Cannabidiol is a therapeutic compound that is found in cannabis plants and one that has generated great interest in the public in recent years. What’s interesting about CBD apart from the fact that it’s a cannabis extract being used for medicinal purposes is that CBD is non-psychotropic.
But if CBD doesn’t get you high, why is it so popular?
For a lot of people using CBD today, the main reasons for trying alternative treatment is tend to be very practical. So for instance, CBD doesn’t cause a high, and that makes it relatively safe to use while working, handling complex machinery, or driving.
But more than that, CBD doesn’t appear in drug tests, and that is extremely important because of workplace testing.
Finally, another reason CBD is popular is the low risk of side effects. Organizations such as the WHO have pretty much endorsed the use of CBD for physical therapy, headaches, anxiety, and other conditions.
Keep in mind that is prohibited to promote CBD as medication ne for any particular condition – even though the compound has shown great promise as treatment for certain ailments.
How is CBD Used?
Before we get into the details of how people use cannabidiol, a great advice is to start with the basics. So, let’s start with the basics on how CBD is extracted.
The journey of hemp and CBD in particular begins with the farming of special strains of hemp plants. These strains have been developed over years by scientists and experts in the field who invest in growing cannabis plants with high concentrations of CBD.
Once the plants are harvested (a process that involves cutting the flower buds, some leaves, and stalks), a process of extraction begins.
Hemp plants contain over a hundred different cannabinoids so it takes a bit of science to extract only CBD and in high quality. The end product (usually CBD oil) must be well purified and contain very little THC.
THC is the active ingredient in cannabis that causes euphoria and other funny effects, so without it you can expect the therapeutic effects of hemp without the paranoia.
Once extracted from the plant, CBD may be formed into an oil base, powder, capsule supplements, or used as a topical product for skincare.
How does CBD work?
CBD is effective against many common ailments and no because the compound itself is a wonder drug, but because of the way the ham body uses the endocrine system and endocannabinoid system to regulate some of the most basic physiological processes.
By this, I mean things like feeling hungry or having a mood: all the different states that we experience have something to do with hormones and how certain parts of the brain interpret signals being fired from the ECS.
To illustrate how CBD can be used to improve human health, let us consider a typical case of sleeplessness; something that’s gotten more common as people work more hours to earn a decent living.
For the average person having trouble sleeping, the problem can be caused by a combination of factors such as the following:
- Stress
- Overworking
- Being over-caffeinated
- Poor diet
- Physical stress
- High presence of stress
- Back pain
- Chronic pain
- Migraines
- Genetics, etc.
Now, there are many more potential causes of sleeplessness, but you get the idea. What CBD does in this case, is target multiple processes through the endocannabinoid system (ECS) which by the way, uses cannabinoids to communicate with the brain and to regulate hormonal function.
So when CBD is introduced into the body, it causes mild relaxation, both in the body and mind. It reduces stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, and thereby puts an end to the whole fight-or-fight state that may be causing anxiety.
Having reduced anxiety and stress, falling mg asleep becomes easier. But that’s not all that CBD does.
When CBD is in your bloodstream, it causes pain levels to drop, making it possible for people with long term pain to sleep through the night. This might not sound important for a healthy individual but being able to calm down and fall asleep is a luxury that some people don’t have.
CBD also releases melatonin, a sleep hormone that plays a role in sleep quality. Since cannabinoids play a vital role in the management of essential hormones and processes, it means that the user has a chance to target any number of problems by regulating the endocrine system and using CBD also to strengthen the immune system against disease.
Pain management is a common reason to use CBD, and it’s certainly a big reason why many people are unable to sleep through the night. CBD can be used to offset pain in severe conditions such as arthritic pain, and this is just one of many ways it helps improve quality of life.
