UNDERSTANDING CANNABIDIOL (CBD)
Cannabidiol, also known as CBD is one of the two most predominant active ingredients found in cannabis or marijuana.
Just a mention of the word marijuana and an array of mixed reactions is triggered. In recent years, this topic has been talked about and covered on various media platforms. So, what is this buzz all about?
Most of us have heard of medical marijuana. CBD is its major component.
CBD is extracted from the hemp plant.
The Hemp Plant
As much as it is a component of the marijuana plant, CBD by itself does not cause its consumers to get a ‘high’. It does not exhibit any effects that indicate abuse or dependency. Despite studies that have been done, there has been no evidence of health issues associated with the use of cannabidiol.
Is Cannabidiol Legal?
The legality of CBD varies from state to state. Some states have legalized its use for both medicinal and recreational purposes while others refuse to hear of it. The debate is whether medical marijuana is gotten from the hemp plant or the marijuana plant itself.
Despite the prohibition of marijuana in some states, there has been a rise in its use which has prompted some major health concerns. Reason being, most people place CBD and marijuana in the same category.
Currently, individuals can easily purchase CBD online; without presenting any medical marijuana license. This was, however, not the situation a couple of years back.
In the near future, there is a high likelihood of a multitude of people embracing its use, despite the current split views.
Medical benefits of Cannabidiol
Research conducted over the years suggests that CBD may be of benefit in the treatment of some health conditions. In fact, marijuana has been used for over 3,000 years in the treatment of some ailments.
On that note, below is a list of the conditions managed by the careful administration of CBD.
- Chronic pain
Chronic pain has been known to be among the leading cause of disability in the United States. Roughly 20 percent of Americans have some form of chronic pain. The use of prescription medicines to treat this condition has left many people addicted to them. This is what led medical practitioners in seeking alternatives to prescription medications.
CBD works in such a way that when consumed, it interacts with the brain’s pain receptors exerting pain-relieving as well as anti-inflammatory effects. As earlier stated, the CBD does not cause the patient to get high.
- Depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and social anxiety
CBD can be used to treat some illness like depression, PTSD and chronic anxiety.
For instance, in the treatment of depression, CBD has a faster and more sustained antidepressant-like effect with fewer side-effects as compared to other anti-depressant prescription medication. This is not to mean that patients can abandon their prescriptions after the introduction of CBD. On the contrary, it should be taken as a form of complementary therapy unless your healthcare provider advises otherwise.
- Cancer
Cancer is a menace to the society because unless detection is done early enough, it has no cure. Cancer patients undergo chemotherapy and there is substantial evidence that CBD is effective in alleviating some side effects such as nausea and vomiting brought about by this treatment.
Another study shows that the cannabinoids significantly slow down the regeneration of cancer cells and in some rare cases, kill the cancer itself.
- Epilepsy
When it comes to epilepsy, these cannabis active ingredients help reduce the number of seizures occurring in children. For it to be effective, the CBD has to be administered alongside their usual medication.
- Anorexia
Anorexia is a common ailment mostly affecting our young adults. The hemp plant extract can be used as a way to stimulate appetite thus treating the above condition.
This can also be used on people who experience a decrease in appetite due to various conditions that make maintaining a healthy weight difficult. A good example of such a condition is above-named cancer.
CONCLUSION
It is not to say that the use of marijuana is accepted. In general, it has a number of side effects; it all depends on how it is used.
In low cumulative doses, the use of medical marijuana is not likely to harm the lungs. However, using the drug for medicinal purposes is not the same as using it for recreational purposes. The latter should be discouraged.
Marijuana is classified as a controlled substance by the Drug Enforcement Administration and is the reason why its researches are done under serious restrictions. Food and Drug Administration is currently waging war against the illegal selling of CBD drugs.
For patients living in states that have legalized its use and would like to give the drug a try, careful research should be done before its administration. The medical practitioner should carefully put into consideration the patient’s past medical history and how the CBD relates to their illness.
Last but not least, individuals with a history of mental health problems should certainly avoid the use of medical marijuana.
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