What Are the Benefits of CBD Oil? Uses, Side Effects, and How to Take It

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Cannabidiol (CBD) oil has become increasingly popular over the past few years. Claims that it can help with conditions like anxiety, depression, and insomnia make it appealing to people looking for more natural treatments. Still, as a fairly new treatment option, it's important to learn about the risks and benefits of CBD oil and how to take it.

What is CBD oil?

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is one of about 540 active ingredients found in the cannabis plant. CBD oil can be extracted from all types of cannabis plants. But the CBD oil used in most over-the-counter (OTC) products is extracted from hemp. Hemp is a word used to describe any cannabis plant that contains less than 0.3% THC.

What does CBD do in the body?

It's not entirely known how CBD works in the body. It's considered a "multi-target" compound, because it interacts with several different types of receptors (binding sites) in the body. It also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. This is part of the reason it seems to have such a wide variety of uses.

But even though it comes from cannabis, CBD doesn't interact with the body the same way that THC does. That's why CBD doesn't cause the same intoxicating effects as THC. In fact, CBD seems to lessen THC's psychoactive effect if they're combined.

For some people, CBD may also cause a placebo effect. This happens when a person expects a medication to work, even if it doesn't actually do anything in the body. Studies on anxiety and pain showed that when people were told they received CBD, their symptoms improved - even if they didn't actually receive it. So approaching CBD with a positive mindset may be as helpful as CBD itself.

What are the benefits of CBD oil?

Research is ongoing to help understand how CBD works and what conditions it could help treat. Current research on CBD has found that it may help with several different health conditions.

Keep in mind that in most cases, CBD hasn't been clinically proven as an effective treatment for these conditions. Its positive effects are largely based on animal studies or patient-reported effects. More controlled clinical studies are needed to determine the true potential of CBD oil for certain health conditions. And you should always talk to a healthcare professional before trying CBD.

1. Seizure disorders

Epidiolex is the only FDA-approved form of CBD. It treats certain types of seizures in adults and children. But Epidiolex isn't the same thing as the CBD oil you can buy OTC. Epidiolex has strict manufacturing guidelines and clinically proven dosing information that can't be applied to other CBD products. So these two products aren't interchangeable.

CBD is also being studied for other epilepsy and other seizure-related conditions - especially those that don't respond well to prescription antiseizure medications.

Good to know: You shouldn't replace your seizure medication or try to treat seizures on your own using CBD oil. It hasn't been proven safe or effective for all types of seizures. And CBD also has side effects and drug interactions to consider. If your medication isn't working well or causing unwanted side effects, talk to your prescriber. They can discuss your options to help you safely manage your seizures.

2. Insomnia

Early research shows CBD may help improve sleep in people with insomnia. But the results of current clinical studies on CBD and sleep are mixed. It's possible that CBD may be more likely to improve sleep issues related to an underlying health condition, such as anxiety or pain.

Many of the studies showing a positive effect of CBD on sleep were based on patient surveys rather than clinical data. So it's possible that CBD's relaxing effects made people think that they slept better, even if their actual sleep patterns didn't change.

3. Substance use disorders

Studies have found that CBD may help people with substance use disorders. CBD may reduce cravings for alcohol, opioids, and stimulants. It may also help lessen opioid withdrawal symptoms.

This is another area where it's best to talk to a healthcare professional before trying CBD. Trying to manage substance use disorders or withdrawal symptoms on your own isn't typically the safest or most effective choice. A medical professional can help you choose the best treatments for your specific needs and help you incorporate CBD safely if they determine it's a good option for you.

4. Inflammation and autoimmune conditions

CBD seems to have a powerful effect on inflammation. It also may help regulate immune system activity. This may make it a helpful treatment for conditions such as:

• Rheumatoid arthritis

• Osteoarthritis

• Inflammatory bowel disease (although study results are mixed)

• Multiple sclerosis

These are often complex health conditions, so while CBD may help improve your symptoms, it's not likely to be an effective treatment on its own. So be sure to check with your prescriber to make sure it's safe to take CBD with your other treatments before giving it a try.

5. Chronic pain, including nerve pain

CBD may also help with chronic pain. Not only can it help the pain itself, but it may also improve sleep and quality of life for people living with chronic pain. This is likely due to its anti-inflammatory effects.

A small study showed improvement in nerve pain symptoms with topical CBD. Early studies also show that oral CBD may help prevent nerve pain caused by certain types of chemotherapy treatment. More in-depth research on CBD and nerve pain is ongoing.

Evidence on CBD for pain is mixed, and most studies look at CBD combined with THC, not CBD alone. So more research is needed to know more about CBD's effect on pain.

6. Anxiety

Anxiety is one of the most common reasons people turn to CBD oil. In a survey of young adults, over 65% of participants reported using CBD for stress relief.

There's some evidence that CBD can help reduce anxiety related to pain as well as social anxiety. A small study also showed that at certain doses, CBD may help with performance-related anxiety. And a more recent study found that CBD-dominant cannabis reduced anxiety better than THC-dominant or equal THC and CBD products.

There's some evidence CBD doses under 300 mg may be less effective for anxiety. But responses may vary between people, and an optimal dosing regimen hasn't been clearly established.

7. Depression

Preliminary studies on CBD suggest that it could be helpful for depression. Like antidepressant medications, it appears to alter serotonin levels in the brain.

8. Schizophrenia

Several small trials show that CBD may help lessen symptoms of psychosis with fewer side effects than most other antipsychotic medications. But more long-term safety data is needed.

What are some other uses for CBD oil?

CBD is also currently being studied for other conditions, such as:

• Post-traumatic stress disorder

• Alzheimer's disease

• Parkinson's disease

• Huntington's disease

• Autism spectrum disorder

• Type 2 diabetes

• Certain cancers

• Graft-versus-host disease

• Skin conditions such as acne, psoriasis, and dermatitis

As of yet, there's no clear evidence - one way or the other - if CBD is effective for these conditions.

What are the side effects of CBD oil?

CBD is generally well tolerated, but it does have some side effects and risks to be aware of. The most common are:

• Drowsiness

• Diarrhea

• Decreased appetite

• Fatigue

• Increased liver enzymes

These side effects are more likely at higher doses and often go away with time as your body adjusts to CBD. But if they don't, consider lowering the amount of CBD you're taking. You can also talk to your healthcare team for guidance.

The package insert for Epidiolex states that CBD may also increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviors, although this isn't clearly understood. If you notice a negative change in your mood after you start taking CBD, contact a healthcare professional right away.

Is CBD oil safe?

Sometimes, but not always. Epidiolex is the only form of CBD that's FDA approved and proven safe and effective when used as directed.

CBD is considered a dietary supplement by the FDA. This means even though you can buy it OTC, the safety and purity isn't regulated. Unreliable labeling or contaminants in a CBD product could make it unsafe for you. You can learn more about choosing a quality CBD product here.

Is CBD oil safe for children?

Epidiolex is the only form of CBD that's considered safe for seizure disorders in children. But that doesn't mean all CBD products are safe to give to children. As mentioned, CBD products sold OTC aren't well regulated and may contain pesticides and heavy metals that are harmful to children. There also isn't enough research to know how CBD can affect a developing brain.

If you're interested in CBD as a treatment option for your child, it's best to speak to a healthcare professional for guidance.

What's the best way to take CBD oil?

There are a few things to consider when taking CBD oil: the product category, the dosage form, and the dose.

CBD product categories

All CBD oil falls into one of three main categories:

• Full-spectrum CBD: A full-spectrum oil contains CBD along with all of the other active ingredients found in the cannabis plant. This includes terpenes, flavonoids, and other cannabinoids, including THC. But only full-spectrum CBD products with less than 0.3% THC can be sold OTC.

• Broad-spectrum CBD: These products are similar to full-spectrum CBD, but they don't contain any THC. They may contain other cannabinoids though, such as CBG or CBN.

• CBD isolate: These products only contain CBD - no other active ingredients from the cannabis plant are included. Often, CBD isolate is lab-made; it's not extracted from cannabis or hemp plants at all.

Full- and broad-spectrum CBD products contain more active ingredients than CBD isolate. But CBD isolate may be a safer option if you're concerned about testing positive for cannabis on a drug test.

CBD dosage forms

CBD oil is used to make most CBD products. These can range from capsules, gummies, and brownies to lotions, vape cartridges, and sublingual drops. Each of these products works differently in your body. The most common forms of CBD include:

• Inhaled (vaping or smoking)

• Sublingual (under the tongue)

• Oral (capsules or food-based edibles)

• Topical (cream or lotion)

• Transdermal (patches or gels/creams that are formulated to pass through the skin into the bloodstream)

Inhaling CBD works the quickest, but the effects don't last very long. So people often choose to inhale CBD when they need fast relief, such as for anxiety or muscle spasms. But inhaling CBD can be harmful to your lungs, so it isn't an ideal choice.

Sublingual and oral forms of CBD take longer to work (1 to 2 hours or more), but they also last longer once they take effect. So they may be better for ongoing symptoms that need long-lasting treatment, such as chronic pain.

Some oral and sublingual forms of CBD use a new technology called nano-formulation. This allows your body to absorb them faster so they don't take as long to work. But they also won't last as long. These products may be a good alternative to inhaled CBD, since they work pretty fast and don't last a long time.

Most topical CBD products only work on the surface of the skin, so they're best for skin-related conditions. But there are some patches, gels, and creams that are formulated to pass through the skin into the bloodstream (transdermal products). These may be helpful for muscle or joint pain when applied to the affected area, but there's not a lot of evidence behind their use.

CBD dosage

There are no universal dosing guidelines on how much CBD oil you should take (except in the case of Epidiolex). Studies on CBD have looked at daily doses ranging from 16 mg to 1,000 mg. In general, experts recommend starting with a low dose of CBD and slowly increasing it over time.

For pain, a general guideline is to start with 5 mg of CBD twice a day. You can then increase your dose by 10 mg every 2 to 3 days up to 40 mg a day. Research suggests that higher doses of CBD (300 mg to 600 mg) may be better for anxiety. But remember to speak with a healthcare professional first. They can help you choose the right dose for your needs.

If you or someone you know struggles with substance use, help is available. Call SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) to learn about resources in your area.

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