With more and more products popping up on the UK market claiming to contain CBD or Hemp. Each offering a wealth of wellbeing benefits it begs to question, what is CBD? Is hemp even legal, and why is everyone using it? Find out more here...
This weekend I decided to buy and try some new skincare products. After all “you're at your best when you feel your best” right?
My first concern was finding a range that could battle my wintered dry & sensitive skin, but something and by something I mean the trending market swayed me into the direction of hemp. After reading many reviews I settled with the Garnier Organic restoring hemp range, but this got me thinking. Why is hemp or CBD so popular at the moment?
So I did some research.
Did you know CBD and Hemp are different.. not the same thing! Maybe it's just me but I actually thought it was all the same thing, I figured CBD was just a more marketable name and less 'recreational drug sounding', but no, two different things.
What is CBD/Hemp?
CBD is a naturally occurring chemical compound that can be extracted from plants belonging to the cannabis sativa family or to you and me, cannabis plants. According to a blog written by Blog editor, 2021, the two most common plants are what we know as hemp and marijuana, again I thought they were the same thing. NOPE!
Marijuana apparently has a higher concentration of a compound called THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol). This compound is the main psychoactive ingredient that is associated with the feeling of getting ‘high’.
Hemp on the other hand, has a much lower concentration of THC, so when CBD oil is extracted from these industrially produced hemp plants it has a much lower THC content. In fact the maximum limit of THC found in EU regulated CBD oil has to be no more than 0.2%. (Blog Editor, 2021)
The difference between CBD and Hemp is simple, Hemp oil actually comes from the small seeds of the cannabis plant, where as CBD oil production uses the stalks, leaves and flowers of the hemp plant.
Is it legal in the UK?
Cannabis as a recreational drug containing high concentrations of THC is still classed as a Class B drug under UK Law (The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971). The legalities around CBD & Hemp however are a little more vague. Knowing that they are both extracted from EU-approved hemp plants, with an overall THC of no more than 0.2%. These plants have not been considered illegal in the UK and have somewhat skirted around the laws surrounding cannabis plants and their illegality.
It has never officially been made legal, but nor is it illegal. As it grows in population here in the UK however there has been more calls for better regulations surrounding the use of CBD oil in products and more recently the Food Standards Agency has announced stricter regulations with the use of CBD in new foods coming onto the market.
So why is everyone using it?
Lloyd, J. (2021) claims that the UK market for CBD is currently worth £300 million and predicts that by 2025 the market for CBD alone will soon increase threefold and be worth up to £1 billion. It’s not hard to see that there has been huge growth in the market. I don’t think I would have actively looked for Hemp skincare had I not seen the products trending in the Amazon marketplace. #amazonprimeaddict
It's safe to say that market influence paired with increased public awareness due to the many viral videos, which show the relaxing effects CBD oils have on those suffering from chronic pain illnesses or seizures has created a huge supply and demand effect on the UK market.
Just by knowing CBD doesn’t have the same mind-altering affects as recreational cannabis, the alleged benefits of pain relief have become all too appealing.
However scientific research is still not conclusive on the matter.
Let's talk about 5 alleged benefits of CBD use:
1. Relieves pain
There have been few studies carried out on the use of CBD to reduce pain in humans caused by inflammatory diseases such as arthritis and MS. Researchers have shown that CBD and THC interacts with our endocannabinoid system (ECS), which act as messengers and in retrospect functions relax, eat, sleep, forget and protect (Russo E, B. 2008).
Russo E, B. (2008) claims that our ECS runs parallel and interacts with our pain control systems, such as endorphin and inflammatory. It is a combination of CBD and THC that appear to have the better results within these studies when reducing pain, it seems the interaction between the receptors within our pain and ECS can assist patients feeling lesser pain then usual. However more scientific research is needed.
2. May reduce anxiety and depression
Kubala, J. (2018) writes that CBD has the ability to act on the brain’s receptors for serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitting hormone that regulates and stabilises mood, and social behaviour. CBD interaction with Serotonin receptors may have a drug like affect on anxiety and pain (Pain, 2019) but again, more research is needed to support this.
3. May reduce acne
As CBD has alleged anti-inflammatory properties it may offer some benefits for acne management. Kubala, J. (2018) also mentions a study that found CBD could reduce the amount of sebum made in the sebaceous glands, and by reducing excess sebum the knock on effect is reducing inflammatory reaction therefore reducing a spike in acne agents. However excess sebum is only one possible cause of acne and there can be a number of triggers that may need addressing.
Hemp oil however seems to be the key ingredient to helping skin conditions such as acne and psoriasis. It is suggested that the omega 3's and 6's found in hemp oil can help clear up skin conditions, and create stronger skin that can better resist infections, it also contains antibacterial agents which will undoubtedly help fight skin infection too (Carter, A. 2019).
4. Anti-Seizure effects
Edidyolex is a drug that has been licensed to treat epilepsy. It is produced with pure CBD and is available on the NHS for treating specific types of diagnosed epilepsy. Research has shown that 1 in 8 patients have reduced seizures up to 50% (Epilepsy Action, 2020). This can however have some small side effects such as drowsiness and diarrhea. Epilepsy Action, 2020 also states that any CBD 'medicinal treatments' available online are unlicensed as medicines and should not be sold under the pretense of having medical benefits.
5. May reduce inflammation slowing neurodegenerative diseases
Front Pharmacol (2020) suggests that CBD may represent as a prototype for anti-inflammatory drug developed for humans, where inflammation and oxidative stress are primary in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's are both neurodegenerative disorders which are accelerated by oxidative damage. This damage alters cells and ultimately leads to cell death. Our central nervous system is most sensitive to this type of damage which is what is being attacked in diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
As mentioned above, CBD interacts with or ECS system which can have pain reducing and anti inflammatory affects. It has also been said to have a relaxing effects on muscle spasms caused by neurodegenerative conditions such as MS and Parkinson's. CBD may also play a role in reducing insomnia, and offering a better quality of life for those suffering from Parkinson's moreover can reduce inflammation that may help slow down the onset of Alzheimer's (Kabula. J. 2020). However there can be some serious side effects and research is still on going.
In Summary
It is important to note that there are side effects to the use of CBD and it can also cause serious issues when paired with other medications, so it is important to discuss your needs with registered GP's before trialing CBD for medicinal purposes as it may have adverse effects.
Overall, research is still relatively on going with regards to the health and well-being benefits of CBD oil and I find it quite surprising that the market is growing faster then ever even without the evidence of scientific research to back it up. Research actually seem relatively slow in comparison to the market and I am still left wondering why? Why is research into the medicinal benefits of CBD so slow in comparison? Regardless of the unanswered questions, and the possible side effects, the UK market is booming and shows no signs of slowing.
I will also note something I found to be rather interesting, some research has actually found that "Only 38% of the products tested were within 10% of the advertised CBD content and 38% of products had less than 50% of the advertised CBD content. Almost half of the selected products had measurable levels of THC or CBN thus making them technically illegal in the UK" - Hudock, C (2019), so apparently you can't even trust the labels. Surely this proves that perhaps the UK does need to tighten the regulations surrounding the use of CBD and Hemp. Many companies are however getting outside help to regulate and test their products to ensure they operating within the EU regulations are safe for human use.
So there you have it. I know I am a little more knowledgeable, hope you are too.
Every day's a school day.
xoxo
Reference
Blog editor. (2021) What is CBD Oil? Mellow, 30th June. Available at: www.mellow.store/blog/cbd-law/when-was-cbd-made-legal-in-the-uk. (Accessed 08/02/2021).
Lloyd, J. (2021) Is regulation a good thing for UK cannabis? Savills, 17th March. Available at: https://www.savills.co.uk/blog/article/297154/rural-property/is-regulation-a-good-thing-for-uk-cannabis-.aspx. (Accessed 08/02/2021).
Russo E, B. (2008) Cannabinoids in the management of difficult to treat pain. NCBI, Feb. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2503660/. (Accessed 08/02/2021).
Pain. (2019) Cannabidiol modulates serotonergic transmission and reverses both allodynia and anxiety-like behavior in a model of neuropathic pain. NCBI, 28th Dec. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6319597/. (Accessed 08/02/2021).
Kabula, J (2018) 7 benefits and used of CBD oils (plus side effects). Healthline. 26th Feb. Available at: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/cbd-oil-benefits. (accessed 08/02/2021)
Epilespy Action (2020) Medical cannabis for epilepsy in the UK. Feb 2020. Available at: https://www.epilepsy.org.uk/info/treatment/cannabis-based-treatments.(accessed 08/02/2021)
Carter, A. (2019) What are the benefits of hemp oil? Healthline. 8th May. Available from: https://www.healthline.com/health/hemp-oil-benefits. (Accessed 09/02/2021)
Front Pharmacol (2020) Cannabidiol as a Therapeutic Target: Evidence of its Neuroprotective and Neuromodulatory Function in Parkinson's Disease. NBCI, 15th Dec. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33384602/. (Accessed on: 09/02/2021)
Hudock, C (2019) Value of UK CBD market greater than that of vitamin c & d combined. New Frontier Data. 29th July. Available at: https://newfrontierdata.com/cannabis-insights/value-of-uk-cbd-market-greater-than-that-of-vitamin-c-d-combined/. (Accessed 09/02/2021)
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