Is CBD Oil A Miracle for Inflammation, Diabetes, and IBD?

Inflammation plays a major role in many chronic diseases such as Ulcerative Colitis (UC), Diabetes, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and many more. While many people find temporary relief by taking painkillers or anti-inflammatory drugs, CBD oil has become a popular solution as well. One of the many reasons for this is that CBD has virtually no side effects, unlike painkillers and anti-inflammatory medications. In fact, the National Center for Biotechnology Institutions (NCBI) conducted multiple clinical studies showing the tremendous effects CBD oil has on inflammation. In one of the studies, researches found that Cannabidiol relieves cardiac dysfunction, oxidative stress, fibrosis, inflammation and prevents cell death in diabetics. They concluded that "these results coupled with the excellent safety and tolerability profile of CBD in humans, strongly suggest that it may have great therapeutic potential, in the treatment of diabetic complications, and perhaps, other cardiovascular disorders." Another respected study, this one conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), showed that in diabetes prone mice, when treated with potent CBD oil, the incidence of diabetes was reduced by 56% and inflammation was also significantly reduced. Another study found that CBD treatment reduces the incidence of diabetes in diabetes prone mice from an incidence of 86% in non-treated control mice to an incidence of 30% in CBD-treated mice.

Now that we've discussed CBD's effects on diabetes, let's take a look at it's potential for Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD). IBD includes Crohn's disease (CD), UC, and IBS. A recent study conducted at Meir Hospital in Tel Aviv, showed the effects that CBD oil has on CD. The study, headed by Dr. Timna Naftali, was clinically tested on a group of patients suffering from moderately severe CD. The group was split into two. Some were given a potent 15% CBD oil which also contained minimal amounts of THC. The rest were given a placebo. The test took place over an 8 week period. The study's researchers examined the patients before the test as well as after. After the two months were up, it was discovered that 35% of the patients taking the placebo experienced a full remission of symptoms, whereas 65% of the group consuming the CBD had full remission of symptoms. Another smaller Israeli study conducted on twenty-one people suffering from Crohn's were split into two groups. Group 1, comprised of eleven patients, took CBD oil, whereas group 2 took placebos. Ten out of eleven patients in group 1 saw a reduction in their CD symptoms, with five experiencing total remission, whereas only four people from group 2 saw mild improvement in their CD.

In addition to the studies conducted on Crohn's Disease, it is also important to examine the effects CBD has on Ulcerative Colitis. One of the most influential studies concerning CBD's effects on UC ever done was another NCBI test. The study was conducted on both mice and biopsies of people suffering from UC. The test results showed that, CBD was able to control gliosis to an extent that it increased the healing aspect, while reducing the pro-inflammatory aspect of gliosis. For those who don't know, gliosis is the body's respone to an injury to the Central Nervous System (CNS). Gliosis activity is very beneficial short-term, for it is neccesary for healing the injury. But long-term, gliosis activity will lead to tissue scarring, inflammation, and it could possible contribute to CNS diseases.

PPARG and CBD Oil: The Secret to Crohn's and Colitis

PPARG is a nuclear receptor present in the human colon, intestines, body fat and in white blood cells. PPARG is important for decreasing inflammation, glucose control, and preventing the growth of cancer cells. There are two main types of PPARG, y1 and y2. They are bound to each other. y2 is incredibly powerful. It is an anti-inflammatory bomb. However, it must be kept under control. PPARG Y1 keeps it under control as long as there is enough y1 in the body. When y1 is lacking, y2 takes over and can wreak havoc and cause intestinal damage. For example, patients with colitis have 60% less PPARG Y1 activity in their colons compared to healthy people. Thus they are prone to continued intestinal damage. CBD increases the PPARG y1 activity in the colon, thereby, preventing and repairing intestinal damage.

These research studies indicate that CBD has a tremendous effect on IBD both by reducing inflammation and repairing intestinal damage, and may be a promising treatment for chronic diseases such as Diabetes.