CBD stands for Cannabidiol, and it is just one of the many cannabinoids produced by cannabis plants. It is said to have many medicinal properties, and over the last few years CBD has risen massively in popularity.
But what exactly is CBD, and what does it do to the human body? How does CBD differ from THC, and which one is most important?
In this article we will cover everything you need to know about CBD. The side effects, the benefits, even what strains of cannabis have the most CBD.
So, to begin, we should start at the source, and understand where CBD comes from.
Many plants produce cannabinoids, but the plant that produces the most, is cannabis.
When a female cannabis plant flowers, it grows “buds”. On these buds, you will see small crystals called “trichomes”. This is where the cannabinoids are made.
CBD is not the only cannabinoid produced by a cannabis plant. There are many more, including the most popular, THC.
THC is the main psychoactive compound in cannabis, and this is what gets you “high”. Because many people use cannabis recreationally, most cannabis strains have a very high amount of THC, but they are very low in CBD.
Over the last few years, more and more research has been done into the medicinal properties of cannabinoids like CBD, THC, and CBG. The research is bringing great results and shows that CBD can be used to help treat many medical ailments.
With the rise in popularity, CBD is becoming a mainstream cannabinoid, and many people are using cannabis strains that are higher in CBD than THC.
Hemp is a cannabis plant that is very low in THC (less than 0.3%), but has plenty of CBD. Because of this, most of the CBD you find in medicinal products, likely came from hemp plants.
The most popular use of CBD is medicine. Unlike THC, CBD delivers no high, but can offer some relief to many health problems.
Of course, before using cannabis as a medicine, you should consult with your doctor.
Though CBD has been shown to be relatively harmless, it may react with other medicines you are taking. So please seek medical advice before using CBD.
There is firm evidence to show that CBD can be used to treat issues like:
And there is a lot more research being done to show that it can help with much more! From insomnia, Bi-Polar, and even recovering from addiction, CBD has shown it can be an effective treatment for many health problems.
The benefits of using cannabidiol are mostly, anecdotal, as there is still a lot of research and testing to be done to find out exactly what CBD can do. But, from the studies we have seen so far, CBD can help with many issues, with very few side effects.
One of the biggest appeals for CBD as a medicine is the fact that it is not only effective medicine for many things but it is completely natural.
It can be made sustainably, and organically, by growing cannabis strains that are high in CBD.
So not only is CBD a great treatment for many of our health problems, but it also reduces the use of toxic and harmful chemicals used to make pharmaceuticals.
Cannabis has been used as medicine for thousands of years. One of the most popular uses was for pain relief.
Cannabinoids work in conjunction with the “Endocannabinoid System” in the human body. The cannabinoids combine to receptors in the brain , and nervous system. This not only reduces the amount of “pain signals” sent to the brain, but it also reduces inflammation.
CBD can be used as an effective pain medication for things like, arthritis, muscle injury, sciatica, and has even shown to be able to heal wounds faster!
As more light is shed on mental health, we find more people than ever are suffering with anxiety and depression.
For a long time, the medicines prescribed for treating anxiety and depression have been very powerful, and can often have terrible side effects on the user, and be highly addictive.
Recently, studies have taken place to see if CBD can be used to treat anxiety and depression, and the results are outstanding. A study that took place in Brazil (See Source) showed that a 300mg dose of CBD, significantly reduced anxiety in its users, compared with placebo.
There has also been plenty of studies to suggest CBD has antidepressant like effects when used on animals. But of course, more studies need to take place before we know for sure what CBD can do. So always speak to your doctor about using it as a medicine.
CBD, and THC, have been shown to treat a huge range of different medical problems. Both can be used as medicines, and both can be used recreationally. But most cannabis strains you find today, will be high in THC, and there is a reason for this.
Cannabis has been illegal in many countries for a long time. Because many people want to smoke cannabis to “get high” the most psychoactive compound (THC) became the most important. Over decades, cannabis has been bred, and mixed with different strains to slowly increase the THC level with every generation.
THC levels in cannabis now, can be at least double what they were 20 years ago, and with a rise in THC levels, comes a drop in CBD. But this is all changing!
Now we are finding out just how important CBD and other cannabinoids are, you can find strains of cannabis with THC and CBD in it! Some strains will have up to 20% THC, with less than one percent CBD. Other strains can be the reverse, and have up to 20% CBD and less than 1% THC.
But, you can have the best of both worlds too! There are strains out there like Silver Lime Haze that have an equal level of THC and CBD. For example, the Silver Lime Haze contains around 8% CBD, and 8% THC. As more research is done on other cannabinoids, we will no doubt see a more varied mix of cannabinoids in our cannabis in the future.
The side effects of CBD can differ from person to person. But for most, CBD will have very few side effects, and cause no problems. But this can depend on how you take the CBD.
Smoking anything is not good for your lungs, and if this is the route you would like to take, vaping your cannabis would be a better option. For the least amount of negative effects on your body, you should take CBD orally, as an edible.
Be careful with dosage, and take it slowly to start with. Though it is nearly impossible to die of a cannabis overdose, it can still be very uncomfortable if you take too much, especially if it is high in THC. Work the dosage up slowly, until you find a level you are comfortable with.
Potential side effects of using CBD can be weight loss, and diarrhea, with the feeling of fatigue. But again, this could also be down to how you’re taking the CBD.
On its own, CBD is relatively harmless, but it can react with some medicines you are already taking, and cause problems.
You must consult your doctor before using CBD as medicine.
CBD can react with some prescribed medications, this is why we encourage you to speak to your doctor before using cannabis as a medicine.
There is a group of enzymes used in drug metabolism called cytochromes P450. CBD will interfere with these enzymes, so you need to know if this will effect the medicine you may already be taking
A great way to tell is, if your medicine has a “grapefruit” warning on it, you should not use it with CBD, as they both interfere with the cytochromes in the same way.
So please be extra cautious when using medicines like this with CBD, and always speak to a doctor before using CBD medicine.
CBD comes from cannabis plants, so the legal status of it will differ from country to country. Laws are changing all the time, and many countries now allow CBD to be sold over the counter, whilst others will not.
There is plenty of evidence to suggest CBD is a great medicine for many things, but there is still much more research to be done.
The best way to find out if CBD will work as a medicine for you, is to try it yourself.
You can buy many strains of cannabis that are high in CBD, or a mix of CBD and THC, here are some suggestions for you:
An auto flowering sativa dominant plant, that has an equal amount of CBD and THC!
By combining both cannabinoids, you will find a smooth, more fuller high, with the medicinal properties of both!
CBD Silver Lime Haze Auto will also be completed around 86 days after germinating a seed! That’s seed to harvest in just three months, with a very respectable yield. Very easy to grow, and an amazing citrusy smoke.
With less than 0.5% thc and a massive 13% plus CBD, the CBD critical XXL Feminised is purely medicinal.
With all of the flavours and terpenes of THC dominant cannabis, but with none of the high!
Strains like this are not just great for medicines, but perfect for those who love the taste of cannabis too.
You can smoke CBD weed, and enjoy the flavour of the tastiest strains, but not get high. So it’s great for use during the day.
Thanks for reading everyone. I hope you understand CBD a little more, and you consider adding some variety to your life by trying some CBD weed yourself.
See how it makes you feel, I am sure you will not be disappointed.