer’s disease. CBD oil is also known to benefit patients with Alzheimer’s disease, especially if they suffer from early stages of the disease.

One more benefit of CBD oil is that it also relieves pain. There are studies that found that CBD might help in reducing chronic pain by impacting the activity of the endocannabinoid receptor, reducing the chronic inflammation and interacting with our neurotransmitters.⁽¹²⁾

It is believed that CBD oil could be a natural alternative to OTC medications for relieving pain and stiffness, including the condition of chronic pain.

CBD oil can also have tremendous heart health benefits. There has been recent research that showed there is a link between CBD and several heart health benefits and benefits to the circulatory system, which include its ability to lower the high blood pressure.

In a study 10 healthy men were treated with single dose of 600 milligrams of CBD oil and it was found that it reduced the resting blood pressure, as compared to the placebo. The same study even gave the participating men stress tests that usually increase the blood pressure. However, it was found interestingly that the one dose of CBD resulted in the men to experience a smaller increase in their blood pressure that they would normally respond to these tests.⁽¹³⁾

Researchers of the study suggested that the anxiety and stress-reducing ability of CBD oil are responsible for this ability to help it lower high blood pressure.

CBD oil is also known to treat epilepsy. Clinical trials have shown than CBD is very much effective in treating specific types of epilepsy.⁽¹⁴⁾ There is even growing evidence that suggest it could even help some more types of epilepsy; however; it is essential to have further research so as to completely understand the safe as well as optimal dosing of the CBD.

Researchers are studying the CBD oil’s effect on several types of neuropsychiatric disorders. According to the authors of a 2014 review, CBD has got anti-seizure properties and has got a low risk of side effects on patients suffering from epilepsy.⁽¹⁵⁾

Findings have suggested that CBD oil may even treat several complications that are associated with epilepsy; like neurodegeneration, neuronal injury, as well as specific types of psychiatric diseases.

One more study that was published in the Current Pharmaceutical Design, also found CBD oil may have effects similar to those that of some antipsychotic medications, and that it may even provide an effective and safe treatment for those patients having Schizophrenia. However, it is essential to have further research.

In general CBD is well tolerated.⁽¹⁶⁾ Some individuals report that CBD oil make them experience some kinds of side effects, such as it makes them too much sleepy and also reduces blood pressure. It must also be noted that some people might notice dry skin after the use of CBD oil.

However, it was shown by a thorough review that CBD does not produce any side effect. The review found that only extremely high chronic regular dose of CBD affected the liver metabolism as well as some fertility measures.⁽¹⁷⁾

It must be noted that CBD oil might interact with some kinds of medicine, such as those of the anti-epileptic medications. In case you are taking any drugs or medicine and are willing to use CBD oil, it is strictly recommended that you talk to your physician before using the same. This is because, in a study it was found, children having refractory epilepsy who were treated with CBD, experienced an aggravation of sleepiness, seizures, irritability, and some digestive disturbances.

It is easy to use CBD oil in excess. Thus, it is very much important for you to begin with a low dose of CBD at first.

So by now we are well aware about some of the wonderful benefits of CBD oil. However, there might also be some risk or side effects linked with this compound. So, it is important for you to consult with your doctor before using CBD oil.

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