CBD: A Powerful Mood Booster and EveryDay Aches and Pains Reliever
CBD has come on the health scene in a big way recently because of its many positive effects. Now that it seems to be taking center stage, many of you are asking great questions with a desire to be well-educated. So let’s dive in.
What is CBD? It’s short for cannabidiol, an oil extracted from Cannabis sativa, a species of plant with many varieties and characteristics that have been shown to have a positive effect on mood, sleep, aches and pains, and more.
Promising CBD research reveals it has the ability to safely and gently influence receptors in the brain associated with mood and sleep.
As a wellness explorer committed to being on the leading edge of scientific discovery, I’ve followed CBD research for years. And now I take CBD every night.
Here’s a look at everything you need to know about CBD and its possible effect on your health and wellness.
What is CBD?
CBD, the most common cannabinoid in hemp (a cousin of the marijuana plant), is one of the 104 chemical compounds called cannabinoids. [*]They’re found in cannabis (called Cannabis sativa), and in fact, it’s the second most prevalent of the active ingredients of cannabis.[*]
CBD is a part of the makeup of medical marijuana. It’s natural-occurring, has low toxicity, and has been deemed clear of public-health problems by the World Health Organization.[*]
Now, this is an important point: CBD doesn’t produce the effects that you typically think of when you think about “cannabis.” That’s because it doesn’t have the same properties as another compound called THC (that’s what is associated with the characteristics you might think of when you think about the effects of marijuana).[*][*]
All cannabis plants contain two active, fatty compounds called phytocannabinoids:
- cannabidiol (CBD)
- delta-9-tetrahydro cannabidiol (THC)
Even though they’re both in cannabis plants, they do not have the same effect.
Hemp-based CBD oil is derived from the leaves and flowers of the female hemp plant—a highly fibrous type of cannabis with more than 50,000 uses including clothing, rope, paper, protein powder, and body care products.
The Endocannabinoid System
The most exciting development in CBD research revolves around the influence that it has on inflammation and everyday aches and pains. This is all attributed to the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS). CBD mimics our body’s endocannabinoids so that special receptors in the brain can help regulate our bodies. These endocannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2, are prevalent, with CB1 concentrated in the brain and CB2 in the immune system.[*][*]
When something is operating outside of the right range, your body activates the endocannabinoid system to help correct it. Endocannabinoids bind to these receptors and help regulate components of homeostasis, including pain management, mood, heart health, immune function, sleep, and more.[*