What is CBD?

So, CBD… What is it? Where does CBD come from? What can CBD do for me? And is CBD safe for me?

Often terms hemp and CBD get used interchangeably. However these are not the same things. Hemp is a cannabis plant. CBD is a cannabinoid which is a chemical that is produced by the cannabis/hemp plant. 

CBD is short for cannabidiol. CBD is a naturally occurring chemical that come from the oils of the flowers and the leaves of the cannabis/hemp plant. This chemical is also referred to as a cannabinoid. There are well over 100 unique cannabinoid‘s found in the cannabis/hemp plant in which CBD is the second most abundant cannabinoid found in it’s chemistry. It’s only second to tetrahydrocannabinol, which is better known as THC. CBD and THC are the most famous cannabinoids found in the cannabis/hemp plant.  

Both CBD and THC work very similar within the body, as their molecular structures are very similar. Because both CBD and THC being so similar, they share many of the same medical benefits as well. Both in case studies and anecdotal evidence shows that both have great potential in aiding in the same conditions such as pain regulation, nausea, migraines, and anxiety… Just to name a few. But ultimately CBD has proven to be both a very strong anti-inflammatory as well as an anti-spastic.

But even though both CBD and THC have a similar molecular structure, there is a slight difference in the way the atoms are arranged causing the biggest difference between the two, the high. That’s right, there is no high with CBD.

CBD is a non-psychoactive naturally occurring compound from the cannabis/hemp plant. CBD will not create a high and is non-addictive. While both CBD and THC can provide similar benefits, many choose to take CBD instead because it does not give the sensation of a high. However, it does have calming effects.

Even though CBD has some great benefits it does also carry some risks. Even though it’s generally well tolerated, CBD can cause some side effects such as dry mouth, fatigue, drowsiness, reduction in appetite, and possible diarrhea. In addition, we are in most cases CBD can be very complementary to other medication’s, it is not suggested you take it while on blood thinners. But the biggest cause for concern will not be CBD in itself but the unreliability purity of CBD products that are on the market. It was recently determined that only 1/3 of the CBD products that are available to consumers contained less CBD than what was presented on the label. In some cases those products actually contained THC. Imagine their surprise.

References:

• https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/expert-answers/is-cbd-safe-and-effective/faq-20446700

• https://www.jneurology.com/articles/cannabis-and-autoimmunity--the-neurologic-perspective-a-brief-review.html

• https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-drug-comprised-active-ingredient-derived-marijuana-treat-rare-severe-forms

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6042662/

• https://hub.jhu.edu/2020/01/03/what-is-cbd-2499-em1-art1-qa-health/

• https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-1439/cannabidiol-cbd