Hyla Cass MDWelcome to the final part in our 3-part series on CBD. If you missed either of the first two parts you can still read Part 1 and Part 2. Now onto the final part.
Should You Consider CBD?
Based on my clinical experience, CBD can be used effectively and safely for the conditions described above – and more! Side effects are rare, generally sleepiness, diarrhea and weight gain (or weight loss). CBD has a much better side effect profile than prescription medications commonly used to treat specific medical conditions.
Even when used long term, CBD is not addictive. Instead of masking symptoms, as medications do, CBD addresses the problem at its root cause—the imbalance due to a lack of circulating endocannabinoids in the ECS. People who use CBD don’t develop a tolerance, so there’s no need to increase the dose, nor are there withdrawal symptoms when it is discontinued.
Important: Even though CBD has a good safety profile, if you are taking medication, you should check with your doctor before trying it. Both CBD and most pharmaceuticals are detoxified by the liver’s cytochrome P-450 system.
As a result, certain medications, including chemotherapy agents, anti-epilepsy drugs, and the blood thinner coumadin may be affected. For a list of potential drugs that may interact with CBD, go to www.MedLinePlus.gov and search “cannabidiol.” On the other hand, we have found that doses under 100 mg daily generally do not interfere with medications.
How to Use CBD
Unlike both medical and recreational marijuana, you don’t have to go to a dispensary to buy CBD. It’s legal and available in retail stores and online. The only legal issue is its relationship to THC which is still a Schedule One drug, despite the US government’s holding a patent on its medicinal use.
The 2018 Farm Bill separated hemp from THC but there is still legal confusion, issue of its crossing state lines, and questions as to whether or not it can be called a nutritional supplement. Despite all this, the CBD business is doing very well across the country, as more and more people discover its benefits.
To avoid any issues around the federal regulations which are being sorted out in the courts, CBD products are often labeled “hemp oil extract.” I actually use that term in my own product since it is full spectrum, not simply CBD. Look for the phytocannabioid content on the label to determine the amount of CBD per dose.
For dosing, follow label instructions, starting low and gradually titrating upward till you get the desired result. It is very individual! If you have questions, you can consult a health care specialist who has experience prescribing CBD. More and more integrative medicine practitioners are learning about and prescribing CBD in their practices.
CBD is available for oral use in tincture, sprays and capsules. There also lotions, creams and other topicals that are useful for arthritis, migraine and other painful conditions, and skin ailments such as acne and psoriasis. There are some excellent and effective products, with varying amounts of research.
To ensure purity and quality: Look for a non-GMO full spectrum product that can produce a certificate of analysis from an independent lab that has verified the product’s content and confirmed that it is free of toxins such as mold, pesticides and heavy metals.
You can purchase the CBD that I formulated and prescribe to my patients at www.CassMd.com/hempoil.
Daniel Redwood DC
Tom Ferguson MD