CBD has been found to have anxiolytic properties, meaning it can reduce autonomic and emotional responses to stress and interfere with the consolidation and extinction of fearful memories. This has been linked to anxiety disorders, autism spectrum disorder, psychosis, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Studies have also suggested that CBD may have neuroprotective properties, which could help heal the brain. Unlike THC, which binds to cannabinoid receptors, CBD appears to interact with other types of receptors, such as serotonin receptors, which are known to influence pain, mood, and sleep.
Research indicates that some components of cannabis, such as CBD, can actually protect brain cells from damage. The company that manufactures this drug also has a CBD drug for treating multiple sclerosis, which has been approved in the United Kingdom. Generally speaking, CBD works best when combined with THC and other cannabinoids like cannabigerol (CBG) and cannabinol (CBN). Some researchers consider CBD to be a nootropic, but there is still no consensus in the scientific community.
For example, research has shown that CBD can protect against inflammation-induced vascular damage, which can protect the heart. More clinical trials are needed to further explore the potential health benefits of CBD. It's important to talk to your doctor about dosing guidelines for frequency and duration that would be best for you personally. Lower doses (less than 15 mg) of CBD may have more stimulating effects while higher doses may have more sedative effects.
Using CBD effectively for brain health means finding the right product, dosage, and duration of treatment for you. It's also been found that CBD can stop brain mechanisms that contribute to seizures by increasing the release of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA. Unlike THC, CBD does not cause intoxication. In a study on the effects of CBD on people with epilepsy, 94% reported improved quality of life after eight weeks of treatment.
The government is becoming more open to the use of CBD and is investing more resources into understanding how it can improve health or quality of life. Epilepsy research is likely to provide the most information on how CBD works since it has been studied extensively enough for the FDA to approve a drug containing CBD for treatment.