(Newswire.net — May 4, 2020) —
Hemp and cannabis legalization have surged across the United States over the past decade. This has caused the stigma surrounding hemp and cannabis to thin, resulting in more and more people trying the plant’s various products. Over the past five years, the popularity of CBD products has skyrocketed. CBD is a type of cannabinoid that is extracted from a cannabis plant. One reason CBD products in particular have gained popularity is because CBD is non-psychoactive. People who are interested in the health benefits that the cannabis plant offers might not want to get high or alter their brain functionality, which makes CBD the perfect beginner substance. You can purchase CBD in a variety of forms, including CBD gummies, CBD cream, and even CBD vape pens. Since CBD is still federally illegal, and therefore unable to be clinically studied, there’s a lot of misinformation about the health benefits of CBD. Some claim that it can help cure cancer, others say that it reduces blood pressure, but what is accurate? It’s hard to know for certain without FDA tests; however, it’s critical to understand what CBD is to understand the potential health benefits CBD products offer.
What is CBD?
The cannabis plant is made up of two main components: CBD and THC. CBD, short for cannabidiol, is a chemical compound from the cannabis plant. Unlike THC, CBD is non- psychoactive and can actually lessen or neutralize the psychoactive effects of THC, depending on how much of each compound is consumed. CBD interacts with the human body in a variety of ways. One of the main ways it interacts with the human body is through our endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system is a crucial molecular system that the body uses to help maintain homeostasis. It helps control our mood, our energy level, our immune activity, and a number of other vital parts of our system. This explains why CBD and THC are such versatile compounds and why they have such a profound effect on the human body. Based on what we know about our endocannabinoid system, we can begin to discuss the potential health benefits CBD has on the human body.
Pain Relief
The cannabis plant has deep historical roots treating chronic pain. Although federal clinical trials can’t be conducted due to the legality of cannabis, scientists still have been able to isolate and study the parts of the plant that are responsible for pain relief. Scientists have found that CBD and a few other components are primarily responsible for alleviating chronic pain. Their studies show that CBD impacts the receptors in the endocannabinoid system. The components in CBD reduce inflammation and also interact with other neurotransmitters in the body that are responsible for chronic pain. This is big news for people who have chronic pain and rely on medications, such as opioids, that can be habit-forming and cause a lot of side effects. More research still must be conducted, but from what we currently know, CBD products offer a promising alternative to other prescription drugs. Until more research is done and the federal government deschedules cannabis, consumer behavior towards CBD products will continue to fluctuate.
Anxiety and Depression
Anxiety and depression are two of the most common mental health conditions in the world. A variety of new products catered towards mental health are coming to market everyday. These two mental conditions are usually treated with medications. These medications tend to have serious side effects. People have turned to wholesale CBD products to treat anxiety and depression for a number of reasons. Studies have shown that the cannabinoids in CBD impact the brain’s natural neurotransmitter serotonin, which is responsible for depression symptoms. Once again, until federal studies are conducted, no one will know definitively what effect CBD has on specific mental health conditions. In the meantime, CBD has proven to be a cost-effective alternative for those looking for relief without as many side effects.
CBD Conclusions
CBD is a potent compound that is gaining popularity as an alternative medicine. People have used CBD products to alleviate chronic pain, mental health conditions, cancer-related symptoms, and more. While there is some promising evidence for the future use of CBD as a treatment for a variety of things, more research in humans is necessary to determine the true effects it has on the human body. Unfortunately, there’s no timetable as to when that research will happen. The federal government must deschedule cannabis in order for consumers to understand what they’re taking and what it’s treating. Until then, anyone interested in using CBD for any conditions should speak to a doctor about how to use it and the risk associated.