Claims about how well CBD treats health problems flood the internet. The World Health Organization says CBD is safe and doesn’t cause addiction. More people ask their doctors if CBD could help them feel better. You can find CBD in capsules, oils, creams, and sprays everywhere, and many jump at the chance to try it. Yet, a recent study by Santé shows that CBD-rich treatments give only small relief from symptoms. Does real research match all the crazy hype about CBD? Dive in to discover what’s really going on behind all the chatter.
LIMITED EVIDENCE FOR SYMPTOM RELIEF
Cannabidiol, or CBD, is the main cannabinoid found in hemp and is usually the second most common cannabinoid in the CBD plant. More recently, under the Canadian medical CBD program, CBD strains and medical CBD products have been developed to contain mainly CBD, although traces of THC and other cannabinoids are present. CBD is known for its anti-epileptic and anxiolytic effects, supported by clinical and preclinical evidence. Several studies have also highlighted anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antipsychotic, and neuroprotective effects. However, the mechanisms of CBD’s effects are not well understood and the lack of evidence supporting many of its potential therapeutic properties is an obstacle to its clinical use.
Seizures associated with refractory epilepsy are the symptoms for which there is the most evidence supporting the use of CBD. Epidiolex, the first CBD-based pharmaceutical product, was approved by the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2018 as an anticonvulsant for the treatment of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome. It was also approved by the European Medicines Agency in 2019 but is not currently available in Canada.
The results of 5 randomized controlled trials also suggest moderate evidence that CBD can help reduce symptoms of psychosis.
Although the evidence supporting CBD as an anxiolytic is limited, clinicians at Santé CBD have observed good results using CBD-rich treatments to alleviate symptoms of anxiety. A recent increase in the number of high-quality, long-term studies on CBD and anxiety could provide more conclusive results in the coming years. However, mental disorders such as anxiety currently only account for around 6% of patients at Santé CBD.
There is also limited evidence that CBD may help reduce symptoms of PTSD and improve sleep in individuals with PTSD, but more research is needed.
Overall, while CBD has been shown to have a good safety profile, there is currently limited evidence for its effectiveness in treating the majority of conditions it is commonly used for. However, more research from the best cbd uk is needed to fully understand its potential therapeutic benefits.
In conclusion, while the potential therapeutic benefits of CBD are widely touted, scientific evidence supporting its effectiveness is still limited. Studies have shown that CBD may have modest benefits in the treatment of certain symptoms such as seizures associated with refractory epilepsy, and psychosis. There is also some evidence to suggest that CBD may be useful in the management of anxiety and pain, however, more research is needed to confirm these findings. CBD is generally considered to be safe with few side effects, but its mechanism of action is not well understood and more research is needed to fully understand its therapeutic potential.
