Helping You Navigate the Complex and Confusing Evidence on CBD
The esteemed WellnessEvidence.com portal just added CBD to its growing list of wellness approaches with the aim of empowering consumers to make more informed decisions.
Evidence on CBD is the latest addition to the WellnessEvidence.com portal, created by the Global Wellness Institute (GWI) to provide wellness seekers with independent scientific research on 30+ popular wellness modalities, from acupressure and massage to psilocybin and yoga – whether that evidence is good, bad or inconclusive it empowers people to make better decisions.
“WellnessEvidence.com provides direct access to the universe of clinical studies for common wellness modalities–at the databases that doctors use–to help consumers, medical professionals, the wellness industry, and the media dive into the actual evidence (or lack thereof) for that approach,” said Susie Ellis, chair and CEO of the GWI.
“CBD, a non-psychoactive part of the cannabis sativa plant, has recently soared in popularity and has seen a lot of marketing hype as a cure-all. While studies are increasing, unlike the overwhelmingly positive evidence for approaches such as exercise or healthy sleep, the evidence around CBD can be complex and confusing,” continued Ellis. “There are too many small trials with conflicting results as well as trials and metareviews that too often include THC/CBD compounds rather than studying just pure CBD. WellnessEvidence.com is a ‘spin-free’ research zone where you can research studies for CBD, whether positive or negative. Because more knowledge always means more empowerment.”
WellnessEvidence.com provides free and easy access to the studies on wellness approaches at the world’s most authoritative sources of evidence-based medicine, including the Cochrane Library, PubMed and the TRIP Database–in just a click or two you can explore dozens, sometimes hundreds or thousands, of studies. The site also provides summaries of representative studies, as well as the current clinical trials underway for that wellness approach.
The new platform for CBD lets people research some key questions:
- Does CBD improve sleep? A small, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 2022 study from Australian researchers tested medicinal cannabis oil containing THC and CBD and found that it improved sleep quality and quantity, increasing levels of the sleep hormone melatonin by 30%; while a larger 2023 study from UCLA and Scripps Clinic Sleep Center found that low doses of CBD improved sleep quality in patients with a history of sleep disturbances.
- Does CBD help with pain relief? A large 2017 report concluded that substantial evidence exists for cannabis plus cannabinoid treatment for three conditions: chronic pain, chemotherapy-induced vomiting and muscle spasms; however CBD alone may not be as effective in pain treatment, with a separate 2022 study finding that 28 days of CBD oil application did not reduce symptoms of distress and pain for patients with advanced cancer.
- Can CBD help with anxiety and other mental health conditions? A 2019 metareview indicates that there is a promising, yet unproven, role for CBD in managing anxiety disorders; while a much larger 2019 metareview published in The Lancet looked at ways CBD impacts a number of mental health conditions – including depression, anxiety, ADHD, Tourette syndrome, PTSD and psychosis – finding “scarce evidence.”
Other recent additions to WellnessEvidence.com include psilocybin, halotherapy and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for cancer. To access the medical evidence for the 33 featured wellness approaches, visit www.wellnessevidence.com.
Medical Evidence for Wellness Approaches
About the Global Wellness Institute: The Global Wellness Institute (GWI), a nonprofit 501(c)(3), is considered the leading global research and educational resource for the global wellness industry and is known for introducing major industry initiatives and regional events that bring together leaders to chart the future. GWI positively impacts global health and wellness by educating public institutions, businesses and individuals on how they can work to prevent disease, reduce stress, and enhance the overall quality of life. Its mission is to empower wellness worldwide.
