Cannabidiol (CBD) has long been recognized for its therapeutic benefits; in fact, use of the hemp plant for medicinal purposes goes back thousands of years. But you’re probably wondering if there’s any modern-day studies on the healing benefits of CBD to back the claims. We can tell you there are many – and as the popularity of CBD rises, we can expect to see many more in the future. If there’s one thing many researchers agree on, it’s that data so far provides a case for further research to learn more about the therapeutic potential of CBD.

CBD is recognized as a compound that can be used for a wide variety of disorders.

In their paper, “Therapeutic applications of cannabinoids,” published in Chemico-Biological Interactions (2018), researchers Nancy Mauryaa Bharath and Kumar Velmurugan write:

“In an era of rising disease threats and antibiotic resistance, cannabinoids can prove to be boon for the medical and scientific world. A large body of scientific literature is suggestive of the positive effects and medicinal utility of cannabinoids and it can be concluded on the basis of these studies that if negative implications of these compounds are restricted or modified, these can serve as potential therapeutics for a wide variety of diseases such as epilepsy, cancer, multiple sclerosis, glaucoma and many more.”

And a compound in CBD — endocannabinoids — may be important in overall mind and body health, according to Bradley E. Alger, Ph.D., who concluded in “Getting High on the Endocannabinoid System” published in Cerebrum (2013):

“Endocannabinoids are literally a bridge between body and mind. By understanding this system, we begin to see a mechanism that could connect brain activity and states of physical health and disease.”

In a 2018 study, researchers found that consumers use CBD for diverse medical conditions, particularly pain, anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders. The researchers concluded that the data “provide a compelling rationale for further research to better understand the therapeutic potential of CBD.”

Want to learn more? Here are some of the health disorders researchers say CBD can relieve or shows great promise in relieving, with links to the studies on the healing benefits of CBD:

Inflammation

Cannabinoids suppress inflammatory and neuropathic pain

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3371734/

Diabetes

Cannabis extract to be used to treat diabetes

https://www.israel21c.org/cannabis-extract-to-be-used-to-treat-diabetes/

Obesity

Prevalence of obesity is lower in cannabis users than in nonusers

https://academic.oup.com/aje/article/174/8/929/155851

Multiple sclerosis

Cannabis may relieve symptoms of multiple sclerosis

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5481305/

Nicotine addiction

Cannabidiol reduces cigarette consumption in tobacco smokers

https://www.alchimiaweb.com/blogfr/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/CBDcigarettes.pdf

Drug Addiction

Studies indicate CBD can help in addiction treatment and may even help prevent relapse

https://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ajp.2019.18101191

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41386-018-0050-8

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4444130/

Epilepsy

FDA approves first drug comprised of CBD to treat rare, severe forms of epilepsy

https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm611046.htm

Dementia (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease)

Cannabinoids such as CBD could help remove dementia from brain cells

https://www.dementiacarecentral.com/aboutdementia/treating/cbd/

Cancer

Cannabidiol as potential anticancer drug

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3579246/

Bone fractures

CBD leads to improvement in fracture healing

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jbmr.2513

High Blood Pressure

A single 600mg dose of CBD reduced blood pressure in a small group of participants.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/sleep-newzzz/201910/4-natural-supplements-sleep-and-menopause

Anxiety

Cannabidiol as a potential treatment for anxiety disorders

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4604171/

Acne

CBD has potential as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of acne

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4151231/

Depression

CBD could represent a novel fast antidepressant drug

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26711860

Pain

Mechanism of cannabidiol for safe pain relief without side effects

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/10/181024163625.htm

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

CBD has potential for the development of a new class of anti-IBD drugs

https://rocmexico.org/researchlibrary/Cannabidiol%20in%20Inflammatory%20Bowel%20Diseases-%20A%20Brief%20Overview.pdf

Fearfulness

Cannabidiol a novel therapeutic approach for treating anxiety and trauma-related disorders such as phobias and PTSD

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5121237/

Rheumatoid arthritis

Topical CBD has potential as effective treatment of arthritis

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4851925/

Nausea

CBD may be effective for treating nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy or other therapeutic treatments

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3165951/

As with any medication or supplement, you should consult with your doctor before starting a CBD regimen or discontinuing prescribed medications.