CBD is one of many cannabinoids. These chemicals can also be found naturally in our bodies as part of the Endocannabinoid System (ECS). The ECS helps to keep many of the systems in our bodies balanced.
Cannabinoids interact with receptors (CB1 and CB2) throughout the brain and body which ensure processes such as metabolism, digestion, memory, cognition, immunity & stress response function at their best.
CBD has been shown to slow the breakdown of naturally occurring endocannabinoids in our bodies and increase the levels of them in our brains to give our key systems a boost.
The CBD industry is still very much in its infancy. As a result there is a lack of large clinical studies which means that these results are suggestive rather than conclusive. However, many of the studies conducted so far into CBD have been promising in terms of demonstrating its beneficial impact.
A study in the Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry demonstrated that the participants given doses of CBD had significantly reduced levels of anxiety, compared to those given a placebo, whilst giving a public speech.
In America in 2018 the FDA approved the use of a CBD product to help treat two rare forms of epilepsy based off the results of three studies.
In these studies, the group given the CBD product along with their prescribed medication had a decrease in the frequency of seizures they suffered compared to the group given a placebo
In 2018 there was a study in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine during which 11 PTSD sufferers were given CBD alongside their routine psychiatric care.
10 of these 11 people saw a decrease in their PTSD symptoms
A 2006 study of a CBD based botanical drug showed statistically significant improvements in quality of sleep, pain during movement and pain while resting in patients with rheumatoid arthritis compared with a group given a placebo
