What Really Happens To Your Body When You Use CBD Every Day

Cannabidiol (CBD) and THC may come from the same Cannabis sativa plant, but they couldn't be more opposite of each other. Healthline says the major difference is that unlike THC found in marijuana, CBD doesn't get you high. But it does carry mental and physical health benefits.

CBD works by interacting with the endocannabinoid system in your brain. Healthline says the chemical structure of CBD tricks the brain into thinking it's one of its own chemicals. It releases a series of messages to several brain areas involved in sleep, pain modulation, and more when it binds to a receptor in the endocannabinoid system.

Like anything you put into your body, the Mayo Clinic says there are some side-effects, but it's relatively safe when you follow the recommended amounts. When you're curious to try CBD or a long-time veteran, it's always good to know how using CBD can affect your body.

If you're feeling chronic pain, there's no need to suffer in silence. The Arthritis Foundation says it is possible CBD can relieve pain and reduce inflammation in the body. While more research is needed to give a clinical recommendation for CBD use, the Arthritis Foundation says that people who have used CBD reported improved symptoms, better sleep, and less anxiety. In addition, a 2018 review of past trial cannabis studies found CBD provided pain relief for neuropathic pain by more than 50 percent.

A 2020 review in Frontiers in Pharmacology reports there is preliminary evidence that using CBD could help with alleviating pain symptoms. This likely occurs through its interactions with receptors involved in inflammation. However, the researchers also say that since CBD products are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), current CBD products could hold potentially toxic compounds and be unsafe for certain groups such as pregnant women.

Everyone wants clear skin, and CBD has the tools to help achieve this dream. According to Medical News Today, CBD has been effective against acne because of its anti-inflammatory properties. When it reduces the amount of inflammation in the body, it also lowers the amount of sebum — an oily substance in the skin that contains fat and cellular waste. Less sebum translates to fewer pimples to cover up.

While the research is still ongoing, there are a few studies to back up these statements. A 2014 study in The Journal of Clinical Investigation found CBD helped lower the production of sebocytes which help create sebum and, eventually, acne. If that's not all, a 2019 study found CBD ointment helped to reduce inflammation in people with chronic skin diseases. While the research on CBD and skin conditions looks promising, the American Academy of Dermatology Association says it's too early for CBD products to be claiming it can definitely treat acne, rosacea, or psoriasis.

Nothing beats a good night's sleep than a warm blanket and some CBD. According to the American Sleep Association, CBD influences the endocannabinoid system in the brain several to promote sleep. While the mechanism of how CBD causes rest is still unknown, they suggest CBD helps induce sleep and reduce insomnia by interacting with receptors involved with the sleep/wake cycle.

Since anxiety and pain can stop you from falling asleep, an alternative explanation is that CBD may be promoting sleep by decreasing those levels. Indeed, a 2019 study had patients in a psychiatric clinic use CBD because of anxiety and difficulty sleeping. They observed 79.2 percent of patients showed lower anxiety levels and a 66.7 percent improvement in their sleep. Additionally, a 2018 review published in Frontiers in Pharmacology reported CBD is effective in reducing chronic pain. The reduction in chronic pain was associated with better sleep and mood.

In 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of the cannabidiol Epidiolex for epilepsy treatment in patients over the age of two. The approval marked the first time CBD would legally be prescribed as treatment. "This approval serves as a reminder that advancing sound development programs that properly evaluate active ingredients contained in marijuana can lead to important medical therapies. And, the FDA is committed to this kind of careful scientific research and drug development," Scott Gottlieb, the FDA Commissioner, said in an FDA press release.

According to Healthline, there is a lot of clinical research supporting the use of CBD oil for seizures. They reported that the approved CBD drug Epidiolex effectively lowered the number of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. The same drug was also beneficial for a rare form of epilepsy that doesn't respond well to medication.

Healthline says Epidiolex should be started at 2.5 mg/kg per day and then bumped up to 5 mg/kg twice per day.

CBD has captured the hearts of millions of users, possibly by affecting their hearts. The British Heart Foundation cautions that CBD research on the heart is still in its early stages, but it looks promising. They say CBD's anti-inflammatory properties could protect the heart as inflammation is associated with coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. The American Heart Association says, unlike marijuana, CBD has been linked to a healthy heart. By reducing inflammation, CBD could decrease the risk for atherosclerosis, which narrows the arteries and blocks blood flow to and from the heart.

Indeed, a 2013 review in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology reported CBD's anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties also protect the heart from potential damage. CBD also promoted blood flow to the heart and reduced the heart's response to a stressful event. A 2017 study found a single dose of CBD reduced resting blood pressure and reduced the spike in blood pressure and heart rate when a person is subjected to stress.

When Linkin Park sang "Breaking the Habit," they weren't referring to using CBD, but they might as well have. Science shows CBD can help addicts reduce their drug cravings. A 2013 study in Addictive Behaviors found that CBD reduced the number of weekly cigarettes used by regular smokers. Additionally, a 2018 study found that smokers taking CBD paid less attention to cigarette-related stimuli that would likely increase their urge to smoke again.

CBD isn't just for smokers. A 2015 review reported CBD reduced addictive behaviors involving opioid, cocaine, and psychostimulant drugs. It also helped people recovering from cannabis and tobacco addiction. In fact, there's evidence of CBD helping people recovering from drug addiction. A 2019 study in The American Journal of Psychiatry found that a 3-day exposure to CBD reduced drug craving and anxiety from people who became recently abstinent from heroin use. CBD also helped with lowering heart rate and stress levels that could act as drug cues.

CBD's psychoactive cousin, marijuana, has some undesired side-effects. Luckily, CBD is there to lend a hand. A 2011 review in the British Journal of Pharmacology notes that CBD helped lower marijuana after-effects of creating hunger and anxiety.

Additionally, in a 2010 study published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, people felt less anxiety when taking CBD and THC together than THC alone. A 2015 study reported CBD oil was beneficial in maintaining abstinence from marijuana, reducing anxiety symptoms, and promoting better sleep in a single patient. If that's not all, a 2019 study in the Journal of Neuroscience found CBD helped counteract psychiatric side-effects people feel when they get high.

Healthline warns combining CBD and marijuana could backfire as both come with their own set of side-effects. They say people should start with a low dose of both products — about 5 milligrams of THC and 5 to 15 milligrams for CBD — and then increase the amount as needed.