Effects of CBD on the human body
As Perry Solomon, a physician and chief medical officer of HelloMD (an American digital medical platform dedicated to the use of medical cannabis), recently commented on the cannabinoid in an interview with Leafly: “CBD itself has been found to cause a sense of calm and relaxation.[...] it has sedative, antioxidant, soothing, and antidepressive effects on the brain. Yet, it does not have any psychoactive effects, as is the case with THC.”
These beneficial effects are more understandable when we look at the molecular mechanisms of CBD occurring inside the human body. But how exactly does CBD work in our bodies?
Your body: a natural producer of cannabinoids
Most people do not realize that the human body has a system that processes and even creates cannabinoids. This system is known as the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Its discovery in the United States in 1992 opened the door to systematic cannabis research, and new perspectives on its medical use are subsequently revealed.
The ECS is involved in many physiological processes, such as pain regulation, mood, cognitive functions, and immunity, and metabolism. Cannabinoid receptors are present throughout the body. So far, two primary endocannabinoid receptors have been identified: CB1 receptors are primarily found in the brain areas; they play an essential role in memory and motor function, while CB2 receptors are mainly present in the immune system and bone marrow cells.
When activated, these receptors create an anti-inflammatory immune response. Since naturally produced cannabinoids play a central role in the human body, they have been carefully studied in recent decades. Hence, whether and how the ECS can be affected by CBD is highly discussed among the scientific community. It could potentially provide solutions to the treatment of many severe or as yet incurable diseases.
Your brain: primary port for CBD
Unlike THC, which binds to both cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2, CBD does not attach directly to any receptors. In reality, it affects the endocannabinoid system by inhibiting the enzyme FAAH, responsible for the breakdown of the endocannabinoid anandamide. This leads to an increase in anandamide levels in the brain.
Anandamide, also known as the ‘bliss molecule,’ is one of the most important endocannabinoids in the body. Its chemical structure is very similar to THC; it binds to the same receptors of the endocannabinoid system and is often referred to as the ‘THC of the body.’ Anandamide can also be considered a mood-enhancing substance, and it can also contribute to the function of several other processes such as appetite, pain, and memory.
Moreover, it is associated with slowing down the rapid formation of cancer cells. In a 1998 study, a group of Italian scientists found that anandamide effectively slows down the production of breast cancer cells. Further research has also shown that elevated levels of anandamide in the brain can reduce depression and anxiety disorders.
Given the above evidence that anandamide has significant medical potential, it might seem that CBD is an appropriate way to benefit from it. At this point, however, scientists still do not fully understand anandamide and its effects on the body in connection with cannabinoids. Thus, more research is needed to clarify how the molecule acts in our body, what benefits it can offer, and how we can regulate it to achieve positive effects.
CBD also triggers the following receptor systems:
Serotonin system
CBD targets a specific serotonin receptor, serotonin 1A (or 5-HT1A) receptor. One of the functions of this receptor is to control anxiety and stress. By activating 5-HT1A receptors, evidence from various studies suggests that CBD can alleviate autonomous stress responses and lead to a decrease in anxiety. This raises the possibility that CBD could help treat psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Vanilloid receptors
Another CBD-activated receptor is the type 1 vanilloid receptor (TRPV1). It participates in the feeling of pain and inflammation. Studies have shown a positive correlation between elevated levels of TRPV1 and diseases associated with chronic pain, such as arthritis.
The inhibitory effect of CBD on TRPV1 could be analgesic(pain-reducing) in some different types of pain. By the way, CBD also works on a type 2 receptor that can use its information to eliminate cancer cells.
Therapeutic use options
It is evident from the above that the therapeutic potential of CBD is undoubtedly massive. Still, several indications point to the theory that other cannabinoids, primarily THC, could have powerful (and most likely positive) synergistic effects with the use of CBD. “Studies have shown that CBD positively affects inflammation, pain, anxiety, psychosis, and convulsions. Yet it should be noted that most of these conditions are not only treated with CBD itself, but they also require a certain level of THC,” said Constance Finley, founder and the CEO of Constance Therapeutics.
Treatment of anxiety/depression
A growing body of evidence suggests that inflammation may be involved in at least some forms of depression. Below are some of the most important studies of CBD-based depression treatment conducted in recent years.
Study (2010): Antidepressant effects of cannabidiol in mice: possible involvement of 5-HT1A receptors
Publisher: British Journal of Pharmacology
Results: CBD shows antidepressant effects comparable to those of Imipramine. The results suggest that these effects of CBD may be mediated by activating 5-HT (1A) receptors.
Study (2014): Antidepressant-like and anxiolytic-like effects of cannabidiol: a chemical compound of Cannabis sativa
Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers
Results: By examining studies examining the anxiolytic and antidepressant effects of CBD in animal models, various experiments, such as the forced swimming test, the elevated cross maze, and the Vogel conflict test, suggest that CBD has anti-anxiety and antidepressant effects in animal models.
Study (2016): Prohedonic Effect of Cannabidiol in a Rat Model of Depression
Publisher: Neuropsychobiology
Results: CBD has shown a hedonic effect on rats (willingness to go to the target or avoid inconvenience), which have undergone the carbohydrate preference test, elevated plus maze test, and novel object exploration.
Treatment of schizophrenia
A study byLeweke et al. (2012) suggests that cannabidiol has antipsychotic effects.
CBD Administration (4 weeks: initial dose of 200 mg, increased gradually to 800 mg per day) to schizophrenic patients, thereby increasing anandamide levels, led to an improvement in symptoms of schizophrenia. At this point, one of the key benefits of CBD is clarified: antipsychotics often come with various adverse side effects, such as weight gain and sexual dysfunction.
These side effects can drastically impair patients’ well-being and pose a major problem for long-term treatment. On the other hand, cannabidiol-based treatment is associated with significantly smaller side effects since it naturally interferes with the system by restoring the chemical balance in biological processes.
Treatment of chronic pain
Cannabidiol oil consists of extracts gained from the cannabis plant. As reported by Medical News Today, people effectively use it as a painkiller to treat diseases associated with chronic pain. For conditions such as arthritis, where there is increased sensitivity and expression of the TRPV1 receptor, CBD oil can be a helpful alternative in treating chronic pain associated with the disease.
Other areas of the therapeutic use of CBD:
- Epilepsy
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Parkinson’s disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Stop tumors from growing
Bottom Line
Taking all these factors into account, the substantial increase in the popularity of cannabidiol as an alternative and natural method of medical treatment seems justified. CBD indirectly affects the endocannabinoid system by increasing the concentration of anandamide in the brain. Anandamide, perhaps one of the essential endocannabinoids in the body, plays a vital role in the central nervous system.
CBD can be considered a versatile helper in many factors related to human well-being with other properties that restore the natural balance in the human immune system.
In particular, the relatively low number of potential side effects, which contrasts with the extremely high number of severe side effects when using conventional drugs, gives hope for further research and development of CBD medication.
With other world-class scientific institutions beginning to engage in research into this promising area, there is a good chance that we will see more CBD-based therapeutic products soon.