Marijuana has been a topic of great discussions among health officials for a long time now. The herb is thought by many of its fans to have benefits that exceed its side effects. Recent research has tried to link the herb to prevention of several diseases such as cancer and the heart disease but some physicians still insist it is harmful to the body. The topic of marijuana is vast and we will not dwell on that for today.

In today’s article, we are going to focus on one of the many compounds that exist in the marijuana plant in the name of Cannabidiol (CBD). You can refer to puregreenliving for more information on CBD.

What Is Cannabidiol

As I said above, Cannabidiol is one of the numerous chemicals found in marijuana plant. These chemicals are known as cannabinoid. Cannabinoids are chemicals that interact with a sensory system in our body called cannabinoid receptors. These receptors are part of an endocannabinoid system which regulates body processes such as appetite, pain sensation, mood and memory. Cannabidiol is one of these chemicals that alter the endocannabinoid system in the body.

Marijuana is one of the few natural sources of Cannabidiol. Some other plants such as Echinacea, Helichrysum, and kava also contain Cannabidiol but in very small traces compared to marijuana. Marijuana is therefore the largest source of Cannabidiol.

There are other cannabinoids in marijuana such as Cannabichromene (CBC)c, annabigerol (CBG) and Cannabinol (CBN). CBD however is the most sought after and useful component of marijuana medicinally. People often confuse CBD from THC which is the psychotic causing element of Marijuana.

How Does CBD Work in the Human body?

In order to understand how to calculate cbd concentration on your body, we first have to understand the endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system as I mentioned earlier is a system which works to regulate homeostasis in many organs of the human body. The system is mainly controlled by a chemical known as Anandamide which is the main endocannabinoid.

The endocannabinoid system has key roles in several functions of the body such as;

  • The immune system
  • Cognitive function
  • Control of appetite
  • Pain Detection and regulation
  • Mood regulation
  • Memory
  • Fertility and pregnancy

You can see the vast importance that this system plays in the human body from above. The system further has two main receptors in the name of CB1 and CB2. Each of the receptors plays its own role as we are going to see.

CB1

These receptors are found in the central nervous system and also the peripheral nervous system. The CB1 receptors mainly regulate pain transmission, cardio-vascular function, mood, memory, reproduction, appetite and sleep. This explains why marijuana has a major effect in the processes.

CB2

These types of receptors are found in blood cells and immune cells. They help to fight bacteria, viruses and cancer causing cells. The major discussion that has been going on about marijuana and cancer prevention is mainly due to this. CBD is therefore a great agent for fighting and eliminating disease causing agents.

How Does It Defer Form THC?

Tetrahydrocannabinol is one of the chemicals found in marijuana. It is also one of the most effective along with CBD. The two compounds are however very different from each other.

  1. THC works to enhance psychotic behavior while CBD suppresses that effect.
  2. CBD modulates the CB1 and CB2 receptors while THC stimulates them.
  3. CBD is relaxing while THC is relaxing at low doses but stimulating at higher doses.
  4. CBD is a mild appetite suppressant while TCH suppresses appetite extremely
  5. CBD’s “high” effect is on the body while THC makes the head “high”

From the above seen differences, we can tell that CBD affects the body positively when you compare it to THC.

Positive Effects of CBD

CBD is currently one of the best natural remedies against conditions such as epilepsy, cancer and many others. The following are some of the benefits of CBD in a human being’s body.

  • Reduction in Inflammation
  • Protection of the body against free radical damage
  • Support for healthy nerve function
  • Natural pain reduction and suppression
  • Reduces growth of cancer tumors
  • Reduces the impact of stress on the body

 Uses of CBD

CBD has a very wide use. Its effect on the endocannabinoid system makes it able to treat a wide range of diseases which include;

  • Cancer
  • Diabetes
  • Cognitive disorders
  • Anxiety
  • Epilepsy
  • Smoking addiction
  • Insomnia

The list is endless. The uses of CBD are not limited and unlike THC, its side effects are easily manageable.

Marijuana is a regulated drug and its use requires certification from the relevant authorities. Always remember to use marijuana with a larger percentage of CBD since it has numerous benefits to your body.

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