Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a chemical found in the cannabis plant. Unlike THC, CBD is not psychoactive—which means it doesn’t get you high. While further testing is needed to sort through the various claims of the health benefits of CBD, the outlook is quite promising. 

We have used cannabis for medicinal purposes throughout the world for centuries. We’re here to discuss some of the more prevalent modern health claims, but overall, it isn’t challenging to argue that yes, CBD can be good for your health and wellbeing.

CBD for Epilepsy Disorders 

A prescription drug called Epidiolex/Epidyolex—an oral form of CBD—is approved by the FDA and the Eurpoean Commission to help treat seizures. The potential of CBD products in the treatment of seizure disorders goes well beyond seizure control, though. It also appears to help people with epilepsy better tolerate other anti-seizure meds they’ve been prescribed. As we’ll discuss further into this article, CBD may also help with anxiety and depression—which sometimes plague people with epilepsy. 

Treating Anxiety and Depression With CBD

More studies need to be conducted, but existing preclinical evidence strongly supports the use of CBD as treatment for anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders. Some studies have found that CBD reduces symptoms of generalized social anxiety and a 2019 review in the Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy saw a decrease in the depressive-like behaviours of rodents after taking CBD.  

CBD and Pain Relief

One of the first recorded uses of cannabis was for the pain associated with rheumatism, also known as arthritis. The Arthritis Foundation in Atlanta, Georgia recently surveyed 2,600 people with arthritis and found that 94% of those who reported using CBD used it to relieve pain. In the same survey, 67% reported improvements in their physical function and 41% reported a better overall sense of well-being with the use of CBD. 

CBD in the Reduction of PTSD Symptoms

Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that some people experience after experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event. Symptoms range from severe anxiety to flashbacks, and panic attacks. A study printed in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine concluded that oral CBD, in addition to routine psychiatric care, lead to PTSD symptom reduction. They also noted that CBD offered relief to patients who reported frequent nightmares as a symptom of their PTSD. 

Using CBD to Reduce ALS Symptoms

In 2014, the Ice Bucket Challenge took the world by storm. The icy cold campaign went viral bringing a ton of attention and donations to organizations supporting people who suffer from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. CBD has been found to ease pain associated with ALS, likely because of CBD’s analgesic (painkilling) properties. CBD also helps reduce muscle tension, induces relaxation, and acts as a bronchodilator—meaning it helps open up airways so that people with ALS don’t struggle to breathe as much. 

Have you ever heard of “cotton mouth”? It’s stoner slang, but it refers to the dry mouth feeling you get when smoking weed. Consuming CBD can have the same effect and which has reportedly helped reduce drooling in people living with ALS. 

The Anti-inflammatory Properties of CBD

Inflammation is usually a result of the immune system kicking into gear at the onset of an infection or as a reaction to an injury. Research into CBD and inflammation has yielded great results and, in fact, many people noted being able to ditch currently used, habit-forming substances in favour of CBD to treat inflammation, making certain conditions feel more manageable. As discussed earlier, CBD has shown promise in reducing the pain associated with arthritis—this is, in part, due to CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties.  

In Conclusion

The scientific evidence around CBD use is limited, mostly because of politics. Cannabis was considered an illicit drug for quite some time, which is why research is in short supply. Despite this, CBD shows incredible promise in treating the symptoms of many different disorders and ailments.

We encourage you to always seek the advice of a medical professional if you are considering using CBD as part of your treatment for medical conditions. 

Contact Acreage Pharms today or search our website for all of our CBD heavy products.