cbd

CBD and THC are two chemicals found in cannabis. When they are used together in a prescription medicine such as nabiximols, they have been studied most in people with multiple sclerosis-related spasticity, which is a type of muscle stiffness, tightness, and involuntary spasms caused by nerve damage. The best evidence is for that specific medical use, not for all kinds of spasms. In research reviews, oral cannabinoids and THC:CBD spray have shown a modest benefit for patient-reported spasticity symptoms, especially in multiple sclerosis. (CNIB)

The reason this combination may help is that the body already has its own cannabinoid system, called the endocannabinoid system. This system helps regulate how nerve cells talk to each other. THC partly activates CB1 and CB2 receptors, which are found mainly at nerve terminals. When these receptors are activated, they can reduce the release of neurotransmitters such as glutamate, which helps calm overactive nerve signaling. In plain terms, the medicine may quiet some of the nerve messages that keep muscles too “switched on.” (Medicines.org.uk)

That calming effect matters because many spasms are driven by the nervous system, not by the muscle itself. In conditions like multiple sclerosis, damaged nerves can send abnormal signals to muscles, making them stiff, tight, or prone to sudden contractions. By reducing excessive signaling in the brain and spinal cord, THC-containing medicines may lower muscle tone and reduce the feeling of stiffness. Animal and human evidence supports this idea, but the effect is usually not dramatic. (Medicines.org.uk)

CBD’s role is less straightforward. CBD does not act like THC in the same direct way, and the exact mechanism for spasm relief is still not fully clear. In combination products, CBD may help balance some of THC’s unwanted effects, and studies suggest it can influence how THC behaves in the body and how strongly its psychoactive effects are felt. That said, the main spasm-relieving action is generally thought to come from THC-driven cannabinoid receptor activity, with CBD acting more as a partner than the main driver. (PMC)

The strongest clinical evidence is for prescribed products like Sativex, which contains THC and CBD in roughly equal amounts and is used in some countries for moderate to severe MS-related spasticity when other treatments have not helped enough. Official product information says it is intended as add-on treatment, and patients are usually assessed during an initial trial to see whether they improve. Reviews also note that the average benefit is modest, and not everyone responds. (Medicines.org.uk)

That modest effect is important. Research found improvements in patient-reported spasticity, but the change was often small, and benefits were not always seen on clinician-measured spasticity scales. In some studies, a meaningful improvement appeared only in a subset of patients, which is why many prescribing rules use a trial period and stop treatment if there is no clear response. (CNIB)

Side effects are a real part of the picture. Common problems include dizziness, drowsiness, fatigue, dry mouth, changes in taste, and thinking or memory issues. Psychiatric effects can also occur, especially in people with a history of psychosis. Because THC can affect alertness and coordination, these medicines may also impair driving or the use of machinery. (MS Trust)

So, CBD and THC together can help some people with spasms because they can dampen overactive nerve signaling through the cannabinoid system. The effect is most established for multiple sclerosis-related spasticity, and even there it is usually partial rather than complete. The combination is best understood as a symptom treatment that may reduce stiffness and spasms in selected patients, not as a universal cure for muscle spasms of every cause. (CNIB)

A few important points add useful context and help keep expectations realistic.

First, the type of spasm matters a lot. The evidence for THC and CBD is mainly for neurological spasticity, especially in conditions like multiple sclerosis. That is different from common muscle cramps after exercise, electrolyte imbalance, or fatigue. Those everyday cramps are usually driven by muscle metabolism or dehydration rather than nerve signaling, so cannabinoids are much less likely to help in a meaningful way.

Another useful detail is how these compounds are used clinically. The best-studied form is not smoked or homemade cannabis, but a standardized medicine called nabiximols (often known as Sativex). It delivers a controlled ratio of THC to CBD, which matters because too much THC increases side effects without necessarily improving spasm control. This highlights a key limitation: results from medical formulations do not always translate to over-the-counter CBD products or recreational cannabis.

It is also worth noting that tolerance can develop over time. The body’s cannabinoid receptors may become less responsive with repeated exposure, which means the effect on spasms can plateau or diminish. This is one reason why some patients report that the benefit feels stronger at the beginning of treatment.

Interactions with other medications are another practical concern. Both THC and CBD can affect liver enzymes that process drugs, meaning they can increase or decrease the levels of other treatments in the body. This is particularly relevant for people already taking medications for neurological conditions, pain, or sleep.

There is also a distinction between subjective relief and objective change. Many studies show that patients feel less stiffness or discomfort, even when measurable muscle tone does not change much. This suggests part of the benefit may come from altered perception of discomfort or improved sleep, not just direct muscle relaxation.

Finally, long-term safety is still being studied. Short-term use is relatively well understood, but questions remain about cognitive effects, dependence risk, and mental health impact with prolonged THC exposure, especially at higher doses.

Taken together, THC and CBD can play a role in managing certain types of spasms, but their usefulness depends heavily on the underlying cause, the formulation used, and individual response.

(Source : ChatGPT)

Cannabidiol’s history stretches from ancient folk medicine to contemporary, tightly regulated clinical trials. Cannabis was used medicinally in many cultures for millennia — it appears in classical Chinese pharmacopoeia attributed to Emperor Shén Nóng around 2700–2800 BCE and is recorded across Asia, the Middle East and India for pain, spasms and other ailments. (The University of Sydney)

In the modern Western medical era, an important early figure was the Irish physician William B. O’Shaughnessy, who in the late 1830s (published 1839) documented cannabis preparations for treating pain, spasms and cholera while working in Calcutta and helped introduce cannabis into Victorian medicine. (The Public Domain Review)

The chemical study of cannabis compounds began in the 20th century. In 1940 Roger Adams and colleagues isolated cannabidiol (CBD) from hemp oil (they reported it as a derivative), marking the first clear chemical isolation of CBD from the plant. Early mid-century work identified cannabinoids but left some structural questions unresolved. (American Chemical Society)

A decisive advance came in the 1960s with the Israeli chemist Raphael Mechoulam and collaborators: in 1963 Mechoulam and Shvo published the correct structure of cannabidiol, and in 1964 Mechoulam (with Yechiel Gaoni) elucidated the structure of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive constituent. These structural discoveries opened the door to systematic pharmacology and later to the discovery of endogenous cannabinoids (the body’s own “endocannabinoid” system). (PubMed)

From the 1970s onward, basic science and animal studies expanded rapidly, and by the 1990s researchers had identified endocannabinoids and cannabinoid receptors, providing a physiological framework that explained how plant cannabinoids like CBD could influence pain, seizure thresholds, mood and inflammation. This era set the stage for clinical research into specific therapeutic uses. (PMC)

The 2000s–2010s saw the first regulatory approvals for cannabis-derived medicines: nabiximols (Sativex®, a roughly 1:1 THC:CBD oromucosal spray) gained approvals in several countries for spasticity in multiple sclerosis in and after 2010, reflecting acceptance of standardized botanical extracts in some national formularies. Then, in a landmark for CBD specifically, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Epidiolex® (a purified, plant-derived CBD oral solution) on 25 June 2018 for certain severe childhood epilepsies (Lennox–Gastaut and Dravet syndromes, later expanded), based on randomized controlled trials showing seizure reduction. Those regulatory steps mark CBD’s movement from isolated compound and experimental therapy into licensed medical products. (Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA))

Since those approvals, research has broadened: clinical trials and observational studies have investigated CBD for pain, anxiety, sleep, inflammation and a range of neurological and psychiatric conditions, producing mixed but sometimes promising results. At the same time, a massive consumer market for unregulated CBD products emerged, creating regulatory and quality-control challenges that health agencies continue to address. The scientific arc therefore runs from ancient empirical use, through mid-20th-century chemical isolation and 1960s structural elucidation, to modern mechanistic science and the first regulatory endorsements of CBD-based medicines in the 2010s. (PMC)

(Source : ChatGPT)

To understand why CBD may help, it helps to know that the skin has its own endocannabinoid system — a network of receptors, enzymes, and signalling molecules that influence inflammation, immune responses, oil production, and how skin cells (keratinocytes) grow and differentiate. CBD interacts with parts of this system (and with other targets such as TRP channels and nuclear receptors) and produces several effects that are directly relevant to eczema and psoriasis. First, CBD has anti-inflammatory activity: in cells and animal models it lowers production of pro-inflammatory cytokines that drive redness, swelling and immune activation in these diseases. Second, CBD can reduce itch signals partly by acting on channels involved in sensory neurone signalling. Third, in psoriasis (which involves excessive keratinocyte proliferation and abnormal differentiation) CBD and related cannabinoids have been shown in lab studies to slow keratinocyte growth and help normalize their behaviour — which could reduce scaling and thickening. Finally, CBD has antioxidant properties and can support skin barrier function and hydration in some formulations, which helps with dryness and irritation. (The Lancet)

What the clinical studies actually show so far: meta-analyses and recent systematic reviews report that topical cannabinoids, including CBD-containing preparations, produce a modest but statistically significant reduction in pruritus (itch) and some symptom improvement in small trials, but results for broader skin-disease outcomes (clearance, long-term control) are inconsistent because studies use different products, doses, and endpoints. In plain terms: many people and some small studies report less itch and less inflammation when using topical CBD products, but we do not yet have many large, high-quality randomized controlled trials proving they reliably change the course of eczema or psoriasis. (Frontiers)

Safety and practical points. Topical CBD preparations are generally well tolerated in the short term, with irritation or allergic reactions being the most common local problems; however, the regulatory and quality landscape is messy. Non-prescription CBD creams can vary widely in CBD concentration, purity, and may contain undeclared THC or contaminants. Oral/systemic CBD (not usually necessary for topical skin problems) carries additional risks such as drug interactions and, at high doses, possible liver enzyme elevation — so it’s important to be cautious if you take other medications. Because formulations matter a lot for skin penetration and effect, and because manufacturers differ, it’s sensible to choose products from reputable companies that provide third-party lab testing, to patch-test a new product on a small area first, and to talk with your dermatologist before starting CBD if you have moderate–severe disease or are on systemic medications. Also remember that, as of now, CBD products (except prescription drugs like Epidiolex for seizure disorders) are not approved by major regulators specifically for eczema or psoriasis. (library.samhsa.gov)

In short: the biology behind CBD makes it a plausible and sometimes effective option for reducing inflammation and itch in eczema and psoriasis, especially when used topically; but evidence from large clinical trials is still limited, product quality varies, and medical oversight is recommended for anything beyond light, short-term symptom use. If you’re considering trying CBD for your skin, a practical approach is to discuss it with your clinician, pick a well-tested topical product, patch-test it first, and treat it as one part of a broader skin-care plan (emollients, trigger control, and prescribed therapies when needed). (PMC)

(Source : ChatGPT)

There's arguably no buzzier investment on Wall Street at the moment than marijuana. And within the cannabis industry, no trend is hotter than the rise of cannabidiol (CBD).

Cannabidiol is the nonpsychoactive cannabinoid best known for its perceived medical benefits. It can be extracted from the cannabis plant or from hemp, the latter of which is almost always a more cost-effective source to obtain large quantities of CBD extracts. Given that CBD-infused derivatives, such as oils, capsules, edibles, infused beverages, and topicals, don't get a user high, they're believed to be the perfect means to market to users who've never used, or considered using, a marijuana or hemp-oil product before.
For Wall Street, CBD is nothing more than a gigantic dollar sign hovering over the industry. The Brightfield Group foresees U.S. CBD-based sales rocketing from $591 million in 2018 to $22 billion by 2022. That's good enough for a compound annual growth rate of 147%. The passage of the farm bill in December, which legalized industrial hemp production and hemp-derived CBD extracts, only adds fuel to CBD's sizzling growth prospects.

And for prospective consumers, it's a means to possible therapeutic benefits. In June 2018, GW Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:GWPH) saw its lead drug Epidiolex, a CBD-based oral solution, get approved to treat two rare forms of childhood-onset epilepsy. This was the first time the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had approved a cannabis-derived drug.

We've also witnessed plenty of university-level studies that have shown positive correlations between CBD consumption and improvements in chronic pain, glaucoma, epilepsy, and a host of other ailments for patients.

In many respects, CBD is being hailed as an inexpensive cure-all for a number of conditions. But this faith in CBD and its medical benefits may be misplaced, at least according to one new study.

CBD: Not as safe as you think?

The study, titled "Hepatotoxicity of a Cannabidiol-Rich Cannabis Extract in the Mouse Model," was published in the journal Molecules in late April, although it was a recent Forbes article that brought this study to my attention.
As the title suggests, researchers at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences used a mouse model to examine CBD toxicity in the liver based on varying dosages of the substance. What's particularly interesting about this study is that the researchers used "allometrically scaled mouse model equivalent doses of the maximum recommended human maintenance dose of CBD in Epidiolex (20 mg/kg)." In other words, the high-dose parameters of GW Pharmaceuticals' lead drug, and the only approved CBD-based therapeutic in the U.S., was the basis for the dosing in this study.

In the sub-acute (presumed nontoxic) phase of the study, 8-week-old mice were gavaged dosages of 0 mg/kg, 61.5 mg/kg, 184.5 mg/kg, and 615 mg/kg for 10 days. Again, this was the sub-acute toxicity portion of the trial (the acute portion saw dosages as high as 2,460 mg/kg). Of those mice in the sub-acute study receiving the highest dose of 615 mg/kg, 75% either died or were near death by day three or four. These mice showed many of the telltale signs of liver damage (i.e., elevated liver enzyme levels, and significant increases in the liver-to-body weight ratio) that were seen in the highest doses of the acute study.

Now, here's the aha moment: The 615 mg/kg dose that caused the death or near-death of three-quarters of mice in the sub-acute group is the allometric equivalent to the highest dose of GW Pharmaceuticals' Epidiolex in humans. 

It's also worth noting that on Epidiolex's warning label, "hepatocellular injury" is the first warning listed. As noted by the FDA-accessible label:

In controlled studies for LGS [Lennox-Gastaut syndrome] and DS [Dravet syndrome], the incidence of ALT elevations above 3 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) was 13% in Epidiolex-treated patients compared with 1% in patients on placebo. Less than 1% of Epidiolex-treated patients had ALT or AST levels greater than 20 times the ULN. There were cases of transaminase elevations associated with hospitalization in patients taking Epidiolex.

The FDA takes a cautious approach
Does this prove CBD is unsafe? Well, no, it doesn't. However, it does raise some warning signs that we don't know a lot about what CBD is capable of treating, and what it's long-term or regular-use side effects might be on the body. That led researchers at the University of Arkansas to conclude that additional studies should be conducted on the matter.

Additionally, given that the FDA is the regulatory body to have thoroughly reviewed GW Pharmaceuticals' CBD-based drug, and understanding the impact of CBD maintenance therapy on liver function, this could help explain why the FDA has been reluctant to allow CBD additives in food, beverages, and dietary supplements. Even though hemp-derived CBD is legal nationwide, the FDA has been reluctant to budge on its premise that an insufficient safety profile exists for CBD as an additive.

More than likely, this mouse model study will have little to no impact on the near-term sales of CBD products in the United States. With zero marijuana overdose-related deaths on record, the public is likely to assume that CBD-rich products are equally as safe to consume as cannabis. But the FDA is not as easy to win over, even with popular opinion likely pushing the regulatory agency for a green light on adding CBD to foods and beverages.

My suspicion is this isn't the last time we'll see the safety of CBD called into question, and that's something consumers and investors will want to keep in the back of their minds.

(Source : The Motley Fool)

Meet the Mom Who Found Help in CBD Oil for Eczema : Cheryl Haliburton, a 27 mom, says inhaling CBD oil through a vaporizer has helped her deal with severe eczema. Cheryl has been struggling with ecema flare-ups all around her neck and face every few days for the last four years.

• Cheryl Halliburton started suffering from severe eczema after her pregnancy
• Her skin could be so painful, cracked and sore that she was not able to work
• Steroids cleared up some of her skin but doctors could not help heal her face
• Her father suggested trying CBD oil, which she says worked within weeks 

Cheryl's skin was often left red raw, cracked and weeping, leaving her so self-conscious she wouldn’t leave the house.  (...) A MUM whose eczema was so severe she was hospitalised in agonising pain claims she found a “miracle cure” using cannabis oil.

Cheryl Halliburton began suffering with eczema flare-ups on her face and neck after getting pregnant with her daughter, Alexis, four years ago. The 27-year-old’s skin was often left red raw, cracked and weeping, leaving her so self-conscious she wouldn’t leave the house. At her wit's end Cheryl decided to try CBD oil, a naturally occurring cannabinoid found in cannabis, and found it had a remarkable effect on her skin after inhaling the natural remedy through a vape pen.

Cheryl, a careworker from Elgin, Scotland, said: “It really began when I fell pregnant with Alexis when I was around 23 years old. “It started on my back and cleared up after a course of steroids but straight away it flared up on my face and neck and has been constant ever since.

Struggling to find the ongoing cause of her eczema, Cheryl saw several GPs, where she was continuously given courses of steroids tablets, light treatment and blood tests.

She was left unable to wear make-up or go on nights out with friends because she feared eating the wrong thing, or drinking alcohol could cause her skin to react.

Then, in August 2 this year, Cheryl's flare-ups got out of control and she was rushed to Dr Gray's Hospital in Elgin by her husband, Craig, 32, who told his wife he could no longer see her suffer.

“I couldn't move my face and neck and there were open wounds on my chest that were weeping,” Cheryl said.

“I was cold and shaky and felt like I wanted to be sick, and was placed on a drip overnight to treat the infection that had gotten into my skin.

“All my tests came back normal and doctors wanted to discharge me so I could be treated at home but I broke down to a nurse as I felt like I couldn't go on. “It seemed there was never going to be an answer.”

When Cheryl's dad suggested that she tried CBD oil after researching the medicine she decided to trying vaping it to see if it helped. Cheryl was stunned when her skin cleared up in just two weeks and she no longer suffered flare-ups.  “At first I tried the liquid form but found I hated the taste, but I discovered the vape shop was selling it when I walked past one day,” she said.

“I've not looked back since.  I've been able to go shopping with my little girl, even go back to work.

“Alexis has noticed the difference as she always had to stay in the house with me.

“I have been able to eat bread and other things I haven't eaten in a long time without flare-ups - and even had a glass of wine.”

Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the main ingredients in medical marijuana.

It is also used in cannabis oil to treat a range of issues including mental health, sleep problems, low appetite, epilepsy, Alzheimer's and palliative care.

CBD is also said to help prevent the signs of ageing and protect against eczema and psoriasis.

Last year the World Health Organisation declared CBD safe to use with no risk of addition.

According to the British Association of Dermatologists: "Complete emollient therapy is the mainstay of treatment for all patients with eczema - this means regular application of a moisturiser [also known as an emollient] and washing with a moisturiser instead of soap.

"These should be applied several times every day to help the outer layer of your skin function better as a barrier to your environment.

"The drier your skin, the more frequently you should apply a moisturiser. Many different ones are available, varying in their degree of greasiness, and it is important that you choose one you like to use.

"Moisturisers containing an antiseptic may be useful if repeated infections are a problem."

(Source : The Sun)