Introduction to CBD: Cannabidiol

Did you know that cannabinoids were first used in Chinese pharmacopeia during 2,600 BC?[2]  Today they have identified 400 chemical entities within cannabis Sativa with over 70 of them that are phytocannabinoid compounds.  Cannabidiol also is known as CBD accounts for over 40% of plants extract.[2,3]

The first isolation of CBD was in 1940 by Roger Adams from the “Minnesota Wild Hemp.”[4]  Thirty years later Raphael Mechoulam reports that CBD is in fact not psychoactive like Δ9-trans-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).[3]  Cannabidiol is a negative allosteric modulator which acts as a doorway that opens and closes through increasing and decreasing your receptor signals.[2]  

There are physical and emotional wellness benefits of using cannabidiol.  Benefits of cannabidiol on the human body are; anti-inflammatory, antineoplastic, immunosuppressive, chemopreventative, antitumor, antiproliferative, antineoplastic, anti-angiogenic, and pro-apoptotic.[1,2,3,4] Cannabidiol benefits for the mind are; antipsychotic, anxiolytic, neuroprotection and antidepressant that can relieve anxiety, depression, and psychosis altering one’s mind without the “euphoric high” attributed by Δ9-trans-tetrahydrocannabinol.[1,2,3,4]  Cannabidiol added in addition to THC can mediate undesired effects. In a journal from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center share that, “CBD at higher doses may counter to some extent the psychoactive effects of Δ9-THC.”[2]

Cannabidiol (CBD) overall has beneficial properties for the body and the mind.  CBD can be used safely and effectively it all starts with educating yourself. In conclusion the World Health Organization shares that, “In humans, CBD exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential…. To date, there is no evidence of public health-related problems associated with the use of pure CBD.”[1]

FDA Disclaimer 

The statements made regarding these products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The efficacy of these products has not been confirmed by FDA-approved research. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. All information presented here is not meant as a substitute for or alternative to information from healthcare practitioners. Please consult your healthcare professional about potential interactions or other possible complications before using any product. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act require this notice.

References:

1. Cannabinoid Receptors and the Endocannabinoid System: Signaling and Function in the Central Nervous System. (2018). International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 19(3), 833. doi:10.3390/ijms19030833
2. Maroon, J., & Bost, J. (2018). Review of the neurological benefits of phytocannabinoids. Surgical Neurology International, 9, 91. http://doi.org/10.4103/sni.sni_45_18
3. Mechoulam, R., & Hanuš, L. (2002). Cannabidiol: An overview of some chemical and pharmacological aspects. Part I: Chemical aspects. Chemistry and Physics of Lipids,121(1-2), 35-43. doi:10.1016/s0009-3084(02)00144-5
4. National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Database; CID=644019, https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/644019 (accessed Sept. 4, 2018).