Over the last few years, cannabis has become more accepted in certain areas, and the “green rush” is now the amazing new charm for fortune seekers and investors alike. It is also exciting to note that an entire industry is now flourishing around cannabidiol (CBD), which is a non-psychoactive component extracted from the cannabis plant.
This magical ingredient is legal to purchase and sell in the form of CBD gummies, oils, tinctures, capsules, creams, , and lotions. Showcased in irresistible packaging and encouraged by numerous reviews, cannabidiol supplements are now one of the hottest new topics in the health and fitness world.
But what is CBD, how do you use it, and why is there so much confusion about it? This article tries to cover just about everything you need to know about this miracle substance.
What is CBD?
Cannabidiol is a natural substance found in cannabis. It is a cannabinoid, which is a type of chemical compound found within the cannabis plant. There are well over 100 of these compounds, and more are being discovered all the time. In fact, there are many varieties of the cannabis plant that have unique cannabinoids.
You are probably already aware of the cannabinoid known as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which produces the psychoactive effects like relaxation, euphoria, and—of course—the munchies. You see, both THC and CBD are cannabinoids, but unlike THC, CBD doesn’t create any of the unwanted psychoactive effects.
This is the key to CBD’s soaring popularity; it has the power to deliver many of the therapeutic benefits of marijuana—but without the high.
You should also know that new research is starting to show that CBD is quite a bit different than other cannabinoids that have been researched more thoroughly. You see, cannabinoids act as ligands. What this means is that they hook up to the proteins of binding sites where they modulate the behavior of receptors.
The two main kinds of receptors that respond to the effects of cannabinoids are the CB1 and CB2 receptors. CB1 receptors are found all over the body and are extremely abundant in the brain while CB2 receptors are located primarily in the immune system. The different kinds of cannabinoids have similar structures; however, they perform different actions at the different receptors. These actions have a direct effect on the response of the human bodies to the active ingredients in the cannabis plant.
Where Does CBD Come From?
Cannabidiol is extracted from cannabis; however, due to legal restrictions, most CBD products are manufactured from stems and stalks of industrial hemp (a specific type of cannabis), which contains less than .3% THC. Once these plants reach the desired stage, they are lifted from the ground and sent to an extraction factory where the CBD is removed by means of CO2 and Ethanol extraction.
Cannabidiol can be derived from the male and female plant and anywhere there are terpenes, which are unsaturated hydrocarbons located within the oils of cannabis. That’s why CBD is found in hemp, which doesn’t have flowering buds but does contain some cannabidiol in its other parts. That’s why hemp-derived CBD products are lower in concentrations of cannabidiol.
CBD extracts from marijuana are more potent because they are made from the buds, which are filled with lots of cannabinoids.
What is CBD Good for?
CBD has been a wildly popular substance in recent times, taking the natural health product industry by storm after receiving wide exposure in mass media, including an endorsement by Sanjay Gupta, which was first aired on CNN. There are now many people in the mass media that also proclaim the qualities of this “miracle substance.”
In addition, CBD-based supplementary products such as CBD gummies, edibles, capsules, oils, pills, wax, tinctures, lotions, and creams are available in stores. No prescription is required to buy them.
During the last 20 years, well over 20,000 studies have been published about cannabinoids and their effect in the treatment of various medical conditions, including epilepsy, anxiety, cancer, chronic pain, and inflammation.
Now that everyone is becoming more conscious of the potential benefits of CBD, it has turned out to be a game changer in the health supplement market place.
Here are some of it’s potential benefits:
AIDS
Also known as acquired immune deficiency syndrome, this medical condition is caused when the immune system of a patient is infected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, CBD might be a potential form of treatment. It has shown in tests that it may help with improving the appetite of patients with this condition.
Acne
This unsightly skin condition occurs when someone’s hair follicles are clogged. Fortunately, because CBD is anti-inflammatory, it is capable of treating this disease. In addition, cannabidiol has antiproliferative and lipostatic qualities as well.
Addiction
This is an impairment of the brain, and there are many types, including gambling, drug, and sexual addictions. This condition rules in favor of short-term pleasures over long-term practicality. Many studies have now found that CBD can provide some type of treatment for addictions involving some kind of substance abuse.
Alzheimer’s Disease
This condition causes neurodegeneration and the gradual loss of bodily functions. Associated with oxidative stress, this disease has ruined the lives of many elderly individuals. Fortunately, CBD is capable of creating both neuroprotective and anti-oxidative effects. This would mean that cannabidiol could be employed as an effective treatment for the oxidative stress caused by this horrific medical condition.
Anxiety
This state of mental unrest is usually accompanied by lots of different nervous behaviors and is sometimes associated with obsessive-compulsive behavior. Fortunately, cannabidiol has antidepressive effects and works as an effective treatment for this medical condition. It also causes intense feelings of self-doubt and humiliation while performing typical daily activities such as interacting with others or communicating with loved ones. Millions of Americans are affected and quite often many individuals will deal with these problems for years before attempting to get help.
One study has discovered that CBD reduces the symptoms seen in these patients. This demonstrates CBD’s potential as a worthwhile healing alternative to traditional medication that comes with an enormous amount of side effects and little chance of a complete recovery. CBD sleep gummies and other CBD products can help with many of the secondary effects of anxiety including insomnia.
Arthritis
Most types of disorders that affect the joints are classified as being some kind of arthritis. Stiffness and pain of the joints are the primary symptoms of this condition. Cannabidiol is employed as a treatment for certain kinds of arthritis because of its immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory properties.
Atherosclerosis
This medical condition can be identified when there is a narrowing of the arteries because there is plaque clogging them. Cannabidiol produces an immunomodulating effect and is employed as adjuvant therapy.
Cancer
Cancer is abnormal cell growth, and it is often treated with procedures like chemotherapy and surgery. However, CBD is now being considered as a viable alternative treatment.
The reactivated ID-1 gene plays a key role in fostering and proliferating breast cancer cells, and CBD is capable of stopping what this gene does. This action reduces the growth of cancer tumors. The research suggests that chemotherapy may be replaced with CBD therapy.
Colitis
Occurring when the colon is inflamed, Colitis is a disease of the digestive system. Cannabidiol effectively treats this medical condition by controlling reactive gliosis in the nervous system and then reducing damage to the intestines by counteracting the LPS-induced intestinal inflammation. It does this because it is capable of controlling the neuroimmune axis.
Diabetes
Also known as diabetes mellitus, the two primary types of diabetes are type 1, which is a result of not enough insulin being produced, and type 2, which happens because of resistance to insulin. Another type of diabetes, known as gestational diabetes, is found in pregnant women.
Unfortunately, diabetes causes neurotoxicity; however, CBD can treat these effects and is now being considered as a practical treatment by a larger number of individuals for this medical condition.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
This condition can be correctly identified when the brain and spinal cord are damaged and do not communicate properly. This disease may be caused by the immune system destroying myelin or the failure to create the myelin, which surrounds the axons of nerve cells.
It is speculated by the medical community that this disease is caused by either the myelin-producing cells failing or the immune system destroying myelin, which is a substance surrounding the axons of nerve cells. While this condition has no cure, CBD has anti-inflammatory effects when used as a treatment for multiple sclerosis and even has protective abilities when administered during the right times.
Nausea
There are a lot of new studies that confirm that nausea can be effectively controlled with CDB, whether the condition has developed from either medication or anxiety. It does this by indirectly activating autoreceptors in the dorsal raphe nucleus, which is found in the brain stem.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a prolonged mental disorder, and it leads to hallucinations and delusions. Research advocates that CBD possesses antipsychotic effects, which are beneficial for chronic mental disorders like Schizophrenia.
What Types of CBD Supplements are Available?
As companies are competing to cash in on the broadening legalization of marijuana, the supplement market is now being swamped with new products.
CBD Oils
An enormously popular cannabidiol supplement is pure CBD oil from the stalk and stems of the cannabis plant. This natural oil is distilled, checked for quality, and packed for sale without adding any additives. However, there are some places where you can buy CBD oils extracted from the buds.
If you live in one of these places, then you may want to consider this type of CBD oil. Now when it comes to CBD oil from the flower, it is all about the quality of the resin, which is a substance located in the plant’s glandular trichomesis and filled with beneficial flavonoids. Because the resin of a cannabis plant contains the greatest concentrations of terpenes, cannabinoids, and flavonoids, there are many specialists who recommend that you use CBD oil created from highly resinous marijuana plants.
The easiest way to know if you are getting a CBD oil from a high resin plant is to look for extracted for a description like “extracted from whole plant.” This type of description will probably mean that most of the cannabidiol was taken from the flowery buds.
The specialized extraction process used to separate cannabidiol from the other cannabinoids in the plant is complicated and requires a great deal of experience in order to be done right. So you need to make sure that you purchase your CBD oils (whether from the stalk or bud) from a reputable dealer that has the proper equipment and experience to perform these procedures correctly.
CBD Capsules
“Convenience” is the word when it comes to CBD capsules. Many users dislike how CBD oil tastes and prefer taking their CBD intake to be quick and effective. CBD capsules are an easy way to consume CBD. With the capsules, it’s convenient to get CBD into a person’s regular routine.
CBD Tinctures
CBD tinctures (or sprays) are CBD extracts soaked in alcohol or other natural oil bases. As CBD tincture is concentrated, it is intended to be consumed at small quantities. This is the reason why most CBD tinctures are packaged with a dropper so that users can digest the measured doses. Tinctures are marketed with great flavors making CBD suitable and enjoyable for even children or people that have a sweet tooth.
CBD Gummies
CBD gummies are chewy edible candies and are the most enjoyable way of obtaining the medicinal benefits of CBD. They are just like the gummy bears that kids eat all the time. However, the best thing about CBD gummies is that they come in a wide variety of flavors.
What Should You Consider Before Purchasing CBD?
Although there are many dietary supplements available in today’s market, CBD stands out as a natural remedy for some pretty common health problems such as pain relief or anxiety. With lots of consumable forms available in the market such as CBD gummies, oils, tinctures, edibles, capsules, pills, cremes or lotions, it’s up to you which product you’d like to try.
However, as each person’s taste is different, we recommend that you conduct your own search or consult with your physician to check and see if CBD is right for you.
Due to FDA Regulations, we recommend that you do your own research on CBD products. We also suggest that you read the reviews on our website; where our customers record their real-world results of using our products.
