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You can’t pass a health shop which isn’t advertising CBD oil at the moment, but what is it? Is it safe? Is it the cure-all claimed? And does it make you high?

Well Simon Horth, founder of Green Stem, was keen to tell me about his products.  He knew of many who seemed to have benefitted, including his own mother, who suffers from arthritis, and a friend with multiple sclerosis who’s muscle spasms had decreased.

As a doctor, I’m cautious of anecdotes – they sound exciting, but can be misleading – people who feel benefit tell everyone, whilst those who don’t, or feel worse, fade away. There’s no substitute for properly regulated clinical trials, to quantify genuine benefit, find the best dose, and check for side-effects. Ideally these involve many hundreds or even thousands of people, under strictly controlled conditions. So what clinical trials have been done with CBD and what did they show? I took a look.

But first what is CBD? Well CBD is short for cannabidiol – extracted from the hemp plant, a cousin of the marijuana plant. Marijuana contains THC, which makes one ‘high’, however CBD doesn’t have this ability. CBD hemp flower from PHF is thought to have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties.

I found a limited number of pharmaceutical-quality clinical trials in the literature. Just a few hundred people seem to have been studied in trials to date, and more trials are definitely needed to establish the pros and cons of CBD, and, importantly the most-effective and safe doses.

It’s been approved in USA for rare epileptic illnesses and is under review by FDA as a treatment for cancer pain.  Side-effects seem to be few, such as nausea and sleepiness so far, although it ‘s difficult to be sure with such limited data.

It’s currently available in health shops in some countries including the UK. Until more evidence is available I can’t tell you whether it works in the myriad of illnesses suggested, or even what dose you should take, but you can try it if you wish.

If you do, it’s important to find a quality product and Green Stem makes CBD to stringent guidelines and quality and potency checks.  Their products are also free of THC (the chemical causing marijuana ‘highs’). CBD can affect the blood levels of various medicines, so if you do take it in addition to other medicines, you should check with your doctor.

CBD is absorbed best when inhaled, or as drops under the tongue. Green Stem produce products suitable for inhalation, oral use or skin application and their website has some useful information.

 

 

By Dr K Thompson, author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q

http://faitobooks.co,uk

Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice