Sometimes it seems as if the entire planet has entered a time of awakening as the popularity of health and wellness soars higher than ever before. We have heard that hemp products can be great for a number of circumstances, but when it comes to CBD for wellness, is there any truth in the matter? Although there is much controversy around the topic of CBD and all that it may or may not do for the human body, there sure are a lot of people that love it and use it every day. Is it realistic that CBD is good for wellness? Let’s take a look at some of the facts that surround it, and you can judge for yourself.
What Exactly is CBD?
Most of the hype that follows the topic of CBD is from people that are ignorant of the facts. Although CBD is found in cannabis plants and is associated with marijuana, it is a completely different component of the plant than the psychoactive cannabinoid THC.
Both CBD and THC come from the cannabis plant, and they are both cannabinoids. However, they are not one and the same. Where THC, the active ingredient in the marijuana plant causes a relatively intense “high” for the people that use it, CBD does not cause a high. At least not in the same manner.
CBD is a cannabinoid. Cannabinoids are believed to be part of the cannabis plant’s immune system. Although there is no solid evidence that proves the purpose of cannabinoids in the plants, rigorous research has uncovered a few truths that lead them to believe that cannabinoids help to preserve the life of the plant, as well as help to propagate the species by aiding in the process of procreation.
Under the Microscope
Cannabinoids are tiny parts of the cannabis plant that make up the entire essence of its existence. Each cannabinoid has its own characteristics that differentiate it from the other cannabinoids. For example, there are the major cannabinoids that are most popular among people. THC, CBD, CBG, CBN, and so on. There are over 100 other cannabinoids that are present in the cannabis plant.
Each cannabinoid is its own entity. If you isolate one cannabinoid from the rest, you will not get the same effects. CBD will not cause psychoactive effects like THC will. However, when you purchase a full-spectrum hemp extract, your extract will contain all of the cannabinoids, including THC. Although the extract may contain THC, CBD will not have any THC in it because it alone is a cannabinoid.
How CBD Works in the Body
The human body is a complicated construction of awe-inspiring majesty. Each and every tiny molecule that comes together to form the cells, blood, skin, bones, and brain of a person has a purpose that helps to assist the living of the body in one way or another.
The way that cannabinoids interact with the human body is beyond normal understanding. It is a mysterious and exciting phenomenon that allows our bodies to communicate with different compounds that enter their bloodstreams.
Within each being that has a spine, there is a system known as the endocannabinoid system. The reason being is that we create our own form of cannabinoids for the purpose of maintaining a balanced state of the body. These self-made cannabinoids connect with our endocannabinoid system and help to send and receive messages from parts of the brain to parts of the body.
CBD, on its own, has a very particular way of communicating with the endocannabinoid system. The way that it interacts with the central nervous system has many scientists boggled and is one of the biggest reasons why there is so much mystery around the understanding of whether or not CBD is actually safe.
The Endocannabinoid System
The endocannabinoid system is comprised of a network of receptors that connect to each other throughout the body, brain, and nervous system. The two different receptors that scientists have been able to locate are the:
- CB1 receptors
- CB2 receptors
The CB1 receptors are mostly found in the nervous system throughout the body and the brain, and the CB2 receptors are mostly found in the peripheral nervous system, highly concentrated in the immune system.
These receptors can either send or not send messages depending on what the circumstances are.
Although it may sound like a simple phenomenon if you look a little deeper into what this means it is easy to understand why it is such a big deal.
The endocannabinoid system is in place so that the body can maintain a level of healthy homeostasis. This means a level of balance that will be beneficial for the body. So, blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, and other pertinent so-called “settings” of the human body are kept in check by this system.
A step further beyond the balance of the body, the presence of pain and pleasure are connected to the endocannabinoid system as well.
Communicating With The System
Since cannabinoids are so much alike the self-made endocannabinoids that our bodies make, it is difficult for our bodies to tell them apart. In this instance, our endocannabinoid system will readily take orders from the cannabinoids as they instruct them on what to do.
For example, when THC enters the body it finds the endocannabinoid receptors and directly attaches itself to them. The “high” that users experience when smoking marijuana is a result of the cannabinoid attaching to the endocannabinoid receptor and calling for naturally produced chemicals in the brain to be flooded into the bloodstream.
When CBD is introduced into the body it will locate the endocannabinoid receptors, but will not directly attach itself to them. CBD will communicate with the receptors and influence them to either send messages or not to send messages.
In the event of a stressful situation, CBD will block messages from the brain that request endorphins that will cause the body to tense up in response to the stress. This is how scientists believe that CBD will inadvertently stop stress in its tracks.
The Power of Calm
Science has proven that in a moment of stress, taking a slow deep breath draws a person into the present moment and allows for the heart rate to slow down, the muscles to relax, and the body to slow down. When a person is relaxed and slowed down the heart rate slows, and the blood pressure lowers. The health benefits of remaining relaxed and calm are innumerable. Being calm reduces the risks of heart disease, strokes, and other stress-related maladies.
Whether or not CBD actually helps a person to relax and be calm is not a black and white topic. The potential for it to influence the endocannabinoid system to behave in a way that allows the body to remain calm in a stressful event is very high. This in itself is evidence that CBD has some wellness properties that could be beneficial in the welfare of a human being or animal that has an endocannabinoid system.
Conclusion
Anything that allows for the relief of stress or discomfort can be beneficial for the health and wellness of a person. With that being said, CBD is a natural compound that is made within the confines of a perfectly magnificent plant that is full of wonder and mystery. The only way to understand how CBD will affect you is to try it for yourself. However, when you do make sure that it is of the highest quality CBD from a CBD company that has compassion for its customers. People all over the world use CBD every day and will continue to use it because it works for them.
