CBD Facts & Myths – Science Based Evidence About CBD

CBD (cannabidiol) jumped into mainstream usage a few years ago. However, many myths and facts about CBD perpetuated by brands and marketing teams make understanding this cannabinoid confusing for many people.

Derived from the hemp plant, CBD-rich products have rapidly grown in availability over just the last couple of years. They can be purchased in various forms, including capsules, e-liquid for vaping, topical products, tincture forms, and more options.

If you are looking to learn the most important CBD facts to determine whether a CBD product may benefit you, you have come to the right place!

It is important to remember that along with all the information provided below, one of the most important CBD facts is that it is not legal everywhere, and you need to understand your laws before using CBD products.

Although you may have seen people even growing their own CBD and THC clones on the internet, that does not mean that you can start growing cannabis in your background or using cannabis in public.

Keep reading below to see a quick guide on CBD properties and a few key CBD facts that you might not have known before!

Evidence-Based Health Benefits of CBD

Among many other benefits, the most common uses of CBD oil are anti-inflammatory, anti-psychotic, anti-depressant, anti-cancer, and anxiety medicine. In addition, CBD has proven to be effective in battling addiction!

CBD oil is the non-psychoactive portion of the cannabis Sativa plant and, in nearly all cases, will not cause someone to fail a drug test. It is possible that a CBD product can produce a positive drug test for THC, the more commonly illegal and psychoactive part of the cannabis plant, but that likely means you bought a low-quality CBD product that wasn’t well tested.

Top-line CBD products contain less than .3% THC, which is why it is legal to sell CBD in all 50 states in the United States and many countries across the world.

CBD oil has shown its potential as a unique and widely beneficial medicine, and we are only at the beginning of understanding how effective it can be. Check out these key facts about CBD to help determine whether CBD is right for you:

1.) Reduces the Risk of Obesity and Diabetes

Several studies have shown that those who use cannabis regularly have a lower Body Mass Index (BMI), medium waist measurements, and less possibility of developing obesity and diabetes.

Several studies have indicated that CBD can promote weight loss by modifying lipid and glucose metabolism through actions on various receptors and several metabolites, making it beneficial for preventing obesity and diabetes (Bielawiec et al., 2020).

CBD is not necessarily a weight loss hack, but it can play a role in regulating body weight in various ways.

2.) CBD Can Relieve Chronic Pain

One of the most revered health advantages that CBD-rich hemp oil has is its pain-relieving and analgesic effects.

Due to its reported analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, CBD-rich products are useful for people suffering from chronic pain (Mlost et al., 2020).

I have used CBD for chronic pain relief for several years! I began using CBD after fracturing my spine in a basketball game, and I have been using it ever since.

CBD is vital for helping me manage chronic pain that occurs during my career as a professional basketball player, including muscle, joint, tendon, and ligament pain and inflammation.

Learn More: How Long Does it Take for CBD Oil to Work for Pain?

3.) CBD Oil Fights Against Anxiety

The World Health Organization estimates that 3.6 percent of the global population is affected by anxiety, a mental health disorder that causes worry, fear, and general uneasiness.

Anxiety is a natural reaction when faced with a pressure situation, like a job interview, but some suffer to such an extent that it affects their normal life quality.

Science has shown us that anxiety is not all in the head and results from physical changes in the brain. For example, feelings of anxiety can arise when neuronal circuity in the amygdala, a region of the brain responsible for emotional processing, becomes hyperactive.

This excitation, and therefore anxiety, can be reduced by promoting gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA), an inhibitory neurotransmitter. In 2017, a study revealed that CBD and 2-AG are positive allosteric modulators of GABA_A receptors.

Increasing the binding affinity of these receptors allows for more GABA to become active in the brain, which helps explain CBD’s anxiolytic properties.

Furthermore, various studies show that CBD use considerably reduces signs and symptoms of subjective anxiety, thereby leading researchers to conclude that CBD can help reduce anxiety (Skelley et al., 2019).

4.) CBD is Effective for Treating Sleep Problems

Another benefit of CBD products is improving sleep quality and preventing sleep issues like insomnia.

Research has indicated that CBD use is positively associated with sleep duration and sleep quality, and using CBD can lead to consistent sleep success (Kesner & Lovinger, 2020).

Some CBD products are specifically aimed at promoting healthy sleep quality by combining CBD with melatonin or other natural sleep aids.

For example, the Pure Sleep products from Pure Hemp Botanicals:

5.) CBD Is a Useful Skincare Product

You can use CBD oil to improve the appearance of your skin.

You can apply CBD  externally on your skin or consume it orally to achieve these positive results in your skin.

6.) Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Inflammation is a problem for many because of the immune system’s volatility.

Furthermore, regulating immune system response is notoriously difficult, and while there are drugs that successfully combat inflammation (e.g., NSAIDs), these can cause other problems, such as stomach pains and ulcers.

Hence, the demand for a more precise anti-inflammatory that doesn’t cause nasty side effects is high.

Studies have shown that CBD can do this by influencing the CB₂ receptors in the ECS. These receptors are present on white blood cells, which help to protect from infections and invaders. CB₁ receptors are sometimes found on these cells, albeit in lower quantities.

Cannabinoid receptors help to regulate the release of pro-inflammatory proteins called cytokines.

However, CBD is a CB₂ receptor antagonist and does not have a direct immunomodulatory function.

In 2018, the peer-reviewed Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics published a study showing that CBD elevates levels of anandamide. This endocannabinoid is a partial agonist of the CB₂ receptor. CBD may also increase concentrations of another endocannabinoid, 2-Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), a full receptor agonist.

The anti-inflammatory properties of CBD products may help treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), acne, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, and other inflammation-based health problems.

8.) CBD Has Anti-Depressant Effects

Depression is a complex mood disorder, and not everybody is affected in the same way. The differences in depression causes and symptoms can make it difficult to treat, as has become apparent with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), the most commonly prescribed class of anti-depressants.

Depressive symptoms are often characterized as a “chemical imbalance,” although we now know this to be an over-simplification.

CBD can boost anandamide levels, a chemical with profound anti-depressant properties, which are realized when the endocannabinoid binds with the CB₁ receptor. Exercise also increases anandamide, which is why we tend to feel great after working out.

CBD is also an agonist of the 5-HT1A receptor in the serotonin system, which is implicated in depression.

However, an animal study conducted at Sao Paulo State University by Brazilian and Danish scientists found that CBD could initiate neuronal circuitry repair in the prefrontal cortex, which helped alleviate symptoms of depression. The prefrontal cortex is involved in decision-making, personality, and advanced cognitive behavior.

Moreover, the rats benefited from the CBD treatment for up to a week after the researchers stopped dosing them.

The logical next step is to repeat the study on humans with depression, as results from neurological studies on rodents are not always replicated in humans but are often a great guide.

9.) Suppresses Nausea and Vomiting

Nausea and vomiting can be caused by many factors, such as food poisoning, migraines, infections, and as a side effect of chemotherapy.

Research published in the British Journal of Pharmacology back in 2011 attested to the anti-emetic properties of cannabinoids, including CBD. The cannabinoid may indirectly activate 5-HT1A receptors, as a previous study showed that the anti-emetic properties are not associated with the CB₁ receptor.

Research has indicated that low doses of CBD may help treat vomiting and anticipatory retching. However, larger doses seemed not to provide this benefit, indicating CBD’s biphasic nature.

Facts to Consider Before Choosing a CBD Company to Purchase From

As more companies are beginning to produce CBD products, it can become more and more difficult to determine which products are safe, effective, and cost-efficient.

I have already mentioned some of my favorite CBD companies above, and there are many other CBD companies that I have tested myself and approved.

Here are a few key pieces of information you should consider when determining what CBD product to buy:

Purity:

The first thing to consider while purchasing products is their purity. Unfortunately, many manufacturers use additives, chemicals, and artificial flavors that make the product less effective.

Thus, you must check the label and the packaging to determine if the product is 100% pure.

Cost:

The cost of the product is a major deciding factor among CBD oil users. If the product is low-cost, even if the brand is not renowned, the beginners might try it.

But, this is not recommended as good quality comes at a price, and you must not compromise with the quality as it might bring unfavorable health hazards in the long term.

The best CBD brands are relatively affordable but not so cheap that they have to reduce their quality.

Medterra is a good example of a brand that blends cost and quality.

You can read my Medterra review to see their quality products with prices that are still reasonable.

Also, you must remember that the price goes up with the strength, so a 3000mg bottle will certainly cost you a lot more than a 300 mg bottle.

Reviews:

Checking user reviews is an excellent idea to find out the quality and benefits of a certain product. If you are a first-time user, read the user reviews and comparisons to find the best CBD products

I have written many other CBD product reviews that you can check out on my website!