Most people are aware that the main beneficial part of the cannabis plant is the THC compound. However, what most people don’t know is that another part of the plant, CBD, is actually the most valuable and what makes the whole plant medically beneficial.
The two main parts of the cannabis plant’s chemical structure are tetrahydrocannabinol-THC, and cannabidiol-CBD. Obviously the THC is what makes you feel “high” and affects your mind and body. CBD does not mentally affect the user what so ever, therefore they receive all of the physical and mental health benefits of cannabis without affecting the healthy parts of the brain or body.
“CBD is a cannabis compound that has significant medical benefits, but does not make people feel ‘stoned’ and can actually counteract the psychoactivity of THC. The fact that CBD-rich cannabis is non-psychoactive or less psychoactive than THC-dominant strains makes it an appealing option for patients looking for relief from inflammation, pain, anxiety, psychosis, seizures, spasms, and other conditions without disconcerting feelings of lethargy or dysphoria,” according to Project CBD.
The list of ways CBD can benefit the human mind and body goes on. In fact using CBD as a healing agent isn’t new, it’s actually been around for hundreds of years, and it’s history further supports why it’s so valuable. Here is a short time line for reference:
1843 - British army doctor, William O’shaughnessy, used CBD oil to treat seizures in patients, including infants. His study and reports were published in the Provincial Medical Journal, and featured information on cannabis’s effect on the treatment of tetanus and convulsions.
1940 - CBD was isolated for the first time by a team of investigators at the University of Illinois’s department of chemistry.
1973 - Scientist in Brazil announced that CBD was effective in reducing and preventing the convulsions caused by epilepsy in animals.
1980 - Advances continued to be made in Brazil. A small study conducted in San Paulo, was one of first to reveal that CBD diminishes convulsions in patients with epilepsy, in this case specifically with children.
1998 - GW Pharmaceuticals received a license to produce the medicine Sativex, featuring equal proportions of THC and CBD, for the treatment of pain and spasms in Multiple Sclerosis patients.
2011 - A study published by scientists at the California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute had found evidence that CBD can impede metastasis in cancerous cells.
High doses of CBD oil is now a popular treatment for cancer patients of all ages because it can shrink tumors and decrease the harsh side effects of chemotherapy. Many parents of children with severe epilepsy are turning to CBD to save their kids from hours of pain and trips to the hospital. Several people with anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, or PTSD are using CBD as a way to keep calm throughout the day. Even pets and animals can safely use and benefit from CBD.
CBD is quickly becoming the preferred modern day treatment for many people who are looking for less expensive and less harmful methods to receive relief. Compared to prescription medication, CBD oils and tinctures are the most logical answer. Even in extremely high doses CBD can not cause any short term or long term harm to the user.
There are literally thousands of clinical studies that support the amazing benefits:
● 221 Studies: Cannabidiol displays anti-seizure properties
● 533 Studies: Regulation of nausea and vomiting by cannabinoids
● 1784 Studies: CBD suppresses pain
● 1168 Studies: CBD improves brain function
● 295 Studies: CBD improves sleep
● 2042 Studies: CBD Fights Cancer and Tumors
● 1368 Studies: Cannabidiol protects from inflammation
● 413 Studies: Anxiety relief with CBD
● 802 Studies: CBD helps fight neurodegenerative diseases
Users can experience the benefits of CBD in a variety of forms as well. There are cannabis strains specifically created to contain high doses of CBD, for user that may want to experience a more clear minded experience when smoking cannabis. CBD only tinctures, oils, capsules, and edibles are another option, and much healthier.
Topical CBD is one of the most popular methods among users of receiving it’s benefits. When CBD oil is used in skincare it’s still really effective and actually one of the quickest ways to receive it’s pain relief benefits because it is so quickly absorbed into the skin.
“Cannabis-infused lotions, salves, oils, sprays, and other transdermal methods of relief work by binding to a network of receptors called CB2. These CB2 receptors are found throughout the body and are activated either by the body’s naturally-occurring endocannabinoids or by cannabis compounds known as ‘phytocannabinoids’ (e.g., THC, CBD),” according to Leafly.com. “Even if a topical contains active THC, it still won’t induce that intense ‘high’ you would get from smoking or ingesting cannabis. With most topicals, cannabinoids can’t breach the bloodstream; they only penetrate to the system of CB2 receptors. Transdermal patches, however, do deliver cannabinoids to the bloodstream and could have psychoactive effects with a high enough THC content”.
Implementing CBD into your everyday self care or health routine isn’t difficult at all these days. There are tons of products that are easily accessible online and affordable no matter where you live. Plant or hemp based CBD is 100% legal in all 50 states. Even if you don’t not having any serious health problems of ailments CBD can still be beneficial for you as well. For example, switch your everyday aspirin or ibuprofen for a pain relieving CBD lotion or oil. Instead of taking a sleep aid medication at night try CBD oil or capsules to relieve any stress or anxiety you collected throughout the day. Did you know CBD can even aid weight loss?
CBD has been found to:
Stimulate the breakdown and oxidation of fat
Increase the number and activity of mitochondria
Increase the body’s ability to burn calories
Decrease generation of fat cells
The cannabis plant as a whole is beneficial and resourceful, however the healing magic of CBD is undeniable. In California hemp based and THC based CBD products are available online, in medical dispensaries, and even in some natural or organic based grocery stores. If you go somewhere, like a doctor or a chiropractor, that does not carry or use CBD products educate them on how beneficial it is. It’s time to start viewing every part of the cannabis plant as the medicine that it is.
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