Tai Chi.

· 23 Oct 2021

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What does CBD do?

CBD is one of the compounds from the cannabis Sativa plant and is still being studied as a treatment for Parkinson’s, diabetes, cancer, anxiety, and multiple sclerosis.

There is no doubt that CBD is the buzzword of wellness products this decade. Everything from lattes, facials, and even edibles like gummies and brownies are not good enough without CBD in front of them. But what exactly is CBD, and what does it do?

CBD is short for cannabidiol. It's a compound in the cannabis Sativa plant, also known as marijuana.

But won't CBD products make you high?

Well, no. The cannabis Sativa plant has two prominently active compounds; CBD and THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol). THC is the ingredient in marijuana that causes people to get high because it’s psychoactive. CBD, on the other hand, isn't psychoactive so it will not cause any adverse effects in your brain.

What about Hemp?
Hemp oil is another buzzword in the beauty industry, and it’s closely linked to CBD. What is hemp?

The cannabis Sativa plant has two well-known species; hemp and marijuana. Both contain CBD, but hemp has a higher CBD percentage than marijuana and almost zero THC. For that reason, most of the CBD people use in gummies, brownies and all those tinctures come from hemp, not marijuana.
Hemp oil, however, comes from hemp plant seeds. The oil does not contain any CBD or THC, but it’s full of healthy fats and minerals beneficial to your skin and hair.

Health Benefits of CBD
Currently, there is only one FDA-approved CBD medication- Epidiolex. It was approved last year to treat certain types of epilepsy, and it has been miraculous so far.

That said, many studies are showing that CBD could have more than a few health benefits. Some of these benefits include;

1.    Pain Relief
The marijuana plant has been used for pain relief for over 2000 years. Recent human studies have also found that a combination of CBD and THC can be quite effective against pain caused by multiple sclerosis and arthritis. Unfortunately, it’s not clear if CBD can work the same way without the presence of THC.

2.    Reduce anxiety
According to World Health Organization, anxiety and depression are the biggest contributors to disability globally. To add insult to injury, the medication used to treat these two mental conditions comes with many horrible side effects like insomnia, sexual dysfunction, and headaches. CBD has proven to be a better alternative, especially when treating anxiety. 300mg of CBD calms and mellows down the nervous system, so you are no longer in fight or flight mode. CBD has also been successful in treating insomnia and anxiety in kids with post-traumatic stress disorder.

3.    Alleviate cancer-related symptoms
Several studies have shown that CBD helps reduce cancer-related symptoms like pain, nausea, and vomiting. It comes in handy mostly when the patient is going through chemotherapy and dealing with the side effects of the treatment. A study of people undergoing chemotherapy found that a combination of CBD and THC given as a mouth spray reduced nausea and vomiting better than the standard treatment.

Even with all these great studies behind CBD, one thing is for sure; CBD is not a miracle cure. It does not treat cancer or cure depression. However, human studies continue to shed some light on what this cannabis compound can do, especially without the need for THC.

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