CBD has become a global phenomenon over the last decade, and nowadays, practically everyone knows what CBD is or has even tried it themselves. Less is known, though, about the impact of CBD on your health: especially the health of your brain and nervous system.
Is CBD a net benefit or a net detriment to the functioning of your nervous system — both in the sense of cognition and in the context of autonomic functions? Over the years we’ve learned quite a bit on this subject in recent years, so let’s dive into what we now know about the effects of CBD on mental health and motor function.
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What Is Cannabidiol?
Cannabidiol (CBD) in the form of gummies or edibles like those found here are a non-intoxicating compound naturally found in the hemp plant. Called a cannabinoid since it is only present in Cannabis sativa, cannabidiol has received a lot of attention recently due to its perceived benefits for everything from inflammation to epilepsy.
Some researchers have taken special interest in the effects of CBD on the human nervous system. Rather than finding detrimental effects — which was the explicit aim in some cases — researchers found that CBD might be highly beneficial to the human brain and mind.
Does CBD Have Neurological Effects?
CBD appears to have neurological effects. That’s different, though, from saying that it has intoxicating effects, which it does not. Unlike THC, CBD won’t get you high, but it does appear to be psychoactive in that it is active when it enters your nervous system.
We still don’t know a lot about the neurological effects of CBD, but a few studies have been conducted on the subject recently. Let’s take a closer look:
CBD Mental Function Studies
In 2021, a new research review was published in the journal Frontiers in Pharmacology titled “The Impact of Cannabidiol on Human Brain Function: A Systematic Review.” In this exhaustive paper, the authors conclude that “CBD induces significant alterations in brain activity” that “possibly [reflect its] therapeutic effects.” In other words, they found reason to believe that CBD should be researched further as a potential neurological functioning aid.
CBD Motor Function Studies
Research also supports the idea that CBD might be useful for motor function, the part of human neurology that has to do with the autonomic (reflexive) parts of the brain and nervous system. In 2022, a team of Italian researchers successfully submitted a research review to the journal Life titled “Effects of Cannabidiol on Locomotor Activity.”
The authors begin by recognizing that the “evaluation of effects on spontaneous motor activity is crucial in experimental pharmacology,” which is to say that it is very important to determine during testing that new drugs do not cause unexpected muscle spasms. After exhaustively covering all the available studies, the researchers conclude that there “is evidence of positive effects of long-term CBD treatment on brain- and nervous system-associated diseases.”
Is CBD Safe?
Even if it doesn’t have any negative effects on the human nervous system, is CBD also safe in other ways? Overall, researchers have shown time and again that the side effects of CBD are usually so minimal that most users need not practice extreme caution. It is, however, very important to choose your source of CBD wisely since contaminants can make even the safest product dangerous.
In some cases, CBD can interact negatively with prescription drugs — especially drugs prescribed for psychiatric or neurological conditions. As a result, it is very important that you consult with your doctor before beginning CBD treatment for neurological concerns.
The Bottom Line: Is CBD Useful for Mental and Motor Function?
There certainly appears to be an amassing pile of evidence in favor of CBD’s usefulness as a neurological aid. Regulations may limit direct claims regarding the usefulness of CBD or any other health product, but we can safely say that the neurological effects of CBD are currently of great interest to researchers around the world.
Over the coming years, we stand to learn more about both the safety and benefits of CBD from a neurological point of view. For now, practice proper caution, but be encouraged to try CBD for neurological purposes by the research that has begun to be conducted into the subject.
