We link to dozens of studies on CBD throughout our many in-depth articles on the various benefits, properties, and FAQs related to CBD. (You can see our full list of content on CBD here.) As data from research studies continues to grow, we wanted to provide our customers with a library of CBD research studies in conjunction with a list of the health benefits of CBD oil.
This page is a compilation of studies that focus on the effects of CBD on the human body. While these studies don’t justify the use of CBD as a standalone treatment, they do provide reasonable proof that the compound’s therapeutic potential merits extensive research and shows extremely promising results.
- Acne and Skin Care
- Addiction and Pharmaceutical Consumption
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Depression, Anxiety, and PTSD
- Diabetes
- Digestive and Gastrointestinal Health
- Endocannabinoid System
- High Blood Pressure
- Loss of Appetite and Dietary Regulation
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Neurological and Seizures
- Pain and Inflammation
- Side Effects and the Future Studies
- Sleep Regulation and Insomnia
*Disclaimer: These statements have not been approved by the FDA. The information in this studies library and on our site should not be construed as medical advice. Never change, stop, or alter any medications you are currently taking before consulting with a medical care professional.
I. Acne and Skin Care
For years, manufacturers have been developing natural remedies to treat acne and to improve skin care in general. CBD oil and topical applications are proving to be a helpful alternative or support for people with sensitive and inflamed skin.
You can check out recent studies at:
- Seeking New Acne Treatment from Natural Products, Devices and Synthetic Drug Discovery
- The Endocannabinoid System of the Skin in Health and Disease
- Cannabidiol Exerts Sebostatic and Anti-Inflammatory Effects on Human Sebocytes
2. Addiction and Pharmaceutical Consumption
Addiction is a debilitating condition that may affect people of any age. Even though most people associate it with illicit drug abuse, more than 11 million Americans are addicted to prescription opioids. CBD oil for addiction may help diminish certain symptoms associated with withdrawal from drugs. Learn more by checking out:
- Cannabidiol Reduces Cigarette Consumption in Tobacco Smokers: Preliminary Findings
- Cannabidiol as an Intervention for Addictive Behaviors: A Systematic Review of the Evidence
- Cannabidiol […] Inhibits Cue-Induced Heroin-Seeking and Normalizes Discrete Mesolimbic Neuronal Disturbances
3. Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is a devastating condition for both patient and family. Unfortunately, very little is known about this condition or what causes it. Vast research on CBD for Alzheimer’s disease is still required to assess the full effects CBD may have on Alzheimer’s patients. But, preliminary conclusions are surprising medical professionals and may pave the way for new treatments. At the very least, it makes for interesting reading.
Learn more at:
- In vivo Evidence for Therapeutic Properties of Cannabidiol (CBD) for Alzheimer’s Disease
- Cannabidiol Modulates the Expression of Alzheimer’s Disease-Related Genes in Mesenchymal Stem Cells
- Cannabinoids for Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease: Moving Toward the Clinic
4. Depression, Anxiety, and PTSD
Anxiety disorders such as depression and PTSD affect approximately 40 million adults in the US every single year, which is equivalent to more than 18% of the population. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) alone can affect up to 6.8 million Americans, but less than 44% actually receive medical attention.
CBD is emerging as a potential alternative to treat symptoms associated with these conditions. If you are interested in learning more you can read:
- Antidepressant-Like Effects of Cannabidiol in Mice
- Cannabidiol as a Potential Treatment for Anxiety Disorders
- Effectiveness of Cannabidiol Oil for Pediatric Anxiety and Insomnia as Part of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Case Report
- No Acute Effects of Cannabidiol on the Sleep-Wake Cycle of Healthy Subjects
You can also check out the articles we’ve created; CBD for Depression: Exploring Natural Alternatives and CBD Oil for Anxiety: Treating Anxiety Disorders Safely
5. Diabetes
Diabetes or pre-diabetes affects more than 9% of the US population. Left unchecked, this condition leads to a cascade of medical complication. There is no cure for diabetes, but lifestyle changes can help mitigate the symptoms and effects on the body. CBD oil may be helpful in many ways in supporting the health and wellbeing of a diabetic.
To learn about the potential use of CBD oil for diabetes you can read:
- Cannabidiol Lowers Incidence of Diabetes in Non-Obese Diabetic Mice
- Cannabidiol As a Putative Novel Therapy for Diabetic Retinopathy
- Cannabidiol Arrests Onset of Autoimmune Diabetes in NOD Mice
6. Digestive and Gastrointestinal Health
Digestive and gastrointestinal diseases cause more than 21.5 million hospitalizations per year in the US alone. Unfortunately, the causes and symptoms of ailments such as Crohn’s disease are not fully understood. This makes diagnosis and treatment very difficult, but alternatives such as CBD are starting to show promising results in preliminary studies. (We have had several Apple Wellness customers report a significant improvement to their conditions using CBD extracts.)
Some of the studies on CBD for Crohn’s disease and other gastrointestinal woes, check out:
- Cannabinoids and Gastrointestinal Motility: Animal and Human Studies
- Cannabidiol […] is Protective in a Murine Model of Colitis
- Therapeutic Use of Cannabis in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
You can also check out our articles on CBD for Digestive Issues and CBD for Crohn’s Disease
7. Endocannabinoid System
The endocannabinoid system, or ECS, regulates a large portion of the body’s vital functions. While the exact workings of the ECS are still unclear, we do know that it helps balance fundamental processes in the body. The ECS plays a vital role in:
- Appetite regularly
- Energy and metabolic anomalies
- Pain reception
- Inflammation
- The overall health of the central nervous system
- Motor functions
- Gastrointestinal functions
- Blood pressure
- Blood sugar levels
- Memory
- Cognitive and neurological processes
- The respiratory system
- Cardiovascular health
Medical professionals believe that CBD, as well as other cannabinoids found in cannabis, interacts with our ECS in a special way. It’s suspected that this interaction is responsible for the therapeutic effects of CBD and other components of the plant.
For further information on the endocannabinoid system, please see:
- The Endocannabinoid System as an Emerging Target of Pharmacotherapy
- The Endocannabinoid System, Cannabinoids, and Pain
- Cannabinoids and the Digestive Tract
- Endocannabinoid Modulation of Cortical Up-States and NREM Sleep
- Endocannabinoid System Dysfunction in Mood and Related Disorders
8. High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure affects more than 75 million folks in the US alone and costs $48.6 billion in medical care each year. That said, only approximately half of the people that suffer from high blood pressure have it under control, despite many of these taking prescribed medications. CBD shows promising results as a way to balance blood pressure.
Read studies on CBD for high blood pressure here:
- A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Haemodynamic Effects of Cannabidiol
- Acute Administration of Cannabidiol in Vivo Suppresses Ischaemia-Induced Cardiac Arrhythmias and Reduces Infarct Size When Given at Reperfusion
- A Single Dose of Cannabidiol Reduces Blood Pressure in Healthy Volunteers in a Randomized Crossover Study
9. Loss of Appetite and Dietary Regulation
The endocannabinoid system seems to act as a balancer for appetite and diet regulation. This means that it can be helpful both to encourage low appetite and to suppress the desire to overeat. This unique ability makes it an ideal option to consider for those experiencing appetite issues on either end of the spectrum. You can check out some of the studies relating to diet regulation here:
- Cannabinoids and Appetite: Food Craving and Food Pleasure
- Endocannabinoid Receptor Antagonists: Potential for Obesity Treatment
10. Nausea and Vomiting
Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms of both illnesses and some side effects of medical treatments, such as chemotherapy. Research suggests that the ECS plays an important role in the regulation of nausea. CBD has shown strong antiemetic properties, helping to the feeling of nausea. It’s been used with great success to reduce nausea, stomach pain, and vomiting.
More information on CBD for nausea can be found here:
- Cannabinoid Regulation of Acute and Anticipatory Nausea
- Regulation of Nausea and Vomiting by Cannabinoids
- A Comparative Analysis of the Potential of Cannabinoids and Ondansetron to Suppress Cisplatin-Induced Emesis in the Suncus Murinus
11. Neurological and Seizures
The FDA’s approval of the first CBD-based epilepsy drug may very well mark the beginning of a new era in medicine! Anecdotal evidence suggests that CBD may pose a great alternative for some forms of epilepsy and neurological disorders. Here are some of the most recent studies on CBD for epilepsy and other seizure-inducing conditions:
- Cannabinoids in the Treatment of Epilepsy: Hard Evidence at Last?
- Trial of Cannabidiol for Drug-Resistant Seizures in the Dravet Syndrome
- Cannabidiol for Treatment of Refractory Childhood Epilepsies: Experience from a Single Tertiary Epilepsy Center in Slovenia
- FDA Approves First Drug Comprised of [CBD]
12. Pain and Inflammation
More than 25 million Americans experience severe or chronic pain on a daily basis. CBD has become a popular alternative to pharmaceutical and over-the-counter drugs because it has shown powerful analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. It provides nourishment and healing, without the harmful and potentially deadly side effects of common painkillers. Using CBD oil for pain can also reduce the side-effects experienced by some pharmaceuticals, mostly thanks to its ability to relieve nausea and vomiting.
You can learn more about CBD for inflammation and pain by reading these articles:
- Cannabinoids as Novel Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
- Cannabinoids in the Management of Difficult to Treat Pain
- Cannabinoids Suppress Inflammatory and Neuropathic Pain
- Cannabidiol as an Emergent Therapeutic Strategy for Lessening the Impact of Inflammation on Oxidative Stress
- Cannabidiol Reduces Intestinal Inflammation Through the Control of Neuroimmune Axis
You can also check out our article on CBD for Pain Management.
13. Side Effects And The Future Studies
As with all potential medical applications, there is still a lot of research that needs to be carried out to fully understand the side-effects of CBD. That said, short-term studies and tests suggest that it has a much more favorable safety profile than many forms of conventional medication.
At the moment, the biggest issue with CBD is a lack of thorough documentation and research on side effects. Thankfully, as the number of ongoing studies regarding cannabidiol continues to skyrocket. For more information on the side-effects and future studies on CBD, please read:
- An Update on Safety and Side Effects of Cannabidiol
- Safety and Side Effects of Cannabidiol, a Cannabis Sativa Constituent
- Cannabidiol: Promise and Pitfalls
- The Healthy Place CBD Oil FAQs Page
- Learn About CBD Oil – The Healthy Place Articles
14. Sleep Regulation and Insomnia
In ancient medicine, cannabis was regularly used to treat insomnia. Today, modern technology has allowed us to observe how each compound influences our sleep. CBD is a non-psychoactive substance that has profound effects on our sleep pattern and helps to improve the quality of our sleep.
Learn more by checking out these studies:
- Cannabis, Cannabinoids, and Sleep: a Review of the Literature
- Cannabidiol, a Constituent of Cannabis Sativa, Modulates Sleep in Rats
- Effects of Acute Systemic Administration of Cannabidiol on Sleep-Wake Cycle in Rats
You can also check out our article on CBD for Insomnia.
Have questions? Get in touch with our team!