There is no denying that CBD is becoming more widely used around the world today. However, a lot of people are still confused about what CBD is and how it can be beneficial. If that sounds like you, don't worry! This guide will explain everything you need to know, what it is, how it is healthy and much more.

WHAT IS CBD?

There is only one place to begin, and this is with explaining what exactly CBD is. CBD is a cannabinoid. Cannabinoids are a chemical compound that is secreted by the cannabis plant’s flowers. Although there are more than 100 cannabinoids, CBD is the cannabinoid you have probably heard the most about lately. That is because it has been deemed the most beneficial cannabinoid, presenting several different therapeutic properties.

Before we get any further, there is a question we hear all the time - will CBD get you high? After all, it comes from the cannabis plant, right? The answer to this is a resounding "No!". It does not have any of the psychoactive properties that are found in many of the other cannabinoids.

So, how does CBD go from being part of the cannabis plant to being placed in different products that we benefit from today? Well, there are a number of different methods that can be used to extract CBD from hemp. It is vital that you understand the process that has been used because this will help you to make an informed and intelligent decision regarding the best CBD products for you.

For example, one of the most popular methods is CO2 cannabis extraction. This is one of our favorites because it is one of the most efficient and safest methods of extracting CBD. It offers a full-spectrum product and you do not need to worry about there being any impurities, which is why it is so popular. However, it's as widely used as some other extraction methods, and the reason for this is because the equipment that is required to extract it is very expensive.

Solvent-based extraction is another extraction method that does not cost as much and is speedier. This type of extraction uses alcohol, ethanol, and butane and is probably one of the most widely used approaches today.

Why talk about all this? Because understanding the extraction process can have a huge impact on the end product and how pure or impure the product is.

WHAT ARE THE HEALTHY BENEFITS ASSOCIATED WITH CBD?

A lot of people opt for CBD as an alternative to smoking. However, the benefits extend a lot further than this, and there are a number of health-related reasons why so many people swear by CBD products to help them to lead a happier and healthier lifestyle.

CBD Can Improve Heart Health

The first benefit we are going to take a look at is the link between CBD and heart health. Recent studies have shown that CBD offers a number of different benefits when it comes to the circulatory and heart system, which includes the ability to lower high blood pressure.

High blood pressure has been linked to a number of other health conditions, including a higher risk of stroke, metabolic syndrome, and heart attacks. Studies have shown that CBD may be able to assist with lowering your blood pressure.

There was a recent study carried out on nine healthy men. After taking 600 mg of CBD oil, it was concluded that the men’s resting blood pressure had lowered. This is one of a number of different studies that have been carried out about CBD and high blood pressure.

Aside from this, there have been a number of different animal studies that have shown that CBD can help to lower inflammation and the cell death that is linked with heart disease due to its stress-reducing and powerful antioxidant properties.

CBD Has Neuroprotective Properties 

Aside from offering benefits in terms of heart health, researchers have concluded that CBD may also be able to assist those experiencing neurological disorders. This is because of the fact that CBD has the capability to act on brain signaling systems, including the endocannabinoid system. In fact, when it comes to neurological disorders and using CBD for treatment, one of the most studied areas is the use of CBD when it comes to treating both multiple sclerosis and epilepsy. Though research is still quite new in this area, there are a number of different pieces of research that has shown promising results.

An oral spray that consists of THC and CBD has proven to be an effective and safe way for lowering muscle spasticity experienced in individuals that have multiple sclerosis.

Aside from this, there was another study that found that CBD oil considerably lowered seizure activity in children with Dravet syndrome, a complicated childhood epilepsy disorder.

There has also been some research into the possible effectiveness of CBD when it comes to treating a number of other neurological diseases. However, it is, of course, worth noting that this is an area of research that is still very much on-going with new results and studies being found all of the time.

CBD Can Reduce Acne

Another exciting and interesting finding when it comes to the use of CBD is that it could have the potential to reduce acne. Acne is an extremely common skin condition. In fact, it impacts more than nine percent of the population. There are a number of different factors that are thought to bring acne to the surface. This includes the overproduction of sebum, which is an oily secretion that is created by the skin’s sebaceous glands. Other reasons for acne include underlying inflammation, bacteria, and genetics.

However, there have been a number of different scientific studies that have been conducted lately and have discovered that CBD oil could be effective when it comes to treating acne. This is because CBD has the ability to lower the production of sebum, as well as also possessing anti-inflammatory properties.

CBD Can Alleviate the Symptoms that are Associated with Cancer

One of the most publicized benefits associated with CBD products is the fact that they have the ability to lower the symptoms that are associated with cancer. If you take a look online, you will see that there are a lot of different stories that have been published by cancer sufferers who have stated that they have experienced benefits - both in terms of pain reduction and other symptoms like vomiting and nausea.

One study looked at the impact of THC and CBD together in 177 cases where people were suffering from pain related to cancer and their medication was not providing relief. Those who received an extract containing THC and CBD found that they experienced a significant reduction in their level of pain.

Additional research has concluded that CBD may also help lower the symptoms that are induced by chemotherapy - for example, vomiting and nausea. These are two of the most common side effects that people experience when undergoing chemotherapy. Of course, there have been drugs that have been designed to assist with these sorts of symptoms and the side effects of cancer and cancer treatment. However, a lot of people have found these drugs to be ineffective and have started looking for better alternatives. Studies are beginning to indicate that CBD products could be a great alternative. Nevertheless, this is still an area whereby on-going research is needed and is being carried out.

CBD Can Reduce Depression and Anxiety

Aside from the benefits that have already been mentioned, one of the great advantages associated with CBD is the fact that it can help with depression and anxiety. Both conditions are common mental health disorders that can have an extremely severe impact on well-being and health. In fact, the World Health Organization have stated that depression is the single biggest contributor to disability across the world, and anxiety falls sixth in the list. Needless to say, both are very serious concerns.

Traditional treatment for depression and anxiety relies heavily on pharmaceutical drugs. However, there are a lot of different side effects that are associated with many of these drugs, including headache, sexual dysfunction, insomnia, agitation, and drowsiness. Moreover, there is no denying the fact that some medications can be addictive, which can result in substance abuse.

Instead of going down the route mentioned, CBD oil has shown that it could be a promising treatment for both anxiety and depression. Over the last couple of years, interest in using CBD to combat these conditions has grown by leaps and bounds.

There was a study recently conducted where 24 people with social anxiety disorder were given a public speaking test. Before the test, half of them received 600mg of CBD and the other half received a placebo. The study revealed that those who received the CBD had significantly less anxiety, discomfort in their speech performance, and cognitive impairment when compared with the placebo group.

In addition, there have also been studies that have concluded that CBD oil has been used safely to treat children with post-traumatic stress disorder, in addition to anxiety.

CBD Can Relieve Pain

Of course, we cannot mention the health benefits associated with CBD products without mentioning the fact that it can relieve pain. In fact, if you take a look at history, marijuana has actually been utilized to treat pain as far back as 2900 BC! More recently, scientists have found out that there are specific components of marijuana, like CBD, which are responsible for relieving the impact of pain.

The human body contains the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is a specialized system involved in the regulation of a number of different functions like immune system response, pain, appetite, and sleep. The body creates endocannabinoids. These are neurotransmitters in your nervous system that bind to cannabinoid receptors. There have been a number of different studies that have shown that CBD can help lower chronic pain through its impact on endocannabinoid receptor activity, which reduces inflammation.

A number of different studies have proven that CBD oil has a positive impact on pain. One study involved using Sativex to help those experiencing pain associated with multiple sclerosis. Sativex is a combination of CBD and THC.

It involved 47 people that had Multiple Sclerosis. After taking Sativex for one month, the participants noticed that they experienced some improvements in terms of muscle spasms, walking, and - indeed -pain. This is one of a number of human studies that have been carried out and concluded that THC and CBD together are effective in terms of treating multiple sclerosis pain.

Other studies are showing that CBD can help with the pain experienced with arthritis, surgeries, inflammation, and sciatic nerve pain.

Additional Benefits Associated with CBD

Aside from the advantages that we have discussed above, there are a number of other benefits that are worth noting when it comes to CBD. This includes the following health benefits:

• Diabetes prevention: A recent study involving diabetic mice concluded that diabetes was lowered by 56 percent with the use of CBD. The study also revealed that there was a considerable reduction in inflammation.
• Anti-tumor effects: In animal and test-tube studies, CBD has been proven to stop the spread of lung, colon, brain, prostate, and breast cancer.
• Substance abuse treatment: CBD has also been proven to modify circuits in the brain that are linked to drug addiction. In rats, it has also been proven the lower heroin-seeking behavior and dependence on morphine.
• Antipsychotic effects: Finally, there has been research into the impact of CBD in terms of assisting people with mental disorders, for example, schizophrenia, and it has shown that psychotic symptoms are reduced by taking CBD products.

CBD AND THC WORK BETTER TOGETHER

You may have heard the acronym THC before - in fact, we mentioned it a couple times already in this article! THC essentially provides the TLC for your CBD!

Over the last few years, many studies have shown that THC and CBD work best together. This is because you can expect superiority with whole-plant cannabis preparations when compared to single compounds. This is because the plant’s complex mixture of flavonoids, terpenes, and cannabinoids interact synergistically to create an ‘entourage effect’ that improves the therapeutic effects of the cannabis.

FINAL WORDS

As you can see, there are many benefits that are associated with CBD. Hopefully, you now have a better understanding regarding how CBD works and how it can benefit you. This is something that more and more people are making the most of today and the advantages are so extensive. However, with many different CBD products on the market, it is important to educate yourself before you buy so that you have a thorough understanding of what you should be looking for and how you can receive the maximum benefits.