What We Know About CBD?

If you’re interested in information about different natural products that have medical benefits, you more than likely have heard about Cannabinoids (CBD). There have been various unanswered questions about CBD products, such as how safe they are, what benefits they present, the side effects that one may have to deal with, and more. We have done sufficient research and compiled useful information to help you understand CBD more so that it’s easier if you’re planning to use it yourself.

What exactly is CBD?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a certain type of non-psychoactive cannabinoid found in cannabis and hemp plants. The compound has very low THC levels, which is why it does not have the “high” effects that are usually experienced by marijuana users. CBD products have already been legalized in many parts of the United State, Canada, and several other countries in the world.

In the United States, however, such products are yet to receive approval by the FDA, which leaves potential users with some doubts. The good thing, however, is that many of the CBD users have not experienced any serious or worrying effects after using the different products. In truth, the majority of users report positive results as a result of using CBD-based products. This goes a long way towards explaining the ever-increasing usage of CBD oil products every year.

CBD vs. THC: What Should You Know?

Both Cannabidiol (CBD) and Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are Cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. While the hemp plant still has some traces of THC, they are quite lower compared to what you can extract from cannabis. The main difference that the majority of CBD users are interested in is the effect of these two compounds. CBD, unlike THC, not have any psychoactive effects, which is why it’s not associated with the “high” effect usually experienced when one uses THC.

CBD is mainly extracted from hemp or cannabis and has been associated with a couple of benefits such as alleviating pain, reducing anxiety and depression, relieving cancer-related symptoms, reducing acne, and more. Even though the research on CBD is still ongoing, it should be right to say that we can expect something good out of it.

If you are interested in using CBD that is hemp-based, you may want to keep in mind that there is a difference between hemp seed oil and hemp-based CBD. The hemp seed oil has only trace amounts of CBD, which means that you more than likely won’t experience the benefits of CBD from using hemp seed oil. That’s something you may want to pay attention to when buying hemp-based products.

What are the Main Effects of Using CBD?

Cannabidiol belongs to a family of compounds known as Cannabinoids. The compounds are mainly sourced from various plants in the cannabis family. Cannabinoids have been known to have an effect on the endocannabinoid system, which is the system that controls how your body reacts to external factors such as inflammation, stress, and more.

The most notable effect that CBD has in the human body is its anti-inflammatory property. It has been proved to be significantly effective at relieving swelling, discomfort from long-term injuries, arthritis, and more, as a result of its anti-inflammatory abilities.

On top of that, CBD has also been associated with a calming effect on the user’s mind, which explains why it is effective at reducing anxiety. As if that’s not enough, CBD is also believed to help with slowing the growth of certain types of cancerous growths, and research is underway to prove this claim.

CBD for general health and wellness

There are lots of benefits and uses of CBD, and these range from treatment of specific ailments to general relaxation effects. If you experience any sleep difficulties or anxiety issues, you can benefit greatly from using CBD products. This is as a result of CBD’s ability to calm the mind and body.

Thanks to the anti-inflammatory nature of CBD, you can also use it for pain relief and especially pain that is hard to treat. CBD offers a better natural pain-relieving alternative to opioids and NSAIDs since it’s not addictive and does not have any unwanted side effects.

Research about all the possible uses and benefits of CBD is still ongoing, and one thing that has been coming out clear is that CBD can help a lot if you are experiencing mental health disorders.

One of the most-notable progress includes the approval of Epidiolex by the FDA, making it the first cannabis-derived medication for seizures. There are also some studies including one from the European Journal of Pain that have shown that topic CBD can be of great use in reducing inflammation and Arthritis-related pain.

The history, awareness, and acceptance of CBD

The majority of CBD users don’t know that the use of CBD as a pain reliever is dated back to almost 5,000 years ago. The first human to use CBD was Chinese Emperor Sheng Nung, who used CBD-Infused tea to get relief from pain. Since then, there have been different versions of CBD being used for its medicinal value, before the prohibition of cannabis in the United States, from 1911 up to 1930 when cannabis became federally illegal in the U.S.

With the extraction of CBD from the hemp and Cannabis Sativa plants by a chemist known as Roger Adams in the 1940s, however, a new way to tap the benefits of these two plants was born. In the 1980s, doctors began research aimed at finding out how effective CBD would be at treating seizures.

A breakthrough came in the 2010s when CBD was used to treat a five-year-old girl named Charlotte Figi who used to experience severe seizures. With such a condition, the girl was unable to eat, walk, or even talk. After consulting with a doctor, her parents settled on using CBD to treat the little girl, and the results were mind-blowing. By the age of six, little Charlotte was able to walk, talk, eat normally, and even ride a bike! The strain of cannabis from which the oil used to treat Charlotte was extracted had to be named after her and as expected, her story raised even more attention as to what other medical benefits CBD may have.

In 2018, the history of CBD changed forever in the United States after the senate passed the 2018 Farm Bill. The change in classification of CBD to an agricultural product from a schedule 1 drug, saw a sharp increase in the sale and use of CBD-Based products. Today, you can buy a wide range of CBD products from online stores as well as major dispensary stores across the United States.

Wide Variety of CBD products

Since CBD is not federally illegal anymore, that has allowed companies to come up with different products. These include CBD-Infused drinks, CBD cosmetics, topical solutions, tinctures, oils, and more. The widely used form of CBD is CBD oil, which can be smoked or vaporized. You can also use the tincture form of CBD which you place under the tongue and your body absorbs it into the blood. CBD oil and tinctures are not only the most common ways to use CBD but also the most effective.

CBD products are also available in the isolates and full-spectrum versions. These two versions of CBD extracts are made by processing the hemp plant in two separate ways CBD isolate contains only CBD, while full-spectrum CBD has CBD and additional compounds that belong to the Cannabinoids family. The good thing is that none of these two CBD versions will get you high.

If you want to experience the benefits of CBD for yourself, you should go ahead and do it, without any worries of using a product that is illegal. With the wide variety of CBD products available on the internet and in dispensary stores all across the United States, you are sure to find a product that works for you. When using CBD for your first time, it’s highly recommended that you start off with low doses as you monitor your body’s reaction. All the best in finding a product that works for you!