CBD explained- Here are the essential things to know about CBD

By Alexander Joe

Are you wondering what’s all the buzz about CBD these days? This is a question that exists in many people’s minds. Whether you’ve tried CBD before but didn’t understand how it works or you are planning to start using it, keep reading below to find out why CBD is so popular these days and how it can help you.

CBD is a buzzword everywhere you turn your head these days. People talk about it on social media, on the TV, at the grocery store, in medical experts’ offices, and even Netflix has some documentaries about it. But how did CBD succeeded in having everyone talking about it almost overnight?

Overall, the cannabidiol industry is flourishing these days. The market is actually experiencing so much popularity right now that it is expected to grow to $16 billion in the US only by 2025. What’s more, CBD sales are soaring amid the Coronavirus pandemic.

These days, we’re seeing CBD being added to pretty much every other product you can find in supermarkets, from shampoos to edibles, drinks, breath sprays, and, yes, as weird as it may sound, even toothpicks. Besides that, CBD comes in a variety of forms, including oil, vape juice, tincture, gummies, pills and capsules, and even naturally grown flowers, such as the ones from PHF.

So, how did this natural remedy find such immense popularity? And, most importantly, what is it and what is it used for? Don’t worry! We have all the answers to these questions. Keep reading below to find out!

CBD explained

If you haven’t been living under a rock for the past couple of years, you’ve likely heard about CBD at least once lately because everybody is talking about it. Whether you’re scrolling on social media, reading your favorite blog, or scroll on Netflix for some documentary-like content to binge, there’s always something about CBD.

Yet, hearing about it isn’t good enough to make your own informed decisions on whether you should start using it or not. Don, don’t worry! We’re here to help by sharing the essential things you need to know about CBD before deciding whether or not you want to use it.

First things first, let’s make sure we’re on the same page with what CBD is. Well, we’ll start with saying that CBD isn’t cannabis, as people often tend to believe wrongfully. And, no, it won’t get you “high.” But more on that later.

CBD is actually a compound found in the cannabis and the hemp plant. It is actually one of the most prevalently found compounds in these plants. CBD is also commonly known as cannabidiol.

Now, another prevalent molecule from the cannabis and hemp plants is THC. Yet, most people tend not to make the difference between the two when, in fact, these two compounds are very different.

Here’s the thing: CBD and THC both come from the cannabis and hemp plants. However, the two have different effects on the body. More precisely, THC is the molecule that has the intoxicating effects felt by people who consume marijuana, giving the “high” feeling. THC makes people experience euphoria, pleasure, and forgetfulness.

In contrast, CBD doesn’t have intoxicating effects similar to THC. That’s because the two impact our bodies differently. While THC impacts the CB1 receptors in our brain, which are responsible for euphoria, relaxation, and anxiety feelings, as well as short-term forgetfulness, CBD only acts as a blocker or regulator of THC’s impacts.

So, in conclusion: no, CBD won’t get you “high.”

Yet, if CBD doesn’t get people high, why is it so popular, and why so many people use it? Well, that’s because CBD has other benefits for our bodies.

What does science have to say about CBD’s benefits?

One of the common misconceptions people have about CBD’s benefits is that they aren’t backed by science and that it is all just a marketing scam. Well, this couldn’t be any more wrong.

There are actually plenty of scientific studies that suggest that CBD has the potential to help with various medical conditions. Researchers have concluded in multiple instances that CBD can have several health benefits, such as relieving symptoms of anxiety and depression, easing inflammation and pain, reducing seizure activity, and even easing cancer treatment-related symptoms.

Here are the potential benefits of CBD that are backed by science so far:

Pain relief

Studies have shown that CBD impacts the endocannabinoid receptor activity in our bodies, reducing inflammation and pain. Pre-clinical studies approved by the National Institute of Health have suggested that this compound can help people struggling with pain from arthritis, muscle pain, and spinal cord injuries.

Insomnia

People tired of staring at the ceiling every night because they are struggling with insomnia will be thrilled to find out that CBD can be a remedy for their sleep disorder. More precisely, during scientific trials for the FDA-approved prescription CBD for epilepsy, Epidiolex, researchers have noticed that drowsiness was one of the side effects experienced by participants. This was considered to be a clue that CBD can be a natural treatment to treat insomnia and other sleep disorders.

Anxiety

Researchers have found that CBD can also help with treating anxiety thanks to the fact that it can have the ability to reshape the way the brain’s receptors react to serotonin. For this reason, it is believed that the CBD molecule can have antidepressant-like benefits.

Cancer

Although it is too early to claim that CBD can be a cure for cancer, some scientific studies conducted on mice suggest that it can help prevent cancer cell growth.

Is it true that CBD doesn’t work for everybody?

One of the most misconceptions about CBD is that it doesn’t do anything. That is why many people believe that it is all just a marketing scam. However, there can be plenty of reasons why CBD doesn’t work. Here are these reasons:

  • The CBD products don’t come from a reputable source.
  • You still don’t know the right dosage for you.
  • You’re not giving it enough time to alleviate your symptoms.
  • You’re not using it in a suitable form.
  • You don’t suffer from a medical condition that CBD can treat.

Interesting Related Article: “CBD is Increasing in Popularity at a Rapid Rate: Here’s What You Need to Know“