Cannabidiol (CBD) is a natural chemical found in the cannabis plant. It constitutes one of the many chemicals that are produced by the cannabis plant – all known as cannabinoids.
In most types of cannabis plant, CBD is the second-most plentiful cannabinoid. CBD is often associated with extraction from the hemp plant and is sold in a variety of different forms.
These range from gummy sweets and supplement pills to extracts and gels. CBD has been linked to some important medicinal uses and has the unique advantage over tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in that it has no psychoactive effect on humans.
Chemical structure
CBD and THC have the same molecular structure, but differences in how the atoms are arranged cause different responses to the cannabinoids within the human body. The similarity of CBD and other cannabinoids to human endocannabinoids causes free interaction within the central nervous system and the movement of neurotransmitters.
CBD and psychoactive cannabinoid traits
CBD does not have the psychoactive properties of THC and does not cause the euphoric high of THC consumption. Instead, CBD is more related to more focused, functional effects.
CBD extract products can give access to benefits of cannabinoids without having to consume THC and deal with the associated psychoactive effects.
Most cannabis strains have a mix of both CBD and THC cannabinoids. The relative proportions of each cannabinoid can have benefits and drawbacks depending on what is wanted by the consumer.
Higher THC strains will have the largest euphoric psychoactive effects whereas high CBD strains would benefit more medicinal uses of cannabis, such as controlling pain or anxiety.
Strains that are more evenly rationed between CBD and THC would provide some euphoric effects whilst negating against some of the negative side effects that some can experience when using THC.
Medicinal properties
Studies have shown CBD to have anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. CBD has also been seen to have some anti-psychotic properties.
CBD users have hailed the drug as relieving the symptoms of epilepsy and seizures, post-traumatic stress disorder, multiple sclerosis and Chrohn’s disease.
There are no known fatalities or even serious side effects from the use of CBD. The most famous story of medicinal use was the case of Charlotte, a little girl who had Dravet syndrome which gave her around three hundred seizures a week.
CBD extract helped this girl to reduce the number of seizures she endured to about 3 a month. This story catapulted CBD to the public’s attention and has led to advances in CBD production, such as the FDA approved Epidiolex which is now a prescription medicine for forms of epilepsy.
How to choose?
If you wish to try CBD products, bear the information above in mind and make an informed decision. Independently tested products that have had their relative THC and CBD levels analysed in a laboratory are preferred as you can be more confident in what you are buying.
Buy now to experience the unique benefits that come from CBD.