What We Know About CBD – And What We Don’t

If there’s one experience that is a common one for too many veterans, it’s returning from service with a raft of physical and mental health issues. That is, unfortunately, the nature of the sacrifice one makes when committing to military service. It’s also a big reason why so many had high hopes for the VA and the Trump administration to change their stance on veterans’ access to medical marijuana.

So far, there’s plenty of reason to believe that there’s no movement coming on that front. That’s a shame since medical marijuana has shown remarkable abilities to help people suffering from PTSD, lingering injuries, and chronic pain. With that avenue closed off to them, though, more veterans are exploring the use of CBD oil, a derivative product that offers many of the same benefits – without the legal stigma attached.

The problem is, the new and growing CBD industry is moving fast, and there is all kinds of misinformation out there about what CBD can and cannot do. To clear the air, here’s an overview of what we currently know about the benefits of CBD oil, so you’ll know what’s just marketing hype.

CBD oil and Seizures

Of all of the potential uses for CBD oil, there is one for which we have quite a bit of real-world and research data. It’s in controlling the effects of epilepsy and seizures. In fact, the first anti-seizure medication to include CBD oil was recently approved for use by the US Food and Drug Administration. In this case, it’s meant for people with some very specific epileptic conditions. Still, the approval is the culmination of research into using CBD oil as an anti-seizure measure that dates back to the 1970s. It is likely that CBD oil will soon become a mainstay solution for those suffering from seizures related to a variety of conditions, and research on the subject is continuing.

CBD oil and Addiction

While there have been no full-blown clinical trials that used CBD oil to treat addictions, there’s plenty of limited pre-clinical evidence that it’s effective in this capacity. One study found it effective in curbing anxiety and substance craving in heroin addicts, which could make it a useful tool in the current battle against opioid addiction. Although further research is needed, this is one of the most promising potential uses for CBD – and one that could not have come at a more opportune time.

CBD oil for Depression and Anxiety

As in the case of addiction treatment, there is a variety of emerging evidence regarding the role of CBD in managing depression and anxiety. For example, there’s a growing body of research that demonstrates that CBD interacts with the serotonin receptors of the brain in a positive way. For the user, that translates to a general feeling of well-being and calm. The research documents the fact that CBD exerts an antidepressant-like effect on the human body, and comes with no addictive properties to speak of. It is hoped that CBD can develop into a viable treatment for such conditions in the near future, but millions of current users see no reason to wait and already report great success with the product.

CBD oil for Chronic Pain Management

For many veterans, chronic pain is a fact of life. Managing chronic pain is one of the biggest reasons that people have been flocking to CBD products, as it seems to have an anti-inflammatory effect that works to relieve some types of pain. The problem is that there isn’t much in the way of scientific evidence that proves this one way or another, and users report that different CBD products yield different effects. Recently, HMHB ranked the most effective CBD oils for pain, and the results tended to give preference to some of the most well-established CBD brands.

At the same time, though, the US Federal Trade Commission has ordered several CBD manufacturers to cease marketing their products as “miracle pain cures”. That further highlights the need for more research on the subject, to help people looking for pain remedies to separate fact from fiction about what CBD might be able to do to help them.

The Bottom Line

By now, it should be clear that CBD shows great promise for a variety of uses. As research continues, it is likely that even more surprising effects could turn up. For now though, the information covered here represents the current body of knowledge about CBD.

The one thing we know for sure, though, is that CBD has no apparent negative side effects on users. That said, there’s no reason not to try it for yourself to see if it helps with whatever ails you. Right now, it’s easy to find CBD oil locally no matter where you live, and it’s relatively inexpensive. So for veterans looking for a solution to their service-related medical conditions, there’s not much to lose – and plenty to gain if CBD proves to be helpful.