There’s a range of proposed uses for CBD products, and research into the impact of cannabinoids, including CBD, on the human body is constantly evolving. If you’re dealing with a medical concern and you’re interested in trying CBD, a health care professional familiar with the therapeutic uses of CBD can assist you in selecting a product and potency that’s right for you.
“CBD gummies are not medicines and shouldn’t be used to replace them,” says Dr. Piomelli. “I wouldn’t recommend them for any disease condition.”
CBD Gummies for Sleep
Although more research is needed, early studies show CBD may help treat insomnia and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorders (which involve people physically acting out their dreams in the REM stage of sleep, often leading to injury), according to a 2017 review of existing literature in Sleep Disorders[1]Babson KA, Sottile J, Morabito D. Cannabis, Cannabinoids, and Sleep: a Review of the Literature. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2017;19:23. . Additional studies suggest CBD may improve the quality of sleep, including difficulty falling asleep, according to a 2019 review in Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology. (This review also emphasizes the need for further research[2]Kuhathasan N, Dufort A, MacKillop J, Gottschalk R, Minuzzi L, Frey BN. The use of cannabinoids for sleep: A critical review on clinical trials. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology. 2019:27(4),83–401. .)
If you’re interested in using CBD gummies to address sleep-related concerns, such as insomnia or difficulty falling asleep, selecting CBD isolate gummies—which are THC-free due to the extraction process used to separate CBD from all other cannabis plant compounds—may be the best route, as some research shows THC use may negatively impact sleep over time in spite of potentially positive short-term effects.
Using CBD gummies to help address conditions that often occur in tandem with insomnia and sleep disturbances, such as anxiety and chronic pain, may also lead to an overall better quality of sleep as well.
CBD Gummies for Anxiety
Although no studies have been conducted regarding the specific use of CBD edibles for the treatment of anxiety, research does show that CBD has a potentially positive impact when it comes to treating generalized anxiety, social anxiety and anxiety associated with PTSD, according to a 2020 literature review in the Journal of American Pharmacists Association[3]Skelley JW, Deas CM, Curren Z, Ennis J. Use of cannabidiol in anxiety and anxiety-related disorders.. J Am Pharm Assoc. 2020;60(1):253-26. .
Because research on CBD as an adjunct or standalone anxiety treatment is limited and CBD products aren’t regulated by the FDA, there’s no standardized or recommended CBD dose for anxiety specifically. In one 2019 study of 40 Japanese students with social anxiety disorder, those who were given 300 milligrams of CBD a day versus the placebo experienced less anxiety, but this study was small, and certain measurements, such as blood levels of CBD, weren’t recorded[4]Masataka, N. Anxiolytic Effects of Repeated Cannabidiol Treatment in Teenagers With Social Anxiety Disorders. Front. Psychol. 2019. .
While there’s a fair amount of research that supports CBD use, including gummies, for certain anxiety disorders, further well-designed trials and research is needed.
CBD Gummies for Pain
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 20% of U.S. adults experience chronic pain[5]Chronic Pain and High-impact Chronic Pain Among U.S. Adults, 2019.. Accessed 8/29/2022. . Taking CBD in gummy form could potentially help alleviate certain acute and chronic pain conditions because of the analgesic effect cannabinoids may have on the endocannabinoid system, according to research.
CBD Gummies for Sex Drive
Little research exists regarding how CBD specifically may affect sexual function. However, a few studies explore how cannabis—which includes CBD among a host of other cannabinoids, namely THC—may affect sex drive
A 2023 study in the Journal of Cannabis Research reports that cannabis use prior to sexual activity increased feelings of desire and satisfaction likely due to cannabinoids’ anxiety-reducing and relaxation-inducing properties[6]Moser A, Ballard SM, Jensen J, et al. The influence of cannabis on sexual functioning and satisfaction. J Cannabis Res. 2023;5(2). .
Meanwhile, a 2020 study in Sexual Medicine assessed anonymous survey responses from 452 women and concluded that women who frequently use cannabis reported greater sexual function in terms of desire, arousal, orgasm and satisfaction[7]Kasman AM, Bhambhvani HP, Wilson-King G, Eisenberg ML. Assessment of the Association of Cannabis on Female Sexual Function With the Female Sexual Function Index. Sex Med. 2020;8(4):699-708. .
Some studies, however, report conflicting results. A 2015 review in the Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics reports that while short-term use of cannabis may increase libido in men, chronic use of cannabis may, in fact, lower men’s sex drive[8]du Plessis SS, Agarwal A, Syriac A. Marijuana, phytocannabinoids, the endocannabinoid system, and male fertility. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2015;32(11):1575-1588. .
CBD may affect sex drive in different ways depending on the individual. However, research indicates that using cannabis prior to sex may have a positive or negative effect depending on specific factors, such as frequency of use, gender and more.
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