What is CBD?
About Cannabidiol
Cannabidiol, aka CBD, is a natural substance that has recently come into the spotlight for many reasons.
It is a relatively new dietary product that is still being researched. However, the initial results are very promising, and there is a lot of doubt, misinformation, and confusion surrounding these products.
Recently, CBD oil has become an accepted means of relief for various discomforts, and the substance’s popularity is rising fairly rapidly. However, as the use of CBD oil as part of a balanced diet is new, there are significant gaps in what is known about its impacts. We are confident that it is safe and legal, but its exact benefits are still an issue of hot debate and genuine research.
Here we are putting the most important facts surrounding Cannabidiol together to cut through some confusion and give you a clearer picture of this new and upcoming dietary supplement known as CBD. This article covers:
- The benefits of CBD
- Where does CBD come from?
- CBD’s legal status
Finally, we have also included a section of CBD definitions to help you make sense of the terms and jargon surrounding CBD products.
What are the Benefits of CBD?
Since CBD became legal to sell federally in 2018, people have experimented with it to ease various symptoms. For example, the FDA-approved medication Epidiolex is used to treat seizures. However, as research is ongoing, it is currently the only FDA-approved medication using CBD at this time.
Individuals use CBD for a range of conditions, and there is a lot of research going into the effectiveness of CBD. However, outside Epidiolex, no drug has been officially approved using CBD, and that is only prescribed for people who have seizure-causing conditions.
If you believe CBD may help you, we advise you to check with your doctor and then use it on your own. CBD can help you maintain homeostasis, which is beneficial for those experiencing mental or emotional imbalance.
We believe that CBD may be effective for decreasing anxiety and has the potential to help with many inflammation-related problems, including other inflammatory ailments.
CBD is also proven to inhibit the growth of the MRSA bacterium (a strain of staphylococcus resistant to antibiotics), which causes several difficult-to-treat infections. Strictly as a chemical substance, CBD also has strong antioxidant properties, which the broader dietary supplements industry has largely ignored.
As each person is different, and because CBD’s beneficial effects are still under study, we strongly encourage you to do your own research before incorporating CBD into your daily life.
CBN works within your endocannabinoid system, like CBD and CBG. So it works by helping to regulate many crucial functions within your body. Additionally, anecdotal evidence suggests that CBN can promote sleep since it works directly with your CB1 receptors.
What is the Endocannabinoid System?
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a group of cannabinoid receptors located in the brain and throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems, consisting of neuromodulatory lipids and their receptors.
There are two main types of receptors in the ECS: CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors are primarily located in the central nervous system and brains of mammals, and CB2 is generally found in the peripheral nervous system.
After dozens of years of study focused on the effects of hemp and its therapeutic potential, researchers eventually uncovered an intricate network of messengers and receptors that regulate nearly every critical process in the body, which is known as the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Cannabinoids function as messengers.
Your body contains natural cannabinoids, which are made by your system and are called endocannabinoids. You can use plant-based cannabinoids like CBN, CBG, CBC and CBD to mimic the effects of the endocannabinoids produced in your body to help convey messages to the ECS receptors.