What Is CBD Not Good For?
With CBD solidly in our lives, there is a lot of talk about how much CBD can help with health or mental issues. According to research, most people in the UK are taking CBD to manage pain or improve their mental health. This isn’t what it’s supposed to do, though: people are only meant to use CBD to boost their well-being.
Also, there is little talk of what CBD can’t do. Many people assign CBD extraordinary features because it’s a botanical compound and is assumed to be wholesome and effective. CBD is indeed produced from industrial hemp which is a plant.
Initial indications and preliminary findings show that CBD may help with inflammation, pain management, depression, and anxiety. However, the NHS is not recommending CBD as any kind of medicine for common ailments. CBD in the UK is sold as a food supplement and is only supposed to help people support their health rather than manage a specific condition or cure any illness.
As there is a lot of confusion about CBD, let’s take a look at what CBD is not good for. Like any other substance, CBD is not a one-size-fits-all solution and people should be aware so they handle their health expectations better.
1. CBD is not a cure-all
Despite some farfetched claims, CBD is not a miracle cure. It can’t cure chronic diseases or serious medical conditions such as cancer, heart disease, or diabetes.
While it may offer symptomatic relief in some cases, it should not be seen as a replacement for conventional medical treatments. For instance, while CBD may help alleviate some of the nausea associated with chemotherapy, it does not address the underlying disease or replace treatments.
So, beware of claims that CBD can cure these conditions and never forego necessary medical treatments. Indeed, if a CBD manufacturer makes extravagant claims, it may be best to steer clear of their products as this suggests an irresponsible and untrustworthy producer.
As always, patients with serious health conditions should always consult with their GP before taking CBD as they have to balance the effectiveness of CBD against other medications they are already taking.
2. Limited efficacy for mental health disorders
While some studies suggest that CBD may help with occasional insomnia or social anxiety, its effectiveness for more severe mental health disorders like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or severe clinical depression is not yet understood or supported by scientific evidence.
Traditional treatments, including psychotherapy and medication, remain the primary approach for these conditions.
3. Potential for drug interactions
CBD can interact with various medications and alter their effectiveness or increase the risk of side effects. The reason behind this is that CBD is metabolized by the same enzyme that metabolizes many drugs and medications including blood thinners, anti-depressants, and high-pressure medication. When the liver is metabolizing CBD, the other medications have to ‘wait’ until it’s their turn to be metabolized. This can change the medication’s bioavailability—i.e. the amount of medication that ultimately reaches the bloodstream.
This is why people taking prescription medications should always consult with their GP.
4. Not suitable for everyone
It may be best if certain populations avoid using CBD altogether. For example, we don’t know if there are any risks for a foetus or infant when a pregnant or breastfeeding woman takes CBD—which is common, since it may help with nausea.
Also, individuals with certain medical conditions shouldn’t use CBD. People with liver disease, for example, should probably abstain from taking CBD: as their liver function is already impaired and CBD is metabolized by the liver; they don’t want to burden it further. Also, glaucoma patients should avoid it as it increases intraocular pressure.
5. Calculate the CBD dosage
CBD can have different effects on different people. Factors such as body weight, metabolism, and individual biochemistry can influence how someone responds to CBD. For example, people with more body fat metabolize CBD more slowly because CBD is lipophilic and attaches to fatty tissue. This means they need less CBD to achieve their expected goal.
Conversely, people who lead active lives and work out or exercise a lot, metabolize CBD faster than people who lead more sedentary lives. They can take higher quantities of CBD without experiencing the side effects associated with larger CBD dosage.
Even the way you consume CBD has an effect. For example, taking CBD with food, especially healthy fats like yogurt or avocado, means that CBD will linger in the body longer and be more efficient.
All this means it can be pretty tricky to calculate the right CBD dosage for you. If you think that there is one dosage that’s valid for everyone, then you would be mistaken. Most people advise CBD consumers to start with a small dosage, around 10 to 15 mg, and increase it slowly over several days or weeks.
Remember that CBD is biphasic: it delivers different effects in small and large doses. For instance, small doses of CBD usually make people more alert, focused, and energized. Larger doses deliver relaxation and are better for bedtime.
Ultimately, some people may experience significant benefits, while others may not notice any effects at all. This variability can make it challenging to predict outcomes and set expectations for new consumers.
Unlike prescription medications, where doses are carefully determined through clinical trials, CBD dosing is often a matter of trial and error. This can lead to either insufficient dosing or excessive dosing. The good thing to remember is that you can’t overdose on CBD, so at worst taking too much will only deliver side effects like nausea or diarrhoea.
6. CBD is not good for getting high
If you take CBD thinking it will get you high, then you will be very disappointed.
CBD, unlike its THC sibling, is neither psychotropic nor hallucinogenic. You won’t get the munchies nor experience a ‘high’ with CBD. CBD is generally well-tolerated by the human body. Its lack of hallucinatory features is the main reason why it’s legal in the UK while THC is not.
7. Unclear Long-Term Effects
The long-term effects of CBD use are not well understood due to a lack of extensive, long-term studies. Some studies have suggested potential risks, such as liver damage when consumed in huge quantities, but more research is needed to fully understand these risks.
Many people take low quantities of CBD without experiencing any effects, long-term or otherwise. Others take a bigger dose of CBD until they feel the benefits they anticipate and then stop taking it for a while. Yet others microdose—i.e. take small quantities throughout the day.
The fact that CBD is produced from a botanical compound doesn’t necessarily mean that it can be taken for a lifetime, although there is no clear evidence pointing to any long-term health concerns. You can experiment until you find what works for you.
What is CBD good for, then?
We spoke of the things that CBD is not good for. So, why do people take it?
Evidence, research, and clinical trials are showing that CBD may help with occasional anxiety and insomnia. It may also help with improving your mood.
Even though there’s no NHS recommendation for taking CBD to help handle chronic pain such as the joint pain associated with arthritis, many people do so. This may be because CBD appears to be helpful with inflammation and pain management. As a result, people are substituting CBD for their conventional pain-management prescription, according to research.
CBD for better health expectations
The UK CBD market comes only second to the American one and was valued at £690 million in 2022. It’s obviously expected to have increased since then as more and more people experiment with CD and introduce it into their lifestyle and daily routine.
CBD holds promise for many but it is not a panacea. The main reason behind CBD’s limits is that there is still little research on crucial subjects such as dosage and counterindications. Even so, anecdotal evidence and clinical trials are slowly revealing how CBD may help with occasional pain management and inflammation.
As always, consult with your GP and approach CBD use with a critical and cautious mindset. Don’t believe in miracle cures and trust responsible CBD manufacturers who don’t make unrealistic and dangerous promises. To help you with this, we have published our latest reviews for the best UK CBD oil brands and the best UK CBD stores, so check them out before buying your next batch of CBD!
Nicholas Rossis, PhD is a specialized, NSF-trained writer who has written hundreds of posts on CBD and nutritional supplements. His work combines critical acclaim with the analysis of the latest news, studies, research, and legal developments in the world of CBD, providing readers with valuable data and insights.