What Is CBD?

         Cannabidiol (CBD) is a naturally occurring compound found in the resinous flower of cannabis. Cannabis has a rich history as a medicine going back thousands of years. Today the therapeutic properties of CBD are being tested and confirmed by scientists and doctors around the world. A safe, non-addictive substance, CBD is one of more than a hundred phytocannabinoids which are unique to cannabis and present to the plant its strong therapeutic profile. CBD is closely related to another important medicinally active phytocannabinoid: tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the compound that causes the high that cannabis is famous for. These are the two components of cannabis that have been most studied by scientists. Both CBD and THC have significant therapeutic attributes. But unlike THC, CBD does not make a person feel “stoned” or intoxicated. That’s because CBD and THC act in different ways on different receptors in the brain and body. CBD can actually lessen or neutralize the psychoactive effects of THC, depending on how much of each compound is consumed. Many people want the health benefits of cannabis without the high. CBD is therapeutically beneficial  as well as non-intoxicating, and easy to take as a CBD oil, makes it an appealing treatment option for those who are cautious about trying cannabis for the first time.

CBD: THE MULTIPURPOSE MOLECULE

  Many people are seeking alternatives to pharmaceuticals with harsh side effects – medicine more in synch with natural processes. By tapping into how we function biologically on a deep level, CBD can provide relief for chronic pain, anxiety, inflammation, depression and many many other conditions.
    

  Extensive scientific research – much of it sponsored by the U.S. government – and mounting anecdotal accounts from patients and physicians highlight CBD’s potential as a treatment for a wide range of maladies, including (but not limited to):

• Autoimmune diseases (inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis) 
• Neurological conditions (Alzheimer's, dementia,Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, Huntington's chorea, stroke, traumatic brain injury.)
• Metabolic syndrome (diabetes, obesity.)
• Neuropsychiatric illness (autism, ADHD, PTSD, alcoholism)
• Gut disorders (colitis, Crohn’s)
• Cardiovascular dysfunction (atherosclerosis, arrhythmia)
• Skin disease (acne, dermatitis, psoriasis)

  CBD has proven neuroprotective effects and its anti-cancer properties are being investigated at several academic research centers in the United States and elsewhere. A 2010 brain cancer study, by California scientists found that CBD “enhances the inhibitory effects of THC on human glioblastoma cell proliferation and survival.” This means that CBD makes THC even more potent as an anticancer substance. Also in 2010, German researchers reported that CBD stimulates neurogensis, the growth of new brain cells, in adult mammals.

HOW DOES CBD WORK?

  CBD and THC interact with our bodies in a variety of ways. One of the main ways they impact us is by helping the effects of the compounds in our bodies called endogenous cannabinoids or what most of us know as endocannabinoids. These endocannabinoids are part of a regulatory system called the endocannabinoid system. The discovery of the endocannabinoid system has significantly advanced our understanding of health and disease. The endocannabinoid system plays a crucial role in regulating a range of physiological processes that affect our everyday experience – our mood, our energy level, our intestinal fortitude, immune activity, blood pressure, bone density, glucose metabolism, how we experience pain, stress, hunger, and more. 

  What happens if the endocannabinoid system doesn’t function properly? What are the consequences of a chronically deficient or overactive endocannabinoid system? In a word, disease. Science has shown that the endocannabinoid is in nearly all pathological conditions. Modulating the endocannabinoid system activity may have therapeutic potential in almost all diseases affecting people. By modulating the endocannabinoid system and enhancing endocannabinoid tone, CBD and THC can slow or in some cases stop disease progression.

THE CBD CHALLENGE

  CBD is a molecule, not a miracle. Many people could benefit significantly from legal access to a wide range of cannabis remedies, not just low-THC or no-THC products. There is compelling evidence that CBD works best in combination with THC and the full spectrum of other cannabis components. Figuring out how to optimize one’s therapeutic use of cannabis is a challenge. The cannabis oil concentrates, non-intoxicating CBD-rich products, and smokeless delivery methods have transformed the therapeutic landscape and changed the public conversation about cannabis.  

  It’s no longer a matter of debating whether cannabis has benefits as an herbal medication. Given its low-risk profile, many people are using CBD as an add-on therapy to their existing treatment plans.   

  In no way is CBD a cure or replacement for any other prescribed therapy. Always consult with a professional. 

                                           This article is for information purposes only.