What is CBD? CBD Guide for Beginners

Looking for a comprehensive CBD guide? Good, because below you will find everything you need to know about cannabidiol, the non-intoxicating compound in the cannabis plant.

Not everyone knows that the cannabis plant has a compound that doesn’t make you feel ”high”. It can, in fact, reverse this hallucinogenic side effect. Its name is cannabidiol (CBD) and it is known for the numerous beneficial medicinal properties it contains. In many cases, if an individual needs pain relief, is suffering from inflammation or other health imbalances, CBD products can be an awesome aid without causing malicious side effects.

Although scientists have been investigating cannabidiol for quite some time and there are still new facts about the cannabinoids emerging every day. Many researchers are constantly emphasizing CBD’s role in regulating blood sugar, relieving pain, and other ailments associated with endocannabinoid deficiencies. Also, pre-clinical studies show that CBD may help patients improve cognition and stave off stress.

So, cannabidiol has remarkable neuroprotective qualities – that you already know. What’s more interesting is that scientists across the world are currently working on demonstrating its anti-carcinogenic features as well. In addition, recent reports show that a high dosage of this compound is perfectly safe and cannot be overdosed.

In our CBD guide, we will introduce cannabidiol to you so that you have a good starting point for your adventure with CBD.

CBD Guide: Cannabidiol and the brain

While cannabidiol is just one of many cannabis compounds, its capability to affect the actions of the endocannabinoid system in our bodies through cannabinoid receptors shows great potential for future medical research.

What’s more, you can’t overdose on CBD, which is why cannabis-induced deaths are simply unheard of. Better yet, cannabidiol does not make you high, and it can also mitigate the anxiety-driven behavior caused by THC.

Why does CBD have so much therapeutic potential?

One of the most popular things about CBD is its ability to help with neurological deficiencies. Such conditions are normally met with conventional treatments that often use harmful prescription drugs that only mask the symptoms of the illness. This would mean that cannabidiol could be a safe alternative for those who seek natural relief from their ailments.

Furthermore, research has found that CBD can protect the nervous system as well, and therefore, subdue inflammation and pain. These studies also emphasize the positive impact of CBD on mental health

Is there any biological foundation to support such a broad array of therapeutic applications?

Well, as a matter of fact, yes.

The answer lies in CBD’s capability to act on a variety of human bodily functions by interacting with cannabinoid receptors. The science behind CBD and the endocannabinoid system is key to understanding the myriad of health benefits it offers.

Okay, but how does CBD affect the mind?

Well, the human brain consists of special brain cells that carry neurons. Neurons are connected to each other by synapses, unique receptors that help them communicate with the brain through the release of neurotransmitters. Scientists refer to these neurotransmitters as “chemical messengers”.

However, neurons cannot respond to all neurotransmitters…

If their receptors don’t fit a certain transmitter, they cannot communicate with each other. This is the exact reason why brain cells contain a number of different receptors. It lets them respond to more than one transmitter, but not all of them.

In addition to being sensitive to chemical messengers inside of the brain (serotonin, dopamine), neuroreceptors are also highly reactive to transmitters from outside sources.

When you consume or inhale CBD oil, you’re introducing this compound to your body where it begins to communicate with neurons by binding to their receptors.

Does CBD make direct contact with the brain?

Not exactly to be honest.

Even though CBD is essentially a cannabinoid, it doesn’t communicate with the two typical cannabinoid neuroreceptors (CB1, CB2) directly.

Instead, it boosts the performance of CB1 and CB2 receptors which is why CBD has no mind-altering properties. This plant-extracted compound can also help boost the level of your natural cannabinoids in the body (endocannabinoids).

What’s particularly fascinating is that CBD is also capable of affecting the variety of non-cannabinoid neuroreceptors. These are the same receptors that are responsive to drugs and other neurotransmitters, including opioid and dopamine receptors. This is the major reason behind the use of CBD in helping to fight chronic pain and opioid dependence. As a matter of fact, the progressing legalization of cannabis across the US has led to a significant decrease in fatal opiate overdoses among Americans.

Can CBD Oil help people with addictions?

In the future, CBD’s ability to act on the opioid and dopamine receptors may actually help addicts alleviate their withdrawal symptoms, however, this is something we cannot officially confirm yet, as we still need more human studies on CBD and fighting substance-dependence.

Nevertheless, several independent studies have shown that CBD can act on serotonin receptors as well. This discovery creates a possible link between the use of CBD and the decrease of drug-seeking behaviors.

CBD’s capability to target not just any, but a particular serotonin (1A) receptor makes for a limitless array of medical applications.

So, to cut the long story short, if any of those benefits find proof in large-scale human clinical trials, we will update our CBD oil guide.

CBD Guide: Let’s see what the future holds

CBD and its effects on the brain are truly amazing. Perhaps, the somewhat mysterious complexity of CBD Oil is exactly what makes it such a great natural medicine.

After all, some mental issues that it assists with are complex on their own. They are often caused by certain functions that the modern science doesn’t comprehend yet.

But maybe, just maybe, what these mental problems need is the same complex natural remedy.

All in all, we hope that our CBD guide has shed enough light on the cannabinoid to stir your curiosity about the whole-plant medicine.

How do you see cannabidiol? Do you use CBD oil to alleviate certain symptoms of your illness? Or do you take CBD products as your regular supplementation? We can’t wait to read your stories!