{"id":10927,"date":"2024-08-14T15:01:17","date_gmt":"2024-08-14T19:01:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.veriheal.com\/blog\/?p=10927"},"modified":"2024-10-29T09:51:29","modified_gmt":"2024-10-29T13:51:29","slug":"cbd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.veriheal.com\/blog\/cbd\/","title":{"rendered":"The Complete Guide to Cannabidiol (CBD): Uses, Benefits, and More"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the natural compounds found in the cannabis plant. Because it does not produce a \u201chigh\u201d feeling, CBD has grown incredibly popular in the past few years for the treatment of medical conditions like <\/span>chronic pain<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>anxiety<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>inflammation<\/span><\/a>, and <\/span>epilepsy<\/span><\/a>. It is readily available in various forms like CBD oil, lotions, tinctures, hemp flower, gummies, etc. <\/span>This beginner\u2019s guide to CBD covers everything you need to know, including types of CBD, dosages of CBD, the legality of CBD in the U.S., and more.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. What Is CBD Oil?<\/span><\/a>\n
      \n
    1. What Is the Difference Between CBD and THC?<\/a><\/li>\n
    2. What Are Cannabinoids?<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n
    3. The Endocannabinoid System<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n
    4. Hemp CBD vs. THC CBD<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n
    5. The Entourage Effect<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n
    6. Is CBD Psychoactive?<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n
    7. Different Types of CBD Oil<\/span><\/a>\n
        \n
      1. Full-Spectrum CBD<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
      2. Broad-Spectrum CBD<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
      3. Isolate CBD<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n
      4. Can I Fail a Drug Test by Taking CBD?<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n
      5. Best Way to Calculate Proper CBD Dosage<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
      6. Is CBD Legal?<\/span><\/a>\n
          \n
        1. What’s the Difference Between Legal Hemp and Cannabis?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n
        2. Medicinal Uses for CBD<\/span><\/a>\n
            \n
          1. What Are Some Conditions That Improve With CBD Oil?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n
          2. Best Ways to Take CBD<\/span><\/a>\n
              \n
            1. Edibles<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n
            2. Lotions<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n
            3. Tinctures<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n
            4. Vaping<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
            5. Drinks<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n


              \nWhat Is CBD Oil?<\/b><\/h2>\n

              Cannabidiol, also known as CBD, is an extract of the cannabis plant that is mixed with a carrier oil to form CBD oil. In states that have legalized recreational and medical cannabis, there are varieties of high-CBD strains<\/a> of cannabis that you can purchase at your local dispensary.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              CBD only products are usually extracted from hemp as opposed to cannabis, because they contain higher amounts of CBD instead of the larger amounts of \u03949-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that are found in cannabis. To extract CBD oil from hemp or the cannabis plant, a CBD extraction machine is required. Solvents such as ethanol are also typically used in this process. New extraction methods for CBD oil, such as <\/span>supercritical CO\u2082<\/span><\/a>, are now available and make cleaner, more purified CBD products. This is because it balances the temperature and pressure of the plant during extraction, eliminating the need for solvents.<\/span><\/p>\n

              Prescription CBD oil, called <\/span>Epidiolex<\/span><\/a>, can be safely administered by a doctor for children suffering from seizures due to certain epilepsies. CNN\u2019s medical correspondent Doctor Sanjay Gupta hosted a <\/span>documentary highlighting CBD for children diagnosed with epilepsy and seizures<\/span><\/a>. In the documentary, <\/span>Weed 4: Pot vs Pills<\/span><\/i>, Doctor Sanjay Gupta emphasizes the medicinal value of cannabidiol.<\/span><\/p>\n

              Therapeutic Potential of CBD Oil\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

              Many doctors and proponents of holistic and all natural medicine trust in the therapeutic component of CBD as an alternative medicine to reduce various symptoms to alleviate or play a potential role in the following conditions, according to the World Health Organization (WHO): \u201c<\/span>nausea<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>inflammatory bowel<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Crohn\u2019s disease<\/span><\/a>, anxiety, depression, psychosis, <\/span>cancer<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>neuropathic pain<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>asthma,<\/span><\/a> Alzheimer\u2019s disease<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Parkinson\u2019s disease<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>rheumatoid arthritis<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>\u00a0inflammatory disease, <\/span>multiple sclerosis<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>cardiovascular diseases<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>diabetic complications<\/span><\/a>, and infection.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              CBD is generally well-tolerated and has a good safety profile. Major studies from the scientific community continuously appraise the medicinal benefits of CBD<\/a>. It is clearly evident that more research needs to be done to prove the effectiveness and long-term outcomes of this medicine. Our country can no longer rely on doctors continuously prescribing suboptimal or even addictive medications that aren\u2019t giving patients relief.<\/span><\/p>\n

              The <\/span>WHO reported in 2017<\/span> that no \u201cpublic health related problems\u201d have been connected to the use of pure CBD. The report adds that, \u201cIn humans, CBD exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential.\u201d CBD is a generally safe option alternative treatment, as long as you consult your doctor to be sure that CBD won\u2019t interfere with your other medications.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              Potential Side Effects of CBD\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

              However, CBD may also carry mild temporary side effects, including drowsiness, decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abnormal liver function tests. Most of the abnormal liver function tests were reported to be reversible in the Epidiolex clinical studies with adjustment of CBD dose or seizure medication dose.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              You should always learn how CBD products affect you before driving, operating machinery, or increasing your dose, as higher doses increase the probability of side effects. The efficacy, drug interactions, or long-term effects of cannabis or cannabinoids are not yet fully known, and may not be suitable for everyone. Thus, always talk to your healthcare provider first before taking cannabis or CBD products for any reason.<\/span><\/p>\n

              What Is the Difference Between CBD and THC?\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

              \u03949-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)<\/span><\/a> is a chemical component that causes the intoxicating effects of the cannabis plant. However, high-CBD and low-THC strains of cannabis do not produce intoxication, but offer the ability to alleviate many ailments including seizures. These strains, such as <\/span>Charlotte\u2019s Web<\/span><\/a>, highlight the medicinal characteristics of cannabis.<\/span><\/p>\n

              \"cannabis<\/p>\n

              What Are Cannabinoids?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

              Cannabinoids are chemical compounds that naturally occur in the cannabis plant. Cannabis contains around <\/span>150 cannabinoids<\/span><\/a>; the two primary and most popular cannabinoids are THC and CBD. As cannabis research evolves, we are learning more about other cannabinoids like <\/span>cannabigerol (CBG)<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>cannabinol (CBN)<\/span><\/a>, and cannabichromene (CBC). These natural cannabinoids can play a major role in the endocannabinoid system, a system of the human body that was not in the limelight until recently and is still being explored. <\/span><\/p>\n

              The Endocannabinoid System<\/strong><\/h3>\n

              Although it is one of the oldest biological systems of the human body, you may have never heard of the <\/span>endocannabinoid system<\/span><\/a>. Our bodies come equipped with this entire system that is responsible for managing a multitude of physiological processes. The endocannabinoid system, or ECS for short, is a map of cannabinoid receptors located throughout the body.<\/span><\/p>\n

              The purpose of the endocannabinoid system is to regulate a variety of bodily functions such as mood, memory, fertility, appetite, hormones, and responses to pain or stress. In the end, the ECS helps our bodies <\/span>maintain homeostasis or balance<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              In fact, the discovery of the cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant led to the naming of the ECS. \u201cSince the time when exogenous cannabinoids revealed their existence, the entire natural complex came to be called the \u2018endogenous cannabinoid system,\u2019 or \u2018endocannabinoid system\u2019 (ECS),\u201d according to <\/span>Dr. Bradley E. Alger in his 2013 paper published in <\/span>Cerebrum<\/span><\/i><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              In other words, endocannabinoids are the body\u2019s natural endogenous cannabinoids. Endocannabinoids are neurotransmitters that activate the cannabinoid receptors of the ECS.<\/span><\/p>\n

              How Cannabinoids Interact With the ECS\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

              However, we also react to exogenous (meaning external) cannabinoids like those found in cannabis. Phytocannabinoids, \u201c<\/span>phyto\u201d<\/span><\/i> meaning plant-derived cannabinoids, also attach to our receptors that initiate a physiological response. Essentially, our receptors are the lock and cannabinoids are the keys that unlock feedback. <\/span><\/p>\n

              \"Human<\/p>\n

              At this time, there are two known receptors in the ECS: CB1 and CB2. Both are dispersed all over the body; however, CB1 receptors are mostly found in our brain and nervous system, while CB2 receptors are condensed in our organs and immune system. Each of the two types of receptors are responsible for strategically keeping order of our immune and nervous system functions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              Emerging evidence<\/span><\/a> indicates that cannabinoid receptors may bond with each other, and that cannabinoids may also interact with adenosine, opioid, serotonin, and dopamine receptor families. In due time, we\u2019ll be able to learn more about our other receptors and their effects when more research is conducted.<\/span><\/p>\n

              Hemp CBD vs. THC CBD<\/h3>\n

              Most are familiar with THC, the cannabinoid responsible for the intoxicating and euphoric effects of marijuana <\/span>that causes \u201cimpairment.\u201d<\/span><\/a> THC\u2019s molecular form is very similar to our bodies\u2019 naturally occurring endogenous neurotransmitters.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              Hemp and cannabis are the same species of plant, but hemp is federally legal and contains less than 0.3% THC content, meaning that it does not intoxicate users like most cannabis in the recreational market does. Essentially, the word hemp refers to low THC variations of the same plant. Another main difference between hemp and cannabis is the use of hemp for industrial purposes like the production of paper, building materials, skincare products, food, and <\/span>clothing<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              The Entourage Effect<\/strong><\/h3>\n

              There are hundreds of different types of organic compounds found in the cannabis plant. When ingested, virtually all of these cannabinoids and other compounds work together and produce a complete, well-rounded effect known as the <\/span>entourage effect<\/span><\/a>. <\/span>Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, the founder of THC<\/span><\/a>, conducted research in 1999 that introduced the concept of the entourage effect. Today, the term is used to describe how individual chemical components synergistically work together to produce superior effects and improve the cannabis experience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              So what else plays a role in the entourage effect? There are six main cannabinoids:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n