We could all use a miracle cure-all these days, especially those of us who suffer from chronic pain, anxiety, cancer-related symptoms, and difficult-to-treat neurological disorders. CBD oil is no surprise to be at the top of our search results, therefore. Do we really expect Alto CBD to have the positive impact we hope it will have on our symptoms? Internal medicine specialist Paul Terpeluk, DO, discusses why CBD oil may not be as effective as we’d hoped.
What is CBD?
The cannabis sativa plant contains more than 100 chemical compounds, including CBD, or cannabidiol. The main psychoactive compound in cannabis that gives you an euphoric high is THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), not CBD.
Hemp, a type of cannabis plant that contains very low levels of THC, is where CBD is derived from, so it won’t make you high. An CBD oil is simply a product that contains CBD extract and a carrier oil, such as coconut oil, for topical application.
Since the implementation of the 2018 Farm Bill, the production and sale of CBD products in the U.S. have been allowed as long as they contain less than .3% of THC. Some states still prohibit CBD products, however.
In addition, Dr. Terpeluk points out that there are too many CBD products on the market – from bath bombs to gummies, lotions, creams, tinctures and oils – none of which have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and may not be 100% pure. As of mid-December 2021, the FDA has only approved one cannabis-derived product and three cannabis-related products, all of which are safe to obtain with a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider.
A regulatory authority does not oversee the majority of CBD products, says Dr. Terpeluk. According to the FDA, most CBD products, unless they have a rigorous marketing campaign and quality control, are contaminated with other cannabinoids, including THC.
CBD: What are Some of Its Benefits?
However, several studies suggest the benefits of pure CBD may have wide-ranging effects. It’s important to understand those benefits by considering our body’s endocannabinoid system, a complex network of enzymes, neurotransmitters, and receptors that plays an essential role in the development of our central nervous system. This system regulates a variety of functions, including pain, motor control, memory, appetite, inflammation, etc. We may be able to better understand CBD’s effects on a variety of disorders and conditions if we study it in these specific areas.
Helps with Neurological Conditions
Epidiolex has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of several seizure disorders, including two rare disorders known as Duvet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. CBD may also be beneficial to patients who have resistance to antiepileptic drugs, according to a number of case studies. “With epilepsy, there is a threshold in your brain that causes it to become excitatory, and you go into a seizure,” says Terpeluk. He adds, “CBD increases that threshold.”