General Information
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CBD AND THC?
Cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) generally come from the same species of Cannabis plants, Cannabis sativa. Hemp and marijuana typically come from two different varieties of the Cannabis plant (CBD is usually from help but can be from the marijuana plant). And while both hemp and marijuana both contain THC and CBD, the hemp plant typically has far less THC (0.3%) than the marijuana plant. THC is the psychoactive component of the plant that gives a person the mental "high". CBD, while it may have certain proposed medicinal effects, will not get you "high". So, very basically. Hemp oil (the non-psychoactive CBD oil), addressed below, is commonly used today for various maladies. It is extracted from the stalk and seeds of the plant.
OTHER NAMES: Hemp
HISTORY: The cannabis plant has been used for thousands of years (possibly dating back to 8000 BC). It has been used for things like rope, food, fiber, medicine, and for religious
purposes. The component of the cannabis plant, CBD was not actually isolated from the plant until the 1940's. THC was discovered in the 1960's. While some people look upon anything related to the Cannabis plant as being harmful, there are also many benefits of both.
Since CBD is accepted in many parts of the United States as a remedy for a number of ailments, it is being addressed below.
Marijuana will be addressed elsewhere in these pages.
While there may be some abuse potential of marijuana, there is NO abuse potential of CBD.
Does CBD work? Many people claim that CBD works for various ailments.
PROPERTIES:
General: Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anxiolytic, anti-tumor
Considered Uses
Respiratory: As anti-inflammatory, it may help with viral respiratory infections, according to an article published by the NIH.
Cardiovascular: May help lower blood pressure
Gastrointestinal: Decreases vomiting and nausea, Crohn's, gastroparesis (in larger doses), gastroparesis (larger doses)
Musculoskeletal: Arthritis, may help mitigate ambulation and decrease pain in MS, chronic pain, pain, inflammation, pain (including neuropathic pain)
Neurologic: Sleep disorders (falling asleep and staying asleep, parasomnias), possibly anti-seizure, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's (non-motor symptoms, psychosis, REM sleep, mood),
Skin: Eczema (topical), may stimulate hair growth(topical extract)
Mental Health: This may help with anxiety, PTSD, depression, and possibly schizophrenia. It may reduce drug cravings in abstinent users (CBD actually does work on the neurons of your brain), may help with social anxiety (when used for 4 weeks or more)
Glucose: May help decrease blood sugar
Cholesterol: Reportedly decreases cholesterol plaque deposits in blood vessels.
Immunity: Possibly increased immunity
Cancer: May help as an antioxidant, might help with cancer-related pain
Other: Stimulates appetite, TMJ (topical)
* * *
SIDE EFFECTS: Dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, reduced appetite, drowsiness, fatigue, mood changes, anxiety, dizziness, may increase liver enzymes, constipation, urinary retention.
CAUTIONS/CONTRAINDICATIONS: Caution/contraindication in liver disease. Use caution if using medications metabolized by the CYP450 enzyme pathway: Including steroids (prednisone, dexamethasone, etc), Some calcium channel blockers, antiarrhythmic drugs (to treat irregular heartbeat), anticonvulsants (i.e. Tegretol [oxycarbamazepine], Trileptal), Remeron, the "zole" antifungal drugs, some benzos (i.e. clonazepam [Klonipin]), certain immune suppressant medications, macrolides (Clarithromycin [Biaxin], sildenafil, antihistamines (Allegra, Benadryl, Claritin), Haldol, some statins (cholesterol medication), HIV antivirals, antibiotics (Cipro, Bactrim [trimethoprine-sulfamethoxazole], Augmentin [Amox-Clav], Amoxicillin, Azithromycin [Zithromax, "Z-Pack"], Doxycycline, Keflex [cephalexin], Fentanyl and some other opoids, and others). Using CBD along with the medications mentioned above increases the concentration of those medications in your body. The interaction may be mild or severe depending on the medication and/or amount of CBD use. It is recommended that you openly discuss use with a medical provider.
Over the long term may cause apathy and anhedonia.
FORMS: Creams, gels, oils, lotions, extracts, liquid sprays, tinctures, gummies, tea
Recommended Brands
Ananda Professional Full Spectrum Hemp Extract — available in some retail stores
Bluebird Botanicals Classic CBD Oil — available in some retail stores
Swanson CBD Mint Oil/Extract (25 mg) — available in some retail stores and on the Swanson website
cbdMD™ Broad Spectrum Gummies, Tropical Mix (200 mg) — available in some retail stores; check GNC and Vitamin Shoppe
Dosage
As directed by the product label.
Higher amounts of CBD are more likely to cause side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, fatigue, and other symptoms. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
The only FDA‑approved CBD product is Epidiolex, a prescription‑only purified form of CBD used for specific seizure disorders. Independent testing (such as ConsumerLabs) has found that some over‑the‑counter CBD products contain lower‑than‑listed amounts of CBD.
When reviewing a CBD product, check whether the strength listed refers to the entire container, per pill, per milliliter, or per dose, as labeling can be confusing. Look for the amount per unit, which reflects the actual CBD content in each serving. Avoid synthetic CBD.
Even low levels of CBD may cause a positive cannabis test.
Traditional Use (General Information Only)
CBD products have been used traditionally and commercially for general wellness support, relaxation, and comfort. These uses are based on consumer experience rather than strong clinical evidence. Product formulations vary widely, so it is important to follow the manufacturer’s directions.
*Disclaimer: The material above is for informational purposes only. This information is not intended to diagnose or treat a condition. The uses listed above are tentative; some have or are undergoing research trials, but many are not FDA-approved. It is essential that you investigate these supplements further before deciding to use them. Check interactions and contraindications on sites like Drugs.com or WebMD. Do not attempt to treat a serious condition like liver, kidney problems, high blood pressure, heart, cancer, diabetes, or thyroid issues without discussing it with a healthcare provider first. If you are pregnant, do not use supplements without discussing it with your healthcare provider.