Cannabis contains over 500 constituents. The most important of these are THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol), which both belong to the cannabinoid group. Unlike THC, CBD does not make you high. It does however offer great medicinal potential. That’s one of the reasons that we have seen a real boom in CBD over the last few years.
What is CBD and how it is made?
CBD oil refers to a concentrated extraction of the hemp or marijuana plant that contains high levels of CBD, and usually negligible levels of THC. Most modern extraction of hemp is achieved with a technique called CO2 extraction, whereby high-pressure CO2 is pumped through a vessel containing hemp plant material. The final product is an oily substance rich in terpenes and cannabinoids.
However, it is usually considered more beneficial to consume a full-spectrum CBD product (has not undergone fractional distillation), as a full-spectrum CBD oil also contains other remedial substances such as terpenes. Furthermore, full-spectrum products have the added benefit of the entourage effect, whereby all the compounds present in a cannabis specimen work together to create the therapeutic effect.
Though there is much to be learned about the efficacy and safety of CBD, results from recent studies suggest that CBD may provide a safe, powerful natural treatment for many health issues.
Why CBD has to be influenced?
CBD has a wide range of medical benefits, the number of uses for CBD as a medicine continues to grow to the point where we have virtually never come across such a versatile substance before. The pharmaceutical industry until how has not developed a single medicine that has as many applications as CBD.
For which type of disease CBD can be beneficial?
CBD is known for its antiemetic, anti-inflammatory, detoxifying, tumour-inhibiting, anxiolytic, and antidepressant qualities. Some of these qualities have been heavily investigated while others are still in the initial stages of research. In any case, the absolute number of medical applications warrants further investigation into the effects of CBD and how it can be applied medically.
CBD products can treat chronic pain
Chronic pain is a symptom of many illnesses: diabetes, multiple sclerosis, cancer, HIV, rheumatism, and many others. The treatment of pain plays a role in improving the quality of life of patients. Depending on the severity of the pain, people use over-the-counter analgesics such as aspirin, ibuprofen, paracetamol, and/or prescription analgesics such as opioids. All these drugs are associated with chronic side effects after prolonged use.
In 2016, Israeli researchers discovered in a study that cannabis use reduces pain and opiate use and improves the quality of life of the patient. In all, 274 patients took part in the study, although it ought to be mentioned that the patients weren’t administered pure CBD, but a medicinal cannabis preparation that also contains THC. Nevertheless, the results are very promising:
After six months, the pain symptom score had fallen from a median of 83.3 to a median of 75.0. The pain intensity score had also improved. Opiate requirement reduced over the course of the observation period by approximately 44%.
CBD as a tumour-fighting agent
CBD provides a glimmer of hope for the treatment of patients affected. This was the conclusion of a study for which the results were published in March 2016 in the journal, Current Oncology. Both THC and CBD were tested in vitro and in vivo. Both cannabinoids have properties that cause tumours to shrink, with CBD being the more active of these two cannabinoids. The results suggest that CBD should be researched further as an effective anti-cancer drug in the management of neuroblastoma.
The research into the effect of CBD on tumours is still elementary and with very early results. Much more research is required before any conclusive statements can be made about CBD as an anti-tumour agent.
CBD for heart problems
Though more human studies are needed, CBD may benefit heart health in several ways, including by reducing blood pressure and preventing heart damage.
More therapeutic qualities of CBD
CBD has been under observation for its treatment in a wide range of conditions. While many people simply use CBD as a nutritional supplement for the wide range of physiological effects it has, even in the absence of ailment. Some other therapeutic qualities of CBD that include anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, neuroprotective, antiemetic, Sleep aid can be considered to improve the quality of life, especially of patients with chronic illnesses. It is often undervalued how much a good night’s sleep can improve the health of a patient with a chronic illness, and this is why CBD is often used as a supplement to traditional lines of treatment.
Watch the video below where Dr. Tara Narula explains how CBD is used for a variety of conditions like anxiety, depression and seizures
What types of CBD products are available for you?
There are now different types of CBD products available to consumers. You have to decide what types of product you wish to purchase like CBD oil concentrates, CBD isolate, CBD capsules, CBD tinctures, CBD skin products, CBD hair products, CBD pet products and many more.
When it comes to determining which CBD hemp product is right for you, there are a few things to ask yourself to help narrow down your choices. Like if you are looking for an ingestible or a topical product, then, you have to choose a CBD product like a CBD oil concentrate, CBD liquid, CBD tincture, CBD vape, CBD capsules, and more that are absorbed internally and spread through the body by the bloodstream.
How is CBD oil used?
CBD oil is most commonly consumed as it is, dropped under the tongue. However, it can also be consumed in capsules, edibles, applied topically, vaporized or used as a suppository. Each has its own benefits, bioavailability and targets different parts of the body.
What you need to keep in mind before buying a CBD product?
When it comes to buying CBD, it is very important to scrutinize a product or company before purchasing it. You can consider the following aspects:
Pay attention to where the plant is grown: CBD products can be made from both marijuana and hemp, but hemp seems to be especially popular because Hemp is often used to clean soil; it was even tapped to suck contaminants out of the ground at Chernobyl. Look for CBD that was sourced organically, without pesticides, for the same reason.
Inspect the label and ask for third-party test results: If the product's label doesn't have ingredients, don't buy it. If the product doesn't say how much CBD is in a serving, don't buy it. It should provide a website where access to other analyses, third-party testing or where more detailed information can be found.
Pay attention to its method of preparation: The product label should describe the method of preparation used (olive oil, hempseed oil, alcohol, MCT oil, etc.).
Keep in mind that nonprescription CBD products are not FDA-approved, and may be inaccurately labeled.
Are there any side effects of using CBD you should know about?
Though CBD is generally well tolerated and considered safe, it may cause adverse reactions in some people.
Side effects noted in studies include:
Diarrhea
Changes in appetite and weight
Fatigue
CBD is also known to interact with several medications. Before you start using CBD oil, discuss it with your doctor to ensure your safety and avoid potentially harmful interactions. This is especially important if you take medications or supplements that come with a grapefruit warning. Both grapefruit and CBD interfere with cytochromes P450 (CYPs), a group of enzymes that are important to drug metabolism.
One study performed on mice showed that CBD-rich cannabis extracts have the potential to cause liver toxicity. However, some the mice in the study were force-fed extremely large doses of the extract.
Is CBD Legal in India?
As a matter of fact, Indians have been using hemp-extracted CBD since the Vedic era. Hemp-derived CBD products with low THC content are legal for general consumers regardless of their medical condition. Currently, only CBD treatments extracted from hemp are legal. Certain medical professionals have already begun to implement CBD treatment for patients, and as the cannabis movement continues, CBD receives more and more validity from the medical community. It is already clear that CBD has an application in the world of medicine, and on this point alone, more research and understanding is the way of the future.
The topic of CBD in medicine is extensive. Its healing and therapeutic properties might date back to ancient civilisation, but CBD’s moment is now. So, this is the time to join the gold rush. While some people are nervous to use a product which contains cannabis, as it is a banned substance in most of the countries, the bottom line is that the oil derived from cannabis boasts extremely low percentage of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). Further research is needed. Continued research is not only encouraged, but much needed to solidify CBD’s role in modern medicine.
Do you know or care for a patient? Do you have experience with taking or administering CBD? If you do, please share your personal knowledge with us. We at Himalayan Hemp community are committed to the health and wellness of all are users here looking for better sleep, pain management or mood stability. If you’re interested in CBD, but want to learn more. You can write to us in the comments field below.
Note: Do not delay seeking medical advice or disregard medical advice due to something you have read on this website.
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