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A person opening mouth with a CBD oil dropper

Read time: 4 minutes

Frequently Asked Questions: CBD and your Health

Cannabidiol (CBD) is relatively new to the health food and lifestyle market. As a result, its arrival has caused many people to have questions like ‘can CBD help with mental health?’ and ‘will CBD help with my exercise regime?’

The fact is, research into CBD is still ongoing but the research so far shows promising signs. Early data is very encouraging and suggests that this remarkable extract from the cannabis plant can be a useful aid in the treatment of a wide variety of conditions.

Let’s take a look at the multitude of ways in which CBD appears to be beneficial to the human body, based on the early research.

What does CBD do to the human body?

CBD is an active compound found in the hemp (otherwise known as cannabis) plant. Despite offering many of the same health benefits as THC – the better-known compound which makes users ‘high’ – it’s non-intoxicating.1 The fact that CBD isn’t psychoactive means that it’s legal in the UK2 and can be used legally to treat a number of symptoms and complaints.

In simple terms, unlike THC, CBD doesn’t interact with the CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors in the brain and that means it doesn’t intoxicate the user.3 Instead, it works alongside a complex network in the brain called the endocannabinoid system (ECS).4 The ECS is responsible for modulating many of the brain and body’s processes, which is why CBD has such a wide variety of applications.

What are the health benefits of CBD?

The health benefits are many and varied. Because of its interaction with the ECS, there is research that suggests CBD works with:

– The vascular system, affecting blood circulation and the heart.
– The musculoskeletal system, affecting muscles and physical pain.
– The neurological system, responsible for ensuring good cognition and brain function.
– The integumentary system, responsible for skin and hair health.
– The respiratory system, governing our lung health and breathing.

Can CBD help with mental health?

The early signs are very positive. There is enough data to suggest that CBD can be used to help to treat depression as it appears to modulate serotonin production, addressing the deficit of that neurotransmitter that depressed people suffer.5 There’s also research pointing to the fact that CBD has a positive effect on anxiety and stress.6 Additionally, some research has shown that CBD can help to encourage neurogenesis and neuroplasticity, lending itself to aid in cognition.7 Some studies even show that it has a positive impact on complex neurological issues like Alzheimer’s8 and Parkinson’s.8

Will CBD help to relieve pain?

Research demonstrates that CBD is a quite powerful anti-inflammatory.9 Inflammation is the body’s essential healing response to harm but whilst the process heals, it also causes redness, swelling, heat and ultimately pain. As CBD works with the ECS, it regulates the passage of inflammatory cells (known as cytokines) that travel to the site of pain and ensures the body takes a balanced approach to their production.10 This anti-inflammatory element means that CBD could be a very effective treatment for those suffering from muscle soreness,11 chronic pain12 and arthritis13 among a host of inflammation-caused issues.

Is CBD good for heart health?

CBD’s impact on the vascular system looks to be extremely positive. Research has shown that on trials on rats, both blood pressure and and heart rate can be regulated by CBD to prevent them from becoming problematic.14 Heart issues can also lead to a stroke, with the knock on effect of brain damage. Some studies suggest that CBD’s neuroprotective qualities can help to prevent that brain damage from being too serious, and there are signs that it can also help with the recovery from a stroke.15

Can CBD help with skin conditions?

There is growing evidence that CBD can help with issues related to the largest organ the body has – the skin. It can do this on a number of fronts. As an anti-inflammatory it can prevent swelling, it appears to regulate oil production and it also looks to also be helpful in hydrating skin. This has applications for several conditions, among them acne16 and psoriasis,17 while some people simply use it as a part of their usual beauty routine. There is also growing research that CBD may influence hair regrowth,18 so its popularity as a hair restorative is on the rise.

Is CBD a useful treatment for asthma and lung health?

As we’ve seen, CBD is has anti-inflammatory properties. In terms of its anti-inflammatory properties, CBD appears to regulate the production of cytokines, which are issued to protect the lungs but can cause inflammation. Breathing becomes more difficult under these conditions, so CBD is a potential treatment for the symptoms of a number of lung diseases and conditions.19

How do I take CBD – and how much should I take?

If you’ve settled on trying CBD as treatment for an issue you’re currently experiencing, it can be confusing to consider the vast number of options currently available on the shelves of pharmacies and health food shops, let alone in the online marketplace.

With CBD, the dosage and means and delivery is solely dependent on your and your circumstances. Capsules suit some people, whilst others prefer oral sprays. On the other hand, some people prefer CBD drops applied sublingually, and others prefer edibles or balms.

Before you make these decisions, a smart move is to have a  conversation with a health professional who’s aware of your medical history. They will be able to make you make the right decision as you continue on your CBD journey.

Pureis is a food supplement, not intended to treat or prevent any physiological or psychological disease.

  1. Your Guide to CBD – healthline.com
  2. Cannabis, CBD and other cannabinoids: drug licensing factsheet – GOV.UK
  3. Does CBD Get You High? Understand the Difference between CBD and THC – healthline.com
  4. The Endocannabinoid System and its Modulation by Cannabidiol (CBD) – EBSCOhost
  5. Cannabidiol induces rapid-acting antidepressant-like effects – ScienceDirect
  6. Neural basis of anxiolytic effects of CBD in social anxiety disorder – sagepub.com
  7. A systematic review of the effect of cannabidiol on cognitive function – ScienceDirect
  8. Current Aspects of the Endocannabinoid System and Targeted THC and CBD Phytocannabinoids as Potential Therapeutics for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Diseases – SpringerLink
  9. Antioxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Cannabidiol – mdpi.com
  10. The Effects of Cannabinoids on Pro- and Anti-Inflammatory Cytokines – liebertpub.com
  11. Atalay S, Jarocka-Karpowicz I, Skrzydlewska E. Antioxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Cannabidiol. Antioxidants (Basel). 2019 Dec 25;9(1):21. doi: 10.3390/antiox9010021. PMID: 31881765; PMCID: PMC7023045. – PubMed
  12. The Role of Cannabidiol (CBD) in Chronic Pain Management – SpringerLink
  13. CBD Oil for Pain: Does It Work, Arthritis, Cancer & More – healthline.com
  14. CBD for Heart Disease: Can It Help? – healthline.com
  15. Cannabidiol reduces brain damage and improves functional recovery in a neonatal rat model of arterial ischemic stroke – ScienceDirect
  16. The Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Cannabidiol (CBD) on Acne – PMC
  17. Cannabidiol Effects on Phospholipid Metabolism in Keratinocytes from Patients with Psoriasis Vulgaris – mdpi.com
  18. Hair Regrowth with Cannabidiol (CBD)-rich Hemp Extract – ucf.edu
  19. CBD for Lungs – CBD Clinicals