The Various Medicinal Uses of CBD

Drug Addiction (Opioids)

Opioids have become drugs of abuse, given their easy accessibility through prescriptions. Many people who do not have access to the appropriate council or resources to deal with their psychological or physical pain resort to opioids to deal with it, despite the harmful consequences. CBD, a safe and therapeutic cannabinoid, may offer relief from opioid addiction. [1] According to a study, rats who had access to heroin did not alter their use with CBD. But, CBD did interrupt heroin use induced by a cue and this effect lasted up to 14 days! [2]

ADHD

ADHD is Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. When you think of ADHD, chances are you always picture kids who find it tough to be still. However, ADHD affects both kids and adults. This is where CBD therapy can help because it can encourage stillness and help to focus on the task at hand: A randomized controlled trial found Sativex, a cannabinoid medication (1:1 CBD: THC), to significantly improve hyperactivity/impulsivity, and even improve cognitive ability in adults with ADHD. [3]

Drug Addiction (Cocaine)

CBD has therapeutic and non-hedonic properties. [4] Because of this, it might be considered an intervention for stimulant and amphetamine addiction. It cannot reduce the rewarding qualities of these drugs, but it does help support the recovery from addiction and prevent relapse.

Type 1 Diabetes

T1D is an autoimmune condition where the beta cells of the pancreas are unable to secrete sufficient insulin to regulate blood sugar. An overactive immune system attacks and damages these beta-cells, affecting the function of the pancreas and the secretion of insulin. Amongst the host of other qualities of CBD, it helps the immune system to cool off the inflammation that is damaging the pancreas. A study on T1 diabetic mice found that CBD reduced levels of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-12, and significantly elevated the levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10. [5]

Drug addiction (Nicotine)

It is known to all that nicotine is one of the most addictive drugs. Unfortunately, it’s also easily accessible throughout the world. Many have tried to quit and failed miserably. However, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study on 24 smokers who wished to stop smoking showed some promising results. A CBD inhaler vs. a placebo inhaler significantly reduced the number of cigarettes smoked during the week of treatment. There was even a reduction in the urge to smoke during the treatment week.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

The symptoms of IBS are the same as that of IBD (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). Many believe that IBS is an early form of IBD. However, IBS is less severe and more common than IBD. Since medicinal cannabinoids like CBD help to modulate the endocannabinoid system, it may very well provide therapeutic benefits for IBS. [6]

Depression

Depression is a severe medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think, and how you act. It is still treated symptomatically, with an emphasis on addressing the ‘underlying chemical imbalance.’ Neuroinflammation (inflammation of the brain) is considered to play a part in producing these imbalances. Depression may be a psychospiritual affliction that requires more than just chemical adjustment, however, medicinal cannabinoids may still offer safe and effective symptomatic relief. CBD can influence the release of neurotransmitters in the brain which can further regulate your mood. CBD also acts as a neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory in treating Alzheimer’s, and it may act in a similar way for neuroinflammation in depression. [7]

Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's causes a progressive loss of brain cells that leads to memory loss and the decline of other thinking skills. It starts as a short-term loss and progresses into long-term memory loss. It's a neurodegenerative disease which is characterized by the formation of plaques in the brain, inflammation of the brain, impairment of brain cell signaling, and oxidative stress. Nutrition therapy and lifestyle changes are ineffective at stopping or reversing this disease. CBD is a good treatment option for Alzheimer’s because it is multifunctional. It works as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and a neuroprotective all at the same time! [7]

Dependence on Cannabis

Although cannabis is highly medicinal, they are subject to abuse just like any drug. A person smoking cannabis regularly becomes dependent on it and CBD might be useful in reducing this dependence. A study showed that the use of CBD in cannabis smokers reduced the draw to drug and boosted the urge to eat. [8]

Crohn’s Disease

Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It causes inflammation of the digestive tract, which can lead to pain, fatigue, malnutrition, severe diarrhea, and weight loss. Interestingly, a clinical trial found that cannabis helped reduce inflammation and provided symptomatic relief in patients with Crohn’s Disease. [9]

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References:

1. Russo, Ethan B., and Andrea G. Hohmann. “Role of Cannabinoids in Pain Management.” Treatment of Chronic Pain by Medical Approaches, 2014, pp. 181-197., doi:10.1007/978-1-4939-1818-8_18.

2. Ren, Y., et al. “Cannabidiol, a Nonpsychotropic Component of Cannabis, Inhibits Cue-Induced Heroin Seeking and Normalizes Discrete Mesolimbic Neuronal Disturbances.” Journal of Neuroscience, vol. 29, no. 47, 2009, pp. 14764–14769., doi:10.1523/jneurosci.4291-09.2009.

3. Gururajan, Anand, et al. “Cannabidiol and Clozapine Reverse MK-801-Induced Deficits in Social Interaction and Hyperactivity in Sprague–Dawley Rats.” Journal of Psychopharmacology, vol. 26, no. 10, 2012, pp. 1317–1332., doi:10.1177/0269881112441865.

4. Prud'homme, Mélissa, et al. “Cannabidiol as an Intervention for Addictive Behaviors: A Systematic Review of the Evidence.” Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment, vol. 9, 2015, doi:10.4137/sart.s25081.

5. Weiss, Lola, et al. “Cannabidiol Arrests Onset of Autoimmune Diabetes in NOD Mice.” Neuropharmacology, vol. 54, no. 1, 2008, pp. 244–249., doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2007.06.029.

6. Russo, Ethan B. “Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency Reconsidered: Current Research Supports the Theory in Migraine, Fibromyalgia, Irritable Bowel, and Other Treatment-Resistant Syndromes.” Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, vol. 1, no. 1, 2016, pp. 154–165., doi:10.1089/can.2016.0009.

7. Linge, Raquel, et al. “Cannabidiol Induces Rapid-Acting Antidepressant-like Effects and Enhances Cortical 5-HT/Glutamate Neurotransmission: Role of 5-HT1A Receptors.” Neuropharmacology, vol. 103, 2016, pp. 16–26., doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2015.12.017.

8. Morgan, Celia Ja, et al. “Cannabidiol Attenuates the Appetitive Effects of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol in Humans Smoking Their Chosen Cannabis.” Neuropsychopharmacology, vol. 35, no. 9, 2010, pp. 1879–1885., doi:10.1038/npp.2010.58.

9. Schicho, Rudolf, and Martin Storr. “Cannabis Finds Its Way into Treatment of Crohn's Disease.” Pharmacology, vol. 93, no. 1-2, 2014, pp. 1–3., doi:10.1159/000356512.