One Dose of CBD Increases Blood Flow to the Brain

According to a new study in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, just a single dose of cannabidiol (CBD) can temporarily increase blood flow to certain regions of the brain, IFLScience.com reports. 

In this study, scientists at University College London (UCL) gave 15 healthy, young volunteers 600 mg of oral CBD, the non-psychoactive compound of cannabis, or a placebo on different occasions. They then used MRI scans to see how the drugs changed blood oxygen levels in their brains. They found a single dose of CBD increased blood flow to the hippocampus, and also noted increased blood flow to the prefrontal cortex. 

“To our knowledge, this is the first study to find that CBD increases blood flow to key region involved in memory processing, particularly the hippocampus,” lead study author Dr. Michael Bloomfield said in a statement. 

According to the team of researchers, their findings affirm some of the ever growing benefits of CBD and could also help explain the therapeutic effects of CBD for people with PTSD, anxiety, and other mental health problems.  

“Cannabidiol is one of the main constituents of cannabis and is gaining interest for its therapeutic potential,” Dr. Bloomfield said. “There is evidence that CBD may help reduce symptoms of psychosis and anxiety. There is some evidence to suggest that CBD may improve memory function.”