10 Benefits and Uses of CBD Oil (Plus Side Effects)

Written by Resurchify | Updated on: July 30, 2022

With this article, we bring you the 10 benefits and uses of CBD oil. We also talk about its side effect.

What is CBD Oil?

CBD is one of the many cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. The Cannabis plant contains over 80 compounds known as cannabinoids. The most well-known component of cannabis is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). CBD, however, is derived from hemp, a type of Cannabis plant that has just trace quantities of THC. CBD Oil also appears to have several impacts on the brain chemicals, although these vary from the effects caused by THC. THC was the most well-known component in cannabis until recently, which is the most active component and has a psychological effect. When smoked or used in cooking, it produces a mind-altering "high." This is because THC degrades when it is heated and introduced into the body. CBD, however, is not psychoactive. When in use, the oil doesn't change the individual's state of mind. Rather, it only brings a significant change in the body. The oil has various medical benefits, such as – CBD oil can be used for treating seizures or epilepsy, anxiety, muscle pain, Parkinson's disease, and various other medical conditions. However, this oil's success rate is yet to be researched properly and verified scientifically. In 2018, though there was a law passed in the United States which enabled the sale of hemp and other products made from hemp legal, not all products made from hemp are considered lawful for sale. It was only made legal for medical products. The oil is also sometimes used to produce beauty products which again were made legal to sell. In medicines, the CBD content sometimes varies from what's on the label.

Benefits and Uses of CBD Oil

Though CBD oil is the most common type of CBD, it is also available as an extract, a liquefied solution, and an oil-based pill. Among the various CBD-infused goods available online are medicines, oils and pills, beverages, and skincare products. CBD, unlike THC, doesn't directly affect the psyche, i.e., it has little sensitivity for cannabinoid neurotransmitters in the brain. It is only THC that binds to all of these compounds, which goes on to produce or create effects in the human brain. CBD, on the other hand, impacts other systems, such as the opioid receptors that regulate pain and suffering. It affects glycine receptors which activate serotonin, the "feel-good" hormone present in the brain.

Although there are various researches still going on regarding the uses and benefits of CBD Oil, some of the common medically proven benefits of the oil are as follows:

Provides Relief To Uncontrollable Chronic Pain

Sativex, an oromucosal (absorbed in the lining of the mouth) spray containing equal amounts of THC and CBD, was authorized for the diagnosis and treatment of various chronic peripheral neuropathic pain in Canada in 2005. In 2007, Canada allowed the drug's re-use for acute pain that had not responded to previous treatments. There is some evidence that CBD contributes to its benefit. One such instance is a 2012 study published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, where there is some evidence that CBD contributes to this benefit. A 2012 study published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine is one noteworthy piece of research. The compounds that cause inflammation and pain were administered to rats by the researchers. The rats were then given CBD, whose treatment resulted in a reduction in the inflammatory response and neurological discomfort in rats. In one 2020 trial, researchers applied CBD locally to a group of patients suffering from irritable neuropathic pain, which is caused due to brain nerve and spinal cord nerve damage, whereas another group suffering from the same illness got a placebo. Compared to those who received a placebo, individuals who applied topical CBD drastically reduced unpleasant cramps and frigid, prickly emotions. The patients reported no health consequences. When CBD oil is used externally, it does not have the same effect as if it were injected directly into the circulation. External CBD, on the other hand, is more concentrated and helps reduce aches in a specific location. It may have a more tangible impact since it is more practical and direct.

Helps In Treating Addiction

According to a report published in 2015 in the journal, Substance Abuse, it showed that CBD could help persons with drug use disorder. The study looked at 14 published types of research. Nine of the research examined animal impacts, while five examined the effects on people. It stated that the oil-treated persons who were addicted to cocaine, weed, smoking, taking drugs, opium and so on. In one such trial, researchers gave CBD to persons who had a heroin use issue. But to their utmost shock, the CBD oil drastically reduced the heroin users' craving, withdrawal anxiety, resting heart rate, and salivary cortisol levels over a week. They did not discover any major side effects. Because of the soothing feature this oil contains, it is also sometimes used to help lower cravings during smoking cigars or weed. In various other researches, CBD has been shown to assist people with drug use disorders and reduce psychological and medical symptoms such as anxiety, sleeplessness, and pain. However, CBD without THC does not affect reducing addiction. Though it reduces only lower drug-seeking behaviour in individuals. Some experts suggest CBD may help treat cannabis and nicotine dependence, but more research is needed.

Treat Epileptic Seizures

After years of research, in 2018, the FDA authorized the use of Epidiolex, a type of CBD oil that helps in treating epileptic seizures. It is prescribed for the treatment of two uncommon types of epilepsy in children under the age of two: Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. These syndromes are extremely uncommon, and they affect infants with lifelong seizures. Seizures in these unusual kinds of epilepsy are difficult to manage with other types of treatment. Thus, the FDA supported the use of CBD oil after a trial with several patients with these syndromes. The result showed that epidiolex reduced the incidence of seizures in participants compared to a placebo. Now scientists and researchers are beginning to understand how CBD reduces seizures without the sedative side effects associated with past medicines. Currently, there are no synthetic medicines that help in reducing epilepsy in the same way as CBD does. Its usefulness in treating seizures is unknown outside of these two major symptoms. However, there is some evidence that CBD interacts with seizure medications such as Onfi (clobazam) and increases their blood levels.

Reduces The Complications Of Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes starts when the immune system assaults pancreatic cells, causing inflammation. However, in a report published in 2016, researchers found out that CBD may help reduce inflammation and protect against or postpone the formation of type 1 diabetes. It has also been shown in human cell studies to help mitigate the impact of excessive glucose concentrations on certain cells in the human body, which immediately follows the development of type 2 diabetes and its repercussions. Doctors also announced that more research is needed to prove whether CBD has substantial advantages when taken in people with diabetes, diabetic complications, and plaque accumulation in arterial walls. In another study, some patients with type 2 diabetes who weren't given insulin were given both placeboes as well as CBD, and compared to this, the result showed that CBD can help in naturally treating diabetes by regulating insulin-related levels of the hormone.

Helps Reduce Ptsd Symptoms And Anxiety

In a report published in 2018, in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 11 persons with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) received CBD along with standard psychiatric therapy for about eight weeks. Ten of the eleven participants reported a reduction in their PTSD symptoms. According to the researchers, CBD typically worked well in reducing PTSD in individuals. While another study that was undertaken in 2016 proved that a lower dosage of CBD reduced some amount of anxiety symptoms in most trials, while higher doses comparably had a low impact. The way CBD functions in the brain may explain why this occurs. CBD, at low levels, may function similarly to surrounding chemicals that typically bind to the receptor, "turning up" their signalling. At greater dosages, however, too much activity at the receptor site might have the opposite effect. This would negate CBD's beneficial benefits. In most cases, doctors repeatedly advise persons who are suffering from chronic pain or anxiety to avoid cannabis because then THC can ignite paranoia or even increase the level of stress and tension in individuals. However, CBD oil can, later on, help in reducing such unnecessary stress and tension. CBD is also used to reduce anxiety-related behaviour such as PTSD, OCD, panic disorder, GAD, social anxiety disorder, and so on. One of the few types of research undertaken regarding this is a 2019 study published in the Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry which took measures based on anxiety levels to reduce the blood rate and its flow. The study gave the result that the people who were more likely to take CBD oil rather than a placebo showed low levels of anxiety than the others. Again, when THC and CBD come into contact, they produce what is known as an "active component," which means they complement one another's advantages and effectiveness. Taking the same quantity of THC and CBD together also helps in reducing the "high" from THC, but a small amount of THC combined with increasing CBD amplifies the CBD's benefits. In some cases, CBD Oil is also beneficial in inducing an anti-depression reaction in human bodies.

Improves Brain Health

A recent health article has demonstrated current findings the CBD oil and its entitlements for brain functions, designed to protect the brain from ailments such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and dementia, as it can help to avoid damage caused by free radicals, fight inflammation, and not only protect but also accumulate new neural pathways. This is also one of the reasons why CBD is becoming more popular among epileptic survivors. According to one 2019 study, CBD may help decrease the incidence and progression of Alzheimer's disease. More study is being conducted to understand the dose. Some researchers feel that a therapy that includes both THC and CHD may be more beneficial. CBD is generally acknowledged as a rational method to boost cerebral function and wellbeing due to its powerful source of antioxidants (stronger than vitamins C and E), anti-inflammatory, and therapeutic properties.

Support For Cancer Patients

There is increasing evidence that CBD oil is effective in reducing some side effects of cancer therapy, including nausea and discomfort. In recent research, people who receive chemotherapy took CBD oil and discovered that it helped to minimize chemo adverse effects, including nausea. The majority of these individuals also stated that CBD helps them to feel less painful and achy. The chemical works by inhibiting cancerous cell development while promoting malignant demise. CBD has a potent toxin profile, according to experts. A review paper released in 2020 analyses the use of CBD in chemotherapeutic agents to boost the body's natural response to anticancer therapy. Other studies have looked at how CBD has led to various other changes like limiting cancerous cell development in the human body, relieving anxiety, improving the action of chemotherapy, reducing the adverse effects of conventional chemotherapy, and so on. Various other studies in 2016 also showed that the use of CBD oil reduced the different research, which led to the discovery of cancer-causing elements.

Helps Prevent Sleep Disorders

Insomnia, sleep-related breathing disorders, narcolepsy, sleep-related movement disorders, sleep patterns, sleep-wake disorders, etc. are the primary categories of sleep disturbances. Different statistics suggest that the endocannabinoid system plays a major function in sleep. THC, which is connected with abnormalities in delayed sleep, is very important for executive function integration in a dose-dependent pattern, i.e., it is related to the number of doses of medicines taken. Consuming hemp, cocaine, weed, or marijuana may necessarily affect sleep duration, thereby shortening the time to start sleeping at prescribed concentrations and prolonging the time to sleep onset at higher concentrations. As a result, cannabinoids may have a function in the treatment of sleep problems. Two research studies recently evaluated CBD oils for the treatment of sleep problems. A trial deemed to have a high risk of bias conducted on 22 patients with obstructive sleep apnea showed a greater benefit of dronabinol, a CBD variant than with a placebo. A trial deemed to have shown that patients with fibromyalgia found improvements for nabilone 0.5 mg daily compared with 10 mg amitriptyline in insomnia. Thus, the study reveals that CBD oil has an effective treatment to improve sleep disorders and sleep disturbance associated with obstructive sleep apnea, fibromyalgia, chronic pain, or multiple sclerosis.

CBD Oil Can Also Be Used To Treat Acne

Various studies and research were undertaken by dermatologists show that CBD oil may be beneficial for treating acne in human beings. Acne is one of the most prevalent skin ailments in humans, which troubles almost everyone at some stage of life, whether it's on a random or regularly. There are numerous causes as to why people have to suffer from acne. The major ones include: increased production of sebum, imbalances in hormonal flow, and genetically acquired or heredity. Other factors like nutrition and diet, psychological stress, improper sleep, mental depression, and some prescribed drug may significantly aggravate a person's suffering from skin disease. Because of its anti-inflammatory characteristics, CBD oil may also aid in the treatment of several forms of acne. A study that was held in 2014 discovered that CBD, due to its anti-inflammatory properties, tends to decrease the production of sebum in the skin that causes acne. Applying CBD oil peripherally may help in reducing redness and irritation in psoriasis and other various inflammatory skin problems. Though taking oral CBD pills may help in reducing acne, the physical or peripheral application of the CBD oil is more effective because it directly helps in reducing sebum-creating cells in the skin and administers skin irritation.

Provide Relief From ALS (amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ) Symptoms

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative illness that affects nerve fibers in the nervous system, cerebral cortex, and reticular formation eventually leading to immobility or paralysis. The cause of ALS is unknown. However, it is assumed to be caused by the interaction of several processes, including associated membrane buildup, endoplasmic reticulum stress, increased lipid peroxidation, and neuronal injury, all of which may be responsive to modification of the endocannabinoids as well as cannabinoid sensors. There is no possibly permanent treatment, and only 2 FDA-approved drugs are available to assist in alleviating ALS diseases. According to a study, persons with ALS, like individuals diagnosed with PTSD, can benefit from the ambient effect caused by the combining of THC and CBD. The research taken out in 2019 showed that individuals were given different amounts of THC and CBD based on their interests and needs. People suffering from moderate or severe muscle tightness and rigidness which was caused as a result of ALS were given a high amount of CBD oils, and those with mild and low symptoms were given a placebo. The outcome showed that those suffering from moderate to severe neuropathic pain reported higher levels of satisfaction than those suffering from mild muscle spasms.

The Side Effects of Using CBD Oil

Just like every medicine has its positive and negative sides, CBD also has its side effects. Too much use of CBD oil can result in some of the most dangerous side effects. Some of them are as follows:

Anxiety might increase while taking CBD oil.
Another major side effect can be the changes in appetite. This may be noticed when someone who is on CBD medication doesn't feel hungry, vomits out the food quickly after consuming, and so on.
Changing mood or mood swings is yet another common side effect of using CBD oil. This is because at one moment, one might feel happy, and at the same time, one may feel sad and pathetic. They smile and cry at the same time. Thereby it becomes very difficult to guess the mood of the individual.
Too much usage of CBD oil can also cause a disorder in the bowel system, thereby leading to diarrhoea.
Dizziness or feeling unbalanced and lightheaded is the most visible and common side effect of using CBD. This is because of the consumption of addictive components that are used while preparing medicine such as cannabis. All these ingredients used while preparing the oil make one feel unbalanced, and one tends to faint or fall as a result. This feeling of dizziness might last for a week or two.
Drowsiness or feeling lethargic and sleepy is also a possible side effect that is caused as a result of using CBD oil. If an individual feels dizzy, it is followed by the feeling of drowsiness, and hence he or she tends to fall asleep quickly.

Apart from all these side effects, there are also other possible side effects caused as a result of using CBD Oil. They are:

Dry mouth.
A feeling of nausea.
Vomiting.
Might cause liver injury and inflammation.
The CBD may interact with other medicines and may sometimes react to it.
Change in one's sense of alertness.
Increased risk of sedation, anxiety, depression etc.
Sleep disorders.
Affecting in increased consumption of intakes orally such as smoking cigarettes, vaping etc.
If CBD is taken by a pregnant woman or even a breastfeeding person, it might create a potential risk to the baby's health as well as development.
Fertility reduction in males.
Weight loss

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