What is cannabidiol (CBD) and what are its effects?

What is cannabidiol?

If you’re wondering what cannabidiol is, the answer can be found in one of the alternative medicine phenomena that has attracted a lot of public interest. Cannabidiol can be found in its more familiar name – CBD. Cannabidiol is one of more than 100 different cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant (Cannabis sativa) but it can also be found in the breast milk of mammals.

Cannabinoids are chemical compounds that have the ability to influence the endocannabinoid system in the human body, one of them is CBD. Cannabinoids include THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which is well known for its psychoactive effects. However, the differences between CBD and THC are very different. CBD does not produce any psychoactive effects and so does not cause a narcotic effect like, for example, cannabis. It just has very beneficial health effects, which we will come to later.

CBD and CBG

Some cannabinoids, such as CBD, have very beneficial effects on human health. The cannabinoid called CBG (cannabigerol) is no exception. However, make no mistake, CBD and CBG are not one and the same. Although these cannabinoids have similar properties, their effects are different. However, since we are discussing CBD in general in this article, which you can also read below, let’s introduce more about CBG.

The main way in which CBG differs from other cannabinoids is in its composition. First of all, it is found in almost minimal percentages in cannabis (approximately only 1%). Also, CBG is actually a ‘precursor’ to other cannabinoids such as CBD and THC (i.e. it is formed earliest in cannabis). CBG is present in the chemical reactions that then produce CBD and THC.

In the beginning, nobody really paid that much attention to CBG, and maybe it was also because its concentration was very low. However, over time it has received more attention and it has been found that this cannabinoid has a very great potential in treating various health problems. And so products such as CBG oils have started to be made from this cannabinoid.

It has also been found that the combination of CBG and CBD oil produces a very potent anti-inflammatory drug of a natural nature.

CBD versus THC

To better understand the effects of cannabidiol, it is important to compare it to THC. THC, as mentioned at the outset, is the psychoactive substance responsible for the known intoxicating effect of cannabis (the so-called ‘high’). CBD, on the other hand, acts in a different way. It blocks certain receptors in the brain and central nervous system, resulting in a reduction in stress, anxiety and pain. These properties make CBD a good choice for those seeking relief from these problems. Another such major difference between the two cannabinoids is that THC is not legal in our country, while CBD is.

What are the effects of cannabidiol?

So, as we mentioned earlier, CBD (cannabidiol) is a cannabinoid that has very beneficial health effects and can improve the course of some health problems. The effects of this cannabinoid are most commonly associated with:

• Pain relief – cannabidiol has analgesic effects, which is very helpful in relieving various types of pain, including chronic pain and migraines, for example.
• Anxiety and stress reduction – many people find in it a helper in coping with anxiety and stress. It acts on receptors in the brain that are responsible for emotional balance.
• Improved sleep – has a positive effect on the sleep cycle and can help with insomnia or other sleep disorders.
• Potential effectiveness in epilepsy – some research suggests it may be useful in the treatment of epileptic seizures.
• Anti-inflammatory effects – may be useful in diseases associated with inflammation, such as arthritis.
• It fights cancer-causing cells.
• It is a very powerful antioxidant.

Cannabidiol from Liptov

There are now many companies that produce cannabidiol. But also, there is no CBD like CBD. Our farm – Hemp Farm Liptov is the first producer in this area. We can really be proud of our high quality and certified hemp, from which we produce very honest hemp products such as CBG, CBD oils, hemp cosmetics and CBD hemp ointments right in the heart of Slovakia, in Liptov. Every single batch produced by us is regularly tested in the laboratory, where the content of the active ingredient and other cannabinoids is examined. We lovingly cultivate and manufacture all the products that travel to you to help with your health issues.

Therapeutic potential of cannabidiol

It is important to note that research into the therapeutic potential of cannabidiol is still ongoing and therefore not all of its effects are fully understood. In addition to the aforementioned cannabinoid effects, its potential for treating a variety of diseases, including diabetes, cancer, and even neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, is being investigated. In addition to these, cannabidiol’s therapeutic potential is most promising for the following health problems and diseases:

• Gastrointestinal diseases such as Crohn’s disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• Persistent and nerve pain
• An infection that is resistant to antibiotics
• Lupus and various skin problems
• Inflammatory joint disease such as arthritis
• Mental illness, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder
• Drug addiction

What are endocannabinoids?

Otherwise known as endogenous cannabinoids, they are cannabinoids that the human body produces itself. Because our bodies can make these chemical compounds themselves, they are able to transmit signals between nerve cells in our bodies.

The most important endocannabinoids are 2-Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and Anandamide.

• 2-Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) – this endocannabinoid plays a key role in maintaining homeostasis, which is the balance of internal body functions.
• Anandamide – this endocannabinoid creates a feeling of well-being and relaxation. It plays a very important role in regulating moods and stress responses.

These substances are key in maintaining homeostasis. Homeostasis is an important balance in the body that we need for the normal course of life (for example, regulating blood pressure, inflammatory responses and stress responses). Interestingly, the production of endocannabinoids in our body is controlled according to our actual needs and the amount of endocannabinoids in the body varies depending on the situation.

Endocannabinoid system

And since you’ve already learned something briefly about endocannabinoids, we can also talk a little bit about the endocannabinoid system.

To better understand the effects of cannabidiol, it is important to become familiar with the endocannabinoid system. This is a complex system of receptors in the human body that respond to cannabinoids, including those that our body produces on its own – which are the aforementioned endocannabinoids.

The endocannabinoid system has an irreplaceable role in our body, which is to maintain the balance of various bodily functions (regulation of blood pressure, the immune system, inflammatory processes, moods, sleep, appetite and other physiological processes). This system works through cannabinoid receptors, mainly CB1 and CB2, which are found in various tissues and organs of the human body.

When homeostasis is disturbed in our body, the endocannabinoid system responds by releasing endocannabinoids (anandamide and 2-Arachidonoylglycerol) to restore balance and alleviate stress reactions in our body.

So what does CBD have to do with the endocannabinoid system? CBD not only interacts with the endocannabinoid system, but it also prevents the breakdown of endogenous cannabinoids. This allows these natural substances to act in the body longer and positively influence various factors such as pain or mood.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is an amazing compound that offers us a wide range of therapeutic potential. From pain and anxiety relief to sleep improvement, potential treatment for epilepsy and much more, its effects are very interesting. However, even though CBD is beneficial for our bodies, in case you suffer from any health issues and want to take cannabidiol, you should always discuss it with your treating doctor beforehand.

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