CBD or cannabidiol is a non-psychoactive substance found almost exclusively in the cannabis plant family. The best known cannabis plants are marijuana and hemp. THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), makes you high but is used for pain control and agitation. Both CBD and THC are types of a bigger family of chemicals called cannabinoids. In states with legalized
CBD or cannabidiol is a non-psychoactive substance found almost exclusively in the cannabis plant family. The best known cannabis plants are marijuana and hemp. THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), makes you high but is used for pain control and agitation. Both CBD and THC are types of a bigger family of chemicals called cannabinoids.
In states with legalized medical marijuana, a combination of CBD and THC (plus other active components if the whole plant is used) are used to treat anything from epilepsy to sleep disorders. If you don’t have access to medical cannabis, CBD extracted from hemp is legal and available in most states. Hemp with less than .3% THC has such low amounts of buzz-producing THC, even children can use CBD oil.
CBD has unique therapeutic properties because humans already make their own version of cannabinoids. Cannabinoids run a complex endocrine-like endocannabinoid system (ES). Since the 1990’s scientists have discovered five different human- made cannabinoids, receptors to accept their messages and enzymes to break them down. The purpose of the endocannabinoid system is to keep the body in balance.
To this end, it helps regulate digestion, cardiovascular function, pain perception, inflammation, the nervous and immune systems, inhibits tumor growth and more. We don’t understand all the ways ES operates but we know it has more receptors than any other system in the body.
