In this article, we explore the Health Benefits of Cannabidiol.
A 100% legal, healthy way to get all of the health benefits of smoking weed without actually smoking weed.
The topic of using Marijuana for medicinal purpose has been a heated discussion for years. It is a discussion that personally interests me simply because I’ve always wondered the real truth behind banning marijuana use. The reason I say this is because there are numerous studies citing the benefits it can offer in the health field, but they seemed to be ignored regardless of their success. In the case of healing and medicine, most often times money and profit plays a large role in the determination of rule of law. The good news is that these studies are no longer being ignored, and it has been deemed unacceptable to deny or neglect the health benefits of cannabidiol (CBD), a cannabinoid found in the cannabis (marijuana) plant.
What is Cannabidiol (CBD)?
CBD is an oil-based extract of marijuana. It is one of 85 different compounds found in marijuana that yields incredible health benefits without the negative side effects and the “high”. Until recent the compound that received all of the fame in marijuana was the THC. This is because marijuana was being used for recreational purposes and mind-altering effects. The marijuana plant can be grown in different methods to either increase the THC or increase the CBD. For medical purposes, we want the plant grown with high levels of CBD.
It is estimated that cannabidiol (CBD) makes up about 40% of the plant’s cannabinoid extract. Due to the safety and ability to be used without the high, CBD had been used much more heavily in research and medical application than THC.
In this study, CBD is shown to be an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticonvulsant, anxiolytic and antipsychotic agent. What this means is that it has the potential to be medicinally used for treatment in anxiety, depression, neuro-inflammation, epilepsy (seizures), insomnia, Chrons’s & Colitis, oxidative stress, nausea, vomiting, PTSD, and schizophrenia.
The Difference Between CBD and THC
Both CBD & THC are cannabinoids found in the marijuana plant, cannabis. Cannabinoids have very similar structures but all act on the receptors in a very different manner.
Scientifically, the reason THC gives you a high is because its biochemical make up positively regulates CB1 receptors. CB1 are abundant in the areas of the brain that are associated with movement, coordination, pain, sensory, perception, emotion, memory, cognition, and autonomic and endocrine functions.
CB2 receptors are found in abundance in the immune system and are associated with some pain reduction and inflammation.
In recent research, scientists have found that CBD does not act strongly on either CB1 nor CB2 receptors, removing the mind-altering effects and only offering you pure health benefits.
Though THC gives you the unwanted psychoactive side effects like anxiety and paranoia, its still has positive health benefits it offers such as a antispasmodic, analgesic, anti-tremor and anti-inflammatory properties. Another unwanted benefit of THC is that is makes you tired and drowsy, whereas CBD does not. Due mostly to its safety and legality, CVD has long been researched for a much wider scope of medicinal applications than THC.
But you may be wondering how CBD can be separated from the THC. Let’s step out into the farm fields for a minute to understand…
In order to increase the amount of CBD concentration in a cannabis plant and decrease its levels of THC, a female and male cannabis plant must be grown together so that the male plant can fertilize the female plant. A well-fertilized female plant produces less than 1% of THC. These are the hemp plants used for CBD oil. However, if you remove the male plant and don’t allow the female plant to be pollinated, you get a cannabis plant with higher THC.
Health Benefits of Cannabidiol (CBD)
1.) Balance Hormones
The endocrine system is made up of glands that produce and secrete hormones, along with chemical substances produced in the body that regulate the activity of cells or organs. These hormones regulate the body’s growth, metabolism (the physical and chemical processes of the body), and sexual development and function.
There are many studies showing that CBD plays a role in balancing the endocrine system. In this study, it was found to significantly reduce cortisol level. Most people, due to high stress levels, can benefit greatly by decreasing cortisol levels and CBD can help. CBD was also found to be a mild sedative which can help relax you at night
2.) Positively Affects Metabolism and Body Fat, and Reduces Diabetes
The use of CBD can potentially curve your appetite as well helping you shed those extra pounds of fat. A study from the American Journal of Epidemiology tells us that CBD has a huge effect on insulin, glucose and those with insulin resistance. CBD’s ability to lower insulin levels will not only help with fat loss but also could lower the incidence of diabetes.
We also can see in this study that not only can CBD help balance the our endocrine and energy system, there is huge excitement in using CBD to curve appetite and control food intake.
One last study that I want to mention is one done on mice. The mice that received CBD treatment for diabetes went from an incidence of 86% in the non-treated mice to 30% in the treated mice. The CBD benefits also showed decrease inflammation and decrease insulitis.
3.) Pain and Inflammation
The modulation or decrease in pain is a massive benefit of CBD. This is due to its ability to inhibit neuronal transmission in pain pathways. According to the Journal of Experiential Medicine, cannabinoids suppress pain and offer a novel class of therapeutic agents to treat individuals suffering from chronic pain. The good news is that you can use CBD without all the terrible side effects that you would normally get from pain killers.
There are literally dozens of studies on CBD offering great results for those who suffer with pain and inflammation. CBD offers incredible relief for those who have inflammation in the gut. I think this is very compelling, seeing as 95% of people suffer from a gut issue. It is estimated that the number one disease that will effect millennials is cancer of the GI tract.
I really like this study as well. The study states that CBD has the ability to lessen the impact of inflammation on oxidative stress. If we can reduce oxidative stress, we will have a stronger immune system and positively impact Alzheimer’s, diabetes hypertension, and depression (plus so many more inflammatory diseases). We can even have conversations about using CBD for anti-aging because of CBD’s ability to reduce oxidative stress.
4.) Supports Sleep
My personal favorite use for CBD is to support a good night’s sleep. As more than 70 million people suffer from sleep related issues, I know that I’m not alone. I have found that very small doses of CBD do nothing for me; if anything it acts as a stimulus, whereas a larger dose of CBD really helps me relax and sleep like a baby. I normally do not have a problem falling asleep; it’s the waking up in the night where CBD has really helped me out.
Many of the studies around sleep were done using a prescription called Cannabis Sativex, a prescription grade CBD medicine. I found a total of nine studies that all supported healthy sleep. So if sleep is something you wish to improve, maybe 100% hemp CBD oil should be on your radar.
5.) Reduces Stress & Anxiety
THC increases stress and anxiety, whereas CBD relieves it. We mentioned above that CBD does an incredible job lowering a stress hormone called cortisol. Now let’s take this CBD and stress topic a bit further.
Anxiety is a big issue for many people. When anxiety hits, it is very hard to shut it down in most cases. A study done back in 2012 suggest that CBD is not only effective for anxiety, but also panic disorders, OCD, and post-tramatic stress (PTSD).
Here is another cool study that was done to determine if the use of CBD would decrease anxiety in those who were about to give public speeches. Those who used CBD had reduced anxiety, cognitive impairment, and discomfort in speech performance. Those who didn’t use CBD had quite the opposite experience.
6.) Helps fight Cancer
Fighting cancer is one of the many benefits of utilizing CBD. CBD has proven significantly beneficial with anything from inhibiting cancer cell migration to inhibiting growth of breast cancer cells. It was even found that the CBD drives cell death in cancer cells. CBD was found to not be toxic even in large doses up to 700 mg per day for up to six weeks.
7.) Relieves Nausea
There is not much to talk about on this topic, but I still want to mention it because there are certainly people who can be helped. Animal studies have proven that CBD helps stop both nausea and vomiting. In the British Journal of Pharmacology, CBD’s benefits included anti-nausea and antiemetic when given to rats.
8.) May treat Seizures and Neurological Disorders
I find the data when it comes to seizures and epilepsy to be not only compelling but incredible. I know several epilepsy patients and most of them still have seizures while on their medications. They also have side unwanted side effects from their meds that include anything from drowsiness to weight gain. Let’s take a look at a few studies based around seizures and epilepsy.
A study out of Stanford University took nineteen patients who all had epilepsy. Within that group of individuals, the average amount of pharmaceuticals tried for epilepsy was twelve. Sixteen of the nineteen patients reported less seizures while taking CBD. Out of the sixteen, two of the patients reported no seizures at all, eight of them reported a 80% reduction in seizures, and six of the patients reported a 25-60% seizure reduction. Once again, I think those results are incredible for those suffering with epilepsy.
Here is another epilepsy study that shows 39% of the patients having a 50% reduction in seizures. I think it’s safe to say that CBD is worthy of looking into if you suffer from epilepsy.
But don’t just take the literature as proof. I stumbled across this video about an 11-month-old baby named Sadie. Sadie suffered from about 300 seizures per day. She was given cannabidiol, and the effects are mind-blowing.
Now if that doesn’t bring a tear to your eye…
This is the kind of difference CBD can make in lives of those suffering with epilepsy and more!
9.) Promotes Cardiovascular Health
Cardiovascular conditions are a major concern of the aging American. The American Heart Association reports that 1in 2 people suffer from a heart condition, with heart disease and stroke being the leading cause of death. A study done in 2013 showed that CBD protects the arteries against vascular damage and reduces vascular hyper permeability. This same study suggests that CBD also will support patients suffering with type two-diabetes by lowering sugar levels.
But the question you may be asking throughout this whole article is…
Is CBD legal and safe?
CBD is both legal and safe. As a matter of fact, with all of the side effects of the prescription drugs that are deigned to treat many of the issues mentioned above, CBD is probably the safest thing that you can use. There is no evidence of CBD being addictive or having issues in regards to overdoes. Simple pain killers are responsible for thousands of deaths every year through either addiction or adverse reactions. There are no known adverse reaction to CBD and no deaths reported from the use of CDB.
So in other words, CBD can legally and safely be used in all 50 states and most countries in the world. As we’ve discussed CBD is derived from the cannabis plant (marijuana) but has none of the pscyho-active, “high” effects of regular weed, but all of the health benefits. Again, I emphasize that this is not medical marijuana or anything illegal, just the completely natural and pure form of CBD that you can buy anywhere and have it mailed to you. But like all things, quality matters.
The CBD That I Use
When I look for a product, I’m looking for purity, potency, and bioavailability. Through my search, I have found three different methods of utilizing CBD for health. These different methods include applying a CBD oil topically, taking CBD capsules as a supplement, and inhaling CBD oil through vaporization. 
1.) Topical CBD Oil – I use Topical CBD Oil for muscle and joint relief. It penetrates deep into the muscles, tissues, and joints to melt away your pain. The CBD utilized in this topical oil is water soluable, meaning that it’s more bioavailable than other CBD oils on the market. It’s formulated with 100% organic hemp CBD and is combined with other healing agents like eucalyptus, ginger, white willow bark, curcumin, and burseraceae to enhance absorption of the cannabidiol and promote healing.
2.) CBD Capsules – The reason I use CBD capsules from BioCBD+ is because it is 100% pure hemp CBD, water soluble, and each capsule contains 10mg of CBD. BioCBD+ is 5x more bioavailable than any other CBD oil on the market. This means that taking 10mg of BioCBD+ is like taking 50mg of other CBD oil. It is triple tested for purity which ensures that there is no herbicides or pesticides that could damage your health. The reason I like to use CBD via capsules is because I find that it has a longer lasting effect than vaping does.
3.) CBD Vape Pen & Cartridge – The CBD I use is called Thrive Vape Bright. It is 100% pure hemp CBD oil from organic hemp with no 
fillers, or extra chemical additives. With each inhalation, you get 2mg of 100% organic CBD – which is up to 10x what you can get from other products on the market. It simply tastes like hemp (which tastes a bit like cedar). The benefit of using a vape pen over taking the capsules is that it is absorbed into the body faster. When you inhale it, your lungs have the ability to almost immediately absorb pure hemp CBD. The downfall is that it wears off more quickly.
Comment below if you have questions about CBD, are thinking about using CBD, or if are currently using CBD. I’d like to hear your questions, comments, or success stories.