There’s a lot of misinformation about cannabidiol(CBD) out in the world, which leaves many people who are curious about CBD feeling confused. The lack of accurate information makes it difficult not only to find reputable CBD products but also to decide if CBD is right for you in the first place! This raises the issue of letting experts have a say on the whole CBD saga and all of its health benefits. A CBD review of an expert will be best to clarify the issues on the ground. Some of these experts include researchers, doctors, CBD manufacturers, philanthropists, and laboratory technicians.
Here we will be examining the review of the World Health Organization (WHO) Experts on Cannabidiol(CBD). Before delving into this, let’s do a quick brief explanation of CBD.
What is CBD?
CBD, short for cannabidiol, is a chemical compound from the Cannabis sativa plant, which is also known as marijuana or hemp, according to the US National Library of Medicine.
It’s a naturally occurring substance that one uses in products like oils and edibles to impart a feeling of relaxation and calm. Unlike its cousin, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the major active ingredient in marijuana, CBD is not psychoactive.
You’ve probably heard the terms cannabis, marijuana, and hemp all tossed around concerning CBD. The plant Cannabis sativa has two primary species, hemp, and marijuana. Both contain CBD, but there’s a much higher percentage in hemp, which also has very low (less than 0.3%) levels of THC compared to marijuana.
WHO’s CBD review
CBD Research
In November 2017, the WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence (ECDD) came to the decision on CBD. This states that CBD “does not appear to have abuse potential or cause harm.” In animal studies and controlled human studies, physical dependence on CBD has not been identified. For example, in studies with mice, there were no tolerance or withdrawal effects found. Similarly, it does not appear to have a stimulus, intoxication, physiological or psychotic effects.
For example, “an orally administered dose of 600mg of CBD did not differ from placebo on the scales of the Addiction Research Centre Inventory. It is a 16-item Visual Analogue Mood Scale, subjective level of intoxication or psychotic symptoms”. During animal testing, CBD shows no such release. This is in contrast to the dopamine release in cells that occurs with most drugs of abuse. As well as this, THC use has been connected to anxiety and increased heart rate, but these symptoms have not been found in volunteers in CBD trials.
CBD market
Following on from this, in December 2017, WHO officially recommends that CBD should not be internationally put out as a controlling substance. Many countries including the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, and Australia have all ease down regulations around CBD. This is as a result of these findings and recommendations by WHO,
In line with these reports and recommendations, there has been a shift in how people socially perceive CBD. Besides, the market for CBD products is gradually growing. In fact, there are now hundreds of thousands of regular CBD users in the United Kingdom alone. CBD is readily available on the market, both in shops and online and consumers can buy it in different forms, such as an oil to consume orally, supplements, gums, or as an e-liquid for e-cigarettes and vapes.
CBD and epilepsy
This CBD review of an expert or more stretches to more health conditions like epilepsy. There is currently no evidence that proves that there’s a link between recreational use of CBD and any health problems. In fact, it has lots of health benefits. CBD also treats many health difficulties including stress, sleep difficulties, anxiety, other mental health difficulties, and chronic pain. The New England Journal of Medicine has run studies on both humans and animals that suggest CBD has a valuable therapeutic use for epilepsy, seizures, and spasms.
While more research needs to be done, there is already some evidence that CBD has medical use for calming spasms, during epileptic seizures, and even limiting seizures altogether.
Research
- In a small double-blind placebo trial, four patients taking 200mg of CBD a day. These four patients were taking a placebo for three months, which they took on top of their usual medication. Two of the patients trialing CBD saw improvements with no seizures during the time period. While one partially saw improvements and one saw no change. Whereas, “no improvements were observed in the placebo group.”
As we can see in this study, as well as others, no toxic effects or serious side effects were noted
- In another double-blind placebo-controlling trial, CBD plays a role as part of the treatment for Dravet syndrome. This is “a complex childhood epilepsy disorder that one can associate with drug-resistant seizures and a high mortality rate.” In the patients who took CBD along with their other treatment, the medium frequency of convulsive seizures in a month fell. it went from 12.4 to 5.9 and 5% of patients had no seizures. This contrasts with the results of the patients taking the placebo. In this part, the medium frequency of seizures fell from 14.9 to 14.1 and no patients were experiencing any seizures. However, the side effects from the CBD were showing at a higher rate in patients taking CBD than patients taking the placebo. These side effects include diarrhea, loss of appetite, somnolence, vomiting, and fatigue.
The research into CBD and epilepsy is more rigid than the use of CBD to treat other medical conditions. However, there is some evidence – both pre-clinical and clinical – that CBD could have some properties. These are “neuroprotective, antiepileptic, hypoxia-ischemia, anxiolytic, antipsychotic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-asthmatic, and antitumor properties”. Therefore, in the future, CBD may have therapeutic benefits. This will be for a range of medical conditions from arthritis to depression.
Conclusion
Following the review from the World Health Organization on CBD, there are improvements. Lots of companies, foundations, and CBD manufacturers are showing their support for the CBD industry. There are still no regulations on the manufacturing and use of CBD. A CBD review of an expert would go a long way. You should always consult a medical practitioner before embarking on your CBD journey.
