CBD (Cannabidiol)
What's in a name?
CBD (Cannabidiol) is one of 85 unique chemical compound found in the cannabis plant. These chemical compounds are collectively known as cannabinoids.
Cannabinoids are produced naturally in three ways...
1) By the cannabis plant (phytocannabinoids ie: CBD),
2) By our own bodies (endocannabinoid), or
3) Manufactured synthetically
These compounds bind to specialized receptors located on a variety of bodily cells and influence our central nervous system (dealing with coordination/movement, pain, stress response and cognition) and the peripheral nervous system (interrupting pain signals, decreasing the inflammatory response, and recruiting cells to repair damaged tissues).
This system, which is present in all mammals, is collectively referred to as the Endocannabinoid System (ECS)
Diversity & Importance of Endocannabinoid Receptors
In this illustration of the Endocannabinoid System you can see that the receptors are situated all over the body.
Overall, the main role of the ECS seems to be to help maintain homeostasis – a state of balance and equilibrium. For example, our bodies needs to feel some anxiety because it can be beneficial to our performance and even survival, but too much anxiety can wreak havoc on our mental health.
Similarly, inflammation can be a beneficial process that promotes healing, but too much inflammation can lead to health disorders. This where the ECS can step in and help nudge things in the right direction, to keep these and other processes at just the right level.
Will a massage with CBD oil get me high?
In a word, no. Feelings of relaxation, decreased anxiety and an increased sense of well-being may occur, but other sensations (paranoia, visual disturbance etc.) associated with being “stoned” will not. This is because the cannabinoid responsible for the psychoactive effects of cannabis, THC – is not present in massage oil that contains CBD.
Why is CBD so popular all of the sudden?
Cannabis has been used medicinally for thousands of years – at least the third millenia BCE according to written history. However research into how cannabinoids impact our body functions and healing did not begin until mid-20th century.
As with all folk and herbal medicines, cannabis was used by healers with positives results quietly and for many years. Social media and our ever more connected communities broadened the receptive audience and the powerful healing effects of cannabinoids and they took center stage. This surge of interest began a cascade effect wherein increased attention from mainstream media lead to increased funding for research, which increases acceptance in the general public, which in turn has affected the law, which further increases popularity. One of the most attractive aspects of CBD in particular is the absence of a psychoactive effect – all the benefits with no “high”.
So here we are... CBD is everywhere – pet treats, coffee, skin care products; you name it, someone, somewhere has added CBD to it. As a society, we have seen the devastating and damaging effects of overprescribed, inefficient pharmaceuticals. Today, fed up consumers are looking for natural medicines that work synergistically and compliment our phenomenal human design. CBD might just be the “key” to unlock your bodies innate healing capabilities - why not give it a try? You've got nothing to lose except arthritic pain, eczema and your stress and anxiety.
More research is required in some areas, but initial studies and anecdotal evidence is very compelling, and the side effects are virtually non existent. The website PubMed (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) is an online database of the National Library of Medicine, has hundreds of scientifically reviewed papers on the effectiveness of cannabis, with more biomedical literature being added every day. Please find links to some of these studies below.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15927811 - Distribution of cannabinoid receptors sensory nerve fibers and abnormal growths in human skin
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26517407 - Transdermal cannabidiol reduces inflammation and pain-related behaviours in a rat model of arthritis.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15935456 - The endocannabinoid signaling system: pharmacological and therapeutic aspects.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12835895 - Histamine induced responses are attenuated by a cannabinoid receptor agonist in human skin.
CBD (Cannabidiol) is one of 85 unique chemical compound found in the cannabis plant. These chemical compounds are collectively known as cannabinoids.
Cannabinoids are produced naturally in three ways...
1) By the cannabis plant (phytocannabinoids ie: CBD),
2) By our own bodies (endocannabinoid), or
3) Manufactured synthetically
These compounds bind to specialized receptors located on a variety of bodily cells and influence our central nervous system (dealing with coordination/movement, pain, stress response and cognition) and the peripheral nervous system (interrupting pain signals, decreasing the inflammatory response, and recruiting cells to repair damaged tissues).
This system, which is present in all mammals, is collectively referred to as the Endocannabinoid System (ECS)
Diversity & Importance of Endocannabinoid Receptors
In this illustration of the Endocannabinoid System you can see that the receptors are situated all over the body.
Overall, the main role of the ECS seems to be to help maintain homeostasis – a state of balance and equilibrium. For example, our bodies needs to feel some anxiety because it can be beneficial to our performance and even survival, but too much anxiety can wreak havoc on our mental health.
Similarly, inflammation can be a beneficial process that promotes healing, but too much inflammation can lead to health disorders. This where the ECS can step in and help nudge things in the right direction, to keep these and other processes at just the right level.
Will a massage with CBD oil get me high?
In a word, no. Feelings of relaxation, decreased anxiety and an increased sense of well-being may occur, but other sensations (paranoia, visual disturbance etc.) associated with being “stoned” will not. This is because the cannabinoid responsible for the psychoactive effects of cannabis, THC – is not present in massage oil that contains CBD.
Why is CBD so popular all of the sudden?
Cannabis has been used medicinally for thousands of years – at least the third millenia BCE according to written history. However research into how cannabinoids impact our body functions and healing did not begin until mid-20th century.
As with all folk and herbal medicines, cannabis was used by healers with positives results quietly and for many years. Social media and our ever more connected communities broadened the receptive audience and the powerful healing effects of cannabinoids and they took center stage. This surge of interest began a cascade effect wherein increased attention from mainstream media lead to increased funding for research, which increases acceptance in the general public, which in turn has affected the law, which further increases popularity. One of the most attractive aspects of CBD in particular is the absence of a psychoactive effect – all the benefits with no “high”.
So here we are... CBD is everywhere – pet treats, coffee, skin care products; you name it, someone, somewhere has added CBD to it. As a society, we have seen the devastating and damaging effects of overprescribed, inefficient pharmaceuticals. Today, fed up consumers are looking for natural medicines that work synergistically and compliment our phenomenal human design. CBD might just be the “key” to unlock your bodies innate healing capabilities - why not give it a try? You've got nothing to lose except arthritic pain, eczema and your stress and anxiety.
More research is required in some areas, but initial studies and anecdotal evidence is very compelling, and the side effects are virtually non existent. The website PubMed (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) is an online database of the National Library of Medicine, has hundreds of scientifically reviewed papers on the effectiveness of cannabis, with more biomedical literature being added every day. Please find links to some of these studies below.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15927811 - Distribution of cannabinoid receptors sensory nerve fibers and abnormal growths in human skin
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26517407 - Transdermal cannabidiol reduces inflammation and pain-related behaviours in a rat model of arthritis.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15935456 - The endocannabinoid signaling system: pharmacological and therapeutic aspects.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12835895 - Histamine induced responses are attenuated by a cannabinoid receptor agonist in human skin.