Cannabidiol, usually abbreviated to CBD, has been gaining popularity as a health remedy over the last few years as laws have been relaxed and it has been made available in most countries around the world. It is derived from the cannabis plant, which is why it was often contested, but now it is being used to treat a wide range of different physical and mental health issues in people, and even pets.
Using CBD products differs from the cannabis plant because it does not produce the same psychoactive effect. Cannabis plants contain two active compounds; CBD and THC. Marijuana plants are high in THC and this is what produces the psychoactive effect. Hemp plants, on the other hand, are high in CBD but have only very small amounts of THC in them. In many countries, marijuana is still considered an illegal drug, while hemp is legal to grow and the CBD that is extracted is manufactured into various products and sold freely. Although attitudes towards marijuana are changing and it is being legalized in a lot of states in America, it is not as widely available as CBD.
CBD has a wide range of different health benefits and it can be used as a safe, natural alternative to lots of traditional treatments. This article will tell you everything that you need to know about the healing power of CBD and cannabis.
How Do Cannabinoids Work?
Cannabinoids are active compounds that are found in all cannabis plants. THC and CBD are the most notable, but there is a long list of similar compounds, some of which have a similar effect on the body. Cannabinoids produced by plants are known as phyto cannabinoids. However, there is another branch of cannabinoids that are produced in the bodies of humans and other mammals, and these are known as Endocannabinoids.
All our bodies naturally produce endocannabinoids and they perform the role of signaling molecules called neurotransmitters. Hormones are another common form of neurotransmitter that most of us are familiar with. Neurotransmitters travel around the body and communicate with cells, giving them instructions on how to behave and which processes to complete.
The endocannabinoids system in our bodies governs a wide range of different processes that affect things like sleep patterns, metabolism, mood, and our immune systems. For example, anandamide is a very common endocannabinoid that governs the production of serotonin, which is responsible for boosting your mood.
Cannabis plants also contain high levels of terpenes. These are a class of hydrocarbon molecules which can change the way that our bodies respond to various cannabinoids. Terpenes have been used by humans for centuries in aromatherapy. The smell of citrus, for example, is created by limonene and pinene, which are thought to boost your mood. The combination of cannabinoids and terpenes that are found in cannabis and CBD products can help to improve your health in so many different ways.
What Are The Health Benefits of Cannabis and CBD?
The healing power of CBD and cannabis is extensive and there is a long list of illnesses and conditions that can be improved by using CBD products. Research in this area is still relatively limited so in the future, it is likely that we will discover even more amazing health benefits. These are some of the benefits that we know about already.
Mental Health Benefits
Serotonin is responsible for governing our mood, and low levels of serotonin have been linked to low mood and depression. CBD products can increase the levels of anandamide, which boosts serotonin levels in your brain and regulates your mood. A lot of people find that using CBD products can help to reduce the symptoms of depression and give them long term relief. Traditional medications like antidepressants can sometimes have side effects, but CBD products do not, so they are often a better alternative for a lot of people.
There have also been studies into the effect that CBD products have on anxiety. The results show that it can be an effective treatment for a wide range of anxiety disorders, such as social anxiety, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. However, there is also evidence to suggest that cannabis use can be a risk factor in anxiety, so it is best to stick to CBD products.
Improved Sleep Patterns
Sleep is vital to your health, but many of us do not get enough quality sleep each night. If you struggle to get to sleep at night and you do not wake up feeling well rested, CBD products could be a big help. CBD can help to regulate the way that your body reacts to certain hormones, including the hormones that govern sleep, so it can help you to drift off more easily. Strains of cannabis plants that are high in CBD have also been shown to have high levels of a terpene called myrcene, which has sedative properties.
As well as helping you to fall asleep faster, there is some evidence to suggest that CBD products could improve the quality of your sleep. In some people, CBD can shift the body from REM (rapid eye movement) into a deeper REM (dreamless) sleep more quickly, so you wake up feeling well rested in the morning.
Pain Relief
The healing power of CBD and cannabis can help people that are living with a chronic pain condition or trying to deal with pain from an injury of some kind. Strong pain medication has a lot of side effects and there is a risk of addiction; many people are looking for a natural alternative, and CBD is very effective.
Pain is one of the bodily processes that is governed by the endocannabinoid system, and CBD products can inhibit some of the pain signals sent to your brain. By increasing serotonin production, CBD reduces pain perception, and it also reduces inflammation in the body as well.
We are only just beginning to understand the healing power of CBD and cannabis, and these are some of the amazing benefits that we know of already. Who knows what other health conditions we will treat with CBD in the future?
