The CBD effect – How does CBD work and what improvements does it bring?
The popularity of cannabidiol (CBD) has increased in recent years. CBD oil in particular has become an everyday companion for many people, as many benefit from cannabidiol as a therapeutic option. The ingredient of the hemp plant has numerous properties that have a positive effect on human well-being. Unlike its “big brother” THC, the substance is not psychoactive, i.e. it has no mind-altering effect. It is considered a cannabinoid, i.e. an active ingredient of the hemp plant that has an antipsychotic effect and can naturally help to alleviate a variety of ailments. In the following article, we would like to take a closer look at the effects of CBD: What do we know about the effects of CBD? How can they be explained? And for which diseases or complaints has the use of CBD shown improvements in studies?
Cannabidiol – the active ingredient from the hemp plant
As already mentioned, cannabidiol is one of more than 60 different cannabinoids. This term describes the substances found in the hemp plant. In addition to CBD, THC is the most well-known cannabinoid. THC owes its fame to the intoxicating effect it triggers in the body when ingested. For this reason, cannabis containing THC is considered a prohibited narcotic in Switzerland. CBD, on the other hand, has no mind-expanding properties. On the contrary: it does not cause any dangerous side effects. For this reason, CBD oil and its effects are considered very safe. The non-psychoactive substance CBD is contained in large quantities in the legally cultivable varieties of the hemp plant, while the concentration of THC is extremely low. The structure of cannabidiol was only discovered comparatively late, at the end of the 1970s. One of the consequences of this was that the importance of cannabis for medicine was often considered irrelevant. However, the discovery of cannabinoids, including cannabidiol, provided researchers with solid evidence of the positive effects of the cannabis plant. This has made cannabis and CBD interesting for medical use after all.
The endocannabinoid system – why CBD works
When researchers began to study cannabis and its components in detail, they quickly became aware of the cannabinoids. According to various studies, it is precisely these that make hemp such a useful plant. Finally, the researchers discovered a previously undiscovered part of the human body. The so-called endocannabinoid system, a smaller subsystem of our nervous system, is the place that not only regulates pain in the body, but also “manages” our immune system. It therefore plays a role in how we perceive pain, what fears we harbor and how we feel. And this is exactly where CBD comes in. In 1987, US professor Allyn Howlett from Saint Louis University in Missouri succeeded in showing how CBD works in the body: The endocannabinoid system has specific receptors that respond to the ingestion of CBD. This happens mainly via the CB1 and CB2 receptors, to which CBD docks and unfolds its effect.
What are the positive properties of CBD?
CBD acts in very different ways when cannabidiol comes into contact with the numerous cannabinoid receptors. This has already been established in numerous studies. Since the receptors are not only found in the central nervous system, but also in the intestinal nervous system, CBD acts in different areas of the body. When CBD interacts with the receptors, it primarily has a pain-relieving effect. The endocannabinoid system transfers this effect to the body through its anticonvulsant and antiepileptic properties. The antipsychotic and anxiolytic effects can also have a lasting positive impact on our well-being. Another major benefit is that CBD has an antibacterial effect against certain germs. It therefore helps to maintain and strengthen our immune system. Incidentally, cannabidiol not only interacts with cannabinoid receptors, but also with other receptors in the body. For example, CBD binds to the opioid receptors that regulate stress in the body. This also explains the stress-relieving effect of CBD. Since CBD also interacts with the so-called 5-HT1A receptor, the anxiolytic effect of CBD can be explained. This receptor is located in the central nervous system and also reacts to serotonin – the neurotransmitter responsible for our thinking apparatus and information processing in the brain. When CBD acts on serotonin metabolism, this leads to anxiety relief and ensures that our brain can function properly and anxiety is suppressed. Due to all these promising properties and modes of action of CBD, the cannabinoid is increasingly becoming a beacon of hope for the natural treatment of various diseases, for example chronic pain, diseases of the nervous system or epilepsy, various anxiety states or even schizophrenia. Researchers are particularly interested in investigating the effect of CBD on diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s or Huntington’s disease – all diseases for which no truly helpful remedy has yet been found. However, the neuroprotective potential of CBD may be able to reduce the harmful manifestations of such diseases.
As already mentioned in the text above, numerous studies
studies – both animal studies and clinical studies – have already been conducted to analyze the effects of CBD. An interesting example from New Zealand recently showed which diseases can benefit from CBD therapy. Cannabis expert Graham Gulbransen and two of his colleagues divided the 400 study participants into four groups according to their illnesses: pain, cancer, mental health problems and neurological disorders. The patients suffered from illnesses such as migraines, intestinal disorders, anxiety, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease and others. The results showed that 250 out of 400 patients were very satisfied with the CBD treatment. In particular, CBD significantly improved various types of pain, sleep problems, depression and anxiety. No significant progress was observed in neurological disorders. However, the researchers suspected that the varying low to high doses administered were the reason why some patients experienced no significant improvement, while many others had very positive experiences with CBD therapy.
CBD oil works optimally in the body
In summary, CBD has very promising indications of a therapeutic and medicinal effect. CBD oil in its highest quality and finest form can bring about significant improvements in health and well-being. The effect of CBD oil can unfold optimally in the body through simple, oral intake. CBD oil binds to various receptors and supports the body with natural mechanisms against pain, moods and much more.
