CBD (Cannabidiol) oil is derived from hemp. Many people confuse hemp with marijuana, but hemp is a very different plant. Marijuana and hemp may share the same scientific name, Cannabis sativa, but they are not the same.
Marijuana is cultivated primarily for its psychoactive cannabinoid, a chemical compound called tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, for recreational and medicinal use. Marijuana contains both THC and CBD.
Hemp contains only a trace of THC, less than 0.3% compared to marijuana’s hefty 5-35%. The main cannabinoid in hemp is CBD, but there are over 100 other cannabinoids in hemp, as well as compounds that produce tastes and scents called terpenes (e.g. citrusy smell of oranges, the unique aroma of pine trees, or sweet flower smell of lavender).
For thousands of years, hemp has been cultivated for food, clothing, fiber, and fuel. It is one of the world’s oldest domesticated crops. In the early days, hemp was a vital crop in the U.S. During the 1700s, colonial farmers grew hemp mainly for its strong fiber.
However, hemp production came to a screeching halt when the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was passed. Mainstream attitudes towards cannabis began to sway greatly towards the negative. Hemp became the “evil weed” because it shares the same species as marijuana, even though it does not contain marijuana’s abundant THC.
Eighty long years later, hemp finally regained its legal status in the U.S. after the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill. Hemp, defined as cannabis with less than 0.3% THC, is removed from Schedule I controlled substances. Hemp-derived products are legal as long as they come from licensed hemp growers. More and more universities and hospitals have begun to study it. Americans can now use CBD legally. It can be ordered online and shipped to all 50 states.
Marijuana laws are also changing at a rapid pace across America. Even though it is still illegal on the federal level, many states have legalized marijuana. For the remaining states, some have allowed it for medical use and some recreational use.
The Human Endocannabinoid System (ECS)
Cannabinoids made by our own bodies are called endocannabinoids (the prefix “endo” means within). In the 1990s, researchers made an astonishing discovery that the ECS plays a major role in our overall health.
The ECS maintains constant communication with every organ system in the body.
This communication involves messenger molecules called endocannabinoids and cannabinoid receptors on every cell that accepts them. Think of it as a “key and lock” system. The receptors are locked and the endocannabinoids are keys that bind to these receptors and unlock them.
There are two main types of receptors within the ECS – cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) and cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2).
Researchers found more than 1,000 receptors in the body. CB1 receptors are located largely on nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, as well as the eye and retina. CB2 receptors are predominantly found in the immune system and in the organs and tissues, such as the brain, spleen, blood cells, gastrointestinal, and urinary tracts.
The body produces two types of endocannabinoids – anandamide and 2-AG. These are transported into the cells through the CB1 and CB2 receptors. As we age, the body becomes less efficient in producing anandamide and 2-AG. The proper functioning of the ECS also depends on the adequacy of omega-3 in the diet.
Many people have experienced the feel good sensation or “high” after strenuous exercise. The lifted mood comes from the release of endorphins. Researchers now know that it is also from an increase in anandamide, which targets mainly the CB1 receptors and, to a lesser extent, the CB2 receptors.
The other endocannabinoid, 2-AG, transmits signals across the brain cells and activates both CB1 and CB2 receptors. 2-AG supports brain health, immune health, as well as insulin sensitivity.
Researchers have now discovered that both endocannabinoids, anandamide, and 2-AG, have a considerable impact on a variety of functions including appetite, energy and balance, immunity, memory, metabolism, nervous system, sleep, and stress response.
Evidence For CBD Health Benefits
The Cannabis plant contains over 100 cannabinoids. These compounds closely resemble human endocannabinoids. The main cannabinoid in hemp is CBD, and in marijuana, THC.
Unlike THC, CBD does not bind directly into our cannabinoid receptors. Nevertheless, it does stimulate the activity of both CB1 and CB2 receptors without directly tapping into them. A study by the National Institute of Health found that CBD causes the body to release more endocannabinoids, especially 2-AG. Moreover, CBD inhibits the degradation of anandamide.
CBD’s health benefits:
Childhood Epilepsy
CBD has been touted for a wide variety of health interests, but the strongest scientific evidence is for its effectiveness in treating two rare drug-resistant childhood epilepsy conditions, namely Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) and Dravet syndrome (DS). The FDA has recently approved the first ever CBD-derived drug Epidiolex for these conditions. In numerous studies, CBD was able to reduce the number of seizures, and in some cases, it was able to stop them altogether.
Pain Relief
CBD may offer an option for treating different types of chronic pain: fibromyalgia, gout, HIV, multiple sclerosis, neuropathic, and rheumatoid arthritis. Studies found that applying CBD oil and CBD cream directly on the problem area helps to lower pain and inflammation. CBD works by impacting cannabinoid receptor activity in the body, reducing inflammation, and interacting with neurotransmitters.
Researchers also found that subjects did not build up a tolerance to the effects of CBD, so there was no need to increase dosage continually. Unlike some pain medications, CBD is not addictive and does not have any intoxicating effects, offering much relief for people who have chronic pain.
An oral spray called Sativex, which is a combination of CBD and THC, has been approved in a number of countries in Europe and Canada (but not in the U.S.) to treat pain and muscle spasms related to multiple sclerosis.
Another controlled study found that Sativex significantly improved pain during movement, pain at rest, and sleep quality in people with rheumatoid arthritis.
Anxiety and Depression
Clinical trials have revealed that both marijuana and CBD may be effective in reducing different forms of anxiety including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Not only did participants in the studies felt better, they also reported reduced cognitive impairment and anxiousness. Scientists suggest that in addition to impacting the endocannabinoid system, CBD may influence receptors involved in the modulation of serotonin, a chemical messenger that plays a role in anxiety regulation.
In addition, some studies showed that CBD eases depression and helps with psychotic disorders like schizophrenia. (Please note that marijuana does not help with either and may actually worsen psychosis.)
Cancer-Related Symptoms
Researchers found that cancer patients treated with CBD and THC, the psychoactive compound from marijuana, experienced a significant reduction in pain. In addition, a one-to-one combination of CBD and THC administered via mouth spray reduced side effects associated with cancer treatments like nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite.
At present, more research needs to be done on whether CBD alone can produce the same beneficial outcomes.
A number of cell culture studies found that cannabinoids can help slow tumor growth, reduce tumor invasion, and induce tumor cell death in various types of cancer, including the brain, blood, breast, colon, pancreatic, and prostate.
Scientists believe that CBD probably works by starving cancer cells of energy, making them more sensitive to the body’s immune response, and by blocking a newly discovered cannabinoid-related cancer pathway. However, human trials are needed before further conclusions can be drawn.
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