Cannabidiol, AKA CBD, seems to be everywhere these days. You can find it in oils, tinctures, pills, vaping pens, lotions, bath bombs, teas, and baked goods. It’s also been prevalent in my own life. For the past few months, my husband has been taking 500mg of a CBD tincture in the evenings and swears that it helps him sleep. The Hemp Division recently sent me samples of their CBD infused teas, golden milk, and a bath bomb to try out. Although I’m grateful to get to try these products, and admire the beautiful packaging, it really made me wonder…is there any actual science behind CBD and if there is, what the heck does it say?

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol comes from the cannabis sativa plant and though the term cannabis probably makes you think of smoking a joint, CBD does not get you high. That’s because it doesn’t have a lot of THC which is what marijanana has that gives you that stoned feeling (and what would cause you to fail a drug test). However, people do claim that CBD promotes a feeling of relaxation and calmness. Aside from making you feel warm and fuzzy without getting high, there are a bunch of other claims that manufacturers of CBD promote. This includes that CBD helps with anxiety, depression, drug addiction, diabetes, Parkinson’s and PTSD, promotes better sleep, has an anti-inflammatory effect, and reduces seizures and GI pain. That’s an impressively long list of amazing claims!

The Science Says...

As far as whether or not CBD really does do all of these magical things, the answer is not black and white. The good news is that there is the potential that it does do some, or even all, of these things. There have been a limited number of studies looking at these effects and some have shown promise. The bad news is that, to date, we really don’t have enough evidence to back this up and say with confidence that CBD is the cure-all that many claim it is. Ultimately, the scientific evidence on CBD seems to be severely lacking. Additionally, it is highly unregulated which means that products that claim to have CBD in them may have a boatload of other contaminants, less CBD (or more) than described, and may even contain high levels of THC. As of now, there is only one FDA regulated CBD product, Epidiolex, a prescription liquid used to treat certain seizure disorders.

Gut Health

Dr. Google, i.e. lots of non-reputable websites, will tell you that CBD can cure IBS, IBD (like Crohn’s or Ulcerative Colitis), and do wonders for your gut. Again, we’re lacking on the science on this but there does seem to be some hope. One recent study done on mice given CBD showed a reduction in gut inflammation and an improvement in their gut microbiota. Another recent study concluded that intake of CBD reduced gut permeability, which may be seen in patients with IBD. Finally, many people with IBS or who experience similar symptoms of chronic gas, bloating, constipation, and/or diarrhea find that this is exacerbated with high stress and anxiety. If CBD really can promote relaxation and calmness, then it may reduce these GI issues as well.

Best Way to “Take” CBD

So then, what is the deal with all of these different types of things that have CBD? Is rubbing it into skin or drinking it in tea just as effective as using a tincture? Will I feel relaxed if I eat a brownie with CBD in it? Again, a lot of lacking evidence on this too. Epidiolex, which has evidence behind it to reduce seizures, is taken orally as a liquid and has specific dosage information. As for other CBD products, there seems to be some evidence that vaping may work for quick, albeit short term, effects while oral CBD products may promote steady levels of it that last throughout the day. For any of these other products though, optimal dosage is unclear. Additionally, there is not enough evidence to suggest that it’s effective to apply topically.

Whether or not CBD is beneficial in foods and drinks is even more unclear. As CBD oil is fat soluble, it won’t mix well with water-based drinks, like tea or coffee, but a CBD tincture may be ok. Whether or not it is heat stable is also up for debate though one study that looked at brownies baked with CBD showed that it did not degrade when heated. CBD products might alter the taste of foods, in a bad way. And, on top of this, it is not recognized by the FDA as a safe additive for food and the agency states that it does not support the use of it in food products. 

Safety

Is CBD safe then? It might be but right now we don’t have enough evidence to support this. However, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, I would advise against using it as it is considered to be unsafe due to the lack of evidence around it. Some individuals have reported negative side effects from using CBD products including drowsiness and feeling light headed. If you are taking a medication or herbal supplement, there can be dangerous interactions with these and CBD so always talk to a doctor before using it. 

If you’re still curious to try CBD, try to find one that is third party tested by a lab to ensure that there are no contaminants and that the product actually has what it claims it does. A reputable brand should have recent lab results and a certificate of analysis, like this one from black-owned Brown Girl Jane (though I can honestly tell you that this RD does not know how to interpret these results). It’s also a good idea to find a Full- Spectrum CBD product, also like Brown Girl Jane’s, because it uses the whole plant and more of the natural compounds found in it. It also likely has a very low amount of THC in it. 

The Bottom Line

Although the science is lacking in CBD, it seems safe to try as long as you find a high quality product and you’re a healthy, non-pregnant or breastfeeding adult. There does seem to be promising qualities about it so if you suffer with any ailments such as anxiety or insomnia, it seems worth trying out. Based on the limited research, it appears best to use a CBD oil or tincture that you put directly into your mouth instead of baking it into products. This way you know that you’re getting the full dose, especially because CBD products tend to be fairly pricey. Again, if you’re taking any medications or herbal supplements, make sure to talk to a qualified health professional before using CBD.

In my own very limited experience, I drank a few cups of the CBD infused teas from The Hemp Division. When I drank the golden milk, I didn’t feel anything but it did taste very delicious. Interestingly, the first night that I drank the chamomile mint tea I did experience an overall feeling of calmness and relaxation. I wanted it to happen the second time I drank it but no such luck. Placebo or not? I’ll keep trying!  

Have you used CBD and if so, what have been your results?