The CBD market is growing. A unique cannabinoid that harbors potential as a treatment for an ever-growing list of ailments and chronic conditions, ‘cannabidiol’ is a therapeutic powerhouse.

CBD may be one of hundreds of cannabinoids contained in the cannabis plant, but there is something quite special about this one. The phytocannabinoid was initially discovered in 1940, before being fully elucidated some 20 years later.

Accounting for up to 40 percent of the plant’s extract, CBD is stimulating buzz in the medical, health and wellness industries for its therapeutic potential.

By 2025, the global CBD market is anticipated to be worth $2.3 billion.

Studies support CBD’s therapeutic potential 

Although the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has put the brakes on medical cannabis research for quite some time now, a growing body of evidence supports claims that the non-mind-altering substance could be a welcome alternative to conventional methods of treatment, such as opioids.

Below, we touch upon 10 separate studies that suggest CBD could successfully work as a therapeutic aid for various ailments, chronic conditions and diseases:

1. Pain – A study on the effects of CBD in animal models of pain was published in the European Journal of Pain. The findings revealed that, when applied topically to the skin, CBD exhibited anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects for arthritis.
2. Anxiety and depression – Back in 2014, a study was published in CNS & Neurological Disorders. Once again, this study was conducted on animal models, with the results successfully demonstrating the non-psychoactive cannabinoid’s antidepressant and anxiolytic effects.
3. Chemotherapy – A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial was carried out in 2018 and published by BMJ Publishing Group. Researchers discovered that the plant’s cannabinoids may prove useful for secondary prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV).
4. Psychosis – A handful of studies, such as this one, successfully exploited CBD’s antipsychotic effects in both animal models and in healthy human volunteers.
5. Anti-carcinogenic – According to research featured on PubMed, the antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of cannabinoids like CBD may disrupt the proliferation of cancer cells, tumor neovascularization, cancer cell migration, adhesion, invasion and metastasization.
6. Acne – Did you know that CBD is a natural anti-inflammatory? A 2014 study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation concluded that CBD was successful in treating acne.
7. Preventing/reducing seizures – Class 1 evidence published in the Journal of Epilepsy Research spotlighted CBD’s efficacy over placebo treatments in minimizing the frequency of convulsive seizures in patients who suffer from Dravet syndrome. CBD also shrunk the frequency of drop seizures in patients with Lennox-Gastaut (LG) syndrome. These rare types of epilepsy can be treated with EPIDYOLEX – GW Pharma’s FDA-approved medicine, which recently gained approval in the EU, too.
8. Heart health – CBD’s therapeutic effects could be attributed to enhanced heart health, according to a study published in the British Journal of pharmacology and PubMed. The phytocannabinoid has anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, which enables it to trigger a tissue-sparing effect during cases of chronic myocardial ischaemia and reperfusion.
9. Neurodegenerative Disease – In animal models of Parkinson’s disease (PD), a recent study indicated that CBD may provide neuroprotection.
10. Addiction – A study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry monitored 42 adults who had a recent history of heroin use and stopped using buprenorphine or methadone to prevent relapse. A two- to three-fold reduction in cravings was noted following the administration of CBD, as opposed to the placebo group.

CBD is finding its place in the health, wellness and medical markets

Although further research is necessary, the CBD industry is booming. As more investors turn the attention to the growing market, its mainstream presence is being felt on a global scale. 

Consumers are advised to consult with their doctor prior to using CBD products. Requesting proof of third party lab testing is also a necessity for anyone interested in trying CBD.