CBD, or cannabidiol, is a natural chemical that has been increasingly popular in recent years. Two mental health doctors who operate in this field have responded to some frequently asked questions concerning CBD:
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1. What is CBD, exactly? Is it the same thing as marijuana? Hemp? Is it a marijuana plant?
CBD stands for cannabidiol. It’s one of the almost 200 cannabinoids contained in marijuana plants. CBD is not psychoactive, unlike many other cannabinoids, and has a different pharmacologic profile than psychoactive cannabinoids. CBD can be obtained from both marijuana and hemp plants.
2. Is it safe to use CBD (and CBD products)?
A product is considered safe if it has undergone adequate safety testing. The CBD products that are flooding the market, on the other hand, are unlikely to have passed any safety testing. In reality, the FDA has issued a number of warning letters to companies that sell unapproved new medications containing cannabidiol. The FDA has analysed the chemical content of cannabis compounds in some of the products as part of these activities, and many of them were found to not contain the quantities of CBD that they claimed to contain. It’s crucial to note that the FDA has not authorised these items for the diagnosis, treatment, mitigation, or prevention of any disease. Consumers should be cautious when purchasing and utilising such items.
3. It appears that CBD is being employed in a variety of goods (shampoos, cosmetics, oils, bath salts, etc.). Is it truly beneficial when it is included in a product?
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There is no evidence that CBD has any health benefits when used in a variety of products. Furthermore, there is no way of knowing how much CBD is in any of these products.
4. Is CBD-based medication truly effective in treating anxiety and depression, and has it been scientifically demonstrated to do so?
CBD has been shown to be effective in the treatment of a variety of medical ailments. However, compared to epilepsy treatment, this study is at a far earlier stage. There is only preclinical evidence for most indications, while there is a mix of preclinical and limited clinical evidence for others. CBD’s neuroprotective, antiepileptic, hypoxia-ischemia, anxiolytic, antipsychotic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-asthmatic, and anticancer characteristics have been studied for a wide range of illnesses.
The assertion that CBD is an effective treatment for depression or anxiety is based on insufficient scientific data. That isn’t to say it wouldn’t help, but there haven’t been enough well-controlled clinical research to support CBD as a treatment for anxiety or depression. CBD’s promise as a treatment for anxiety and depression will require a lot more research.
Also Read: Top 5 Uses of CBD
5. Is CBD now being researched in the United States? Is CBD used in other countries?
There are currently dozens of scientific trials examining the potential benefits of CBD for a number of illnesses, including alcohol use disorder, pain, anxiety, PTSD, and others. The majority of these studies are being carried out in the United States, however others are being carried out in other countries.
CBD is also being investigated when combined with THC (THC is the main psychoactive compound in Cannabis). Sativex is a CBD+THC combo medication that is approved in Europe and Asia for cancer pain and spasticity.
6. Is CBD FDA-approved, and can it be prescribed by doctors?
Purified CBD extract (GW Pharmaceuticals) was approved by the FDA in 2018 as a Schedule 5 substance for the treatment of two rare forms of epilepsy, Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
