The 17 Most Compelling Studies on CBD
Updated: Mar 21, 2021
CBD – three little letters that just might revolutionize how people view medication and their options for treatment.
A survey from April of this year showed that 55% of Americans regularly take prescription medication. That percentage might not seem overly alarming because prescription medication has become so normalized.
However, the negative ramifications of prescription medications, including the exploding opioid crisis, underscore the sometimes-lethal consequences of our fixation on prescription drugs.
Unfortunately, many alternative options for treatment, i.e. homeopathic remedies, do not generally have the research or scientific support to be seen as a viable and effective alternative.
Enter CBD.
Over the course of this year (and many years prior) Cannabidiol has been shown to be a potential therapy for:
· Anxiety
· Epilepsy/Seizure
· Psychotic Disorders
· Stroke Rehabilitation
· PTSD
· Pain
· Colitis
· High Blood Pressure
· Liver Injury
Also, study after study has demonstrated CBD does not get you high. As such, this powerful therapy should not be associated with rolling a joint to mellow out; it has real potential to be a legitimate treatment.
This is great news given that the conditions listed above are generally treated by prescription medication, which can cause severe side effects and opioid addiction.
CBD studies with the greatest impact over the past year
Over the past year, hundreds of CBD-related studies were conducted across dozens of countries and institutions. Many of them contribute to the growing understanding — and acceptance — of CBD.
We decided to call out 17 of the studies that stood out among the most important CBD studies of the year. While this is not a comprehensive list, it does highlight some of the critical studies conducted by important researchers in this field.
The studies discussed below continue to pave the way for alternative ways to medicate with CBD and voice urgent need for more research into CBD.
A logical start to this list is an overall update on CBD. Published in June, this review evaluated a massive amount of existing research, data, and studies with the intent to update and synthesize vast amounts of data.
Overarching Conclusions
· CBD is safe to use
· There is a major need for more research as the majority of studies were performed for treatment of epilepsy and psychotic disorders
· Most common side effects reported are tiredness, diarrhea, and changes of appetite/weight.
· CBD has comparatively fewer side-effects compared with prescription medication
· The fewer side-effects could help increase patient-adherence to treatment
· CBD can be used as a supplemental therapy
To put the CBD side-effects in perspective, other drugs used for the same medical condition have far more negative side-effect profiles. This is particularly important as choosing a treatment with fewer side-effects could help ensure patients actually follow their treatment plans.
As to the safety of CBD use, the authors stated that the “safety profile is already established in a plethora of ways” and the breadth of their review serves to substantiate and build upon this notion.
CBD and Treatment-Resistant Seizures
Authors: G. Pesántez-Ríos, L. Armijos-Acurio, R. Jimbo-Sotomayor, S.I. Pascual-Pascual, G. Pesántez-Cuesta
An Explanation of Epilepsy
Having a medical condition is difficult enough, but if that condition doesn’t respond to medical treatment, life can become a constant battle. Refractory epilepsy is also known as uncontrolled or drug-resistant epilepsy. This means that a person who is suffering from refractory epilepsies is not responding to traditional medicine and thus is unable to effectively manage his or her neurological disorder.
As of 2014, 50 million people worldwide suffer from epilepsy (more than Parkinson’s disease and cerebral palsy combined), and it is the fourth most common neurological disorder in the United States. Of that 50 million, approximately 1/3 – over 16 million – are unresponsive to antiepileptic medication and other medical treatments.
Published on August 16, 2017, the study Cannabidiol: its use in refractory epilepsies explores the use of CBD as a therapy on patients whose seizures had been non-responsive to prior treatments.
Study Parameters and Results
A group of 15 patients who received CBD over a period ranging from one month to one year were surveyed to gather various data. The researchers sought information about the patient and the caregiver, changes observed in the seizures, neuropsychological effects, side effects and the family’s overall perception following the use of cannabidiol. This simple observational study identified some very encouraging findings:
· Frequency of seizures: Decreased in 40% of patients, disappeared completely in 27% of patients.
· Level of patient-control over seizures: 60% of patients were able to control 50% of their seizures.
· Neurocognitive changes: Many patients experienced improvements in behavior, language, sleep, and eating habits. Moreover, 100% of the patients reported that their mood had improved after the use of CBD.
· Side effects: Most common were drowsiness and fatigue.
The impact of this study could be far-reaching both for patients with refractory epilepsy as well as patients with epilepsy who feel compelled to try other treatment methods.