What Is CBD?

One of the cannabinoids in the resin of the cannabis plant is called CBD. Due to its effects on the body and use in medicine, it is the most widely used cannabinoid.

One of the two most common cannabinoids found in the resin of the cannabis plant is cannabidiol, also known as CBD. The chemical makes up to 40% of the cannabis plant's extract, however concentrations can vary. There are several other cannabinoids, but this one has received the most investigation since it is the most common—behind, of course, THC. Although there are still many aspects of CBD that are unknown to us, we now know more than ever before about how cannabis and marijuana work. I'll go through all we presently know about CBD in-depth in this essay.

Where Does It Come From?

Cannabis and hemp are naturally sources of CBD. Although they are both cannabis plants, their chemical compositions differ. THC levels in hemp are less than 0.3%, compared to marijuana's range of 5–35%. Even though CBD is present in both varieties of cannabis, it depends which one was used to extract the CBD. THC is frequently found in trace concentrations in marijuana extract, perhaps even high enough to cause some psychotropic effects. Medical users who don't want to experience any psychoactive effects should go for the hemp-derived extracts because they don't contain any THC.

How Does CBD Affect the Body?

In contrast to other cannabinoids, CBD has a slightly more complicated relationship with the human body. CBD works by interacting with the cannabinoid system. The CB1 and CB2 receptors that cannabis bind to are found in the endocannabinoid system. Skeletal muscle, the liver, the GI tract, the pancreatic islet, the entire peripheral nervous system, and the entire brain all have CB1 receptors. CB2 receptors are primarily found in the immune system, while some are also found in the reward centres of the brain.

It's interesting to note that both types of cannabinoid receptors have extremely little affinity for CBD. It does connect to the CB receptors, but not as frequently as other cannabinoids like THC. Although indirect, CBD has considerable benefits.

An agonist is described in the dictionary as "a chemical which, when paired with a receptor, causes a physiological reaction." "A substance that interferes with or suppresses the physiological action of another" is the definition of an antagonist. THC is a cannabinoid receptor agonist that works by attaching to the CB1 receptor to exert its effects. CBD binds to CB1 and CB2 receptors with a weak affinity. Instead, it opposes the effects of THC and a number of other cannabinoids.

This may sound like a criticism of CBD for someone who wishes to experience the euphoric effects of THC. THC won't have as much of an impact if CBD "interferes with or suppresses the physiological function" of THC. Right? No, actually. According to studies, CBD may even increase the effects of THC rather than lessen them. However, studies have shown that CBD can lessen some of the unfavourable effects of THC, including occasional anxiety and hazy short-term memory.

Some, but not all, of CBD's effects are explained by its interactions with cannabinoid receptors (and with other substances that are vying for those same receptors). The mechanisms of CBD's effects are still unknown to science as of 2019, but it is hypothesised that CBD interacts with biological targets outside CB receptors, such as other neurotransmitter receptors. For instance, CBD is a well-known agonist of the 5-HT1a subtype of serotonin receptors, which are crucial for mood regulation. This could account for the relaxing and tranquil benefits that CBD consumers experience. The compound's ability to reduce pain may be explained by the way CBD interacts with opioid receptors. Other, less well-known receptors, such GPR55, may potentially have a significant impact on how the body reacts to CBD. Whatever the case, it's obvious that CBD and the human body have a complicated connection. We will eventually have a better knowledge of the compound's mechanism of action and its applications as study advances.

Methods of Ingestion

There are numerous methods to consume or absorb CBD due to the body's widespread distribution of cannabinoid receptors. Cannabis that contains CBD can be smoked or vaped for consumption. As an alternative, extracted CBD may be ingested orally, applied topically, or sprayed as an aerosol into the mouth. When inhaled, CBD absorbs quickly and has practically immediate benefits. When CBD is used orally, the body doesn't absorb it as quickly and doesn't process it as effectively. When taken sublingually, CBD is more quickly absorbed through the oral mucosa. Unlike the other ways, using CBD topically prevents it from entering the bloodstream. CBD can be absorbed via the skin, but it does so very slowly, necessitating a lot of product application. The best option may still be a topical therapy for many localised health problems like discomfort, scarring, or inflammation.

Medical Uses of CBD

A cannabis strain that was originally dubbed "Hippie's Disappointment" because of its low THC level made headlines a few years ago, when it debuted on CNN in 2013. This strain was developed by breeding industrial hemp with another cannabis strain, resulting in a plant with a very high CBD content and very minimal THC. Later, the strain was called "Charlotte's Web" in honour of Charlotte Figi, a little girl.

She may have previously told you this tale. Charlotte, a young American child with Dravet syndrome, has severe epilepsy. Charlotte started having grand mal seizures when she was three years old, almost 300 of them every week. Her parents claim that as soon as Charlotte started taking marijuana, her condition significantly and immediately improved. She takes the Charlotte's Web strain's high-CBD extract, diluted in olive oil, orally. She was only experiencing four seizures per month after two years of this therapy, and she is now able to lead a lot more normal life. There is only one CBD-based drug available today that has received FDA approval. Epidiolex is an oral medication used to treat the epilepsy conditions Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome. The effectiveness of epidiolex in treating certain syndromes has been demonstrated. THC, however, has been found in experiments to actually increase sensitivity to convulsions when administered to mice. In order to effectively treat these conditions, it's crucial to separate the CBD from the rest of the cannabis plant (or utilise low-THC strains). Of course, it's crucial to get medical advice before starting any new treatment.

Numerous anecdotal reports indicate that CBD may also be helpful for various conditions, albeit many of these reports have not yet been properly investigated in a laboratory context. For a variety of ailments, including Alzheimer's disease, eating disorders or loss of appetite, cancer, Crohn's disease, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, all forms of pain, and various mental health concerns, doctors prescribe medicinal marijuana.

Potential Beneficial Effects of CBD Use

In a clinical setting, CBD is now being researched in the hopes that it can aid with anxiety, cognition, pain management, and other issues. Numerous bodily processes are regulated by the endocannabinoid system. Therefore, even while we don't fully understand all of the potential ways that CBD and other cannabinoids could be used to positively affect the body, it makes sense that they could.

Whatever applications for CBD researchers discover, they've already accumulated a tonne of information about the substance's effects. Adenosine, a chemical that the body naturally produces and aids in neuroprotection and inflammation reduction in the event of head or brain damage, is increased in the brain by CBD. Because CBD is a vasodilator and reduces blood pressure, it may be effective as a preventative treatment against the potential brain and blood vessel damage brought on by a stroke.

Anxiety, sadness, and psychotic symptoms have been demonstrated to be reduced and mellowed by CBD, which also appears to boost neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity (which makes your brain malleable) (the process by which your brain forms new neurons).

As I have stated, cancer patients frequently receive prescriptions for medical marijuana. This is frequently done largely so that the patient can benefit from cannabis' capacity-boosting and pain-relieving properties. Cannabinoids, however, have also been demonstrated to slow the growth of cancers.

The substance also has potential as a post-traumatic stress disorder treatment. Chronic anxiety is one of the most typical PTSD symptoms, and it gets worse under stressful situations. The anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) properties of CBD can lessen the severity of this anxiety, making the disorder easier to manage and allowing PTSD sufferers to return to normalcy more rapidly. In 2008, researchers hypothesised that a shortage in specific endocannabinoids may be the root cause of some chronic health issues. If that turns out to be the case, phytocannabinoids (cannabinoids derived from plants), such as CBD, may be employed similarly to vitamins to replenish the deficient endocannabinoids in our bodies.

The human body almost completely contains the endocannabinoid system. It is probable that CBD could offer a wide range of advantages given its capacity to improve cannabinoids' bonding to CB receptors and to counteract the cannabinoids that reduce CB receptors' ability to operate effectively. Without a doubt, we don't yet know everything. But if research trends continue in their current direction, it won't be long until we have a nearly comprehensive picture.