While research into the specific benefits of full-spectrum CBD is limited, some studies point out the various benefits that CBD may offer. For instance, full-spectrum CBD (as opposed to broad-spectrum CBD or CBD isolate) may offer enhanced benefits due to the proposed mechanism of the entourage effect, though further research is needed to substantiate these claims.
“With sustained use, [some] evidence suggests CBD [may help] reduce the risk of certain types of cancer, seizures and neurological disorders and may improve heart and brain health conditions, too,” says Benjamin Caplan, M.D., a board-certified family medicine physician in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, and medical cannabis expert who specializes in helping patients with pain management at CED Clinic.
Other potential benefits of full-spectrum CBD, according to Dr. Caplan, may include reduced anxiety and depression symptoms, improved sleep, pain alleviation, reduced inflammation, nausea and vomiting relief, and epileptic seizure management.
May Reduce Anxiety and Depression and Improve Sleep
A 2019 case series in The Permanente Journal examined the chart notes of 72 patients with anxiety or poor sleep, almost all of whom received 25 milligrams of CBD in capsule form per day (a handful received higher doses based on individual factors) alongside other prescribed treatments for their symptoms. The researchers observed a decrease in anxiety levels in 79.2% of patients within the first month, as well as an initial improvement in sleep scores for 66.7% of patients[1]. Additional trials examining the effects of full-spectrum CBD are needed to further evaluate these potential benefits.
May Reduce Pain
Although human studies on the use of CBD for pain relief are lacking, some emerging evidence suggests its potential effect. A study in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences examining the administration of CBD and THC as an oral mucosa spray in doses of 2.5 milligrams and 2.7 milligrams respectively found that patients reported a reduction in pain during treatment periods ranging from one to several weeks. More specifically, evidence suggests CBD can help mitigate the neuropathic pain associated with multiple sclerosis, cancer or rheumatoid arthritis[2]. Further research is required to explore full-spectrum CBD’s full pain management potential.
May Reduce Nausea and Vomiting
Using full-spectrum CBD alongside antiemetics (anti-nausea medications) in patients with nausea and vomiting as a result of chemotherapy led to better symptom management in a 2020 study in the Annals of Oncology. Although one-third of the subjects experienced full-spectrum CBD-related side effects, such as sedation and dizziness, 85% of those who took part in the study preferred this form of treatment compared to the placebo[3].
Helps Manage Some Forms of Epilepsy
A 2017 international trial in The New England Journal of Medicine tested full-spectrum CBD on a mix of 120 children and young adults with Dravet syndrome, a disorder in which long, frequent seizures persist alongside other potential side effects, such as balance and sleeping issues. In the double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, an oral solution of CBD was administered at 20 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day, alongside antiepileptic treatment. After 14 weeks, 43% of patients taking CBD experienced at least a 50% reduction in convulsive-seizure frequency, compared to 27% in the placebo group. However, 93% of participants experienced adverse side effects, including fatigue and vomiting