Alternative Medicine News

Many studies that evaluate the use, therapeutic effects and characteristics of cannabidiol, or CBD, are produced by authors with conflicts of interest that tie them to the industry and potentially lead to bias, according to research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Pediatric patients with epilepsy treated with pharmaceutical CBD had better seizure control than those treated with artisanal CBD, according to findings from a retrospective chart review that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology annual meeting this spring.

Women with anxiety, depression and trauma were more likely to use cannabis during pregnancy, according to research published in JAMA Network Open.

Researchers reported that horseback riding, combined with mental exercises, positively impacted the motor skills of children and adolescents diagnosed with autism, ADHD and other neurodevelopmental disorders.

Patients with chronic pain and insomnia who frequently used medicinal cannabis to relieve those symptoms said the substance helped them maintain their sleep in the short term, researchers reported in BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care. However, over longer periods of time, these same patients appeared to develop a tolerance to the drug’s sleep-inducing properties.

Cannabinoids did not appear to reduce cancer-associated pain among adults with cancer, according to results of a systemic review and meta-analysis published in BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care.

Recreational marijuana use can impact driving ability in heavy users even when they are not intoxicated, particularly in those who began using the drug before 16 years of age, according to a study published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence.

The FDA and the Federal Trade Commission have issued a warning to Rooted Apothecary LLC of Naples, Florida, for illegally selling unapproved products that contain cannabidiol, or CBD, and claiming the products can treat health conditions in infants and adults.

Nearly two-thirds of respondents in a nationwide survey showed interest in using marijuana or cannabinoids for pain management, with many reporting that they believed those options were safer than opioids and had fewer side effects than other pain medications.

Two recent studies concluded that although interest is strong, more research is needed before clinicians make treatment decisions regarding cannabis use in PTSD.