What is CBD and how it helps stress anxiety and pain?

by Richard Lewis | Apr 26, 2021 | MEDICAL INNOVATION

Reading Time: 4 minutesThe CBD industry has become a highly competitive arena, with many new brands springing up in the last three years.

Many companies are refining the extract under the umbrella of a legal non-psychoactive hemp supplement.

As a hemp compound, CBD helps several medical conditions and is far healthier than opioids prescribed by doctors and promoted by big pharma.

What is CBD, and how does it help medical conditions?

Of the many compounds discovered in the cannabis species, the most often discussed are THC (Delta 9 Tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (Cannabidiol).

THC is responsible for the potent psychoactive effect on the brain, creating a high or stoned mental state. Alternative medicine practitioners also use it for its therapeutic quality in treating severe medical conditions.

On the other hand, CBD has a minimal psychoactive effect but can alter mood and is renowned for stress relief, anxiety reduction, and several other therapeutic effects.

CBD is unlikely to get you high in small doses. Still, it can create euphoria in large quantities, perhaps due to any trace amounts of THC present left from extraction.

The technology to extract and separate these elements has given birth to an entirely new industry dedicated to producing CBD in different forms.

As an alternative medication, CBD helps manage several health disorders and is legal in most countries for distribution as a non-psychoactive supplement.

Many entrepreneurial brands tout CBD as the new wonder drug to solve the opioid epidemic, destroying the lives of thousands each year.

Perhaps rightly so, as serious research is studying the benefits of CBD in aiding severe disorders such as depression, schizophrenia, cancer, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Common medical conditions that benefit from CBD

• Stress relief
• Anxiety reduction
• Insomnia
• Arthritis pain relief
• Inflammation
• Epilepsy seizures
• Multiple sclerosis
• Fibromyalgia
• Appetite stimulation

For more information about how CBD interacts with the body and Endocannabinoid System, affecting human physiology, check out the article Medical Cannabis Benefits and Risks.

Is it legal to purchase or use CBD?

If you live in the US, CBD from Hemp with a THC content of 0.3% or below is federally legal but restricted in some states.  CBD derived from cannabis plants with a THC content of 0.4%, or more are federally illegal but legal in some states.

But there should be no misunderstanding. Hemp and cannabis plants are the same species, legally differentiated by their THC content.

As CBD from hemp is legal, the FDA does not regulate its consumption or commercial use.

As with many supplements, it’s crucial to purchase CBD from a reputable brand. Many entrepreneurs are popping up on the market, vague about their cannabinoid content and ingredients.

In which form is CBD available?

The cannabis and hemp industry has developed a plethora of CBD treatments.

Oral intake CBD is available as oils, tinctures (alcohol-based), oil capsules, pills, gummies, CBD-infused soft drinks, tea, and even beer. Other treatments for external use include skin lotions, creams, massage oils, and bath products.

It’s important to note that products with the general label CBD can have various cannabinoid elements extracted from hemp plants with different effects.

Full-spectrum CBD and the importance of terpenes

Most notable is the entourage effect of several elements in hemp and cannabis plants that have the significant therapeutic ability in treating anxiety, pain, and inflammation.

Extracts that contain the cannabinoid CBD, terpenes, flavonoids, and low levels of THC (below 0.03% in cannabis dry weight), are considered Full-spectrum CBD.

Terpenes are plant compounds that give off an aroma, appearing in high concentration in cannabis and hemp and affect human physiology.

For example, Myrcene, a terpene common to cannabis, is renowned for being relaxant and sedative. Pinene with a pine scent has anti-inflammatory properties, and Limonene can aid anxiety and depression.

That’s why the inclusion of terpenes in full-spectrum CBD products is highly beneficial in reducing stress, anxiety, pain and can act as a muscle relaxant.

Broad-spectrum CBD

In contrast to full-spectrum CBD, broad-spectrum CBD has several cannabinoid elements, including CBD, CBN (cannabinol), CBC (cannabichrome) and terpenes.

Each cannabinoid compound has a different physiological effect. For example, CBD can reduce appetite, whereas CBN stimulates appetite, both relieving pain and inflammation.

CBD Isolate

Using advanced distillation techniques, CBD Isolate is a distillate created with the isolated element of CBD that is 99% pure. The distilled extract can take the form of crystalline powder or solid.

By adding the isolate to hemp oil, the producers can dramatically increase potency without any other hemp compounds, terpenes, flavonoids, or THC.

Which type should I take?

When treating anxiety with CBD, it’s best to get advice from a medical professional that understands CBD and cannabis products. What’s more, each person’s needs and experience are different.

CBD for treating anxiety can come in oils, capsules, gummies, other edibles, and even soft drinks.

Each form comes in varying potencies and quantities and will have a different effect, some mild with short-term results, other forms stronger and longer-lasting.

What are the side effects?

As much as CBD is effective in a variety of medical conditions, it may cause side effects. Your experience will depend on the brand and type of CBD, the amount, frequency, and the individual concerned.

Side effects may include dry mouth, diarrhoea, drowsiness, and fatigue. CBD can also interact with other medications. That’s why it’s essential to know the quality of the brand being used and consult with a doctor.

How to start with CBD

Before using CBD, it is essential to be familiar with your state of health. Furthermore, it’s also important to consider the medication you are taking in conjunction.

Consideration also must be given to body weight and blood chemistry. Always start with a low dose and gradually increase the amount over a period, noting any side effects.

Besides the content and strength of CBD, the form you take can have a starkly different effect.

By comparison, CBD for oral intake can give a very different experience both in immediacy and length of impact, to a topical cream, for external use.

For older patients with difficulty with anxiety, CBD from a hemp variety that does not contain THC above 0.03% is more suited. That’s why it’s advisable to consult a doctor before prescribing CBD for treating anxiety in older patients.

If you want to try CBD and are looking for a trustworthy, reputable brand, check out the article Reputable CBD Brands You can Trust

Let’s have your thoughts and comments below. Have you tried CBD, and what experience did you have? Don’t forget to subscribe and check out more articles on medical cannabis and what it can do for you.