What Are the Health Benefits of CBD—Cannabidiol?

Cannabidiol—shortened to the acronym CBD—is a naturally occurring chemical found in the Cannabis sativa plant. Despite its popularity, information about CBD can be confusing, particularly when figuring out if and how you should use it. CBD is often contained in various products and is shown to have multiple uses, like adding it to coffee, mixing it into skincare, or selling it on its own. Some people may wonder what the specific benefits of CBD are and how to best use it.

While CBD (cannabidiol) might seem new, the cannabis product has existed for centuries. In a 2020 study published in Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, researchers found that nearly 12,000 years ago in Central Asia, where nomadic people and traders went, cannabis seeds followed. Over millennia, humans have learned this plant's commercial value and medicinal applications.

What Is CBD?

CBD naturally occurs in Cannabis sativa plant, a type of herbaceous flowering plant. Cannabis is a plant genus that contains many different compounds that can affect the body differently.

Two different cannabis plants are marijuana and hemp. THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol) are two of the chemicals found in those plants. Marijuana has higher levels of THC and lower levels of CBD. In comparison, hemp has higher levels of CBD and lower levels of THC.

Unlike THC, which creates a "high" when used, CBD is not psychoactive. Therein lies the most significant difference.

Will I Get "High" Using CBD?

In short, CBD cannot get you "high." While cannabis plants contain hundreds of compounds (called phytocannabinoids), there are two main players: CBD and THC.

"CBD is the non-psychoactive portion of the plant, so what that means is you won't have any effects like euphoria," Junella Chin, DO, an osteopathic physician and a medical cannabis expert for cannabisMD, told Health. However, you never know how your body will react to any new supplement, so when taking CBD for the first time, do so safely with medical supervision.

It's also crucial to buy third-party-tested CBD for quality assurance. Because the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn't regulate over-the-counter CBD, buying a product that is more or less potent than advertised or even contains small amounts of THC is possible.

While the FDA does not regulate CBD products, it will issue warning letters to companies who violate certain laws, such as those producing products containing THC or making false medical claims on their labels.

What Are the Health Benefits of CBD?

People claim CBD has helped with a slew of health conditions—including back pain, psoriasis, osteoarthritis, and even cancer. However, the only CBD medication that is currently approved by the FDA is Epidiolex (cannabidiol) for the treatment of certain types of epilepsy, a neurological disorder that causes seizures. Generally, though, little unbiased evidence supports any claims about CBD's possible benefits.

The few unbiased studies that do exist seem to indicate CBD has potential benefits. A 2021 study published in the Journal of Cannabis Research found that CBD-rich treatments helped relieve moderate to severe pain, anxiety, and depression. The treatments also improved overall well-being in people with these symptoms. Still, the study did not show the benefit of CBD in those with mild symptoms.

Does CBD Help With Pain Management?

Two types of pain include musculoskeletal and neurological. "There could be benefits for both conditions," said Houman Danesh, MD, director of integrative pain management for the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York.

He added that the tricky part is that there's some evidence suggesting CBD works best for pain when combined with a little THC. "Depending on what type of pain you have, you might be able to do just CBD, but sometimes you need [both] CBD and THC." Figuring out how much you should take is challenging, as well. The dosage that alleviates one person's pain might do very little for someone else.

While it may be safe to try, it's important to speak with your healthcare provider before adding any supplements or homeopathic remedies to your routine. Dr. Danesh also added that it is important to do more research to look closer at CBD and the conditions that respond to it.

Can CBD Help With Anxiety?

CBD might be worth trying to help manage symptoms of anxiety. "[CBD] tells your body to calm down and reminds you that you're safe," Dr. Chin explained. "It mellows out the nervous system, so you're not in a heightened 'fight-or-flight' response."

For that reason, people with anxiety may find it helps them feel more relaxed. Still, one of the biggest misconceptions about CBD is that it will cure any and all ailments, which is not the case.

While CBD may treat symptoms of anxiety, it is important to seek care from a mental health professional to address and treat the root cause of your anxiety.

Types of CBD

The best way for you to administer CBD should be guided by what needs to be treated, such as physical pain vs. anxiety, and your preference. Some people don't want to ingest anything and prefer a topical CBD cream or ointment applied to muscles, joints, and ligaments for targeted relief.

When choosing a CBD product, it's essential to consider factors such as your preferred method of consumption, the desired effects, dosage, and the product's quality and source. Additionally, consult with a healthcare professional before using CBD, especially if you have underlying health conditions or are taking other medications, as CBD can interact with certain drugs.

The biggest differences between tinctures and edibles are the speed of delivery and how long the effects last. It will take longer to feel any "effects" when ingesting CBD, but the "effects" may last longer.

What Should I Look for When Shopping for CBD Products?

"There are literally hundreds of CBD brands at this point," said Brandon Beatty, founder, and CEO of Bluebird Botanicals and an executive vice president of the U.S. Hemp Roundtable. Here are a few things you should keep in mind when shopping.

Third-Party Testing

Quality assurance is a legitimate concern in the industry. Ensure your CBD products are tested by a third party to confirm the label's accuracy. A third party is a reputable independent organization with no ties to the company selling the product. The risk is that your product contains less or more of the ingredients than the label claims. A 2017 study found that 26% of the CBD products they evaluated contained lower doses of CBD than stated on the bottle.

Look for a quality assurance stamp or certificate of analysis from a third party, or check the retailer's website if you don't see one on the product's label.

NSF International is one of the leading third-party testing organizations for supplements. If you're not sure your supplement is third-party tested, you can use the search tool on the NSF site for this purpose.

Dosing

The topic of dosing is a confusing one for many people. Consider whether your CBD is isolate, full-spectrum, or broad-spectrum when considering dosing.

• CBD isolate: CBD isolate is the purest form of CBD, containing 99% or more pure CBD. It is free of cannabinoids or terpenes, found in the cannabis plant.
• Full-spectrum CBD: Full-spectrum CBD contains different cannabis ingredients like cannabinoids and terpenes. It might have trace amounts of THC (usually less than 0.3%).
• Broad-spectrum CBD: Broad-spectrum CBD is like full-spectrum CBD but without the THC. It still has other elements of the cannabis plant.
  

With all these formulations, doses vary from person to person. It's important to consult with a healthcare provider before starting any doses of CBD to ensure it won't interfere with other medications you may be taking.

Claims of Curing Disease

If the product claims to cure disease, that's a hard pass. "You should avoid any company that makes disease claims," Beatty said. "If [they are making these claims], it means they're either willing to break the rules, or they're not aware of the rules."

Batch Number

Similar to how you check the batch number of your chicken or child's rocker when there is a recall, you can check the batch number of your CBD products. Manufacturers should be placing a batch number on their products.

"This is a huge indicator as to whether they are following good manufacturing practices," Beatty explained. "There should be a way to identify this product in case it was improperly made so the company can carry out a recall."

Additional Ingredients

As with any supplement, you want to know everything you're ingesting besides CBD. Some products contain other supplements, like melatonin. Be sure the label of your product is explicit about what it contains.

Is CBD Legal?

In 2018, former President Donald Trump signed the Farm Bill—aka the Agriculture Improvement Act—that made it federally legal to grow hemp. While each state has different compliance regulations, this essentially means it is legal to grow hemp and use hemp products, including CBD. This federal regulation also means you should be able to travel with CBD.

However, state policies vary widely. In several states, marijuana and CBD are fully legal for medicinal and recreational purposes. In other states, they are legal in some form for medicinal purposes. And still, other states permit just CBD oil.

For more information, the organization Americans for Safe Access has a helpful guide to the specific laws in each state.

Potential Risks

As with many supplements, there are potential risks you might experience while using it. One of the major risks is that it is not FDA-regulated, so you cannot be sure if the product you're buying is exactly as the label claims. In addition, there are other health considerations to take before beginning to use CBD. For example, some edibles and gummies contain non-insignificant amounts of added sugar, which is important to consider if you have diabetes.

Appearance on Drug Tests

Dr. Chin explained that CBD should not show up on a drug test as long as you're buying third-party tested CBD with no added THC. However, she pointed out that athletes, who often are required to take more sensitive drug tests, could potentially test positive for trace amounts of THC if they've used CBD products.

Use While Pregnant

There is very little research on the use of CBD during pregnancy, so it is currently not recommended to take CBD while pregnant. An article published in 2020 in Frontiers in Pharmacology states that pregnant individuals are placing their fetuses in danger by using CBD products. Any CBD products can have other ingredients that may not be safe to use while pregnant.

It's always wise to err on the side of caution when pregnant or breastfeeding, so it is best to avoid CBD until you are no longer pregnant or breastfeeding.

Potential Drug Interactions

While studies on CBD are limited, some research has found that CBD can interact with certain medications, such as anti-epileptic drugs, antidepressants, opioids, and THC. It also can interact with acetaminophen (Tylenol) and alcohol. The way your body processes CBD means it could also interact with certain antidepressants, cancer medications, and caffeine.

Be sure to speak with your healthcare provider or pharmacist on how CBD may interact with any medications or supplements you take.

Areas of Further Study

CBD hasn't been publicly available that long, so researchers are still studying its effects, dosage, and interactions. Preliminary studies show that there may be risks of liver toxicity and an impact on male reproductive health, but more research is needed at this time.

As always, it is best to discuss any new medications or supplements with your prescribing healthcare provider. They can help determine if CBD poses any risk to you.

A Quick Review

CBD is a naturally occurring chemical that may provide benefits for anxiety, depression, and pain. However, there is currently limited regulation of CBD and is not regulated by the FDA. This means it may be more or less potent than advertised or contain small amounts of THC. If you do use a CBD product, ensure that it is third-party tested for quality assurance. While we have some research on the benefits of CBD, there still isn't enough research to be conclusive.