9 Benefits Of CBD Oil 2023: Dosage, Side Effects & More

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Reviewed by Elizabeth Gonzalez Cueto, MD

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benefits of cbd oil

The benefits of CBD oil are shrouded in myths, making any information regarding them unreliable. However, their benefits exceed these myths, and we will discuss CBD oil as an asset.

This article answers the question “What is CBD?” and discusses its legality, potential side effects, consumption, what to look out for when purchasing CBD products, and, most significantly, nine medical benefits of cannabidiol that have been verified.

What Is CBD?

CBD[1], also known as cannabidiol, is one of the cannabinoids found in the cannabis (hemp) plant, Cannabis sativa. has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and chemopreventive properties, but no psychotropic properties. CBD oil is an extract of CBD diluted in a carrier oil like coconut oil, MCT oil, or hemp seed oil.

The hemp plant is the perfect plant for making CBD oil because the plant contains a minute amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) compared with Cannabis indica. THC is the major psychoactive cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant.

what cbd is right for me

Is CBD Legal?

The legality of CBD depends on your state, i.e., CBD products are legal under some state laws and are illegal at the federal level. In comparison, other hemp-derived CBD products containing less than 0.3% THC are permitted nationally and are still illegal in some states. 

Before purchasing any CBD products, check your state’s law and the places you travel. The Food and Drug Administration does not approve CBD products because they are non-prescription drugs and might be inaccurately labeled.

Does CBD Work?

There is some scientific evidence that supports the benefits[2] of CBD, but it does not work for all health conditions as advertised by some CBD brands. CBD does not cure cancer, but it reduces swelling obtained during cancer treatments; it is a pain management medication that improves sleep disorders and reduces seizures from Lennox gastaut syndrome and muscle spasticity from multiple sclerosis; it also relieves panic attacks and anxiety disorders.

The argument of using CBD, whether by direct contact with the skin or orally, fuels up the uncertainty of using CBD because there is more evidence to show that consuming oral CBD increases sleep quality and reduces pain, and anxiety and less evidence that prove they do the same when rubbed onto the skin, so why the contradiction? This contradiction doesn’t change the health benefits of using CBD oil.

9 Amazing Benefits Of CBD Oil For Health

  • Offset Anxiety & Depression
  • Treat Select Epilepsy Syndromes
  • Reduce PTSD Symptoms
  • Treat Opioid Addiction
  • Alleviate ALS Symptoms
  • Relieve Chronic Pain
  • Ease Diabetic Complications
  • Protect Against Neurological Disease
  • Inhibit Arthritis Symptoms

What Are the Side Effects of CBD Oil?

The regular and safe dosage for CBD is up to 200 mg daily for 13 weeks; more dosage information is accompanied by the CBD brand of your choice, as some prescriptions come in higher doses.

Going beyond the regulated dosage will cause some side effects, such as:

  • Dry mouth
  • Nausea and vomiting 
  • Lowers blood pressure
  • Drowsiness and fatigue
  • Immune suppression
  • Diarrhea
  • Weight loss or gain
  • Light-headedness and headaches 
  • Lover damage
  • Increased or reduced appetite 
  • Irritability

9 Benefits Of CBD Oil: What You Need to Know

Offset Anxiety and Depression

The most recent research[3] on CBD treatment for anxiety and sleep disorders was dated 2019. The research’s objective was to determine whether CBD improves sleep and reduces anxiety.

The result showed that out of the 72 adults that volunteered for the research, their anxiety decreased with continuous usage while sleep improved.

Treat Select Epileptic Syndromes

Living with seizure disorders triggered by epilepsy syndromes is tougher when nothing helps or reduces uncontrollable seizures. However, did you know CBD-rich medical cannabis has beneficial effects that help cope with repeated bouts? 

There isn’t enough evidence to back this claim. Tuberous sclerosis complex, Dravet syndrome, and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome are the three health issues, including the placebo group the FDA approved to be treated with CBD oil. Still, it is suspected that CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system, which regulates appetite, sleep, pain, and immune system response and reduces its neuron excitability.

Reduce PTSD Symptoms

Human studies[4]  show that the addition of oral administration of CBD to routine psychiatric care reduces Post Traumatic Stress Disorders in adults. However, a balanced THC and CBD medication prove more effective than CBD alone.

Treat Opioid Addiction

Symptoms like anxiety, depression, pain, insomnia, nausea, and high blood pressure also occur during opioid addiction. Studies investigating[5] suggested that treatment with medical cannabis proved that opioid addiction could be well-tolerated with no side effects while using CBD.

Alleviate ALS Symptoms

Cannabidiol is not a cure for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease), the weakening or paralysis of the muscle, but it helps significantly reduce the symptoms. CBD may alleviate ALS symptoms, but the combination of THC and CBD will produce more effective results.

Relieve Chronic Pain

CBD may be referred to as one of the pain medications in the market because of its effectiveness in reducing and relieving severe pain. Studies suggest that rubbing topical cbd in the form of creams on the affected area shows a significant reduction in swellings and other cancer-related symptoms because of the anti-inflammatory properties of CBD. While other cancer pain, cancer-related pain, injuries, etc., drastically reduce when CBD gets into the bloodstream.

Ease Diabetic Complications

Human studies aren’t popular, but animal researches suggest that CBD may lower the risk of diabetes by turning white fats into slimming brown fats. It also reduces high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), lowers cholesterol, and increases insulin production until it is regulated.

Protect Against Neurological Disease

CBD impacts the neurotransmitters by improving sleep, reducing anxiety, reducing muscular tension, regulating dopamine production, and activating the production of more endocannabinoids for the proper functioning of the nervous system. Alzheimer’s disease, Dravet syndrome, Parkinson’s disease, Neuropathic pain, Schizophrenia, and other severe forms of neurological disorders are regulated by CBD consumption.

Inhibit Arthritis Symptoms

Several human trials indicate that CBD may increase pain tolerance and offers pain relief for individuals with arthritis by improving sleep quality and reducing anxiety and addictions. CBD may be inhaled by vaping, applied directly onto the skin, or taken by mouth.

What’s the Best Way To Take Pure CBD?

There are several ways to take pure CBD, but choosing the most effective method of consumption guarantees that you enjoy all the health benefits of CBD; here are the top ways to take CBD;

  • Tinctures

Tinctures are CBD oil-infused items kept under the tongue for more than a minute before swallowing, so the CBD oil gets to the bloodstream faster and begins metabolism in the digestive system. It is the most effective method of consumption.

  • Gummies and Other Edibles

They come in different shapes, flavors, and sizes, and if you’re one to get bored taking medications, edibles might suit your taste. Chewy, soft, sweet, and flavored edibles might take effect slower than tinctures. Still, they are an interesting way of consuming CBD oil without feeling disgusted.

  • Capsules

CBD capsules are easy-to-use, convenient, and largely tasteless; they do not have the aftertaste of tinctures or chewy remains of gummies and are swallowed with water, but it takes a while before relief kicks in as to go through the digestive system before being absorbed into the bloodstream.

Vaping, smoking, topical CBD in balm & creams, and water-soluble/wax concentrates are other methods of taking pure CBD oils. Still, the unavailability of clinical trials affects the evidence of their effectiveness.

What Should I Look for When Shopping for CBD Products?

The Label

A must-have for Cannabis-derived CBD products is a transparent label that suggests the uses of the product, the age of allowed users, instructions or directions on usage, ingredients, and warnings for pregnant or nursing mothers. Such information on the label proves that the company’s priorities and intentions revolve around the customers’ safety.

Third-Party Testing

Third-party testing is a form of certification that verifies that the active ingredients and all their contents match what’s on the label. An unbiased lab does the testing and sees that the company meets up to the given standard. Third-party testing ensures that you get safe and registered products.

The Dosing

Regardless of its dosage, a CBD product is still regarded as having a good safety profile, and the brand you choose plays an important role in determining your accurate dose. Remember CBD is absorbed differently based on how it is administered (tinctures, topical CBD, vaping, etc.), so choose a product whose dose balances your weight, body composition, and medical conditions.

Claims of Curing Disease

It is a popular trend for CBD to be marketed as a cure for diseases, but this is very wrong and misleading. CBD cannot prevent, cure, or treat diseases and any brand advertising is sharing unsubstantiated information on the properties of CBD. CBD manages and relieves pain; combined with therapy, it helps with substance abuse treatment; these benefits are not the same as a cure.

Batch Number

The batch number helps identify and trace a specific batch produced, so manufacturing and control are regulated, especially with CBD products. The batch number allows you to trace a collection in case any problem arises, track the expiration date,  and reduce the emergence of counterfeited CBD products.

Additional Ingredients

Research on the additional ingredients of any CBD product is crucial in the selection process because you gain added knowledge on the elements present in the CBD, how it affects its taste & flavor and whether you’re allergic to any ingredient present. Knowing the ingredients helps you select a product that fits your wants.

Conclusion

Cannabidiols are continuously studied for their beneficial effects, especially when they relieve symptoms of different medical conditions, from high blood pressure, post-traumatic stress disorder, muscle spasms, neuropathic pain, and many other health conditions.

There is still so much to learn about CBD, and usually, the healing properties of CBD are because they are combined with THC. It is advisable to seek the advice of any registered healthcare provider/healthcare professional before taking any medication.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is CBD considered a drug?

Yes, CBD is an approved prescription drug, but it is not legally included in foods or dietary supplements, and it is listed as a “cosmetic” product.

How long does CBD oil stay in my system?

Depending on how much CBD is consumed, CBD may stay in the body for more than one hour to five days.

 Is CBD oil addictive?

CBD is non-psychoactive and non-addictive but smoking marijuana to get the medical benefits of CBD may lead to an addiction.

What is the safest way to take CBD

Clinical trials suggest that the safest way to consume CBD is to use CBD oil alone.

Is CBD like an opioid?

No, CBD is not like opioids as it is not addictive but a long-lasting pain and anxiety reliever. But mixing CBD with other medications might lead to opioid-addictive behavior

Can CBD make you fail drug tests?

Consuming CBD oil will not test positive for cannabis when consumed as it is, unlike THC, which will test positive for drug tests.

What are the side effects of CBD

CBD may cause side effects like Dry mouth, fatigue, low blood pressure, diarrhea, reduced appetite, and drowsiness.

Will CBD affect your heart?

The breakdown and metabolism of CBD are done by the liver, and this process might interfere with medications taken for heart conditions but taking CBD alone does not affect the heart.

+ 5 sources

MIDSS adheres to strict procurement guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutes, and medical associations. We work mainly with peer-reviewed studies to ensure the accuracy of the information. We avoid the use of tertiary references. You can read about how we ensure the accuracy and timeliness of our content in our editorial process.

  1. PubChem (2023). Cannabidiol. [online] @pubchem. Available at: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Cannabidiol [Accessed 6 Jan. 2023].
  2. Rapin, L., Gamaoun, R., El Hage, C., Arboleda, M.F. and Prosk, E. (2021). Cannabidiol use and effectiveness: real-world evidence from a Canadian medical cannabis clinic. Journal of Cannabis Research, [online] 3(1). doi:10.1186/s42238-021-00078-w.
  3. Shannon, S., Lewis, N., Lee, H. and Hughes, S. (2019). Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series. The Permanente Journal, [online] 23(1). doi:10.7812/tpp/18-041.
  4. Elms, L., Shannon, S., Hughes, S. and Lewis, N. (2019). Cannabidiol in the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Case Series. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, [online] 25(4), pp.392–397. doi:10.1089/acm.2018.0437.
  5. Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research. (2021). Adjunctive Management of Opioid Withdrawal with the Nonopioid Medication Cannabidiol | Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research. [online] Available at: https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/can.2021.0089?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori%3Arid%3Acrossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub++0pubmed [Accessed 6 Jan. 2023].

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kathleen Bauer
Experienced Health, Journalism
Kathleen Bauer is an experienced medical professional and content writer who has worked with reputable healthcare websites and magazines for more than 5 years. She believes not only that disseminating health information in communicable and easy-to-understand words to her targeted audience can help improve health literacy and reduce health challenges, but also in bridging the gap between an average Joe and medical professionals. She harnesses her skill of converting complex medical data into simple content for this purpose.

ABOUT MEDICAL REVIEWER

Elizabeth Gonzalez Cueto, MD
Medical Doctor & Medical Writer
My name is Elizabeth and I am a Medical Doctor (MBBS) with experience as a medical and research article writer, reviewer and proofreader. I have worked for the American Journal of Case Reports, the Medical Science Monitor, and Pacific Medical Training as a medical article reviewer and writer. Besides, I have worked as a medical interpreter and translator for Angel City research and SC3 Research group as a medical research assistant for several clinical trials. My academic background includes many international scientific environments like Oxford University, United Kingdom. Hannover Medical School, the University of Tours, France. the Autonomous University of Barcelona and the National Polytechnic Institute in M