CBD or Cannabidiol is one of the active ingredients in marijuana that is derived from the hemp plant, a relative of the marijuana plant. CBD has become popular in recent times and is often touted for its supposed health benefits. It is also an active ingredient used in vape pens, which have also become a popular replacement for spliffs/joints and cigarettes. With their rise in popularity, there has been the ever present question, is it safe?
Does CBD Have Any Health Benefits?
For a while now, CBD has been deemed by various sources to have health benefits. The field in which CBD is most well researched is for use in the treatment of epilepsy. To be even more specific, CBD has been used as a treatment for one of the worst forms of epilepsy in children known as Dravet syndrom which typically do not respond to other anti-epileptic treatment options. A 2017 study done at NYU Langone Medical Centre, “Trial of Cannabidiol for Drug-Resistant Seizures in the Dravet Syndrome,” found that there was a 39% reduction in frequency of seizures in the CBD treated group. Some patients actually had their seizures stop completely. The study has resulted in the FDA’s approval of Epidiolex, the only first and only FDA approved CBD medication for Dravet Sydrome. There are numerous videos which can be readily found on YouTube showing children reacting positively to being treated with CBD oil.
Other studies suggest that CBD may be used as a sleep aid as well as to treat pain. One such study published in the European Journal of Pain (2016) concludes that CBD oil may be used topically to treat arthritic pain and inflammation without any evident side-effects. It is however important to note that here have been limited studies done on humans. It is safe to say while there is promise, more research needs to be done in these areas, especially those taking into account the long term effects of CBD on the human body. Additionally, there are still many questions about CBD’s effective therapeutic dose.
What Does the World Health Organisation Say?
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has deemed CBD relatively safe for humans to use. The paper, Cannabidiol (CBD) Pre-Review Report, presented in 2017 at the Expert Committee on Drug Dependence outlined the adverse effects of CBD on humans. The report states, “CBD does not produce the effects that are typically seen with cannabinoids such as TCH,” as well as, “CBD has been found to have low toxicity.”
What Are the Side Effects of CBD Use?
Like any other chemical, whether natural or manmade, unwanted effects can always be expected. Irritability, fatigue, and nausea are some of the known side effects of CBD use. These same side effects were noted in the NYU study referenced above. Additionally, CBD is known to interact with a number of pharmaceutical drugs, particularly those that list the popular grapefruit warning. The extensive list includes drugs from the following categories, blood pressure medication, antibiotics, anti-cancer medications, and medications used to treat arrhythmias just to name a few. If you are taking any medication, it is best to consult your doctor before trying CBD. It is important to note that not all formulations of CBD will have these drug interactions, and your doctor would be the best person to advise you about your options.
Is There Anything Else I Should Know About CBD?
It is important to know that like vitamins, CBD is often sold as supplement and not a medication. What does this mean? It means that CBD is therefore not regulated by the FDA in the US. This presents a significant problem. Because CBD is unregulated, you are never sure of the purity or the amounts of the active ingredient advertised by the supplier. Additionally, CBD products may contain other ingredients which may not be listed by the manufacturer.
Conclusion
With all the evidence above, it can be easily said that CBD is relatively safe for use but it is strongly encouraged that this is done with caution. Before starting any CBD therapy be sure to consult your physician.