It’s confusing, right? Three letter compound called CBD and so many medical benefits. Can all the claims regarding the efficacy of CBD in treating critical illnesses be true? Between all these names and claims, it is sometimes hard to find the actual truth behind CBD. From all those big fat claims to its usability for almost every health complications. Sometimes, it becomes hard to separate facts from fiction. In this article, let’s try and understand myths and facts about the cannabis compound called CBD.
Myths About CBD
CBD is a highly addictive cannabinoid: Several claims that CBD causes ‘high.’ Like its sister compound THC. Since both are derived from cannabis, they are highly addictive. However, several studies have shown that this could not be farther from the truth. As per the World Health Organisation report, CBD has exhibited no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential. We must know that CBD is one of the hundreds of cannabinoids found in a cannabis or hemp plant. And it does not cause a high.
CBD Is Not Extracted From Medical Marijuana
Firstly, we must know that most of the CBD compound extracted in the US is derived from the cannabis plant. Which in turn is the botanical cousin of marijuana or hemp plant. So all these claims that it’s not part of medical marijuana are wrong. The CBD as a compound has a plethora of medical uses — it has shown a tendency to cure epilepsy, stress, and depression-like problems. Those looking at a way out of contemporary medications also find CBD very helpful.
Scientifically, CBD Can’t Cure Any Health Condition
Since CBD comes under the Schedule 1 drugs in the United States, it’s true that many times, claims are made that it’s not scientifically proven to have cured any health conditions. However, these claims are simply not accurate. The United States Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has approved a CBD-based medication called Epidiolex for the treatment of seizures. This has also put a question mark over the government’s classification of Schedule 1 drugs, as the drugs offering medical value can’t be categorized under the Schedule 1 drugs.
No Research Has Been Done on CBD and It’s Unsafe
CBD has gained immense popularity in recent years and the compound is ubiquitous now. From cosmetics to cappuccinos — it’s everywhere. Companies have also been bold about the compound and there are countless CBD-based products in the market right now. But, many times, claims are made that CBD is unsafe because little research has been allowed to fully understand its impact on human health.
These claims may not be entirely true. While it is true that CBD is still marked under the Schedule 1 drug, and no big-scale research has been allowed to understand its full potential, there have been multiple studies to show its efficacy and safety for human health. For example, this study conducted by Columbia University found that CBD could cure glioblastoma, a kind of cancerous brain tumor in adults. It was also proved that CBD was effective against killing cancerous cells. Countries like Israel, the United Kingdom, Italy, Brazil, and Canada have gone pretty far in terms of their research on CBD.
Facts About CBD
CBD can be extracted from both hemp and marijuana plants: Yes. It is true that CBD can be found in both hemp and marijuana plants. However, marijuana is a richer source of CBD as cannabinoids are densely present in its strings. The amount of CBD extracted from marijuana is usually higher than hemp, making marijuana an economic option for those looking at scaling up their cannabis business.
No Cure-For-All Compound
CBD is not a cure-for-all compound and those claiming so are not telling the complete truth. While CBD has proved to be highly effective in managing certain health complications, it certainly is not a panacea for all diseases. There is only preliminary research available on its efficacy and unless large scale studies don’t prove that, it’s not safe to say it can cure all diseases. Also, one must know that CBD has surely proved to be highly effective in managing certain health issues, it does not address the root cause of complications. So it’s nothing more than a ‘band-aid’ in supporting health.
CBD Can Provide Real Health Benefits
Despite all the jargon out there, it is also true that CBD helps you address some of the key health issues. It has been found that cannabinoid therapy has real health benefits due to its properties to influence the endocannabinoid system in our body. The endocannabinoid system manages many of our bodily functions, including pain, appetite, sleep, and memory. Resultantly, CBD has been beneficial in treating health complications like anxiety, stress, inflammation, digestion, insomnia, seizures, epilepsy, PTSD, and more.
CBD Won’t Make You High but Gives a Good Feeling
It is true that CBD is a non-intoxicating compound, which does not cause high. It does make you feel good about yourself, meaning it’ll put you in a good mood. Put three drops of CBD oil under your tongue before sleep and this could be your best sleep ever. CBD activates CB1 receptors in the brain but not like THC does. CBD, however, does not alter consciousness and puts you in a really good mood. The difference between CBD and THC is the same as giving a warm hug to someone or having a box of chocolates. When one consumes CBD, it activates an endocannabinoid called ‘Anandamide’ in our brain. Anandamide, which has been derived from the Sanskrit word Ananda (enjoyment), is a feel-good endocannabinoid that provides a sense of wellbeing without the euphoric high.
The Bottom Line
Despite all the controversies around CBD, its discovery has led to ground-breaking innovations. With countries going easy on regulations around the cannabis compound, the day is not far when CBD will be widely accepted in the mainstream popular culture. The need is to conduct more in-depth research to fully understand its benefits and drawbacks.
