CBD Benefits and Its Side Effects

Effects of CBD on Various Conditions

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a natural extract that has significant effects on many ailments. 104 kinds of natural active compounds can be extracted from cannabis, the most important ones are CBD and THC. THC can cause euphoria and hallucinations, while CBD is not psychoactive. Cannabis can be roughly divided into recreational marijuana and industrial hemp.
Recreational marijuana is rich in CBD and THC. THC content is usually between 2-20% and it is a highly regulated plant in countries around the world. The THC content in industrial hemp is less than 0.3%, which can be legally grown in most states in the United States. 
CBD oil is an essential oil extracted from hemp. In the past few years, in the United States and Europe, because a large number of patients with incurable diseases have sought medical treatment and regained their health by taking it, it has become more and more popular, and even many Hollywood stars have become its fans. 

1. Pain relief

In 2900 BC, marijuana began to be used for pain relief [1]. Scientific research has found that it is mainly CBD and other ingredients that work. A special system in the human body called the endocannabinoid system is responsible for the regulation and control of sleep, appetite and the immune system [2]. Cannabinoids naturally secreted in the human body react with the human nervous system [3]. By interacting with cannabinoid receptors, CBD can reduce inflammation and chronic pain [4].

The results of the experiments on mice showed that the mice injected with CBD did not respond as much to the wound pain. In another experiment, mice given orally administered CBD also had significantly reduced sciatica and inflammation [5, 6].
In a clinical study of 47 patients with multiple sclerosis, patients who took CBD drugs for one month had very significant improvements in pain, walking ability, and muscle spasms [7].
In another study of 58 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, patients taking CBD had significantly reduced pain during exercise and rest, and significantly improved sleep quality [8].
CBD also has an effect on difficult-to-treat fibromyalgia, and a clinical study of 20 chronic patients afflicted by fibromyalgia showed a 30% reduction in pain in patients taking CBD [9].

2. Improve sleep quality and prevent insomnia

The older you are, the less sustainable deep sleep time you have. Yet sleep is the most important human activity, and during deep sleep, our brains rest and flush out toxins. Therefore, sleep quality has a strong role in preventing age-related diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and glaucoma. At present, most people rely on sleeping pills to fall asleep, but sleeping pills are highly dependent and have many side effects. CBD has good sedative and sedative effects, which can reduce the time of low-quality sleep and prolong the time of deep sleep [10].
In a clinical study, 47 patients with anxiety disorders and 25 patients with sleep disorders took CBD. In the first month, anxiety of 57 patients (79.2%) was significantly relieved, and sleep quality of 48 patients (66.7%) was significantly improved [10].


3. Relief of Anxiety and Depression

Anxiety and depression are the most common mental health disorders and have a great impact on daily work and life. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies both depression and anxiety disorders as disabilities. Among all types of disabilities, depression is the most common type, and anxiety disorders ranks sixth [11].
Anxiety and depression are often treated with drugs developed and manufactured by Big Pharma, but these drugs are prone to side effects such as tiredness, irritability, insomnia, sexual dysfunction, and headaches [12]. More seriously, Benzodiazepine (BZD, the most common hypnotic and sedative) drugs are addictive and lead to cognitive decline [13].
CBD essential oil has significant effects on anxiety and depression. In recent years, more and more people in the West have begun to take this natural extract.
In one clinical study, 24 people with social anxiety disorder took 600 mg of CBD, or a placebo, before public speaking. Those who took CBD essential oil showed less anxiety, cognitive impairment, and less discomfort during speech than those who took a placebo [14].
CBD essential oil has also been used to treat insomnia and anxiety in children suffering from stress-induced stress disorder with no adverse effects [15].
CBD also has strong antidepressant effects in several scientific experiments on animals [16, 17].
The anti-anxiety and depressive effects of CBD are related to the effects of serotonin in the body, a neurotransmitter that controls mood and social behavior.

Summary: CBD has been shown to be effective in reducing anxiety and depression in both human and animal studies.

Fourth, can reduce cancer-related symptoms

CBD can also effectively reduce cancer and the side effects caused by the treatment of cancer, such as nausea, vomiting and pain.
In one scientific study, CBD and THC were administered to 177 patients suffering from cancer-related pain. These people took common pain medication that had no effect. Among them, patients who took natural extracts containing CBD and THC had more significant pain relief than patients who only took THC [18].
Cancer chemotherapy patients are most likely to have nausea and vomiting, and CBD has a very significant effect on this [19].
Often times, conventional drugs are ineffective against the side effects caused by chemotherapy. In a scientific study, 16 patients undergoing chemotherapy, oral CBD and THC (1:1 ratio), the effect of inhibiting nausea and vomiting is significantly more than that of conventional western medicine [20].
In some laboratory studies, CBD has even been found to have cancer-fighting properties. For example, an experiment found that concentrated CBD can kill human breast cancer cells [21]. Another experiment in white mice found that CBD could inhibit the spread of malignant breast cancer cells [22]. Unfortunately, these two experiments are only studies in test tubes and animals, and more experiments may be needed for the actual effect on the human body.
Summary: CBD can be effective in reducing side effects caused by cancer and cancer treatments. It even has an effect on beating cancer, hopefully more scientific research will confirm this.


5. Eliminate acne

9% of people in the world have acne and acne problems [23]. There are many factors that can cause acne problems, including genetics, bacteria, infection, and excess sebum production [24, 25]. Scientific research has found that CBD can fight infection [26] and inhibit sebum secretion, thus eliminating acne and acne [27].

6. Neuroprotective effect

Researchers have found that CBD can interact with the endocannabinoid system and other brain signaling systems in the human body, so it has a positive effect on those patients with neurological disorders.
There has been a lot of research on the use of CBD to treat epilepsy (sheep horn) and multiple sclerosis. In particular, the treatment of epilepsy has been developed into a drug and approved by the FDA.
Sativex, a spray containing CBD and THC, can safely and effectively reduce muscle spasms in people with multiple sclerosis. In one clinical study, 207 of 276 patients who took Sativex reduced muscle spasm symptoms [28].
In another clinical study, 214 patients with severe epilepsy took CBD oil, and their seizures were reduced by 36.5% [29]. Studies have also found that CBD oil can significantly reduce seizures in children with Dravidian syndrome, a complex form of childhood epilepsy [30]. However, among these clinical patients, there were some negative reactions of convulsions, fever or diarrhea.
The effect of CBD on some other neurological diseases is also obvious. For example, several studies have found that CBD can make Parkinson's patients sleep better and significantly improve their quality of life [31, 32].
Test-tube studies and animal studies in the lab have also found that CBD can fight infections and prevent Alzheimer’s disease [33]. In a long-term study, researchers administered CBD to mice with Alzheimer's and found that it effectively prevented cognitive decline [34].

Summary: CBD has significant effects on epilepsy, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's.

7. Heart Health

In recent years, many scientific studies have shown that CBD has great benefits for the heart and cardiovascular system, including reducing high blood pressure. Hypertension is prone to stroke, myocardial infarction, and metabolic problems [35].
A clinical trial of 10 healthy men found that taking 600mg of CBD oil compared to a placebo reduced blood pressure. In the experiment, these men were given a stress test that tended to increase blood pressure, but those who took CBD oil once had significantly lower blood pressure increases [36]. CBD itself can lower stress and anxiety, which should be why it can help lower blood pressure.
In addition, multiple experiments in animals have found that CBD has strong antioxidant and stress-reducing effects, so it can effectively reduce heart disease-related infections and cell death [37]. One study gave CBD to rats with diabetes and heart disease, and CBD reduced oxidative stress and prevented heart damage.

Summary: CBD has multiple heart benefits, including lowering blood pressure and preventing heart damage.

8. Other benefits

Scientific research has also found that CBD has the following benefits:
1. Anti-psychotic diseases, such as schizophrenia and other brain-related disorders [38].
2. Anti-addiction. CBD helps fight drug addiction. Experiments in rats found that CBD can reduce dependence on morphine and heroin [39].
3. Anti-tumor. Test-tube and animal experiments have shown that CBD has antitumor effects, including breast, prostate, brain, intestinal, and lung-related cancers [40].
4. Diabetes. In experiments on diabetic rats, CBD can reduce diabetes-related symptoms by 56% and effectively reduce inflammation [41].

side effect

Although a large number of experiments have shown that CBD can be safely absorbed by the human body, and the World Health Organization has also recognized it as a safe ingredient[42], there may still be side effects for a small number of people. The side effects summarized in the scientific literature include[43]:
1. Diarrhea
2. Affect appetite
3. Cause tiredness
CBD also reacts with some types of western medicines. Therefore, if you are taking other medicines, it is best to consult your doctor if there is a problem with the combination.


In conclusion

, there is a wealth of scientific research and practical evidence that CBD essential oil has significant effects on many health problems, including anxiety, depression, acne, and heart disease. For cancer patients, it can effectively reduce pain and cancer-related symptoms.
Overall, CBD is safe and has few side effects.
There is still a lot of research going on in the scientific community. In recent years, China has gradually approved a number of companies to conduct related research and development, planting and application. It is believed that more and more CBD-based drugs will be launched in the future.

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