Unless you live under a rock, you’ve probably noticed the increase in popularity of CBD and hemp products over the last 5-10 years. The truth is, this is more of a comeback. Cannabis has been widely used across the world for millennia as medicine. In this country, it was still being used for medicinal purposes until 1937, when the Marijuana Tax Act restricted the use and sale of cannabis. Now, with many states having different laws on the matter, it can be confusing to know what exactly these products are and what is legal to use. Maybe most importantly, what do they do? Are they safe? What are the benefits of CBD and other cannabis-derived products?
What Is Cannabis?
Technically, the name refers to all of the plants in the category of “Cannabis sativa.” These plants contain over 540 chemical compounds, some of which create drug-like effects in the body. The term marijuana is used to describe the dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds from the plant that are high in the compound THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). Most people know that THC is a psychoactive chemical that causes a “high” when ingested or smoked. As a result, many states have banned the use or sale of marijuana. CBD (Cannabidiol), on the other hand, is derived from cannabis plant but has only trace amounts of THC. The FDA considers a maximum of 0.3% to be safe. When CBD is isolated from the plants, it can be utilized in limited concentrations in topical and oral products for medicinal benefits.
It Mimics Our Natural Biology
Many people aren’t aware that the human body has an endocannabinoid system (ECS). This system plays a critical role in important body functions like learning, memory, emotional processing, sleep, pain control, inflammatory and immune responses, and more. In other words, we actually have “cannabinoid” receptors that regulate certain body systems. To provide feedback to these receptors, our bodies create endocannabinoids, which are similar in molecular structure to plant-derived cannabinoids. When we use CBD, it works in the body by using this receptor and feedback system. Therefore, it can have incredible effects in the areas controlled by the ECS.
What Are The Benefits Of CBD?
Because our ECS controls such a wide range of bodily functions, CBD use is associated with benefits in nearly all of those areas:
- Improvements in anxiety/mood
- Supports immune system function
- Pain relief
- Protective against oxidative-associated diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cancer, and heart disease
- Helpful in seizure disorders
Overall, cannabinoids are considered to have high antioxidant and neuroprotective qualities, which makes them extremely beneficial to the human body.
How Is CBD Used?
Typically, CBD enters the body through the digestive tract (edibles, tinctures), topically (creams/lotions), or through the lungs (smoking/vaping). Sometimes people use a combination of methods. For pain management, CBD creams/lotions are incredibly effective. They absorb quickly into the skin and provide both local relief and an overall sense of relaxation. We recommend these often in our office to help patients deal with pain while healing through neuromuscular therapy sessions. Have any questions about CBD? We’d be happy to discuss it with you at your next appointment.