CBD oils & THC Australia

What is CBD?

CBD (cannabidiol) is a type of plant chemical or phytocannabinoid found in the cannabis plant species. CBD is a part of approved medical cannabis oil products available to patients in Australia that have been approved for its use.

CBD can trigger a range of medicinal actions in our endocannabinoid systems, a biological system in the human body that regulates specific functions including: 

• Sleep
• Mood
• Appetite
• Memory

CBD can be extracted from cannabis plants or made synthetically. CBD is non-intoxicating so will not instigate feelings of euphoria or intoxication.

What is CBD oil?

CBD oil can be extracted from the leaves, stalk, and flowers of the cannabis plant and manufactured with a carrier oil such as hemp, olive or MCT oil. CBD oil can be ingested sublingually, topically, in capsules or mixed with food or drinks. Globally many people choose CBD oil for its range of therapeutic properties.

In which conditions might CBD oil help?

In Australia, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) provides guidance on the application of medicinal cannabis preparations including CBD oil for 5 key conditions.

• Paediatric and young adult epilepsy
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Management of nausea and vomiting, especially in chemotherapy setting
• Chronic non-cancer pain
• Palliative care

Outside of this, there is evidence to suggest effects with CBD oil in medical applications which have been showcased in human and animal clinical trials, with the TGA having thus far approved prescriptions for more than 50 conditions. It should be noted medicinal CBD and cannabis products aren’t suitable for everyone and should be assessed on a case-by-case basis by a qualified medical practitioner. A few of the ways in which CBD may aid in specific conditions are detailed below.

• Epilepsy: There is evidence demonstrated in preclinical and human trials to suggest that CBD oil has anti-seizure and anti-spasmolytic actions. Recent studies have revealed that CBD oil has the potential to reduce the frequency of seizures suffered by epileptic children and adults. CBD medicines have been used to manage symptoms of seizure conditions such as; Dravet syndrome, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome (FIRES), tuberous sclerosis complex and others.
• Anxiety and Depression: CBD oil has been prescribed as a therapeutic medication for patients suffering from mood or psychological disorders. Investigations suggest that CBD can possibly reduce subjective experiences of anxiety and may have mood-elevating qualities. More research is needed, but in the meantime studies, anecdotes and ongoing prescription by doctors provide a foundation for CBD oil in the alleviation of mood disorders.
• Insomnia: CBD oil has been used to aid in the treatment of insomnia in legal cannabis markets for many years. In the correct dose, CBD (and some other cannabinoids) have been researched for its sedating effect, that does not impact next day cognition.
• Chronic Pain: CBD oil has been approved by the TGA for access under the SASB scheme, for medical cannabis oil chronic pain patients in Australia. It interacts with chemical messengers in the brain that control pain sensations. So far human trials have shown enough positive outcomes to warrant further research. Medical cannabis and CBD oil are also being investigated for their opioid-sparing capacity, weaning patients off opioids for their pain relief to cannabis medicines with a significantly lower risk of dependency.
• Cancer: CBD oil has shown positive impacts on symptoms associated with chemotherapy treatment and is often prescribed to alleviate symptoms of nausea, anorexia and anxiety. There is also evidence suggesting CBD oil may reduce inflammation and regulate cell growth in cancer models, such research is still isolated to laboratories and animal studies, and results are far away from being a reality for humans.
• Other conditions where CBD oil is being researched include; Multiple Sclerosis, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, appetite disorders, endometriosis, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and a range of other inflammatory conditions.

CBD is generally regarded as having good a tolerability and safety profile. However, just like any medication that alters physiological function, CBD oil may elicit side effects in some individuals. Commonly experienced side effects of CBD include; drowsiness, dry mouth, and gastrointestinal discomfort. Other less common adverse events include altered liver enzymes and drug-drug or drug-nutrient interactions.