CBD and your health

Cannabidiol, better known as CBD, is one of over 100 chemical compounds known as cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant (marijuana or hemp)(1). Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is also a cannabinoid found in cannabis, and THC is the compound that causes the sensation of getting “high” that’s often associated with marijuana. However, unlike THC, CBD is not psychoactive. This quality makes CBD an appealing option for those who are looking for relief from pain and other symptoms without the mind-altering effects of marijuana or certain pharmaceutical drugs.

CBD oil is made by extracting CBD from the cannabis plant. The specific strain of cannabis used has generally been developed to produce a plant with a very low amount of THC. The extract is then diluted with a carrier oil like coconut or hemp seed oil. CBD is gaining momentum in the health and wellness world. We are continuing to see more scientific studies confirming that CBD may ease symptoms of ailments like chronic pain and anxiety.

Understanding how CBD Oil interacts with the human body helps us to understand why it works. The human body contains a specialized system called the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is involved in regulating a variety of functions including sleep, appetite, pain and immune system response. The body produces endocannabinoids, which are neurotransmitters that bind to cannabinoid receptors in your nervous system. CBD oil contains Phyto-cannabinoids, that is cannabinoids that come from plants. Evidence suggest that these Phyto-cannabinoids interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system just as the same as the endocannabinoids produced by the body.

Taking CBD helps to balance the endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system is important because it plays a regulatory role in signaling. When the endocannabinoid system is out of balance, signals to nerves and cells can be disrupted. This biological disinformation can cause symptoms associated with pain, mood disorders, and poor immune function

There are a number of health benefits CBD oil may provide. Listed below are of the most common uses of CBD oil. Each of these uses have scientific evidence supporting them. Research continues into many of these uses and others.

• · Pain Relief
• · Immune System Support
• · Reduce Anxiety and Depression
• · Alleviate Cancer-Related Symptoms
• · Neurological Disorders
• · Improve Heart Health
• · Reduce Acne

Your immune system plays a pivotal role in your overall health as it protects your body from harmful infections and viruses. It creates, stores and distributes your body’s white blood cells which fight the bacteria and viruses that attack it. Therefore, it is imperative that your immune system is at its peak when winter approaches because, at this time of the year, your body is at its most vulnerable.

The immune system is a complex network of tissues and cells that are constantly alert and ready to attack foreign cells like virus or bacteria. A healthy immune system is capable of distinguishing our tissue from foreign bodies.

As well as launching complex attacks against harmful entities, the immune system is a model of efficiency as it recognizes and clears dead and faulty cells. Once it spots an ‘antigen’ (bacterium, viruses, pathogens, etc.), the immune system launches a counterattack to expel the invader.

Generally, the immune system gets stronger as we age although it weakens again once we approach our twilight years. The vast majority of people are born with ‘innate’ immunity, but we also benefit from ‘adaptive’ immunity as we go through life. When we are exposed to diseases or receive vaccinations, the library of antibodies against differing pathogens grows.

One of the most important things to keep in mind is that, in most cases, a healthy body with a healthy immune system can fend off germs on its own. There are plenty of ‘natural’ ways to improve the immune system. Eat a healthy and balanced diet with lots of fruit and vegetables for instance. Adults should get at least seven hours of good quality restorative sleep a night. Exercise also helps because it lowers blood pressure and keeps your weight under control. CBD is another, unexpected, natural method of keeping your immune system strong. 

The relationship between CBD and the immune system is a complex one. CBD has been shown to modulate our immune response. When the immune system is being a little too lazy, CBD can help to perk it up. However, CDB has also demonstrated the ability to reduce the inflammatory response (7)of the immune system in persons with auto-immune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, psoriasis, and other auto-immune diseases.

As stated earlier, taking CBD helps to balance the endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system is important because it plays a regulatory role in signaling. When the endocannabinoid system is out of balance, signals to nerves and cells can be disrupted. This biological disinformation can cause symptoms associated with pain, mood disorders, and poor immune function. Balancing the endocannabinoid system is thought to help maintain a healthy immune system function. The body uses endocannabinoids to keep the immune response under control, but it doesn’t always fully control inflammation. CBD could provide the ECS with a boost and ensure the inflammatory response is kept under control. This ECS balancing activity may be why CBD appears to be able to boost immune response when the immune system is providing a weaker response than required, and to suppress the inflammation caused by an overactive immune system.

By consuming CBD regularly, you could at least reduce the impact of winter viruses such as cold and flu and possibly prevent serious conditions such as influenza. CBD generally has a build-up period of approximately 14 days for optimal results. For that reason, we recommend you start taking CBD as soon as possible to strengthen your immune system

Influenza is one of the most severe and deadly viruses. According to the CDC (8), anywhere from 12,000 to 56,000 people die from the illness annually with over 700,000 hospitalizations.  While the flu is less severe, it still results in up to 200,000 hospitalizations annually, and up to 20% of Americans suffer from it. While you should certainly get a flu shot, there is an increasing body of evidence which suggests that CBD could significantly boost your immune system and reduce the risk of contracting winter’s viruses. 

Recently researchers (9)have begun to test more applications of CBD) and other chemicals naturally found in cannabis. While the anti-inflammatory effects of CBD are well-established, the anti-viral properties are not. As a result, one research team studying general medicinal properties of CBD decided to test CBD’s antiviral capabilities against Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C in vitro/in lab environment.

Essentially, CBD had no effect on HBV other than showing toxicity toward the cells that produce the virus. This did not surprise researchers. However, and somewhat shockingly, CBD also “inhibited HCV replication by 86.4% at a single concentration of 10 micro-molar.” This data immediately identified CBD has a potentially effective therapy for HPC.

CBD may help reduce symptoms related to cancer and side effects related to cancer treatment, like nausea, vomiting and pain. One study looked at the effects of CBD and THC in 177 people with cancer-related pain who did not experience relief from pain medication. Those treated with an extract containing both compounds experienced a significant reduction in pain compared to those who received only THC extract (13.)

CBD may also help reduce chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, which are among the most common chemotherapy-related side effects for those with cancer (14). Though there are drugs that help with these distressing symptoms, they are sometimes ineffective, leading some people to seek alternatives.

A study of 16 people undergoing chemotherapy found that a one-to-one combination of CBD and THC administered via mouth spray reduced chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting better than standard treatment alone (15). Some test-tube and animal studies have even shown that CBD may have anticancer properties. For example, one test-tube study found that concentrated CBD induced cell death in human breast cancer cells (16).

Another study showed that CBD inhibited the spread of aggressive breast cancer cells in mice (17). However, these are test-tube and animal studies, so they can only suggest what might work in people. More studies in humans are needed before conclusions can be made.

Research on mice has shown that CBD can lead to the shrinking of cancerous tumors. However, most studies in humans have investigated the role of CBD in managing pain related to cancer and cancer treatment. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) (18) Source has pointed to CBD as a possible option for reducing chemotherapy side effects, such as:

• · pain
• · vomiting
• · lack of appetite

Recent research has linked CBD with several benefits for the heart and circulatory system, including the ability to lower high blood pressure. High blood pressure is linked to higher risks of a number of health conditions, including stroke, heart attack and metabolic syndrome.
Studies indicate that CBD may be able to help with high blood pressure. One recent study treated nine healthy men with one dose of 600 mg of CBD oil and found it reduced resting blood pressure, compared to a placebo. The same study also gave the men stress tests that normally increase blood pressure. Interestingly, the single dose of CBD led the men to experience a smaller blood pressure increase than normal in response to these tests (27).

Researchers have suggested that the stress- and anxiety-reducing properties of CBD are responsible for its ability to help lower blood pressure. Additionally, several animal studies have demonstrated that CBD may help reduce the inflammation and cell death associated with heart disease due to its powerful antioxidant and stress-reducing properties. For example, one study found that treatment with CBD reduced oxidative stress and prevented heart damage in diabetic mice with heart disease (28). 

CBD has been studied for its role in treating a number of health issues other than those outlined above.  Though more studies are needed, CBD is thought to provide the following health benefits:

• · Antipsychotic effects: Studies suggest that CBD may help people with schizophrenia and other mental disorders by reducing psychotic symptoms (31).
• · Substance abuse treatment: CBD has been shown to modify circuits in the brain related to drug addiction. In rats, CBD has been shown to reduce morphine dependence and heroin-seeking behavior (32).
• · Anti-tumor effects: In test-tube and animal studies, CBD has demonstrated anti-tumor effects. In animals, it has been shown to prevent the spread of breast, prostate, brain, colon and lung cancer(33).
• · Diabetes prevention: In diabetic mice, treatment with CBD reduced the incidence of diabetes by 56% and significantly reduced inflammation (34).

Though CBD is generally well tolerated and considered safe, it may cause adverse reactions in some people.

• · Diarrhea
• · Changes in appetite and weight
• · Fatigue

CBD is also known to interact with several medications. Before you start using CBD oil, discuss it with your doctor to ensure your safety and avoid potentially harmful interactions. This is especially important if you take medications or supplements that come with a "grapefruit warning." Both grapefruit and CBD interfere with cytochromes P450 (CYPs), a group of enzymes that are important to drug metabolism.