Conditions

Scientific research has shown CBD may be therapeutic for many conditions. In compiling a list of conditions that CBD may help, hundreds of peer-reviewed articles in scientific journals were examined. Relevant reports have been culled primarily from PubMed, an online service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. To these highly technical reports, articles from O’Shaughnessy’s and a few stories from general interest publications have been added.

Most of the PubMed material consists of abstracts on preclinical research involving single cannabinoid molecules, test tubes, petri dishes, animal experiments, and in some cases human cell-line studies. Although all mammals have cell receptors that respond pharmacologically to cannabinoid compounds, data from animal experiments and other preclinical research is not always applicable to humans. GW Pharmaceuticals has conducted successful trials of Sativex, a whole plant CBD-rich cannabis extract, mainly for people suffering from neuropathic pain; summaries of this research are also included. There have been additional studies with synthetic CBD and whole plant cannabis in Brazil and Israel. Unfortunately, political constraints have blocked clinical-oriented CBD research in the United States.

Most of the reports that follow pertain to cannabidiol. Occasionally articles examine the therapeutic potential of other plant cannabinoids—THC, CBDA (cannabidiol in its raw acid form), THCV, CBG, and CBDV, for example. Also included are few studies that illuminate various aspects of the endocannabinoid system without focusing on CBD.

Select a medical condition below to see the science.