Many of us, especially those who suffer from chronic pain, excessive anxiety, cancer-related symptoms, and difficult-to-treat neurological illnesses, would welcome a miracle cure-all these days. It’s no surprise, then, that CBD oil appears in our search engine results. Can we, however, rely on Cannabidiol to have the desired effect on our symptoms? Paul Terpeluk, DO, an internal medicine specialist, explains why Cannabidiol may not be as helpful as we’d want.
What Exactly Is CBD?
Cannabidiol, or CBD, is one of over 100 chemical components present in the plant Cannabis Sativa. The main psychoactive ingredient in pot that gives you a euphoric high is THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), not Cannabidiol (cannabidiol).
CBD is derived from cannabis plants, a type of cannabidiol plant that contains minimal THC and thus does not cause intoxication. Cannabidiol is purely a product that combines CBD extract with an oil, such as coconut oil, for topical application.
It’s vital to note that the manufacture and sale of Cannabidiol products in the United States have been permitted on a federal level since the passage of the 2018 Agricultural Adjustment Act, as provided as they contained less than.3% THC. However, some state laws still make it illegal.
Furthermore, according to Dr. Terpeluk, the market has become oversaturated with Cannabidiol products ranging from bath products to gummies, creams, lotions, tinctures, and oil, none of which are FDA-approved and may not even be 100 percent pure CBD. The FDA has only authorized one cannabis-derived and three cannabis-related items as of half 2021, all of which may be obtained safely with just a prescription from a certified healthcare provider.
“The large percentage of CBD products are not subject to regulatory oversight,” says Dr. Terpeluk. “Most CBD that you’re buying is tainted with the other cannabinoids, including THC unless they have a strong marketing strategy and quality control that states it’s 100 percent CBD oil.”
What Is One of The CBD’s Advantages?
However, some studies have shown that the benefits of cannabidiol may have a wide range of favorable impacts. It’s essential to take into account our body’s endocannabinoid, a complicated series of enzymes, neurotransmitters, and receptors that plays a central role in the growth of our nervous system, to comprehend those benefits fully. Pain, motor function, memory, hunger, inflammation, and other processes are all regulated by this system. We may better understand how CBD affects a range of illnesses and disorders if we investigate its effects in these particular places.
Aids In The Treatment Of Neurological Disorders
The FDA has licensed Epidiolex as a therapy for various seizure disorders, including the rare Duvet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. According to several case studies, CBD may also help people tolerate anti-epileptic medicines. “With epilepsy, a threshold in your nervous system becomes excitatory, and you have a seizure,” Dr. Terpeluk explains. “CBD helps to raise that bar.”
According to other research, CBD possesses neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory qualities and may effectively treat indications of multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. More research is needed, though, as many experts believe that a combination of Cannabidiol and other cannabinoids, rather than just CBD, could help alleviate many of these symptoms.
It Could Help With Pain Alleviation
CBD may help to alleviate pain caused by inflammation, arthritis, and nerve damage by acting with neurotransmitters in the central nervous system (peripheral neuropathy). After applying topical CBD oil in a four-week experiment, people with a nerve injury in the bottom half of their bodies observed a significant decrease in severe, stabbing pain.
Dr. Terpeluk explains, “All of our various anti-pain medicines influence some component of our painful system, whether it’s Tylenol, Aspirin, morphine, or opioids.” “No one wants to become addicted to a drug, so finding a non-addictive cannabinoid that can inhibit pain would have been the Holy Grail for chronic pain patients.”
Still, he warns, there’s a lot more research to be done, including if CBD has any long-term negative consequences when it’s used for pain management.
“If you take it uncontrolled, you don’t know how many are in there, as well as you don’t know how it impacts you from outside your specific pain,” Dr. Terpeluk says.
It May Aid In The Treatment Of Anxiety Or Depression
Anxiety and mood disorders, such as depressive episodes or post-traumatic stress disorder, can significantly impact your daily life and lead to physical and emotional stress, leading to other underlying medical conditions such as sleep problems, hypertension, chronic pain, and heart disease. It’s still too early to know the entire extent of CBD’s effects on anxiety and depression, but various research seems to point to varying beneficial outcomes. Researchers discovered that a 300-mg intake of Cannabidiol significantly decreased social anxiety during a simulated speaking in a public test in a trial of 57 males who took either oral Cannabidiol or even a placebo 90 minutes just before the test.
While there is a range of therapies for anxiety and depression available, including talk therapy, counseling, and prescription drugs, Dr. Terpeluk believes the essential thing is to get to the base of the pressure you’re experiencing.
“Rather than struggling to figure out where the medications can alleviate anxiety, it’s better to look at what’s producing it in your life,” says Dr. Terpeluk.
It Could Aid In The Treatment of Cancer-Related Symptoms
CBD may help Chemotherapy-induced nausea, vomiting, and weight loss. The Fda granted three cannabinoid medications to help people with AIDS manage their symptoms and enhance their appetite. These medications contain some THC and synthesized THC and are therefore not solely CBD-based.
However, some research suggests that CBD can help shrink tumors and slow the spread of tumor tissue in skin cancer, breast, prostate cancer, and other cancers. More human clinical trials, like with other research areas, are needed to fully understand the impact of CBD on various types of cancer.
What Are The Risks Or Adverse Effects Of CBD?
Dr. Terpeluk says there’s no way to know the purity of Cannabidiol and other products if you buy them online or by a local vendor because they could be contaminated with other cannabinoids like the harmful delta-8 or THC.
“It’s a little enigmatic.” “It’s not as safe as you assume,” Dr. Terpeluk warns. “If you consume Cannabidiol because you bought it on the street, you have a higher chance of turning a drug test good for Tetrahydrocannabinol because it may contain THC.”
CBD can interact with various drugs, including pain relievers, antidepressants, antipsychotics, and more. It could potentially have several negative consequences, such as:
- Coordination problems.
- Dizziness.
- Drowsiness or exhaustion.
- Diarrhea.
What is the best piece of advice? Before using Cannabis oil or other Cannabis products, consult your healthcare professional to see whether they are safe for you and whether they will interact negatively with any medicines you are already taking.
