From epilepsy to cancer & even stress – how safe really is CBD and what are the long term effects of celeb endorsed drug
BACKED by celebs including Claudia Winkleman and David Beckham, products containing CBD are being used by around 6.5million people in the UK.
It is claimed that CBD — a natural ingredient found in cannabis — can alleviate stress and muscle aches, as well as aid sleep and even relieve the side effects of cancer treatment.
It is found in products ranging from oils and pills to muffins and coffee.
Over-the-counter CBD wellness products use the part of the marijuana plant that does not contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the compound that has mind-altering effects.
Medical cannabis, which does contain the THC element, is available via prescription from specialist doctors.
‘Not addictive’
Cancer patients and people with multiple sclerosis and epilepsy, including children, have spoken about the life-changing effects of CBD and medical cannabis in relieving their symptoms.
CBD, or cannabidiol, has been classed as a “novel food” additive since January 2019.
But last year the Food Standards Agency warned that long-term consumption of it is “potentially” harmful to the liver and thyroid.
This led to the recommended daily intake being reduced from 70mg to 10mg for a 70kg adult.
Side effects are not common, but can include a dry mouth, drowsiness, fatigue, lack of appetite and diarrhoea.
There are still many products containing more than 10mg on sale because the regulator has not requested they be taken off the shelves.
But the move to lower the recommended allowance has led to some companies struggling, and last month David Beckham sold off shares in a British CBD skincare firm.
Dr Dani Gordon, of the London Resilience Clinic, told Sun on Sunday Health: “CBD can’t make you stoned, high or impaired. These products are not the same as illegal, ‘black market’ cannabis or marijuana, which are the varieties of cannabis which can produce the ‘high’ feeling in large doses.”
Today, Dr Gordon, who is also author of The CBD Bible and vice chair of the UK Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society, explains the highs and lows of CBD . . .
What can CBD products help with? Initially, CBD was probably most famous for helping with seizures and was prescribed by doctors in quite large doses.
But in smaller doses it can be helpful for stress-related symptoms.
CBD has many useful actions.
It is anti-inflammatory and anti-anxiety and interacts with our serotonin (happy hormone) pathways.
So for some people with mild anxiety or stress-related sleep problems, these products can help.
I have treated thousands of patients with CBD
How is medical cannabis different to CBD? Although medical cannabis on prescription does contain CBD, it can also contain varying amounts of THC.
This plant chemical can help with severe pain and other medical symptoms.
Some people may have heard that CBD can “turn into” THC in your body and make you stoned.
This is simply not true.
Even with medical cannabis containing THC, small controlled doses are generally very safe and do not make people feel high.
How do I get medical cannabis? Currently, medical cannabis products containing THC are legally available by private prescription in the UK, via a specialist doctor with expertise in this area.
In our clinic, we utilise different forms and strengths of medical cannabis depending on the patient we are treating.
Is CBD safe? CBD is generally considered a safe substance and not addictive.
However, there are some medications that can interact with it so always check with a doctor familiar with CBD if you are unsure.
What dose should I start with for, say, sleep problems or mild anxiety? The UK’s Food Standards Agency has issued precautionary advice on CBD, recommending healthy adults should limit their consumption of CBD from food to 10mg per day.
This is about 4-5 drops of five per cent CBD oil.
Could long-term consumption damage my liver or thyroid? I have treated thousands of patients with CBD and medical cannabis over the past ten years and never seen it lead to a single case of liver or thyroid impairment.
When we use extremely high doses for epilepsy, which are at hundreds of milligrams a day of CBD, together with certain other seizure medications, it can raise liver enzymes, so we do monitor this closely to ensure safety.
