On June 25, 2018, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in a landmark decision, approved the first cannabis-derived drug, which contains the non-psychoactive compound cannabidiol (CBD). GW Pharmaceuticals’ Epidiolex, as the drug is called, treats severe forms of epilepsy in children.
This has paved the way for other cannabis-based treatments to look for approval from the FDA. This, though, is not the first CBD product that is on the market, only the first clinical one — products that the FDA regulates with more scrutiny. The market is already rife with CBD-based goods, like oils, supplements, and even beauty products. Consumers are singing praises for cannabinoids, and it is gaining in popularity at a great rate among alternative medicine aficionados.
1) Backed by actual research
It may seem obvious, but the excitement around CBD is, first off, due to the fact that many studies support its claims. Other supplements in alternative medicine tend to overshoot their mark, often promising the moon but not supporting anything they say with studies and research. Either the evidence they offer is vague, or it is with regards to specific ingredients that they contain, and not their entire formula.
CBD has empirical research that suggests it can, among others, reduce pain, inflammation, and insomnia and anxiety in children with post-traumatic stress disorder. A study has even reported that it can help with chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
2) Little to no side effects
Alternative treatments and supplements usually come with a warning listing a number of side effects, many of which innocuous, but also some that could be dangerous and even life threatening. In many cases, these risks come with the likelihood that the remedies won’t even offer users what the product advertises.
This is not to say that manufacturers of CBD products don’t sometimes exaggerate. Nonetheless, even though this market is still at its early stages, the adverse effects from the consumption of cannabidiol are minimal. These are limited to cases of dry mouth, lowered blood pressure, drowsiness, and lightheadedness. CBD could also worsen the condition of people who suffer from Parkinson’s disease, but only at high doses.
3) Versatile ways of consuming it
Apart from the promising research for its benefits, and its innocuous side effects, CBD is a versatile compound. CBD oil does not have the most appetizing flavor, but, due to the boost in the number of its users and its legality, manufacturers have experimented with the substance to produce many different ways of consuming it. Cannabidiol now also comes in the form of vapes, candies, coffees and teas, capsules, jollies, and syrups.
In many instances, other types of alternative medicine are limited by the rigidity of the compounds and ingredients that they use, also limiting potential consumers who might be unwilling or incapable of consuming a product in that particular form.
Conclusion
There is still much research to be done on both the benefits and the disadvantages of using CBD as an alternative treatment, but one thing’s for sure: as of now, it is miles ahead of its competitors.
