THE BUZZ ON CBD OIL

What is CBD Oil?

CBD Oil: one of the newer items to hit the market that seems to be all the rage. According to Medical News Today, CBD is credited with helping people with certain types of epilepsy, working as a natural anti-inflammatory, helping those going through withdrawal, fighting cancer, treating acne, decreasing anxiety, and even easing inflammation in the pancreas due to Type I Diabetes. 


CBD Oil come from one of the compounds known as cannabinoids in the cannabis plant. The oil contains high concentrations of the cannabinoids (hence the name CBD). CBD is NOT marijuana, which contains THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and is responsible for the mind-altering effects associated with the plant. CBD comes from the least processed form of the plant, known as hemp, and does not contain any psychoactive ingredients. 

How does it work?

Cannabinoids produce effects by attaching to certain receptors in the body. These receptors are known as CB1 (found mostly in the brain) and CB2 (found in the immune system). Our bodies actually create cannabinoids on their own, so when CBD Oil is introduced to our bodies, it simply directs the body to use more of its own cannabinoids instead of attaching to the CB2 receptors, which are responsible for inflammation and pain. This is why CBD Oil is thought to help ease pain, inflammation and many other ailments in the body. 

CBD Oil can be used to make creams, pastes, or even inserted into capsules to be taken orally. In a massage, the therapist would use a CBD-infused cream to treat the whole body or use the oil directly on "hot spots," or areas with extreme inflammation. 

The Believed Benefits of CBD Oil

In a study published by the Journal of Experimental Medicine, CBD was shown to decrease chronic inflammation in mice and rats. CBD Oil is thought to be more of a natural pain relief, providing an alternative to Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) such as Tylenol and Ibuprofen. 

In a study published in Addictive Behaviors, CBD Oil was shown to decrease cigarette use in heavy smokers by using an inhaler containing CBD instead. There was another review published in Neurotherapeutics showing similar findings, calling CBD a "promising treatment for people with opioid addiction disorders" while decreasing symptoms associated with substance use, such as anxiety, mood, pain and insomnia. 


The FDA has recently approved the use of CBD Oil for treating two types conditions characterized by epileptic seizures: Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome and Dravet Syndrome, however they have limited the use to anyone over the age of 2 and only with proof that other treatments have been ineffective. Findings in a 2014 review of CBD Oil concluded that its use may also treat complications linked to epilepsy, such as neurodegeneration, neuronal injury and psychiatric disease. 


Findings in a review published by the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology concluded that CBD Oil helped prevent the spread of cancer and suppress the growth of cancer cells. CBD was also shown to have low toxicity, unlike other treatments for cancer. 

One of the biggest reasons people advocate for CBD Oil is its supposed effectiveness in the treatment of anxiety disorders. There have been findings supporting this, saying that CBD may help decrease anxiety in related disorders such as PTSD, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and OCD. 

There seem to be other uses for CBD Oil as treatment for other conditions, with the list growing nearly every day. 

Is it legal?

While CBD Oil is legal, it is not FDA approved.  State and federal laws differ and they can often be confusing along with changing frequently.  Another noteworthy fact is CBD Oil has no product regulation, meaning quality can vary greatly between companies or even batches.  If you're an essential oil user, you can think of this in the same way as choosing where to purchase your essential oils.  Anything you put on your body, even if only topically, is important to have a good quality product.  Do your homework before purchasing.     

What's the downside to CBD Oil?

According to WebMD, many of the studies done on CBD Oil can be called into question because of their lack of control groups and a lack of human testing. Most studies done have been on animals, meaning results may not be as specific as if they were done on people. Those studies that did take place on humans didn't have control groups, meaning there wasn't a way of differing the actual effect from that of a placebo. 

Because the regulation lacks so greatly, it could also lead to potential interactions with other medications or may possibly harm the liver. 

Side Effects and Risks

There aren't really any long-term studies regarding the risks of CBD Oil and there doesn't seem to be many side effects either. The most common side effects seen in adults are tiredness and changes in appetite and weight. There are no significant side effects on the Central Nervous System either. Studies have shown that adults can tolerate a wide range of doses well, meaning that there's no indication of toxicity. 

The biggest risk of CBD Oil seems to be in the lack of regulation itself; since the actual oil is not regulated by the FDA, quality can vary greatly. 


To sum it all up, CBD Oil has become one of the newest homeopathic and natural fads to spread across the globe and those who have experience a massage with it will tell you how much they love it. Massage therapists love it too simply because the oil itself is versatile, meaning it can be used as a spot treatment or mixed with massage cream to treat the whole body. Because CBD Oil has so many uses, massage therapists everywhere are adding it to their arsenal of pain-fighting remedies. 

While we currently do not offer CBD Oil massage here at Massage La Mesa, there are many businesses in San Diego alone who do. We leave it up to you, our readers, to decide if CBD Oil Massage is the way to go!

Always consult your doctor before receiving treatment. 

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