Depending on who you ask, CBD is either the greatest thing to happen since sliced bread or it’s just a fad the size of which has rarely been seen anywhere in the world. As with most things, the truth is likely somewhere in the middle given that anecdotal case studies indicate incredible health and wellness results for thousands of people across the globe. While this is the case, FDA drug approval for CBD is limited to Epidiolex by GW Pharmaceuticals for epilepsy.
In terms of the question “does CBD do anything”, most people begin to pay very close attention to the potential health and wellness benefits of cannabinoids like CBD when they learn two things:
- Our bodies naturally produce cannabinoids as part of our Endocannabinoid System (ECS). Discovered in the 90’s – but still not taught in medical schools for some reason – the ECS is responsible for regulating the body’s homeostasis, or balance. More practically speaking, the ECS helps to regulate the body’s central nervous, digestive, cardiovascular, immune, and skeletal systems; all of the natural bodily systems that we take for granted.
- In 2003, the US Department of Health patented plant-based “cannabinoids as neuroprotectants and antioxidants”. The benefits of plant-based cannabinoids are apparently so obvious that our own government acted to patent them as part of patent #6630507
When our body’s own production of cannabinoids becomes deficient due to our genetics, environment, diet choices, or other stresses, bad things can happen and the resulting calamities can vary greatly from person to person. One person’s deficiency in cannabinoids might result in an inability to handle anxious feelings or pain while another person’s cannabinoid deficiency might make them more susceptible to inflammation or insomnia. While FDA approved research is limited and many more studies are required, it makes sense that we should consider introducing plant-based cannabinoids such as CBD into our diets as a way to maintain the balance and strength of our ECS. This is especially true since there are no intoxicating side-effects associated with CBD.
So – yes – CBD really does do something: CBD and other natural, non-psychoactive cannabinoids help us modulate our own internal, auto-pilot Endocannabinoid System in order to maintain a healthy balance for all of our vital life-giving systems.
Beyond epilepsy (for which an FDA approved CBD drug now exists), there are no other FDA approved applications of CBD as a drug. However, research is being done across the world to better understand if CBD for anxiety, CBD for pain, or CBD for insomnia, etc. are real opportunities.