CBD—a compound derived from either marijuana or hemp, the cousins in the cannabis family—is being marketed as a natural cure for everything from anxiety to epilepsy. People are buying it in juices, creams, vape pens, candies, dog treats, and more. Some are seeing benefits, while others say they’re not. It’s important to know the facts about cbd before you try it.

A growing body of research suggests CBD Luxe can help with a number of medical conditions, but more research is needed before it can be recommended as an effective treatment for any condition. For instance, CBD can be an effective pain reliever for some people with chronic neuropathic pain (pain from nerve damage), but it doesn’t appear to improve depression or anxiety in people who don’t have those symptoms.

Some studies suggest CBD may treat anxiety and other mood disorders by influencing serotonin and/or adenosine receptors in the brain. In addition, preliminary research suggests that CBD may reduce the risk of diabetes by reducing levels of resistin and increasing insulin-dependent glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide compared to placebo.

Choosing the Right CBD Product: A Buyer’s Guide to Tinctures, Gummies, and More

In 2018, the FDA approved a prescription CBD product, called Epidiolex, to treat seizures related to Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome in patients with rare forms of epilepsy. Other studies have shown that CBD might help people with PTSD, and a 2017 study found that topical CBD reduced the intense, sharp pains and cold-like sensations of peripheral neuropathy in some participants.

This retrospective observational study was limited by a lack of a control group and by the inability to collect detailed, accurate product information at baseline. It’s also possible that the beneficial impact of CBD treatment was largely observed in patients with moderate/severe symptoms, reflecting a deficiency of the endocannabinoid system in those groups.