CBD is a molecule derived from the cannabis plant. Numerous studies around the world have demonstrated its health benefits, notably in pain management, anxiety and sleep disorders. While it is by no means a suitable remedy for treating pathologies, its positive effects on the body can help alleviate certain illness-related disorders. What are the proven effects of CBD? We take a look.

CBD for pain relief

CBD is a molecule that interacts with receptors of the endocannabinoid system and systems involved in pain transmission. By activating certain receptors, notably those for serotonin and endorphin[1] as well as vanilloid receptors[2] (important for pain modulation), it is thought to reduce inflammation and pain perception levels.

CBD to ease anxiety

More than a dozen studies have been carried out in recent years to understand the effects of CBD on anxiety disorders[3][4]. The results suggest that CBD is beneficial against the signs of anxiety. In one study[5] conducted in 2021 among 2,700 people, 63% of volunteers who took CBD reported "reduced anxiety" and 61% reported "better sleep quality".

CBD for skin problems

CBD's inflammatory effects make it an interesting anti-acne agent for the skin[6]. It also helps reduce itching and inflammation caused by skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis.[7].

Is CBD effective against epilepsy?

According to some studies, CBD could be of interest in the treatment of certain forms of epilepsy, notably refractory epilepsy and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome[8]. In addition, since 2018, a CBD-based drug - Epidyolex - has been authorized by the ANSM (Agence nationale de sécurité du médicament et des produits de santé) for the management of certain severe forms of epilepsy.

CBD and its effects on high blood pressure

If CBD has no direct impact direct impact on reducing blood pressure, a study published in 2017[9] suggests that resting blood pressure is lower after its consumption. The experiment was conducted on a group of healthy men: according to the results, a dose of CBD reduced their resting blood pressure by 6 millimeters of mercury (mmHg - the unit for measuring pressure) on average. This molecule could thus help to inhibit the harmful effects of stress, in particular the increase in blood pressure.

CBD and diabetes: what are the effects?

Several studies show that CBD can play an interesting role in improving the well-being of people with diabetes.[10]. In particular, it is thought to act as an appetite moderator and help regulate HbA1c levels[11]. Lastly, it is thought to have an effect on lipid and glucose metabolism, helping to alleviate the symptoms of insulin resistance[12].

 

The benefits of CBD continue to be the subject of extensive research, particularly for diseases such as Parkinson's, schizophrenia and multiple sclerosis. While initial results seem to show interesting effects, the number of scientific studies is still too limited.

Are you considering taking CBD to relieve certain ailments? CBD-based products are legal in France and marketed in many different forms. Oil, lozenges, candies, cosmetics, flowers, resins... it's up to you to choose the one that suits you best!

 

> Read also: How to use CBD?

 

Sources :

[1] 40 De Gregorio D1, McLaughlin RJ2, Posa L1,3, R. Ochoa-Sanchez, J. Enns, M. Lopez-Canul, M. Aboud, S. Maione, S. Comai, G. Gobbi, "Cannabidiol modulates serotonergic transmission and reverses both allodynia and anxiety-like behavior in a model of neuropathic pain." Pain, P°136-150, January 2019, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30157131

[2] 552 B. Costa,, G. Giagnoni,, F. Chiara, A-E. Trovato, M. Colleoni, "Vanilloid TRPV1 receptor mediates the antihyperalgesic effect of the nonpsycho-active cannabinoid, cannabidiol, in a rat model of acute inflammation"- Journal of Pharmacology, 143(2): 247-250, September 2004, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1575333/#!po=70.8333

[3] Blessing EM, Steenkamp MM, Manzanares J, Marmar CR. Cannabidiol as a Potential Treatment for Anxiety Disorders. Neurotherapeutics. 2015;12(4):825-836. doi:10.1007/s13311-015-0387-1

[4] Blessing, Esther M et al. "Cannabidiol as a Potential Treatment for Anxiety Disorders." Neurotherapeutics: the journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics vol. 12,4 (2015): 825-36. doi:10.1007/s13311-015-0387-1

[5] Chen, P. T. A. D. J. (2023, March 29). Radicle Science | Radicle ACES: Everything you need to know. Radicle Science. https://radiclescience.com/blog/radicle-aces-everything-you-need-to-know/

[6] Oláh, A., Tóth, B. I., Borbíró, I., Sugawara, K., Szöllõsi, A. G., Czifra, G., Pál, B., Ambrus, L., Kloepper, J., Camera, E., Ludovici, M., Picardo, M., Voets, T., Zouboulis, C. C., Paus, R., & Bíró, T. (2014). Cannabidiol exerts sebostatic and antiinflammatory effects on human sebocytes. The Journal Of Clinical Investigation/The Journal Of Clinical Investigation, 124(9), 3713-3724. https://doi.org/10.1172/jci64628

[7] The role of cannabinoids in dermatology https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(17)30308-0/abstract

[8] Devinsky, O., Patel, A. D., Cross, J. H., Villanueva, V., Wirrell, E. C., Privitera, M., Greenwood, S. M., Roberts, C., Checketts, D., VanLandingham, K. E., & Zuberi, S. M. (2018). Effect of Cannabidiol on Drop Seizures in the Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome. New England Journal Of Medicine/The New England Journal Of Medicine, 378(20), 1888-1897. https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmoa1714631

[9] Jadoon, Khalid A et al. "A single dose of cannabidiol reduces blood pressure in healthy volunteers in a randomized crossover study." JCI insight vol. 2,12 e93760. 15 Jun. 2017, doi:10.1172/jci.insight.93760

[10] Horváth, Béla et al. "The endocannabinoid system and plant-derived cannabinoids in diabetes and diabetic complications." The American journal of pathology vol. 180.2 (2012): 432-42. doi:10.1016/j.ajpath.2011.11.003

[11] Bielawiec, Patrycja et al. "Phytocannabinoids: Useful Drugs for the Treatment of Obesity? Special Focus on Cannabidiol." Frontiers in endocrinology vol. 11 114. 4 Mar. 2020, doi:10.3389/fendo.2020.00114.

[12] Sholler, D.J., Schoene, L. & Spindle, T.R. Therapeutic Efficacy of Cannabidiol (CBD): a Review of the Evidence From Clinical Trials and Human Laboratory Studies. Curr Addict Rep 7, 405-412 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-020-00326-8