You’ve probably seen CBD products everywhere lately. Everyone you know is using them! And when you’ve asked your friends why they use CBD, every single one has given you a different answer. How does CBD work, and why does it have this array of effects?
In this guide, discover what CBD is and how CBD products work.
What Is CBD?
For the completely uninitiated, CBD is the shortened form of cannabidiol. It is a compound naturally produced by cannabis plants. By the way, ‘cannabis’ isn’t just a recreational drug; the cannabis plant family also includes hemp, which is entirely non-intoxicating. Furthermore, many states now allow individuals to use cannabis medically.
Cannabis is full of cannabinoids, which are active compounds unique to cannabis. You might also have heard of CBG and THC, the intoxicating compound.
CBD is unique and quite special. It’s non-intoxicating, meaning it cannot cause a ‘high’ when ingested. Manufacturers usually obtain it from hemp, as this species contains very little THC. As a result, CBD products are safe to consume.
But why use them? Supposedly, CBD has some beneficial effects. To understand how it works, you need to know about the endocannabinoid system.
A Brief Guide to the Endocannabinoid system
The human body is full of biological systems like the respiratory system and the skeletal system, to name a few. But the one you don’t learn about in school is the endocannabinoid system, or ECS.
The ECS is tricky to pinpoint because it exists in every area of the body. It is made up of specialized cannabinoid receptors, which sit on the surface of cells. These receptors exist in the skin, vital organs, blood vessels, and more.
The other half of the ECS is the endocannabinoids. While the cannabis plant has ‘cannabinoids’, the body makes similar compounds called ‘endocannabinoids.’ These are like little messengers that travel around the body and alert the cannabinoid receptors to changes.
For example, if the temperature outside gets really hot, the body will notice this and produce endocannabinoids. These travel around the body and alert the relevant cannabinoid receptors. The endocannabinoids bind to the receptors like a lock and key, triggering a reaction. In this case, the reaction is vasodilation; your blood vessels dilate and allow you to give off more heat, preventing you from overheating.
In the same way, the ECS keeps the entire body in balance. It maintains homeostasis by triggering minute changes that keep you alive. The ECS may be involved in everything from immune function and sleep to mood and pain regulation.
It’s a crucial system to maintain!
How CBD Works and What It Does
So, where does CBD come into this? Well, it turns out that plant cannabinoids like CBD can also interact with the cannabinoid receptors. Phytocannabinoids like THC can bind with receptors in the same lock-and-key fashion, triggering psychoactive effects.
CBD, however, is quite unique. When the endocannabinoids have served their purpose, the body makes enzymes to destroy them. If the ECS isn’t functioning properly, enzymes could dissolve the endocannabinoids before full homeostasis is restored.
CBD may prevent this from happening. By stopping the reuptake of endocannabinoids, CBD helps the ECS to function at its very best, keeping the body in balance.
It explains why CBD has so many reported benefits. By maintaining a healthy-functioning ECS, CBD could support overall health and wellbeing. For one person, reinstating the health of the ECS could mean reducing unwanted inflammation and pain. For another, harmonizing the sleep-wake cycle could be achieved by getting those endocannabinoids back in whack.
Science is now looking into the proper ways to take CBD and how it could help, so keep your eyes peeled and watch this space.
Final Thoughts: Where to Buy CBD
Hopefully, this article made you a little bit more comfortable with CBD products and how they work. Perhaps it convinced you to buy CBD online of your own!
Luckily, there is lots of CBD for sale online nowadays. All you need to do is perform a quick internet search and you’ll find tons of CBD products near you. However, it can be tricky to find reliable, affordable CBD products that work. After all, the industry is unregulated.
Try looking at Premium Jane. There is an extensive range of high-quality products available to suit all tastes and budgets; you can even buy from multiple brands! Plus, lab reports are available for each and every product so you can shop with confidence.
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