CBD and epilepsy.

Alexis Arzimanoglou's article "Epilepsy and cannabidiol: a guide to treatment" provides a detailed analysis of the use of cannabidiol in the treatment of epilepsy. The first CBD-based medicine approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was Epidiolex, a CBD. Doctors prescribe Epidiolex to patients who experience seizures due to Lennox-Gastrault or Dravet syndrome, rare types of epilepsy.

Before the FDA approved Epidiolex for the treatment of these two diseases, it carried out extensive human trials. According to an article published in the journal Molecules, scientists do not know exactly how CBD helps control seizures. One theory is that CBD acts on a receptor involved in seizure activity called the transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV). A review of clinical trials and ongoing clinical research has shown that adding CBD to conventional antiepileptic drugs may be appropriate for the treatment of refractory epilepsy in infants, children and adolescents.

Pain and inflammation.

In 2020, researchers investigated the pain-relieving effects of CBD in a small, randomised, placebo-controlled trial. The study investigated the use of topical CBD oil in people with peripheral leg neuropathy. In this study, 29 participants with peripheral neuropathic pain received either 250 milligrams (mg) of full-spectrum CBD dissolved in 88 ml of oil or placebo. After 4 weeks, the researchers found that those taking CBD oil reported statistically significant reductions in intense pain, sharp pain, cold and itching sensations. Participants reported no side effects.

Other studies (Lynch ME, Campbell F. Cannabinoids for treatment of chronic non-cancer pain; a systematic review of randomised trials) have shown that a 1:1 combination of THC and CBD sprayed into the oral cavity (a pharmaceutical product called Sativex) can be effective in the treatment of non-cancer chronic pain. However, researchers are not sure which of the two compounds had the greatest effect. In addition, the follow-up period for this study was only 15 weeks. Further studies need to be carried out to confirm whether long-term pain control is possible. This spray, which contained both THC and CBD, may also have anti-inflammatory properties. A previous study in people with rheumatoid arthritis showed that Sativex reduced the disease activity score, which is an indicator of a reduction in inflammation. These results suggest the potential efficacy of CBD in relation to pain and inflammation.

2009m. A US study confirmed that the predominance of CBD cannabinoid in the preparation balances the effects of THC (the psychoactive element) by moderating them. The study was carried out on cancer patients in pain. The effects of THC alone, THC in combination with CBD and placebo were compared. When THC was used alone, it rarely relieved pain, sometimes even provoked it slightly, and in some cases caused paranoia. THC in synergy with CBD almost always relieved pain and had a relaxing effect on patients. This confirms the evidence that it is best to use the elements of the plant in their full spectrum, without isolating them or removing the natural elements of the plant.

Depression and anxiety.

Numerous animal studies on the effects of CBD on mood disorders have shown promising results. And a study published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology describes how CBD can reduce anxiety caused by public speaking. Participants took a CBD preparation before a public speaking event. They reported feeling less anxious. The researchers observed that CBD can help reduce anxiety associated with the fear of an upcoming event. Subjects also showed less negative self-assessment during public speaking. It is hypothesised that CBD's effect on anxiety may be related to the action of serotonin receptors.

Inflammatory skin conditions.

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) regulates various physiological processes such as skin cell growth and differentiation. Cannabinoids have shown anti-inflammatory, anti-ageing and anti-cancer properties in some studies, most notably in Tabrez Sheriff's book 'The potential role of cannabinoids in dermatology'. Some experts believe that these effects occur when the drugs interact with the endocannabinoid system in the skin. Some of the skin conditions that may improve with CBD treatment include: acne, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, skin cancer, itchy skin, pain. Cell studies (Cannabidiol exerts sebostatic and anti-inflammatory effects on human sebocytes, Attila Oláh and others) have shown that CBD prevents some sebaceous gland functions that contribute to acne.

Skin inflammatory processes and regeneration.

2020m. A review of 10 studies published in the journal Molecules provides an overview of how our skin and hair interact with CBD. Our skin is full of CB1 AND CB2 receptors, which are found in epidermal cells, hair follicles and nerve endings. Scientists have observed how a myriad of receptors in our tissues react to cannabinoids entering the body, absorbing them rapidly. This confirmed that our bodies are made up of an endocannabinoid system and that phytocannabinoids entering the body are positively effective. The body's cells react rapidly to the phytocannabinoids introduced into the body and the body's functions are regulated by them.

Both benign and malignant skin tumours also have CB1 and CBD2 receptors, so this observation led to the conclusion that cannabonoids have anti-inflammatory and anti-tumour effects. The distribution and structure of skin tissues and cells facilitates the role of cannabinoids in anti-inflammatory processes and in the regulation of immune responses. All classes of cannabinoids interact with skin receptors and influence homeostasis of skin processes and skin cell metabolism.

Anti-inflammatory effects of CBG cannabinoid.

CBG (cannabogerol) is the cannabinoid that first forms in the plant and from which all other cannabinoids are formed. A two-week in vitro study showed that CBG cannabinoid has a more active anti-inflammatory effect than CBD. CBG at a concentration of 0.1% rapidly relieved skin redness and inflammatory processes.

Addiction management and treatment.

Some experts suggest that CBD oil may help people with addiction by reducing the activation of the amygdala, the brain region associated with addiction. Cravings for drugs are often triggered by the effects of certain signals. Reducing cravings during signals can therefore help people to abstain from heroin. A study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry (2019, Yasmin L. Hurd) looked at the effects of CBD on people with heroin use disorder, monitoring anxiety and craving responses to heroin after heroin withdrawal. The researchers showed that CBD users had lower cravings and anxiety compared to placebo. These results are encouraging and warrant further research.

Neuroprotection.

An article in the journal Molecules (Use of Cannabidiol in the Treatment of Epilepsy: Efficacy and Safety in Clinical Trials) reports that animal studies have shown that CBD can provide neuroprotective benefits in several neurodegenerative diseases, such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, Alzheimer's disease, and multiple sclerosis. According to the researchers, the neuroprotective effects are likely due to the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of CBD. CBD is a stronger antioxidant than ascorbic acid (vitamin C) or tocopherol (vitamin E). In some countries, doctors may prescribe Sativex, a drug containing THC and CBD, to reduce spasticity in people with multiple sclerosis or Parkinson's disease, but the mechanism is still unknown to scientists.

Reducing the side effects of chemotherapy.

A paper published in the British Journal of Pharmacology (Regulation of nausea and vomiting by cannabinoids) discusses the possibility that CBD's effect on nausea and vomiting in animals is related to its interaction with serotonin receptors. However, the paper ultimately concludes that THC is more effective than CBD in reducing nausea and vomiting. The role of CBD in reducing nausea and vomiting is not yet fully understood, as one human study (Cannabinoid Regulation of Acute and Anticipatory Nausea by Erin M. Rock) showed that chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting was relieved in people who took Sativex, but it is not clear to what extent CBD contributed to this.

Emotional exhaustion.

Jama Network publishes a study with individuals doing administrative work with a covid patient in a public university hospital in Brazil. The study sample consisted of 39 men and 79 women who were given 300mg of CBD daily for gastrointestinal administration, as well as motivational and psychological support. The other group received only motivational and psychological support. The CBD group showed a significant reduction in emotional and exhaustion levels compared to the non-CBD group.

Safety of full-spectrum cannabinoid preparations.

A 2-year study in the United States has shown that full-spectrum cannabinoid preparations are safe to use. CBD preparations distributed by CV Sciences were monitored for two years (2018-2019). The safety of the products was monitored by analysis of negative reviews. During this period, 5 million full-spectrum cannabinoid products were sold, of which only 0.03% of the population had negative reviews. Full-spectrum CBD preparations have been recognised as having no toxic effects on the liver and being safe for use via the gastrointestinal tract and on the skin surface.