Cannabidiol: Everything you need to know about it!

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CBD - THE UNPRECEDENTED MEDICINE

WHAT IS CBD?

CBD ( CANNABIDIOL ) is a compound that occurs naturally within the resin filled flower of the cannabis plant. Its use as medicine can be seen throughout the history from across the different parts of the world which can be documented as far as thousands of years.

CBD is a safe and non addictive substance which comes under more than hundreds of “phytocannabinoids”, which are unique to cannabis plants that bestows the therapeutic application of the plants cannabinoid profile. Another closely related phytocannabinoid that is medicinally active is THC ( tetrahydrocannabinol ), which is psychoactive in nature and has properties that induce a “high” i.e. an euphoric state of mind.

Both CBD and THC have significant therapeutic attributes. But unlike THC, CBD does not make a person feel “stoned” or intoxicated. That’s because CBD and THC act in different ways on different receptors in the brain and body. Although CBD has been found to reduce or neutralize the psychoactive effects of THC which helps people to get the benefits of cannabis as a medicine without the high or with less of a high. CBD is both therapeutically potent as well as non intoxicating which makes it a perfect to consume as an oil which is quite appealing to people for various problems who are hesitant of trying cannabis.

HOW DOES CBD WORK?

In order to understand how CBD works in our body we need to first understand the endocannabinoid system. The human body is a complex piece of machinery that has many chemical processes and mechanisms that help in the functioning of the human body. One such important mechanism is the endocannabinoid system.

The endocannabinoid system plays a crucial role in regulating a broad range of physiological processes that affect our everyday experience – our mood, our energy level, our intestinal fortitude, immune activity, blood pressure, bone density, glucose metabolism, how we experience pain, stress, hunger, and more. This is achieved by the production of endogenous cannabinoids within the body that help in binding with various receptors in the central nervous system which regulates various functions of the body.

A key turning point for modern cannabis research came in 1964, when Israeli scientists Raphael Mechoulam and Yechiel Gaoni isolated and identified tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) as the high causer. Mechoulam also elucidated the chemical structure of several other cannabis components, including cannabidiol (CBD), an intriguing, non-intoxicating molecule. He called these unique botanical compounds “cannabinoids”.

The CB1 receptors are specialized protein molecules embedded in cell membranes that are activated by THC which turned out to be far more abundant in the mammalian brain than any other G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR). CB1 receptors are

concentrated in the mammalian brain and central nervous system. CB1 signaling would prove to be critical for regulating numerous physiological processes, including the body’s stress response and how we experience pain.
The CB2 receptor is a second type of cannabinoid receptor, which is present throughout the immune system, the peripheral nervous system, metabolic tissue, and in many internal organs.
Initially reported in
Nature​in 1993, this discovery shed new light on how cannabinoid signaling regulates inflammation and why cannabinoid therapy could be a helpful treatment for a raft of autoimmune diseases. CB2 receptor signaling is implicated in metabolic syndrome, peripheral neuropathy, insulin resistance, liver disease, and other inflammatory conditions.

CB2 receptors are found in all immune cells, including microglia and astrocytes, which modulate immune function in the brain. For the most part, however, CB2 receptors are expressed much less than CB1 in the central nervous system. But CB2 is significantly upregulated (kicks into high gear) in response to a brain injury or a neurodegenerative condition, such as Alzheimer’s.

These CB1 and CB2 receptors along with many more formulate the endocannabinoid system. Just as the immune system protects against viruses and other pathogens, the endocannabinoid system protects the brain against overstimulation, inflammation, and trauma. Thus when the endocannabinoid system is poorly functioning it generally indicates towards a disease. So it is potentially viable that by modulating endocannabinoid system activity, we may have therapeutic effects in almost all diseases affecting humans! This means by modulating the endocannabinoid system

and enhancing endocannabinoid tone, CBD and THC can slow or in some cases stop disease progression.

CBD is a molecule, not a miracle. Many people could benefit significantly from legal access to a wide range of cannabis remedies, not just low-THC or no-THC products. CBD alone may not always do the trick. There is compelling evidence that CBD works best in combination with THC and the full spectrum of other cannabis components. What works for you may not work for someone else as CBD and THC both affect the endocannabinoid system in different ways due to its everly complex nature.

BENEFITS OF CBD:

There are innumerable benefits of taking CBD oil as medicine which are difficult to summarize in such a short space but some of the major benefits are listed below.

- Anxiety Relief

CBD may be able to help you manage anxiety. Researchers think it may change the way your brain’s receptors respond to serotonin, a chemical linked to mental health. Receptors are tiny proteins attached to your cells that receive chemical messages and help your cells respond to different stimuli. One study found that a 600mg dose of CBD helped people with social anxiety give a speech. Other early studies done with animals have shown that CBD may help relieve anxiety by:

●  reducing stress

●  decreasing physiological effects of anxiety, such as an increased heart rate

●  improving symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

inducing sleep in cases of insomniaAnti-Seizure

CBD has been in the news before, as a possible treatment for epilepsy. Research is still in its early days. Researchers are testing how much CBD is able to reduce the number of seizures in people with epilepsy, as well as how safe it is. The cannabidiol research offers hope for seizure disorders, and that research is currently being conducted to better understand its use.

A study from 2016 worked with 214 people with epilepsy. The study participants added oral doses of 2 to 5mg of CBD per day to their existing anti-epilepsy medications. The study’s researchers monitored the participants for 12 weeks, recording any negative side effects and checking on the frequency of their seizures. Overall, participants had 36.5 percent fewer seizures per month.

- Neuroprotective

Researchers are looking at a receptor located in the brain to learn about the ways that CBD could help people with neurodegenerative disorders, which are diseases that cause the brain and nerves to deteriorate over time. This receptor is known as CB1. Researchers are studying the use of CBD oil for treating:

●  Alzheimer’s disease

●  Multiple sclerosis (MS)

●  Parkinson’s disease

Stroke 

- Pain Relief

The effects of CBD oil on your brain’s receptors may also help you manage pain. Studies have shown that cannabis can offer some benefits when taken after chemotherapy treatments. Other preclinical studies sponsored by the National Institutes of Health are also looking at the role of cannabis in relieving symptoms caused by:

●  Arthritis

●  Chronic pain

●  MS pain

●  Muscle pain

●  Spinal cord injuries 

● Cancer Treatment

Some studies have investigated the role of CBD in preventing cancer cell growth. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) says that CBD may help alleviate cancer symptoms and cancer treatment side effects. The action of CBD that’s promising for cancer treatment is its ability to moderate inflammation and change how cells reproduce. CBD has the effect of reducing the ability of some types of tumor cells to reproduce.

- Anti-Acne

Acne is a skin condition that arises when dead skin cells, dirt, or excess oil accumulate clogging the pores. Due to the blocking, P. acnes, or Propionibacterium acnes, the bacteria that live in hair follicles multiply, leading to an inflammation called acne. The build-up of the bacteria, in turn, causes red blemishes on your skin.

It’s necessary to keep the skin clean and away from the bacteria, which triggers acne. It is also essential to use skin oil that won’t clog the skin. According to research, CBD oil has properties that enable it to stop factors that trigger acne. CBD oil inhibits oil production and has anti-inflammatory properties.

CBD targets the cells that activate acne, thus reducing its effects on acne-prone skin. Unlike prescription drugs, CBD oil targets only problem-causing cells. It allows your skin to heal without you experiencing any form of irritation or dryness on your skin.

- Reduces Signs Of Aging Skin

As you age, your skin, which is the largest organ, also starts to show signs such as red skin tone, skin dullness, and wrinkles. To keep the skin in perfect condition, you need to use anti-aging creams or lotions. Although there are several products available in the market that can reduce the aging effects, most of them are not effective like CBD oil products.

CBD oil plays a vital role in keeping your skin hydrated and healthy. It has antioxidant properties that allow the products to reduce the visible signs of aging on your skin.

Hemp plants that produce CBD oil contain two fatty acids, Omega 6 and Omega 3, that stimulates the production of collagen and thus prevents excessive water loss. This helps in keeping your skin hydrated and good looking.

Furthermore, CBD oil is gentle to use with fewer side effects, unlike most medications. CBD oil’s properties make it stand out from the antioxidants with similar claims. It doesn’t just make your skin look better; CBD promotes your overall health.

- Alleviates Psoriasis

Psoriasis is an autoimmune illness that attacks healthy skin cells. The skin condition accelerates the life cycle of skin cells by causing the cells to multiply quickly on the surface of the skin. Victims of the disease have patches of abnormal skin due to the extra skin cells forming scales and red spots.

Although Psoriasis can’t spread through body contact, the skin can be hard to handle. Its symptoms cause lots of pain to the sufferer. There are few methods of dealing with the condition, but most of them are not effective. To relive the victim’s pain, inflammation, and rapid skin cells need to reduce, something which CBD oil can deliver.

CBD oil is gaining traction because of how it works with the body to ease the pain from Psoriasis. It affects the endocannabinoid system that is responsible for regulating messages relayed by the body, such as the immune system, pain, and mood. It also has

the potential to decrease rapid skin cell multiplication. CBD oil also contains an anti-inflammatory feature, which is crucial in soothing Psoriasis.

- Helps With Dry Skin

Regardless of the cause, managing dry skin is not the easiest thing. When you have dry skin, even maintaining the moisture using medications can be hard because there is a temptation to over-moisturize, preventing the skin from producing oil. Besides, dry skin can lead to pain due to toughness and itchiness.

CBD oil has a perfect balance of nutrients and substances that will nourish and moisturize your skin. It helps to stop the peeling of the skin, rough patches, cuts, and cracks. CBD oil products have anti-inflammatory and moisturizing healing benefits.

The advantage of using CBD oil is that it doesn’t affect the functioning of your sebaceous glands. The oil instead interacts with your skin glands regulating the production of oil. As a result, it doesn’t just help your skin to prevent the overproduction of oil; it also helps dry skin to increase oil production.

The anti-inflammatory properties of CBD oil stimulate healing in the damaged areas due to skin dryness. So, if you are suffering from dry skin, then you should try using CBD oil products to bring your skin to life.

- Manages Eczema

Suffering from eczema can be both stressful and frustrating. The condition often makes its victim’s lives uncomfortable and challenging due to the frequent and intense itchiness. You may even find yourself avoiding certain activities or making significant lifestyle changes like avoiding spending time in the water or outside that affects the quality of your life.

Eczema is a condition that affects about 31.6 percent of Americans. It causes the patches of the skin to crack, turn red, itchy, and inflamed. Despite being common, there is no permanent cure for the disease yet. Scientists are still trying to figure out the primary cause of eczema and its possible cure.

However, CBD oil can help in treating the skin condition because it can relieve skin dryness and reduce inflammation. CBD oil is one of the few effective options available for handling eczema since it contains anti-inflammatory properties with little to no side effects.

Besides, CBD has a strong relation to the endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system directly relates to allergic inflammation believed to be the leading cause of eczema. This allows the CBD to treat the symptoms of the condition and prevent new ones.

There are numerous other chronic conditions that can be treated using CBD which can be found ​here​.

CBD is yet to be fully discovered by scientists and the innumerable benefits are yet to be realized. But one thing is clear that as we move ahead in these modern times where technology and laws are ever changing to meet the new needs of humanity it will not be long before this miracle is widely accepted for its truth and made available for all kinds of therapeutic benefits which can be achieved by using CBD derived products. There is no such alternative to CBD as science has only barely scratched the surface.

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