Until recently, those who talked about the marijuana (cannabis) plant most frequently discussed the part that got them “high”, or the THC, also called delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol. While THC is the most active component in the plant, cannabis offers much more than just a high. For many, the non-psychoactive and second most active compound, or cannabinoid, of the plant, CBD (aka cannabidiol), has a wealth of benefits believed to effectively treat a wide range of disorders. Let’s explore what it has to offer:
What Can Be Treated with CBD?
Research is ongoing as to exactly which disorders are treatable with CBD, and the results appear to show quite a broad range of efficacy. The substance has been known to work well in treating insomnia, helping users to fall and stay asleep, as well as chronic pain, shown in two studies to effectively reduce pain related to arthritis and neuropathic pain in the European Journal of Pain. Proven to be highly effective in treating and decreasing the number of seizures in certain childhood epilepsy syndromes like Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome, CBD recently received FDA approval in the form of Epidiolex, the first ever cannabis-derived medicine. Other research has shown promise in using CBD for anxiety and ADD/ADHD.
CBD can also help treat (but is not limited to):
Nerve, chronic, joint, and cancer related pain, etc.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Parkinson’s
Acne
Psoriasis
Depression
Nausea
Substance Abuse/Withdrawal
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Insomnia
Dyskinesia
Bacterial Infections
Diabetes
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Inflammation
and so much more!
Can CBD Affect Anxiety?
CBD is commonly used in treating anxiety, the number one mental health issue in the U.S., with over 40 million Americans impacted by symptoms of anxiety disorder (ADAA, n.d.).
Cannabidiol has recently been revealed in studies to have an anti-anxiety and antidepressant effect in animal subjects observed, which revealed a positive interaction between CBD and 5-HT1A neuro-receptors during multiple stress tests. According to these studies, it was suggested that CBD did help with anxiety and depression in the test subjects observed (Institute of Psychiatry - Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Laboratory of Panic and Respiration, 2014).
Although more human based studies are needed to determine the long-term benefits of using CBD, these studies regarding the efficacy of CBD on anxiety related disorders have been discovered:
Another study in 2011 showed cannabidiol reduced social anxiety related to public speaking (Bergamaschi, Queiroz, Chagas, & Et al., 2011).
A 2015 evaluation of earlier studies found CBD effective for anxiety in various disorders including panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and social anxiety disorder (Blessing, Steenkamp, Manzanares, & Marmar, 2015).
In 2016, cannabidiol was found to reduce anxiety and PTSD symptoms in a traumatized child, allowing her to fall and stay sleep (Scott & Opila-Lehman, 2016).
Can You Get Addicted to CBD?
No. CBD, while one of hundreds of components active in the cannabis plant, does not produce a “high” or mood/mind-altering effect. According to the World Health Organization, “In humans, CBD exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential…. To date, there is no evidence of public health related problems associated with the use of pure CBD.” (Peter Grinspoon, 2018).
In fact, CBD has been studied to determine its potential in treating drug abuse, namely its propensity to help prevent relapse in those with a history of dependence (Gonzalez-Cuevas, Martin-Fardon, Kerr, & Et al. , 2018).
Is CBD Naturally In Your Body?
Interestingly, the human body produces some cannabinoids on its own, with some even present in a new mother’s breast milk. Cannabinoids like CBD and those produced in the body attach to receptors called CB1 and CB2 receptors, which are present in both the body and the brain (Johnson, 2018). These make up the biggest class of receptors in the body and work directly and specifically with hemp and cannabis plant compounds. CB1 receptors affect the central nervous system, most relevant to movement and coordination, mood, appetite, and emotions. CB2 receptors affect the immune system, inflammatory responses and pain.
Is CBD Effective for Treating ADD/ADHD?
With growing numbers of both adults and children with ADD/ADHD being reported each year, effective treatments are highly sought after. While stimulants and a handful of other pharmaceuticals are the most commonly prescribed treatments, none are without their side effects, while some even cause a build-up in tolerance over time, requiring an increase in dosage until it cannot safely be increased further.
CBD has been studied several times regarding its efficacy with ADD/ADHD, and results are promising. Let’s peek at some of the recent research:
In a 2012 study of rats treated with a formula designed to create behavior like ADHD, CBD was introduced and normalized social investigative behavior (Gururajan, Taylor, & Malone, 2012).
30 adults diagnosed with ADHD were given either a placebo or CBD spray randomly. The CBD spray was “associated with a nominally significant improvement in hyperactivity/impulsivity and a trend for improvement in inattention” (Cooper, et al., 2016).
A 2016 analysis of online discussions revealed that 25% of individual posts indicated cannabis is therapeutic for ADHD compared to 5% stating it was harmful and 2% insisting it had no effect (Mitchell, Sweitzer, Tunno, Kollins, & McClernon, 2016).
As indicated above, CBD has been proven to assist in the reduction of hyperactivity and improve cognition in those diagnosed with ADD/ADHD. Further, it shows promise for the treatment of childhood epilepsy, insomnia, PTSD, OCD, social anxiety, panic disorder, various kinds of pain, as well as drug addiction or alcohol relapse prevention.
Did we not cover your need or diagnosis in this post? Check in soon for our next one -- CBD has a lot of ground to cover, and requires more than one blog. Also, we’ll be updating old blogs as new information becomes available, so stay with us and remain current on what’s new with CBD!
If you’re in or near Austin, Texas, don’t hesitate to check CBDAustin.org or stop by our location anytime we’re open. Our friendly, informed staff can help you find the right CBD product for your individual needs and budget. We’re hoping to see you soon!
If you are in the Austin, TX area...
Come to our facility at 3501 Hyridge Dr, Austin, TX 78759 or call (512) 522-0221 to schedule a session! We also offer low-cost membership plans and packages that accept payments from your HSA as well. Cryo Body Works offers many other treatments and therapy options like Cryotherapy, Infrared Sauna, Infrared Laser Therapy, Red Light Therapy, PEMF Therapy, Compression Therapy, Ice Baths, and B12 shot injections! We would love to hear your story, introduce you to our facility and get your health and recovery journey started!
Visit https://www.cryobodyworks.com/ for client reviews, testimonials and more featured research.
For Further Reading, Check out these Links:
References:
ADAA. (n.d.). Facts & Statistics. Retrieved from Anxiety and Depression Association of America: https://adaa.org/about-adaa/press-room/facts-statistics
Bergamaschi, M. M., Queiroz, R. C., Chagas, M. H., & Et al. (2011). Anxiety Induced by Simulated Public Speaking in Treatment-Naive Social Phobia Patients. Retrieved from Nature.com: https://www.nature.com/articles/npp20116?foxtrotcallback=true
Blessing, E. M., Steenkamp, M. M., Manzanares, J., & Marmar, C. R. (2015, September 04). Cannabidiol as a Potential Treatment for Anxiety Disorders. Retrieved from Springer Link: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13311-015-0387-1
Cooper, R., Williams, E., Seegobin, S., Tye, C., Kuntsi, J., & Asherson, P. (2016, October). S.12.08 - Cannabinoids in Attention - Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Retrieved from ScienceDirect: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0924977X16309129?via%3Dihub
Crippa, J. S., Derenusson, G. N., Ferrari, T. B., & Et al. (2010, September 9). Neural Basis of Anxiolytic Effects of Cannabidiol (CBD) in Generalized Social Anxiety Disorder: a Preliminary Report. Retrieved from Sage Journals: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0269881110379283
Gonzalez-Cuevas, G., Martin-Fardon, R., Kerr, T. M., & Et al. . (2018, March 22). Unique Treatment Potential of Cannabidiol for the Prevention of Relapse to Drug Use: Preclinical Proof of Principle. Retrieved from NCBI: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6098033/
Gururajan, A., Taylor, D., & Malone, D. (2012, October). Cannabidiol and Clozapine Reverse MK-801-Induced Deficits in Social Interaction and Hyperactivity in Sprague-Dawley Rats. Retrieved from NCBI: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22495620
Institute of Psychiatry - Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Laboratory of Panic and Respiration. (2014). Antidepressant-Like and Anxiolytic-Like Effects of Cannabidiol: a chemical compound of Cannabis Sativa. Retrieved from PubMed.Gov: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24923339
Johnson, J. (2018, July 27). Everything you need to know about CBD oil. Retrieved from Medical News Today: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/317221.php
Mitchell, J., Sweitzer, M., Tunno, A., Kollins, S., & McClernon, F. (2016, May 26). "I Use Weed for My ADHD": A Qualitative Analysis of Online Forum Discussions on Cannabis Use and ADHD. Retrieved from NCBI: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27227537
Peter Grinspoon, M. (2018, August 24). Cannabidiol (CBD) - What we Know and What we Don't. Retrieved from Harvard Health Publishing: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/cannabidiol-cbd-what-we-know-and-what-we-dont-2018082414476
Scott, S., & Opila-Lehman, J. (2016, October 12). Effectiveness of Cannabidiol Oil for Pediatric Anxiety and Insomnia as Part of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Case Report. Retrieved from NCBI: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5101100/