What are the health claims of CBD?
“Cannabidiol works within the same systems in the brain and body as conventional cannabis,” explains Dr. Dani Gordon, CBD and medical cannabis expert and board-certified Canadian and British physician.
At the London Resilience Clinic, which she founded, Dr Gordon uses CBD with other cannabis compounds to treat conditions such as chronic pain, insomnia and mood disorders. “In a clinical setting, we prescribe medicinal cannabis that contains CBD as well as small amounts of THC to more effectively treat these conditions where other treatments have failed,” he says.
However, high street products are far less potent, and Dr Gordon explains that at low doses, people will only experience a positive impact on their stress levels and overall wellbeing, if anything.
“CBD has a variety of effects because these systems control so many functions related to homeostasis, or brain and body balance, such as inflammation and stress responses,” adds Dr. Gordon.
What is the evidence that CBD really works?
Although numerous clinical trials have shown that CBD is an important component in medicinal cannabis, there have been no clinical trials of high-selling CBD products, so there is no evidence to support the idea that they have more impact than a placebo
In general, examples of CBD’s health-enhancing properties are mostly anecdotal, according to Robin May.
“There is very little solid scientific evidence for the effects that CBD has on things like sleep and joint pain, for better or for worse,” he says.
“CBD is part of some cannabis medications prescribed by doctors, such as some epilepsy medications, but when it comes to things like gummies and drinks, there’s not much to show that the CBD in these does anything something special
“If a product is not marketed as a medicine, the companies that make it should not attach any health claims,” he added.
Dr. Gordon says, “The CBD isolate you find in stores is generally not as effective as full-spectrum CBD at the same dose, which is what I use.
“All studies showing evidence of its effectiveness examine clinical effects, but many people find cannabidiol useful as a tool for stress management, especially in conjunction with other mindfulness techniques.”
What are the health problems?
The health impact of regularly consuming CBD via gummies and drinks is little known, says the FSA’s May.
The agency’s new report, however, has found that there could be some negative impacts on liver and thyroid function when large amounts of CBD are consumed on a regular basis, although the exact damage they could do is still unknown.
“Our independent panels looked at the available evidence on the side effects of CBD and found that there is some potential for an impact on liver and thyroid function at high doses,” he explains.
“We’re currently not sure why this is. When it comes to the liver, one theory is that when that organ is breaking down CBD, liver enzymes are left competing with CBD and may not be available to fight other toxins in the body.
“Less is still known about how CBD can affect your thyroid health, but it has been suggested that consuming a lot of CBD could affect the way your thyroid regulates hormones,” says May.
Dr. Gordon believes the decision to lower the safe daily dose is “overly cautious.”
“The previous limit of 70 mg for the general public seemed reasonable,” he counters. “In a clinical setting, I use much higher doses under medical supervision, and even at fairly high doses it’s generally very safe.”
Is there anyone who should avoid using CBD products entirely?
“We would advise the most vulnerable people to stay away from CBD foods and drinks. This would include pregnant women, young children and adults with underlying health conditions,” says May.
On this, Dr. Gordon agrees. “If you have a medical condition, always check with your doctor before starting any new supplement,” she warns.
“Avoid it if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, and if you’re taking certain types of immunotherapy for cancer, for example.
“However, at a dose of 10 mg it is generally very safe for healthy people, but is unlikely to provide a noticeable benefit for the stress-related reasons that would use it.”
I use CBD every day – how concerned should I be?
“If you’re someone who has consumed a lot of products that contain CBD, don’t panic,” says May.
“However, you should look at the products to determine what your usual exposure is, and then consider cutting back or trying products with less CBD, if you’re using more than 10 mg per day.”
“For healthy people consuming 70 mg a day right now, you are unlikely to be harmed based on the current evidence base and what I have seen after prescribing medical cannabis and CBD for over a decade says Dr. Gordon.
“However, it is always best to consult a doctor if you are unsure.”
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