Seven Interesting Things About CBD

Here are seven interesting facts you may not have known about CBD.

Many people by now have heard of cannabidiol, otherwise known as CBD. The world is warming up to cannabis in general, which means CBD is finally being appreciated for its medicinal uses. But there’s still much the general public doesn’t know about this compound. Here are a handful of interesting facts about CBD to help boost your knowledge.

1. People have used CBD for thousands of years.

Although it was officially “discovered” in the 1940s, humans have been using hemp and cannabis plants for centuries.

Hemp was grown as far back as 2,700 B.C. for manufacturing and medicinal purposes. Historians have also found evidence that cannabis was used in Romania around 5,000 years ago, according to a paper published in the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

More recently, Queen Victoria of England during the 1800s was known to have consumed cannabis high in CBD to help with menstrual cramps.

2. CBD is just one cannabinoid out of dozens found in cannabis plants.

A cannabinoid is a name given to the various compounds found in cannabis plants. There are over a hundred discovered so far. Other popular ones include tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabinol (CBN), and tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV).

3. Combining CBD with other cannabinoids enhances the effects.

When shopping for CBD products, you may come across the terms full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, or isolate on the label. So what do these mean?

A CBD product’s spectrum refers to the range of other cannabinoids found in it. Full-spectrum products contain a wide range of cannabinoids, including THC and sometimes even essential oils and terpenes. Broad-spectrum items usually include a handful of cannabinoids, but not THC. And isolates only contain CBD.

Full and broad-spectrum products cause the “Entourage effect,” which is a term used to describe the synergistic interactions between different cannabinoids. For instance, combining high CBD content with THC helps to modulate the psychoactive effects of the THC, reducing negative effects.

4. In the U.S., only hemp-derived CBD is legal.

There’s a significant difference between hemp and marijuana. Although they are both cannabis plants, they are referred to as hemp or marijuana, depending on the level of THC.

Hemp is cannabis with a THC content of 0.3% or less. Marijuana can have any amount of THC.

Since the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, only hemp-derived CBD is legal to produce and sell in the U.S. However, this can vary by state, as individual states have full control over the legality of cannabis.

5. The body is naturally attuned to CBD.

It may come as a surprise, but the body is already configured to accept cannabinoids. The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) is a network of receptors built into the nervous system naturally.

Consuming cannabinoids such as CBD will cause them to bind to specific receptors in the ECS, which causes the interesting medicinal effects of these compounds.

CBD is one of the only cannabinoids that bind to both the CB1 and CB2 receptors. Researchers are still discovering how this particular binding produces such exceptional medicinal effects.

6. CBD can treat an extensive array of ailments.

Medicinally, CBD almost seems like a super drug. Studies show that it can help treat ailments ranging from anxiety to epilepsy.

There is a CBD strain called Charlotte’s Web named after a child named Charlotte who had severe epilepsy. As soon as she began taking this CBD strain, her episodes dropped from hundreds per month to just a few times per week.

Asthma, cancer, drug addiction, and brain injury are also targets for CBD research and treatment. Its anti-inflammatory properties are potent and easy to deliver.

7. CBD is incredibly safe.

Not only is it virtually impossible to overdose on CBD, but its side effects are minimal. Side effects can range from dry mouth to drowsiness or diarrhea.

On the other hand, most over-the-counter drugs that treat the same ailments as CBD can cause severe side effects, and in some cases, overdoses or death.

There’s more to learn about CBD.

Research into CBD is only in its infancy. The 2018 Farm Bill has opened up much more scrutiny into the compound, so there are bound to be more exciting discoveries in the future. For example, scientists are still trying to learn how CBD interacts with the body via the endocannabinoid system.

Share some of these interesting facts about CBD with friends and family who may not know much about it. Increased public knowledge of the compound will help fuel more studies and better products.