By now, you’ve probably seen your fair share of CBD products offering everything from pain relief to holistic treatments for migraines and autoimmune disorders. Despite the multitude of CBD products now available on store shelves, user testimonials, and the way their popularity continues to grow, a lot of us still have questions about exactly what CBD is and how it works.
What is CBD?
We’ll begin with a brief introduction of CBD itself:
A lot of people associate CBD with marijuana, but that’s only a partial truth. CBD is an active compound found within the marijuana plant, but it can also be derived from hemp. Hemp is a relative of marijuana which contains less than .3% of the substance that causes the “euphoric highs” marijuana is known for. It is also frequently used in the textile industry to create fabrics and ropes.
CBD on its own cannot give you the same “high”, but does interact with endocannabinoids and pain receptors within your body in a way that safely reduces inflammation and pain, and can be used to reduce anxiety and stress. We’ll discuss more of the potential health benefits of CBD at a later point.
For now, rest assured that CBD is safe to take and that Congress has made CBD products made from Hemp legal in all fifty states as of 2018.
How Does CBD Work?
The main way CBD works is by interacting with the endocannabinoids produced in your body. The human endocannabinoid system is responsible for regulating bodily functions such as sleep, immune responses, mood, appetite, and memory. Research has also demonstrated that ailments such as migraines, multiple sclerosis, lupus, and hepatitis are all linked to low levels of endocannabinoids.
CBD can influence our endocannabinoid system to increase the compounds our bodies use to regulate pain and limit inflammation in the brain and nervous system. Because CBD does not introduce new compounds to our bodies, it is safe to use and rarely associated with side effects. Side effects, when they do occur, tend to be on the milder side, but may include reduced appetite, diarrhea, dry mouth, drowsiness, and fatigue.
Health Benefits and Potential Uses of CBD
The list of health benefits associated with CBD ranges from treatment of autoimmune disorders to anxiety reduction. It is most commonly used to alleviate symptoms caused by chronic pain, inflammation, and arthritis. Additional recent research has found connections between low levels of endocannabinoids and fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and bipolar disorder, opening up the possibility of CBD as a treatment for a wider variety of diseases and ailments in the future.
A study from 2022 found that a defect in a gene that helps produce endocannabinoids can lead to the early onset of Parkinson’s disease. In the same year, another study was conducted that linked the same gene defect to developmental delay, poor muscle control, and vision problems.
Emerging Trends in CBD Products
Manufacturers of CBD products are constantly finding new ways to make CBD treatments accessible to everyone. The most common method of taking CBD is through oral ingestion, typically in the form of an edible gummy supplement.
Innovation has led to the development of tinctures, creams, massage gels, shower gels, bath bombs, and more. For some people, there is no need to ingest CBD to experience its benefits – CBD interacts with your skin and small “receptor” proteins inside of your cells for a soothing, pain-relieving effect even when used topically. For example, rubbing CBD oil on your skin may help with sunburn by reducing the inflammation, blistering, and swelling associated with prolonged exposure to sunlight.
Other Natural Methods of Pain Relief
Cold compresses and showers can be recommended for most non-arthritic ailments to reduce inflammation and swelling. Be wary that exposure to cold temperatures can worsen symptoms of arthritis. Gentle heat is a useful treatment for muscle cramps, but can potentially worsen inflammation not caused by arthritis. Alternating between heat and cold treatments is also effective in managing pain.
Other plant-based, holistic supplements for pain management include ginger, turmeric, aloe vera, lavender, and clove. Occasionally, you will find combination oils of one or more of the following combined with CBD, combining the benefits of both substances in one package.
