Analysis of the literature on the use of CBD reveals the following reasons for consumption (1, 2) and indications:
Pain (3, 5, 6) and inflammation (4,11), insomnia (12), anxiety (12) , depression (13) , nausea (7, 14), the fight against addictions (3 ,10), muscle recovery , tremors (16), bulimia and obesity (15) .
This investigation highlights that CBD is also consumed to relax without having to experience the psychoactive effects or anxiety associated with THC.
Concerning the frequency of consumption, 80% say they consume CBD at least once a week and 41% daily.
55% buy CBD products in stores, 31% use delivery services and 17% buy online.
A reduction in pain (3, 5, 6) has been observed, particularly in people suffering from cancer or arthritis, without CBD altering the effectiveness of treatments such as chemotherapy.
Concerning the properties of CBD to reduce nausea and vomiting, promising results concerning patients undergoing chemotherapy have still been observed during the administration of the drug Sativex®, an oral spray containing CBD (3, 5, 6, 7).
In 2018, the CBD drug Epidiolex® was approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) in the United States to treat two severe forms of pediatric epilepsy, Dravet syndrome and Lennox syndrome. Gastaut (8, 9).
CBD may have therapeutic value in the treatment of substance abuse (3, 10). According to several studies, it reduces the effects induced by morphine at the level of the reward circuit, as well as the heroin-seeking behavior of patients.
This was notably observed in an animal study in which heroin was administered to rats, followed by CBD at a rate of 5 mg per kilo.
Regarding eating disorders and obesity, some studies show positive effects of CBD.
According to them, CBD could have therapeutic potential to reduce binge eating and the development of obesity (15).
One explanation put forward would be that CBD, by reducing anxiety, would reduce the risk of uncontrolled food intake with anxiolytic purposes generated by stress.
Important to note:
To date, health authorities do not consider CBD cannabidiol as a medicine.
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Understanding Cannabidiol | CBD Summary Report
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Published in final edited form as: Addict Biol. 2020 Jul; 25(4): e12783. Published online 2019 Jun 19. doi: 10.1111/adb.12783. PMCID: PMC6920611. NIHMSID: NIHMS1028474. PMID: 31215752. Cannabidiol inhibits sucrose self-administration by CB1 and CB2 receptor mechanisms in rodents.
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