CBD AND THE BRAIN: THE INCREDIBLE HUMAN ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM

The Human Brain is Pre-Wired for CBD. In fact, our bodies are already using CBD whether we’re taking a supplement or not

CBD-Cannabidiol From Industrial Hemp

CBD derived from industrial hemp has identical properties to cannabis-derived CBD. This makes hemp-derived CBD a much-needed legal alternative for patients who live in states where they can’t legally access medical marijuana. Hemp plants do not produce the high levels of THC that marijuana plants do. In fact, for therapeutic purposes, the balance of high CBD with very low THC content in hemp makes it the better choice.

CBD is the abbreviation for “cannabidiol” which is found in both marijuana and hemp plants. In marijuana, it actually counteracts the psychoactivity of THC, the cannabinoid in marijuana which produces a high. CBD products derived from hemp avoid the THC problem altogether, containing up to 99% CBD and trace levels of less than 1.0% THC.

While CBD may enhance mood generally, it does not produce the psychoactive high that THC does. THC’s psychoactive properties have actually proven to be an obstacle to the general endorsement of medical marijuana as a beneficial therapy, whereas CBD’s benign therapeutic benefits were patented by the US government years ago.

The Endocannabinoid System: Our Brains are Pre-Wired for CBD

One of the top FAQ’s concerning CBD use is “Why is CBD so effective in treating so many different disorders and symptoms?” Many consumers are naturally suspicious, given the number of cure-all substances which haven’t managed to live up to their hype in the past, not to mention the high rate of dissatisfaction with pharmaceuticals such as anti-depressants and opioids with all their detrimental side effects.

The problems encountered with these pharmaceuticals are due chiefly to the fact that they are not substances occurring naturally in the body. As we shall see, our bodies are already using CBD, whether we are taking a CBD supplement or not, but problems can arise due to CBD deficiencies. This is why CBD has proven to be a highly therapeutic treatment for a very wide range of diseases and disorders including:

• Mood and anxiety disorders
• Movement disorders – Parkinson’s and Huntington’s diseases
• Neuropathic pain
• Multiple sclerosis
• Spinal cord injury
• Cancer
• Atherosclerosis
• Myocardial infarction
• Stroke
• Hypertension
• Glaucoma
• Obesity/metabolic syndrome
• Osteoporosis

The list above is quite impressive, but bear in mind that it contains just a sampling of maladies for which CBD has proven itself to be an effective treatment. As CBD awareness has increased over the past decade so has the list of beneficial contributions it has made to the therapeutic field. The answer to why it is so effective over such a broad range was found in the recent discovery of the incredible endocannabinoid system, a health-regulating system common to the brains of all mammals.

CBD, Homeostasis and Health

The endocannabinoid system functions primarily in the limbic and paralimbic regions of the brain, vital areas which control sleep, mood, immunity, and pain and injury response. But the endocannabinoid system isn’t limited to the brain, which is why it has such a profound effect on our bodies as well as our minds.

Endocannabinoids and their receptors are distributed throughout the body. Even a person who has never taken a single puff of marijuana or a drop of CBD oil has naturally synthesized (endo) cannabinoids working in his body to maintain proper health. CBD from hemp oil can supplement deficiencies of endocannabinoids when the natural system is overwhelmed by disease or environmental stresses.

Increasing CBD levels also increases the number of available CBD receptors. Research has shown that cannabinoids appear in cells at the site of injuries to regulate healing and inflammation response. Increasing the available receptors allows the body to make more efficient use of available CBD, which is why CBD dosages don’t need to be increased over time to maintain effectiveness. With CBD, a little goes a long way.

When your body is in “all systems go”

The endocannabinoids are naturally present in the brain, organs, connective tissues, glands, and immune cells. The CBD receptors located strategically throughout the various systems of the body provide important regulating feedback to maintain the stable internal condition known as “homeostasis”. In layman’s terms homeostasis is often referred to as “The Goldilocks zone”, denoting that “just right” condition at which our cells are ideally maintained, regardless of external influences such as environment, disease, or physical injury.

by BotaHemp

Read more from the source: The Weed Blog