You've probably noticed the skyrocketing popularity of CBD over the past few years. It's a legal and potentially safer alternative to cannabis products that may provide various health benefits.

CBD is a compound found naturally in the cannabis plant, but it doesn't make you high like other cannabis products that contain THC.

The Difference Between CBD and THC

THC is the cannabinoid found in cannabis plants responsible for the “high” feeling when consumed. Some people find the effects of THC uncomfortable, even when medically prescribed.

CBD is also a cannabinoid - primarily produced from hemp plants. CBD, unlike THC, is non-psychoactive and is not believed to alter brain functionality. CBD may help combat stress, anxiety, inflammation, and more.

Related: Explained: Cannabinoids and Terpenes

Offset Anxiety and Depression

According to the WHO, there are around 280 million people worldwide that suffer from depression. A large percentage of them also experience anxiety. Both of these disorders can quickly cause someone's quality of life to take a downturn. However, some medical researchers have found that using CBD can help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression in mice.

Treat Select Epilepsy Syndromes

In some cases, CBD can be helpful in treating epileptic seizures.In 2018, the FDA approved the brand name Epidiolex, which is CBD, to treat two rare forms of epilepsy: Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.

Backing the FDA's decision are three well-vetted studies. In those studies, 516 patients with one of those two syndromes received Epidiolex or a placebo. The group that received the prescription CBD medication saw a decrease in the frequency of their seizures compared to the people taking the placebo.

Reduce PTSD Symptoms

A small study in 2018 monitored 11 people with PTSD while they received CBD alongside their routine psychiatric care for two months. 10 of those 11 people saw a decrease in their symptoms, and the researchers said they tolerated the CBD well.

Margaret Rajnic, a doctor experienced with CBD and medical cannabis, believes that CBD can help with PTSD patients' anxiety but emphasizes the importance of using it in tandem with therapy.

Treat Opioid Addiction

Some studies, including both human and animal clinical trials, suggest that CBD can help treat people dependent on opioids.

In one study, researchers treated people with a heroin used disorder with CBD. Over a week, it significantly reduced their cue-induced cravings, resting heart rate, withdrawal anxiety, and salivary cortisol levels. The researchers saw no adverse effects.

Alleviate ALS Symptoms

ALS is a disease that results in loss of muscle control due to nerve cell damage in the brain and spinal cord. There is no known cure and only two FDA-approved medications to treat symptoms of ALS.

However, research suggests that people with ALS might benefit from the Entourage effect. This effect happens when patients take a combination of CBD and THC.A 2019 study found that people with varying degrees of ALS reported that they experienced some relief with the treatment. People with moderate and severe spasticity saw more significant benefits than those with mild symptoms.

Related: Featured Herbie CBD Reviews

Relieve Unmanageable Pain

Back in 2005, Canada approved Sativex, an oral spray made with equal amounts of THC and CBD. Originally, it was approved for treating pain related to multiple sclerosis, but two years later, they also approved it for use in cancer patients that could not find relief from other medications.

During that time, and to this day, studies in the US continue to find indicators that CBD is an effective treatment and other chronic pain scenarios. For example, in a 2020 study, researchers found that topical CBD gave patients with symptomatic peripheral neuropathy significant relief in their cold, itchy sensation, and intense, sharp pains. No participants in that study reported any adverse side effects.

Ease Diabetic Complications

In a small study, researchers treated 13 patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and were not on an insulin treatment. They found that CBD increased their levels of insulinotropic peptide, which is a hormone that ensures the sufficient release of insulin from food. They also found that CBD decreased their resistin levels, which is the hormone that causes resistance to insulin. The study's results suggest that CBD could be a treatment for diabetes and help the body regulate those important hormone levels.

Protect Against Neurological Disease

Both clinical and preclinical studies have shown that CBD has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Some researchers believe these characteristics can provide significant protection against different pathological disorders.

Some preclinical studies show that CBD can produce positive effects against Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease. Researchers also tested CBD against cerebral ischemia and Huntington's disease, but they did not note any significant effects. Most researchers believe that we still need further clinical studies to confirm CBD's use as a treatment for these disorders.

Inhibit Arthritis Symptoms

A study from 2006 found that Sativex promoted significant improvements in pain management and quality of sleep for patients with rheumatoid arthritis. It involved 58 patients and found that CBD was effective for relieving pain and suppressing disease activity.

A study from 2018 researched synthetic CBD gel and its ability to treat localized pain in patients with knee problems due to osteoarthritis. While the results were extremely interesting, they were not entirely conclusive. Some patients did experience significant pain relief, but others did not. Interestingly, the men in the study seem to benefit more from CBD than the women.

Reduce Blood Pressure

High blood pressure can cause a variety of cardiovascular diseases, heart attacks, and strokes. A 2017 study that consisted of nine men with high blood pressure found that a single dose of CBD lowered blood pressure both at rest and under stress.Another 2017 study with mice concluded that CBD could significantly reduce increases in heart rate and blood pressure due to stress.

Conclusion

Researchers are always conducting new studies on the health benefits of CBD. Stay updated with Herbie!

Looking for the best natural CBD products? Come stop by our shop at Herbie and see why our customers say that Herbie CBD is improving their lives!

Related: CBD FAQs