A question that comes up often is, what is CBD? Let’s start with the root; CBD is short for cannabidiol. Cannabidiol is the second most prevalent of the active ingredients of cannabis (marijuana).
Understanding CBD
Cannabidiol, associated with medical marijuana, comes from the hemp plant, a cousin to the marijuana plant. Therefore, when someone thinks of CBD, they tend to connect it with marijuana, and while it is a component of the plant, it does not cause a “high.”A World Health Organization report cites, “In humans, CBD exhibits no effects indicative of abuse or dependence potential…. To date, there is no evidence of public health-related problems associated with the use of pure CBD.”
Cannabidiol for Wellness
You may have reached this page in search of a wellness remedy. For years cannabidiol articles have popped up in the media as a solution for various ailments. For example, the Harvard Medical School published an article discussing the evidence in treating Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) in children. In addition, numerous studies found cannabidiol to help reduce the number of seizures in patients. In some cases, the seizures ended completely.The first-ever FDA-approved cannabis-based medicine containing cannabidiol went on the market to treat Epidiolex, helping legitimize the use of CBD in western medicine.
Common Uses
Many people turn to CBD to help with anxiety, insomnia, and depression. In addition, a study in the European Journal of Pain conducted on animals found that it helped lower pain and inflammation due to arthritis when applied to the skin.Another study published in the same journal found cannabidiol to inhibit inflammatory and neuropathy pain in animals. However, we need to conduct more studies with human subjects.When looking to cannabidiol as a treatment, it is essential to come with an open mind. More longitudinal research is needed, but for many, when asked what CBD is, they respond to the question with hope because they have found relief in including CDB in their life.For those looking for help utilizing holistic remedies, reach out to us here.
