As interest in the cannabis industry continues to grow, so does the popularity in CBD. Many people today are researching CBD, or cannabidiol products to treat a variety of medical ailments. Cannabis users are frequenting websites such as CBD.com and others in hopes of finding the answer to their question, what is CBD?
CBD is the abbreviation of cannabidiol, a cannabinoid compound found in the marijuana (cannabis) plant. CBD is also found in hemp, a close relative of marijuana.
The hemp plant does not create the high that people get from marijuana because it contains only trace amounts of the better-known psychoactive component THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). This quality also makes the hemp plant an ideal source of the cannabinoid for various reasons.
Cannabidiol is used in many medicinal applications by millions of people worldwide. CBD derived from cannabis is currently legal in Canada if you have a prescription for medical use.
Where Does CBD Come from And How is it Made?
Cannabidiol comes from the marijuana (cannabis) plant or hemp, though researchers are identifying the component in other common vegetation. Generally, cannabidiol is the concentrated essential oils derived from the plants and is usually referred to as its abbreviation, CBD oil.
Though cannabidiol or CBD is natural, chemical engineers have duplicated the compound in a lab. The compound created in the lab have an identical chemical structure, and cannabinoid experts expect that these synthetic versions will become more and more common.
Regardless of the application, CBD is made through chemical extraction of the marijuana plant. The plant is ground, heated, blended with lipids (oil-based substances) and a solvent, then heated again to evaporate the solvent, leaving a dense oil.
The process is a bit more complicated, but that is the basic concept. Much depends on whether hemp or marijuana is used in the process because one will contain high levels of THC and the other will not.
If THC is present in the CBD oil and the manufacturer does not want it present, further chemical breakdown is needed. For this reason, most manufacturers of CBD prefer to use hemp.
What Are the Effects of CBD?
Although there is relatively little research available on cannabidiol, there are enough studies available to know that CBD has medicinal properties and are being used to treat medical ailments. Through ongoing studies about CBD health effects, many people are now asking the question, what is cannabidiol?
In most applications, CBD is used to ease symptoms of an illness or disease. Children with epilepsy find relief using the compound, though medical researchers have yet to fully understand why.
The U.S. National Institute of Health has now recognized that CBD has many medical benefits and has a positive effect on those suffering from seizures, epilepsy, tumors, anxiety and psychosis.
What’s even better? Because CBD usually contains low levels of THC, it will not produce the high normally associated with the cannabis plant. So, you can receive the medical benefits of CBD without the mind-altering effects of THC.
That said, many people suffering from immune disorders, swelling, and chronic pain will state that the relief provided by CBD can be likened to a high – the high of feeling better!
What is Cannabidiol and What Does It Cure?
To ensure there is no confusion, as far as research indicates presently, CBD does not cure anything. Sure, some researchers have made many claims and it is certainly possible that they might prove to be true.
But the facts are that research has yet to show cannabidiol cures anything. What it certainly does do is provide relief from a variety of symptoms associated with various illnesses including cancer.
For instance, those who have tried the compound have found it effective in treating the symptoms of the following:
- Anxiety
- Bipolar disorder
- Dystonia (a muscle disorder)
- Epilepsy
- Multiple sclerosis
- Parkinson’s
- Schizophrenia
- And more
How Does CBD Work?
If you’re still asking the question “what is cannabidiol?” we must understand what cannabinoids are and how they affect the body.
Cannabinoids are compounds which bind to the cannabinoid receptors of the human body. Although the cannabinoid CBD combines with the CB1 receptor, the connection is too weak to be effective for curative properties
Still, because of the curative properties of the cannabinoid, researchers continue to explore the other receptors in the body hoping to understand how it works. At present, the compound appears to interact with the receptors without binding, leading some to conclude that CBD acts as a type chemical bridge.
Given that these receptors themselves may be likened to bridges (between nerve endings and the brain), cannabidiol seems to be a bridge between bridges.
The compound may have curative properties in the fight against cancer, and therefore, it is going to have considerable resources invested in the understanding of how and why. Two such drugs, dronabinol and nabilone (Cesamet), illustrate this.
Both are synthetic versions of cannabinoids existing in nature; and both treat the nausea associated with traditional cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation.
What is cannabidiol? Turns out, the healing properties are stronger than formerly expected. The question is turning out to be a very important one for millions of people.
What CBD Products Can You Buy Online?
Because hemp has remained legal on the North American continent for the duration of the anti-marijuana U.S. War on Drugs, CBD products have been legal in many locations for decades. This has led many to get creative in how they infuse many common products with the compound.
Although simple essential oils remain among the most popular applications, CBD-infused products available online range from edibles to ointments. Consider some of the ways people get relief using cannabidiol (Note: What is CBD? is NOT answered at CBD.com):
- Anti-aging creams
- Bath oils and soaps
- Capsules
- Essential oils
- Gum
- Gummy Candies
- High Concentration Extracts (HCEs)
- Isolates
- Salves
- Shampoos
- Tinctures
- Vape oil
If there is a way to absorb CBD into the skin, consume it by mouth, or otherwise take it into the body, you can buy it online.
Where Can I Learn More About What is CBD?
At the onset of this article we mentioned that some are going to cbd.com to find information. We did that too. No Bueno! CBD.com is not the website we expected.
Although formally, CBD.com was an excellent resource for our purposes, CBD.com is not currently what we, along with many expect. Instead of information on cannabidiol, we were surprised to find that CBD.com redirects to an online Christian bookstore CBD.com.
We are certainly fans of reading books, but we were seeking information on a slightly different subject. We suspect many of our readers will have the same problem as well.
So, where can readers learn more about what is CBD? Beaver Bud has many relatable articles and provides accurate information about CBD, THC, and all things cannabis.
So, we recommend checking any of the links included in this and other articles on Beaver Bud. If we mention a site but do not link to it, it is likely not worth a visit, but that is your call.
Naturally, the best way to stay informed about what is CBD and all things cannabis in Canada and online is to subscribe to Beaver Bud.
