Natural medicine has come a long way in recent years and Cannabidiol (CBD) appears to be leading the way.

And for good reason.

In a recent study published by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, patients taking CBD showed marked improvement with lowered levels of anxiety and better overall sleep patterns.

CBD is short for Cannabidiol, one of several Cannabinoid phyto-nutrients found naturally in the hemp plant. While it has only recently been made available to the broader public, CBD infused products have quickly gained popularity as plant-based medicines for those experiencing a wide variety of wellness concerns that include pain, sleep problems, stress, anxiety, inflammation, and migraine headaches.

Because of the recent passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, most people who may have been restricted from buying this novel medicine can now buy CBD oil online without a prescription and have it shipped anywhere in the United States. It’s become so popular as a health and wellness aid that traditional doctors, as well as integrated medicine practitioners, are regularly recommending it to their patients.

While those taking CBD products have reported great results, it is only recently that larger scale clinical studies have been commissioned at universities and medical centers around the United States.

In the study performed by researchers from the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado, CBD’s health benefits have been shown to be quite significant when taking it regularly.

The study consisted of 72 patients, all of whom reported anxiety or trouble sleeping. Each patient was provided 25 milligrams to 50 milligrams of CBD daily over the course of three months. Each patient was provided with a battery of tests to help assess their results regularly throughout the duration of the study.

Of the 72 patients taking CBD, 79.2% showed decreased anxiety levels that remained decreased over the duration of the study. Similar results were experienced by those reporting sleep problems, with 66.7% of patients showing improved sleep within the first month of taking CBD.

These results demonstrated a more sustained response to anxiety than for sleep over time. Patient records displayed a larger decrease in anxiety scores than in sleep scores. The sleep scores demonstrated mild improvement. The anxiety scores decreased within the first month and then remained decreased during the study duration.

…

The final sample consisted of 72 adults presenting with primary concerns of anxiety (n = 47) or poor sleep (n = 25). Anxiety scores decreased within the first month in 57 patients (79.2%) and remained decreased during the study duration. Sleep scores improved within the first month in 48 patients (66.7%) but fluctuated over time.

Source: Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series (PMID: 30624194)

In addition to its efficacy, the study confirms that the vast majority of patients taking Full Spectrum CBD oil in capsule form experienced only positive health benefits with the only side effects being mild sedative effects in three patients, which abated over the course of the first few weeks.

CBD was well tolerated, with few patients reporting side effects. Two patients discontinued treatment within the first week because of fatigue. Three patients noted mild sedation initially that appeared to abate in the first few weeks.

The clinical results, though still limited in size, show that CBD may well be a powerful medicinal aid for those experiencing anxiety related wellness concerns like stress and sleep problems.