Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard about CBD and what a miracle worker this little molecule is. Despite CBD or cannabidiol practically being a household name these days, many of our customers aren’t familiar too familiar with this cannabinoid, how CBD acts in the body, or what the health benefits of CBD are. In this blog post, we’re going to give you the lowdown on CBD so you can decide if CBD is what you need to relieve your symptoms.
What is CBD?
Before we get into the benefits of CBD, it might be good to know what exactly this little molecule is. Cannabidiol, or CBD is an extremely therapeutic phytocannabinoid (plant derived) produced by cannabis. Of the 113 cannabinoids produced by the cannabis plant, CBD is the second most prevalent, after THC. However, unlike the more familiar THC which is well known for its mind altering effects CBD is not psychoactive. This lack of psychoactivity makes CBD ideal for patients with severe symptoms that require a high dose of cannabinoids to manage their condition, but, need to remain as mentally clear as possible. Likewise, CBD is a great day time option for those who need a little relief that won’t impair their focus.
How Does CBD work?
Now that we know what CBD is, let’s take a look at how it impacts the body. Your body has two main types of cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2 receptors which run all throughout the body with CB1 receptors most prevalent in the nervous system and surrounding organs while CB2 receptors cluster most heavily in the gut and immune system. These receptors, along with the endocannabinoids (cannabinoids produced by the body) and the enzymes that break down excess cannabinoids make up the endocannabinoid system.
As you can imagine based on the important systems that receptors are located, the endocannabinoid system works to balance many of the body’s functions. Unlike THC, CBD does not bind directly to these receptor sites, which may be why it doesn’t exhibit the same psychoactive characteristics as THC. In fact, CBD inhibits the action of the FAAH(fatty acid amide hydrolase) enzyme which binds to the CB1 receptors and by doing so can make TCH less psychoactive. Instead, CBD acts on the TRP-1 receptors, serotonin and adenosine receptors. Its CBD’s action at these sites that give it its amazing therapeutic benefits which we’ll cover next!
How does CBD benefit me?
Now for the best part, how CBD can benefit you. Through its action on TRP-1, serotonin and adenosine receptors CBD is able to treat a wide array of symptoms. TRP-1 receptors, for example, play a crucial role in regulating the body’s temperature, pain response and level of inflammation. By modifying those receptors CBD is able to relieve pain and inflammation. When CBD activates adenosine receptors it is able to exhibit anti-anxiety effects as the adenosine receptors release two neurotransmitters, dopamine and glutamate, which regulate learning, cognition, motivation and your brain’s reward circuits. At high enough doses, CBD also activates
the 5-HT1A serotonin receptor which can produce antidepressant effects. Talk about a miracle molecule!
Conclusion
As you can see, cannabidiol is a real therapeutic powerhouse. This little compound is able to relieve pain, ease anxiety, calm inflammation, and even has the potential to lift depression and all without impairing your mental clarity. For all of these reasons and more, many are turning to CBD both to treat their most severe symptoms as well as a clear-headed daytime medicine. If you think CBD will help you with your condition, stop by and ask one of our knowledgeable budtenders which product is right for you.