“Cannabidiol (CBD)”

You may be seeing products for sale that contain something called CBD—products like oils, lotions, gummy candy, and more. Maybe you’ve heard that CBD has something to do with marijuana, and that these products can do amazing things: reduce pain and anxiety, help a person sleep, and many others.

Let’s look at some facts. What is CBD, and does it really have any benefits for people’s health?

CBD stands for cannabidiol (pronounced ca-nuh-bi-DYE-ol). It’s what scientists call the “non-psychoactive” ingredient in marijuana and hemp. That means it doesn’t make a person high.

CBD is typically found in very small amounts in the marijuana plant. It’s one of over 100 chemicals called cannabinoids.

Unlike THC, the chemical in marijuana that causes the high, there are no known harms of taking CBD on its own. But what about those amazing health claims? Not so fast

So far, scientific research has found that CBD can help to treat two types of seizure disorders in children, when it’s in a medication (called Epidiolex) that’s been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Scientists are studying whether CBD might be effective in treating other conditions, including anxiety, sleep, pain, and drug and alcohol use disorders. For now, it’s too early to say. More research is underway to determine if CBD could be a promising treatment for these conditions.

CBD products—like lotion, bath oil, or honey—haven’t proven to be effective medical treatments for any conditions. Though CBD has been shown to help reduce symptoms related to cancer and cancer treatment, and may even have cancer-fighting properties, more research is needed to assess its efficacy and safety.

CBD may have beneficial effects on acne due to its anti-inflammatory qualities and its ability to control the overproduction of sebum from the sebaceous glands.

Though research is limited at this time, CBD has been shown to ease symptoms related to epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease. CBD was also shown to reduce the progression of Alzheimer’s disease in test-tube and animal studies.

Some studies suggest that CBD may help with diabetes, substance abuse, mental disorders and certain types of cancers. However, more research in humans is needed.

Although CBD is generally considered safe, it can cause adverse reactions like diarrhea and fatigue in some people. It may also interfere with certain medications.

Research on the potential health benefits of CBD oil is ongoing, so new therapeutic uses for this natural remedy are sure to be discovered. Though there is much to be learned about the efficacy and safety of CBD, results from recent studies suggest that CBD may provide a safe, powerful natural treatment for many health issues.