Effects of Cannabidiol—The Good and the Bad

Nearly one third of Americans have tried CBD, and personal accounts (as well as scientific studies) on the use of CBD products have highlighted various CBD oil benefits, including:

The anti-inflammatory properties of CBD may provide relief from chronic pain, neuropathic pain, and inflammation.

Cannabidiol may lessen feelings of nausea and may improve appetite.

CBD may also strengthen the immune system.

Many people seek out CBD oil for anxiety since Cannabidiol has displayed calming effects that can reduce stress and help manage anxiety disorders.

Clinical trials have shown that CBD is an anticonvulsant that may aid in the reduction in seizure frequency and severity.

Neuroprotective properties that may help prevent against neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease.

Other potential wellness advantages exist beyond this limited list, these are simply the most common and well-documented examples of the health effects of CBD. The benefits of CBD oil seem to be wide-reaching, although more clinical research is needed to know more about the cannabinoid’s long term effects.

Side Effects of CBD Oil

There are few CBD oil side effects that users report, although experts do note that some can arise from its use. Here are a few potential side effects that you should always be on the lookout for if you’re using CBD:

Diarrhea

Nausea

Tiredness/Fatigue

Changes in appetite

Changes in weight

Dry mouth

Low blood pressure

Negative CBD side effects tend to be rare, and CBD doesn’t seem to have side effects of serious magnitude. Most of these adverse effects can be avoided by administering the right CBD oil dosage.

Additionally, you should take into account any prescription medications that you are currently taking. Seek medical advice from your doctor if you are unsure about how CBD oil may interact with a particular drug.

Read More about the risks associated with CBD

Is Cannabidiol a Form of Medical Cannabis?

The Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated CBD oil for the treatment of any medical condition. There is only one FDA-approved CBD drug, Epidiolex, which is prescribed for the treatment of dravet syndrome and lennox-gastaut syndrome. These are two rare forms of pediatric epilepsy that are difficult to treat as patients with these conditions may not respond well to traditional seizure treatments.

Epidiolex was developed by GW Pharmaceuticals, a UK-based health care company, and the drug was approved in June of 2018 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In clinical trials for the use of Epidiolex, trial participants displayed a significant decrease of convulsive seizures when compared to placebo over a 14-week treatment period.

Another prescription drug derived from cannabis extracts is Sativex (nabiximols), which is a mouth spray that includes two chemical compounds that are found in cannabis plants: delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). Sativex was approved in 2010 as a botanical drug in the U.K. to help reduce spasticity. With that being said, Sativex is not currently approved for use in the United States.

CBD products that are derived from industrial hemp strains of cannabis plants contain little to no trace of THC and they are widely available. They also do not require a prescription like medical marijuana or other drugs like Epidiolex.

Related: High-CBD Strains

How Does Cannabidiol Work?

The human body is equipped with an endocannabinoid system that helps maintain homeostasis by providing support for many bodily functions such as mood, pain sensation, stress, appetite, and sleep.

Phytocannabinoids within CBD flower from hemp plants interact with cannabinoid receptors in our endocannabinoid system, which can positively impact your health.

Related: Will CBD show up on a drug test?

The benefit of introducing CBD oil into your body is that it can help your body better regulate itself—or achieve more balance. These benefits are indirect, meaning the health advantages are not a result of the cannabinoid but rather what your body is empowered to do when its regulatory system is fully activated.

In addition to the CBD, hemp oil extracts may also contain terpenes, flavonoids, and other cannabinoids like CBG or CBN. All of these additional cannabis plant compounds work together to enhance the effects of CBD, which is known as the entourage effect. However, not all CBD products are made from whole plant extracts. To reap the most wellness advantages, most people find that full-spectrum CBD oils are the most effective since they contain a wide range of beneficial plant parts.

Read More about how CBD oil and hemp oil are different

How to Use CBD Oil