By now, even our parents have heard of the increasingly prominent cannabis or hemp derived product, CBD oil or Cannabidiol.
In a recently published article, Web MD described CBD oil as: "Cannabidiol is extracted from the flowers and buds of marijuana or hemp plants. It does not produce intoxication; marijuana’s "high" is caused by the chemical tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)."
In other words, it is one of the many compounds, such as THC found in the cannabis plant. But as mentioned, CBD products can also be sourced from the hemp plant and are more popular compared to the former, due to the legality of the marijuana plant in certain states.
The use and understanding of this product are somewhat in its early stages of testing. First discovered serendipitously in the 40’s by Harvard graduate and chemist, Roger Adams, who was initially unaware that he had successfully extracted a compound.
Years later, Adams and other scientists including Dr. Raphael Mechoulam further studied the oil and made several small breakthroughs. However, it wasn’t until nearly fifty years after that scientists would test its benefits. Even now, only Epilepsy has been approved to be treated and sold by the FDA.
In 2018 the advisory panel for the FDA voted to legally recommend drug Epidiolex to treat child epilepsy because of its lengthy studies and high rates of success in several clinical trials.
Prior to investing in the product, consumers should be aware of what is and what isn’t legal in their state. One factor that should be noted is that while CBD oil is apparently legal everywhere, this isn’t entirely true.
CBD oil from a legal plant, either marijuana or hemp, depends on the state and the only plant that is legal in all 50 is industrial hemp.
Image Source: Herb
CBD oil effects and treats the endocannabinoid system, that is part of the neurotransmitter system. Neuroscientist and cannabis activist, Michele Ross, told Esquire,
"CBD boosts your own natural cannabinoids, which improves your mood and overall wellbeing. Because this system regulates everything- down to your dopamine levels— if it isn’t working, nothing is working. If you don’t know why you feel run-down all the time, despite feeling healthy and exercising, you might have an endocannabinoid deficiency."
While there is only one treatment with the FDA’s approval, many users and sellers celebrate CBD’s vast number of benefits. Some of these include:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- ADHD
- Acne
- Inflammation
- Spasms
- Liver Diseases
- Autism
- Insomnia
- Alcoholism
- Cancer
There are even some websites that claim the oil relieves some of these symptoms in pets too!
Image Source: Life with Cats
The CBD boom has sparked an ever growing and creative market of products combined with the oil. Traditionally, the methods with the least frills are tinctures and drops, though brands are now offering: bath bombs, body lotion, serums, gummy drops, vaporizers, capsules and even coffee that contain CBD.
Image Source: Strava Craft Coffee
After Denver’s legalization of both recreational and medicinal use in 2012 the conversation around cannabis has been mostly positive and, hopefully, in the near future with the help of studies and the FDA, this country will move toward recognizing the cannabis plant as a credible way to treat ailments and not an illegal drug.
Feature image credit: [xx16.info]
