Everywhere, people are talking about a non-psychoactive cannabinoid known as CBD that is good for treating severe issues like diabetes, childhood epilepsy and much more. I searched the Internet for all the information about CBD, but many times, different sources negated each other or did not sound convincing. In case, you also grazed the numerous websites and remained clueless, then continue reading to learn everything about this amazing phytocannabinoid.
Scientists are continually researching CBD and all it has to offer, as people all over the world share their success stories after using CBD.
It’s no wonder why CBD has currently become one of the largest health trends. It’s not stopping there either, CBD is only expected to grow in popularity as more people discover its many benefits.
What Is CBD?
CBD or Cannabidiol is the compound found in the Cannabis or Hemp plant. Cannabidiol is one of many cannabinoids found in cannabis. While hemp and marijuana are both a part of the cannabis sativa plant family, they have crucial differences. While marijuana contains high amounts of CBD and THC, hemp is cultivated to provide high CBD content and low amounts of THC. Our ancestors used CBD rich hemp for centuries for its therapeutic and medicinal properties.
Now you must be wondering what hemp is?
We know that Cannabis is the plant and it is mainly of two types. Hemp is a type from the Cannabis Sativa. So, the known CBD oil is extracted from the hemp of cannabis sativa. It is beneficial for health and made its way into coffee shops, tea blends, spas, salons, and pharmacies as well! Wherever you go, you will find CBD products and users, and if it is not allowed then people will most probably be talking about it!
CBD is extracted from hemp using some methods. One of the favorite techniques is the CO2 method. This method uses carbon dioxide under high pressure and low temperature to isolate and preserve the medicinal oil in a pure and clean form. This method is expensive as it requires specialized equipment and has a steep operational learning curve.
The other method is the Ethanol method, in which alcohol is used as a solvent to extract oil from dried hemp and after the alcohol evaporates, the CBD oil remains. However, this method may destroy some of the waxes that are good for various purposes.
One more method is the extraction with the use of olive oil to infuse the leaves and extract the CBD component from hemp.
How CBD Works?
In our body, there are endocannabinoids receptors — these points in the endocrine system that respond to cannabinoids in the bloodstream. The endocannabinoids regulate body functions such as sleep, pain and even moods. If activated by CBD, the receptors are triggered, and a cellular response occurs. This response is what brings the calm and pain-free state for the user.
The compounds present in cannabis are very similar to the chemical compounds produced by our bodies, and therefore people accept it more readily rather than synthetic drugs. The endocannabinoids are also the ‘bridge between body and mind.’ This reason is enough to make any user understand that the use of CBD is safe and effective.
Cannabis, Marijuana, Hemp, and CBD. What is the Difference And Similarity?
We all have been confused with these terms! Many studies and papers have used these words interchangeably, and all it does add to our confusion! So, here’s something for you to remember.
As discussed before, Cannabis is the plant of two different types. Marijuana is a type of the plant, found under both the classes of Cannabis Sativa and Cannabis Indica. Hemp comes under the umbrella of Cannabis Sativa. And here’s the essential part: CBD comes from hemp. The hemp plant is used to extract CBD, which is its main constituent.
It is important to mention that CBD or cannabidiol is also present in Cannabis Indica, but it is in lesser quantities than in Cannabis Sativa.
Cannabis is a small sized plant that can be grown quickly in any area. It has been used in the Asian subcontinent as well as Europe and America since a very long time. However, it was not present in the west until the 16th century.
This plant is of two main types, the Cannabis Sativa and Cannabis Indica. There are two other classifications based on the regions that grow them. This plant has a few components such as marijuana and hemp. The compound Cannabidiol comes from the part of hemp.
Cannabis Sativa is CBD dominant, which means that it has Cannabidiol in large amounts while Cannabis Indica is THC dominant — being a principal source of THC means having the compound tetrahydrocannabinol in a larger quantity. This compound causes sedation and the high that people often want to avoid. While CBD is good for health, THC produces a high and makes the user feel slow, stress-free and calm.
Due to this effect of both the types, Cannabis Sativa is more popular and considered healthier. If people were looking for sedation, calm nerves, and better sleep, they chose Cannabis Indica, but if the users wanted to feel euphoric or energetic, they chose Cannabis Sativa.
What is the Color and Appearance of CBD Oil?
You might have seen CBD oil supplements in different colors. What could be the reason? The reason is that when the CBD oil is received, then sent for treatment or refining. If the oil is in raw form, without much filtration and refining, the color is brown and murky. This filtration or refinement is why the different CBD oil supplements range between dark brown to yellow gold colors.
CBD vs. THC: What’s The Difference?
The two terms that you come across are medicinal and recreational marijuana, and I agree, it is very confusing! Pot is a word that is often related to addiction or drug abuse, so you might become a little careful when someone uses this word for a particular product. Don’t worry!
Marijuana is a part of the cannabis plant, and medical marijuana is the term used for this part of the plant that doctors use to make supplements that are helpful for pain relief, anxiety, diabetes, and many other disorders.
The cannabis plant has hundreds of cannabinoids, all of which are useful. The two main components of cannabis that pharmaceuticals use for the medical purpose are the THC and CBD.
THC is psychoactive, which means it gives the users a high. They feel sedated and under a spell, which is not very favorable for many users. THC is the natural chemical compound that may produce psychoactive effects and a high generally associated with marijuana. CBD, on the other hand, does not produce mind-altering effects and will not get a person high.
Recreational marijuana has more THC content than medical marijuana since people who consume it for leisure prefer a higher content of THC. The high caused by this chemical is not a part of medical marijuana, and this is the difference between the two!
CBD and THC are both cannabinoids found in cannabis plants. But, they shouldn’t be confused.
It is essential to understand that CBD products that are extracted from marijuana and contain more than .3% THC may get a person high.
CBD products with less than .3% THC will not produce any high. Always check product descriptions and be sure to buy from a reputable company.
Is CBD Legal?
Hemp and CBD products containing less than .3% THC are legal in all 50 states. However, marijuana and CBD products that contain over .3% THC are not legal in every state.
It is important to check your state laws concerning CBD products that contain THC before any purchase is made.
The Food and Drug Authority, FDA does not recognize cannabis, marijuana, and hemp, CBD or even THC. Therefore, all supplements containing CBD is not considered a medicine.
Every CBD product that you buy has a disclaimer that the FDA does not recognize this product as a medicine. It also states that it cannot cure any illness. This statement is there because marijuana is not a proven medicine. CBD has trace THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) content as we mentioned earlier. Some hemp oil and cannabis products contain more than 0.3% THC, which causes intoxication and users to feel high after using it.
Many states have banned these products due to their THC content. Several scientists and doctors do not believe that hemp oil has as many benefits as others claim. Few cities and states have restricted the sale of CBD products in restaurants, bars, and outside of licensed marijuana dispensaries.
The health authorities consider it an addictive drug and it does not aid users in improving their health.
Another reason for the ban is that there is no regularization and poor quality cannabis may be used by different companies to produce the supplements. This lack of regularization is why even today cannabis products are banned in several states.
What Are The Benefits Of CBD?
CBD is frequently used to help relieve a variety of health ailments. CBD has rare and mild side-effects, making it a great alternative for people who can’t tolerate pharmaceuticals or don’t want to risk the dangerous side-effects that go with them.
CBD is specially formulated in creams and lotions to help treat skin conditions. It is also used to help manage physical and mental disorders of all kinds. CBD is even used in beauty products.
CBD has become an ingredient for a lot of things. From confectionery to teas, and from creams to balms; this oil is a health benefactor in numerous ways. Earlier in 2011, different studies were carried out, and review of the cannabinoid led to the discovery that CBD helps reduce obesity and diabetes.
A report published in the American Journal of Epidemiology in 2013 showed that from fifty-two thousand participants, CBD was successful in reducing obesity by one-third in cannabis users.
A similar study with 4,600 participants showed that insulin levels were normalized, causing lower diabetes in participants that used CBD products. Fasting glucose and insulin were measured in participants, and researchers observed that CBD users had a 16% lower fasting insulin levels.
Cannabidiol (CBD) helps prevent the growth of tumours and reduces the risk of cancer. A 2012 study showed that researchers gave CBD to a few subjects and witnessed lower cancer growth in the colon as compared to the ones who were lab treated.
Brain health and resilience are also a massive benefit for CBD users! Cannabinoids are neuroprotective, which means that they protect the brain from degeneration. With age, we tend to have decreased growth of neurons which causes a slow-down. However, if you continue taking CBD, the mind remains youthful as there is slower brain damage.
In the investigation of 33 individuals with a high risk of psychosis and 19 healthy individuals, the results of CBD usage were auspicious. The CBD acted as a modulator for activity in the different regions of the brain.
People who use CBD will have better bone health and lower risk of osteoporosis as well as osteoarthritis. New bone cell formation takes place with regular use of CBD, and this makes it a magical supplement! The study shows that cannabinoids regulate bone mass. The experiment showed that bone health improved with the use of CBD and subjects with fractures healed faster.
We know that CBD is an anti-inflammatory as it helps improve organ function by reducing inflammation and organ deterioration. This fact was the inference of a study that, was discussed in the National Center for Biotechnology Information journal. The research shows that CBD can is an anti-inflammatory. The cannabinoid receptor found mainly in the brain, CB1 and the receptor found primarily in the immune system CB2 in fact, also coexist in the immune system. This coexistence ensures that the immune-mediated injury of organs may be corrected with the help of cannabinoids.
CBD is also useful in improving skin health. Regular use of CBD assists the unclogging of pores and improvement of over-worked sebaceous glands. If you use CBD as a lotion or cream, you will benefit from the antioxidants in the substance and feel that your skin is getting better!
Anxiety and stress are the disorders or mental state that may cause any of the problems mentioned above!
The CBD has a lot of benefits such as eliminating inflammation from the organs and making the body systems such as digestion, sleep, and circulation better. This reaction results in better moods as well. The users find this natural compound not only helpful in reducing pain but helping them improve their vitals and organ functions.
A small study in 2010 revealed that CBD consumption helped reduce stress. The brain scans of subjects showed that the blood circulation patterns changed in regions that are related to social anxiety disorder (SAD). Since then, several studies show that various kinds of anxiety disorders can improve with the help of CBD. Participants felt that their obsessive-compulsive disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms reduced significantly with CBD usage.
In 2014, a study was conducted with animal models. This research showed that CBD oil has an anti-depressant effect on animals. This study further consolidated the impact of CBD as an anti-anxiety supplement.
According to a paper published by the Harvard Medical School, CBD can help insomnia. The natural supplement can help people fall asleep and remain asleep for a healthy amount of time.
People who have arthritis or even joint pain can find relief with the help of CBD. As an anti-inflammatory supplement, it eases pain and soothes the nerves.
Over some time, researchers have worked to find out the effect of reducing epilepsy seizures in children and eventually helping them get rid of the disorder.
In August 2017, researchers studied 15 patients over a period spanning from one month to a year. This experiment showed that the frequency of seizures decreased by 40% of the patients and completely disappeared in 27% of the patients.
All the patients showed signs of improved neurocognitive changes and this was a remarkable discovery since there was no complete recovery of epilepsy without a heavy dosage of medicines before this.
Side effects of CBD
During the past years, there has been a lot of research about the effects of CBD on different health conditions such as epilepsy, arthritis, diabetes and much more. However, the side effects or negative side of this natural supplement has been revealed through these studies as well. The participants of various studies showed signs of tiredness, change of weight, diarrhoea, and nausea.
The study also showed that these side effects were not as severe as the adverse effects of the drugs for the treatment of the health conditions as mentioned earlier. The CBD profile is better than that of medicines approved by the FDA!
Most of the researches experimented on animals and scientists saw some side effects in the subjects, that were not visible in people who used CBD. In animals, severe side effects were reduced fertilization capacity, cell viability, and inhibition of hepatic drug metabolism, which means that the impact of the drug reduced with the use of CBD. The study requires human subjects to determine what the results will be for human physiology.
There is no consolidated research on the impact of CBD when taken alongside pharmaceutical medicines; although, researchers must be able to provide answers to the people who use CBD regularly.
Another point to bear in mind is that all side effects are the result of heavy dosage. In case you consume an optimum amount of CBD, there is no harm or danger of severe adverse effects.
The Popular Forms of CBD
CBD products are available in different types. You can find hemp oil, CBD drops in small bottles with droppers. It is a measured dose for daily intake.
The process involves extracting these oils from the dry hemp plant. The procedure consists of the use of a solvent, which helps remove all the CBD without letting any of the magical substance going to waste!
CBD lotions are used topically to relieve skin problems and benefit from the supplement through topical use. CBD creams are also for the same purpose.
You can find CBD wax or resin, crystals and isolates in the market or you can shop online from the numerous options that we have on the web.
Wax is a concentrated form of the substance. It has the potential of relieving pain instantly and soothing the nerves to release stress.
The CBD isolate has no THC, which implies that it gives the best dose of the natural compound and users will feel better instantly.
CBD crystals are used to make capsules or creams. You can use this form to ingest directly or to use in another way to benefit from this compound.
CBD E-liquid is used for vaporized inhaling and is readily available in the market.
The dosage of CBD varies in the different forms of the supplement. For example, a CBD oil supplement might be of higher potency than CBD cream. However, in the long run, the benefits are the same since ingested CBD takes longer to enter your bloodstream. In comparison, products that are inhaled or applied under the tongue come into the blood faster.
Which Type of CBD Is Best For You?
Once you have evaluated which type of CBD product is right for you, you can purchase CBD products of all kinds in headshops, CBD dispensaries or online.
Read customer reviews and look through product descriptions to be sure you are choosing a CBD product created by a company working hard to earn your trust. Then, simply enjoy the many benefits CBD has to offer.
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