Can CBD Oil Help Improve Your Health?

CBD oil has been studied for its potential role in relieving the symptoms of many common health conditions, such as anxiety and neurological disorders. In addition, it can benefit heart health and help alleviate certain types of pain. CBD is often extracted from the cannabis sativa plant in the form of an oil and mixed with an inert carrier oil such as hemp seed oil for consumption. In fact, 60% of adults in the United States claim to have consumed CBD before, with 55% of them using CBD oils and tinctures specifically, according to a recent Forbes Health survey.Three well-examined studies provide the basis to support the FDA's decision.

In these trials, 516 patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome or Dravet syndrome received Epidiolex or a placebo. Epidiolex, when taken together with other prescription medications, decreased the frequency of participants' seizures compared to placebo.In another small study, 13 patients with type 2 diabetes who were not being treated with insulin received both CBD and a placebo (instead of insulin). Researchers found that CBD reduced their levels of resistin (which causes insulin resistance, the protein that regulates sugar levels) and increases their levels of glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (a hormone that ensures sufficient insulin release from digested foods) compared to their reference values before they started the test. These results suggest that CBD could be a natural treatment for diabetes by helping the body regulate insulin-related hormone levels.The results were interesting, but not entirely conclusive.

On the one hand, patients treated with CBD did not experience much change in pain compared to patients treated with placebo. On the other hand, there were statistically significant differences between the group that received the 250 milligram dose and the placebo group when measuring the average weekly improvement of their worst pain levels and their physical function score on the WOMAC (arthritis index of the universities of Western Ontario and McMaster). In addition, men appeared to benefit from CBD more significantly than women in this test.Bindiya Gandhi is a dual board-certified comprehensive and family medicine physician with experience in functional and holistic medicine. She is the medical director of Revive Atlanta MD, a comprehensive clinic focused on total body healing, including reducing inflammation, improving hormonal imbalance, helping women get pregnant, resistance to weight loss, chronic stress, gut health, and more.

Before trying CBD oil, it is important to talk to a health professional to assess safety and avoid potentially harmful interactions.While CBD is being studied as a treatment for a wide range of conditions, such as Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, diabetes, multiple sclerosis and anxiety, research supports that its benefits remain limited. While CBD may not cause cravings like using marijuana, it could stimulate appetite in a different way. Better known as CBD, it is one of more than 100 chemical compounds called cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant, Cannabis sativa. According to the American Sleep Association, CBD influences the brain's endocannabinoid system several times to promote sleep.While some evidence suggests that CBD may be useful for certain aspects of health, dosage varies widely in research studies.

CBD also has antioxidant properties and has been linked to helping to lose memory and slow the deterioration of several areas of the brain.Research investigating the effects of CBD on certain conditions is ongoing, and much remains to be learned about its potential uses. When applied topically or consumed through smoke inhalation or food consumption, CBD interacts with neuroreceptors in the endocannabinoid system which sends signals between cells to help regulate movement, mood, homeostasis and the immune system.A recent study of 84 CBD products purchased online showed that more than a quarter of them contained less CBD than what was labeled. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that current CBD products could contain potentially toxic compounds and may not be safe for certain groups such as pregnant women.They say that its anti-inflammatory properties could protect the heart as inflammation is associated with coronary heart disease, high blood pressure and strokes. If you have type 2 diabetes, CBD may help and it seems to already be helping many people with this disease.

CBD oil has shown promise as a treatment for some mental health disorders such as anxiety disorders leading many people living with these conditions to become interested in this natural approach.From preventing cancer cell growth* to controlling cognitive disorders, CBD has more and more proven benefits.

Tonia Kilcullen
Tonia Kilcullen

Freelance social media practitioner. Lifelong writer. Typical social media specialist. Award-winning internet advocate. Devoted beer scholar.