The UK CBD market has seen huge growth in the past two years and it’s not hard to see why. CBD is an oil that’s taken from the cannabis plant and it can help with everything from pain, anxiety and stress to sleep problems, indigestion, nausea and even long-term heart disease.
The oil is a natural product and it contains many different cannabinoids from the hemp and cannabis plants. These cannabinoids include CBD, terpenes and flavonoids. The UK CBD market is booming and the choice of products has increased dramatically over the past few years. You can find it in capsules, oils, gummies and even beer. There’s also a wide range of skincare and beauty products available that contain CBD, including lotions, creams, lip balms and bath oils.
There are some very specific products containing CBD that are legally classed as medicines and only available on prescription. These are called medicinal cannabis and include Sativex and Epidiolex. These are prescribed for specific conditions such as multiple sclerosis to improve muscle stiffness, known as spasticity. They are available as a mouth spray or capsule and have been shown to be effective in several clinical trials.
In the meantime, a lot of people are taking CBD oil as a supplement to improve their health and well-being. However, the quality of this oil varies enormously and it is important to know how much CBD you are getting. Often products sold on the high street contain a low amount of the active compound, CBD, and more THC, which is psychoactive and creates the ‘high’ effect of cannabis. A recent study found that over half of the CBD products on the high street contained less than the amount labelled.
A new study has revealed that CBD may be good for the heart and can reduce symptoms of chronic heart failure and atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). It could also be used to lower blood pressure, improve blood flow, reduce inflammation, protect against certain cancers and reduce symptoms of diabetes. However, more research is needed to confirm these findings.
Harry Sumnall, Professor in Substance Use, Liverpool John Moores University
CBD is one of 104 chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant, and it doesn’t contain the psychoactive component tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Unlike THC, CBD won’t get you high but it might have therapeutic effects. The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has licensed a few CBD medicines, such as Sativex, which is prescribed to patients with MS to ease the spasticity that comes with their condition. CBD is also included in a medical marijuana-based drug called Nabilone, which is approved to treat severe nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy. The research on these two drugs suggests they have some promise, but they are not for everyone and they should only be used with a doctor’s advice. Medicinal cannabis is not currently available on the NHS but there is work ongoing into whether it can benefit people with some specific symptoms, such as epilepsy, and we hope this will eventually be available for a wider group of patients. UK CBD