A Beginner’s Guide to CBD
CBD has quickly become one of the most talked about compounds contained in the cannabis plant.
It is hard to turn on your television, browse the Internet or even open a newspaper without seeing something about CBD. From new research studies, new products or personal testimonials, this cannabinoid is becoming more popular and more accessible around the world.
CBD lacks the social and medical stigma that surrounds THC, while current scientific studies have proven beyond a doubt it has powerful medicinal properties.
If you are new to the many medicinal benefits that the cannabis plant has to offer, and curious about what exactly the cannabinoid CBD is, then this article was written for you to increase your knowledge and to answer your questions.
We here at Kanteeva aim to help you to learn more about this amazing cannabinoid while informing you on how medical cannabis may be beneficial for you and your ailment(s).
We hope that you enjoy this article and if you have any additional questions, please post a comment at the end of the article and a Kanteeva team member will respond back to you.
What is CBD?
CBD is an abbreviation for cannabidiol. It is typically the second most prevalent cannabinoid, after THC, found in the cannabis plant. Unlike THC, CBD has no psychoactive effects, so it can be consumed without getting the “high” that is often associated with cannabis.
According to a report from the World Health Organization published in 2017:
In humans, CBD exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential…. To date, there is no evidence of public health related problems associated with the use of pure CBD.
What CBD Is Not
Some people refer to CBD as “the medicinal part of marijuana.” Sadly, this nickname has led to quite a bit of confusion and misinformation because it is a misleading and false statement.
There are nearly 150 cannabinoids and CBD is simply one of the many cannabinoids that has medical benefits.
As more research continues, more cannabinoids are being discovered and current research suggests that more medicinal benefits occur when whole plant products are used. This allows patients to gain the benefits of the entire spectrum of cannabinoids, terpenes and other compounds found in the cannabis plant.
This is known as "The Entourage Effect.”
For more information on the differences between consuming isolate compounds, like pure CBD, versus whole plant extracts, like cannabis oil, please take a moment to look over our article on Whole Plant Extracts vs Single-molecule Isolates.
What Medicinal Properties does CBD have?
CBD has been shown to have the following medical properties:
- Antibacterial - Early research shows that CBD has “potency similar to that of established antibiotics such as vancomycin or daptomycin.”
- Antiemetic - Reduces vomiting and nausea
- Analgesic - Relieves pain
- Antimicrobial - Slows bacterial growth
- Antispasmodic - Suppresses muscle spasms in some populations when combined with THC.
- Anxiolytic - Relieves anxiety
- Anticarcinogenic - Inhibits cancer cell growth
- Neuro-protective - CBD has been shown to help reduce short-term brain damage, slow Alzheimer’s disease progression, prolong neuron cell survival and more.
- Osteoconductive - CBD has been shown to both help with bone fracture healing and increase collagen effectiveness.
- Anticonvulsant - Reduces seizures and convulsions
- Antidiabetic agent - Reduces blood sugar levels and helps to regulate blood sugar levels over time in certain instances of type 2 diabetes.
- Immunosuppressant - Reduces function in the immune system
- Anti-inflammatory - Reduces inflammation
- Modifies Intestinal Motility - Reduces intestine contractions
- Tranquilizing / Sedating - Helps with insomnia and restlessness. CBD has been shown to help people stay asleep while THC often is accredited for helping people fall asleep.
- Can Help Treat Psoriasis and Other Chronic Skin Conditions
- Vasorelaxant - Helps arteries relax.
Does CBD Have Any Medical Benefits?
Even though CBD has been shown to be far more effective when consumed with whole plant extracts or in whole plant form, it still offers medical benefits when used on its own.
Research has shown that CBD can help with seizures and many other ailments like those listed below.
CBD has been especially effective in treating Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, which are both forms of epilepsy that are treatment-resistant towards modern anti-seizure prescription drugs.
Pharmaceutical companies are even using CBD isolates to create medications, like Epidiolex, which is made by GW Pharmaceuticals.
While utilizing CBD in medications is something that is relatively new to the western medical approach, historically users of cannabis have sworn that cannabinoids, such as CBD, contained in the cannabis plant have had medical applications for thousands of years.
Patients report that CBD has a variety of different medical applications. For example, CBD can help with issues like:
- Chronic Pain
- Epilepsy and Seizures
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Huntington’s Disease
- Sleep Disorders
- Glaucoma
- Anxiety Disorders
- Depression
- Other Neurological Disorders
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- and many more ...
It is important to remember that while patients are reporting that CBD has numerous medical benefits, it is far from being a cure-all. There are numerous unsubstantiated claims, from a variety of different CBD producers and marketers, that claim CBD can cure everything from the common cold to cancer.
While CBD does have substantial medicinal uses, it is important to remember that CBD is not the only cannabinoid that has proven to have health benefits and most people agree that consuming a CBD isolate is nowhere near as effective as consuming a full-spectrum cannabis product.
It is also important to remember that not all CBD oil is created equally.
Factors such as the quality of the environment where the cannabis or hemp is grown, as well as the particular strain of cannabis and the method of cannabinoid extraction, will affect the overall cannabinoid profile found in the final “CBD” product.
Regardless of how you choose to consume CBD, it is important that you take the time to research where and how it was made.
The Future of CBD
Today, many CBD products around the world are being marketed as nutritional supplements, with some analysts predicting that the CBD market could reach up to $20 billion by 2024.
To learn more about the different types of CBD Oil please visit our article, “What is CBD Oil?”.
It is important that you always do your due diligence before consuming any cannabis product and it is important to have a conversation with your healthcare provider as to whether CBD and/or cannabis in general is an option for you.
We Want to Hear from You
Have you had the opportunity to try CBD in the past? Have you compared a CBD isolate product to a full-spectrum CBD product? If so, we would love to hear from you.
Please share your stories, comments and questions below.
If you have any additional questions about CBD, please leave them in the comments area below and a Kanteeva team member will answer them.
Also be sure to join our community for more information about CBD, cannabis in general and to discover some of the amazing success stories that other members of the Kanteeva community are having on their cannabis journeys.
Learn. Share. Connect.