WHAT IS CBD AND HOW DOES IT WORK?
Learn the answers to the most common questions regarding CBD oil, CBD and Hemp derived products.
There is much confusion when it comes to CBD oil and other CBD products.
Is CBD marijuana? Is marijuana-derived CBD legal? Is CBD effective? What are some CBD health benefits? What is CBD and how does it work?
CBD derived products are everywhere nowadays. Increasing everyday in popularity, new CBD products are launched almost everyday.
Cannabidiol products may be helpful for some conditions. And this brings us to the subject of What are Cannabidiols?
How is cannabidiol different from marijuana, cannabis and hemp?
Cannabidiol is the second main ingredient in cannabis (marijuana). While CBD is an essential component of medical marijuana, it is derived directly from the hemp plant, a cousin of marijuana, or manufactured in a laboratory. Marijuana is a complex combination of hundreds of components, but CBD alone does not cause a “high”.
According to a report from the World Health Organization, “In humans, CBD exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential…. To date, there is no evidence of public health related problems associated with the use of pure CBD.”
By now, you’ve probably run into a product listing cannabidiol as an ingredient, also known as CBD. It is used in everything today from energy drinks, sweets, smoothies, protein shakes and pet products. Even major drugstore chains have announced their head start in developing store brand CBD products, where state law permits.
But most don’t know what is CBD. Is it marijuana? Is it legal? Does it actually work? Is it safe?
CBD has been proven to effective help relief symptoms for certain conditions, and it is thought to be a safe. It is a natural option for medical treatment of mental and phisycal illnesses. Below, some of the most common questions about CBD.
IS CBD THE SAME AS MARIJUANA?
CBD is known as Cannabidiol, and it is one of the two best-known active compounds derived from the marijuana plant. The other is tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, which is the substance that that produces the “high” from marijuana. CBD lack the THC component which causes the high in marijuana and THC derived products.
“CBD does not get you high, but the idea that it’s not psychoactive is something of a misconception in his opinion. It does change your consciousness. You may feel mellow, experience less pain, and be more comfortable. In addition, some CBD products do contain small amounts of THC.”
IS CBD EFFECTIVE? DOES CBD REALLY WORK?
There is scientific evidence that CBD works for specific conditions. There is moderate evidence that CBD can improve sleep disorders, fibromyalgia pain, muscle spasticity related to multiple sclerosis, and anxiety.
Many have reported that some CBD derived products have helped relieve anxiety and pain. CBD usage also leads to better sleep.
If you are interested in trying a CBD product, it’s best to seek one through a dispensary, which is an establishment legally licensed to sell marijuana, if they are available in your state. Dispensary products must be labeled so you can see exactly how much CBD is in the product and whether it also contains THC. A small amount of THC in a CBD product isn’t typically problematic. But larger amounts could cause a “high” and may present a risk if you are going to drive.
For adults, CBD appears to be a very safe product. CBD does produce side effects for some people, including nausea, fatigue, and irritability. It may also interact with certain medications, so always check with your doctor before use.
But for children under age 21, it’s also not clear if any amount of CBD is appropriate for children. Evidence regarding CBD is still building. More will be known in the next 5 to 10 years, including whether there are yet undiscovered problems associated with long-term use.
BENEFITS OF CBD + CBD OIL PRODUCTS
Hemp naturally has higher levels of CBD, a non-psychoactive compound known for helping human bodies maintain health and overall wellness and has no psychoactive effect.
There has been an almost exponential growth in the number of different CBD oils and hemp extract products available in the market place, purely as a result of people seeing positive effects in their health and wellbeing after using this health supplement in the daily dietary routine.
The best quality CBD oil products are derived from whole hemp plant extract with a full spectrum cannabinoid content with other cannabinoids and beneficial plant compounds like terpenes and flavonoids. It is believed that using the whole plant maximizes benefits derived throughout the body and supplies additional wellness components.
HOW DOES CBD WORK?
Decades of research have shown phytocannabinoids (CBD) to be a potent aid in supporting overall wellbeing in human bodies, achieved when CBD enhances the Endocannabinoid System (ECS).
WHAT IS THE ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM (ECS)?
The ECS was discovered in the 1990s and is thought to be one of the most vital and vast receptor systems for sustaining good health and has been recognized as an important modulatory system in the function of the brain, endocrine and the immune tissues.
Recent science has found that the ECS does not only respond to Endogenous cannabinoids produced in the body but also responds to external Phytocannabinoids or CBD as a means of enhancing the bodies ECS function.
Within the ECS there are receptors CB1 and CB2, located throughout the body. These neurons are a sort of lock, with cannabinoids acting as the key. CB1 receptors exist in high numbers in the brain, especially in the Hypothalamus, Hippocampus and Amygdala. CB2 receptors occur most commonly in the spleen, tonsils, thymus and the immune cells. The endocannabinoid system plays an import role in homeostasis.
WHAT TO CONSIDER BEFORE BUYING CBD PRODUCTS
Traceability is an important factor to take into consideration when looking for a product to buy, as the hemp plant which is renowned for cleaning soil, was used in the process of cleaning the contaminated soil around Chernobyl (location of the world’s worst nuclear disaster). The results have been so remarkable that Japanese scientists considered using it as part of their clean-up process for the Fukushima disaster, however, the difficulty obtaining hemp licenses prohibited them from using this miraculous plant.
WHAT ARE TERPENES AND FLAVONOIDS?
While terpenes and flavonoids are not cannabinoids they are compounds found in hemp and other plants. Terpenes are fragrant oils that bind to receptors in the human body and carry a variety of health benefits; flavonoids are groups of phytonutrients that serve as cell messengers with their own health-promoting benefits.
All the component parts working together produce what scientist have named the “Entourage effect”.
WHAT IS THE ENTOURAGE EFFECT (and why is it important)?
When researching the benefits of cannabinoids, or CBD and whole plant extracts, you may have seen mention of the “entourage effect” but what does that mean, and why is it important.
