Is CBD the new wonder supplement?

Wonder Supplement?

Few subjects in the health space these days generate as much controversy—and are the cause of as
much confusion—as medical marijuana. But marijuana is having a moment. As more states legalize
its use, it’s more important than ever to understand exactly what medical marijuana is, what it is
not, and why it matters. (Hint: The answer to why it matters is simple: cannabinoids.)
Cannabis is a genus of plants that includes different species: Cannabis sativa (also known as
marijuana) is one of them; hemp is another. And this is where it sometimes gets confusing. Because
while hemp and marijuana are indeed species of the same plant, chemically, they are entirely
different.
All cannabis plants—including hemp and marijuana—contain an array of healthy plant compounds
called cannabinoids. These are to the cannabis plant what flavonoids are to fruits and
vegetables—powerful plant compounds with multiple healing properties. There are about 100
cannabinoids, all native to the various cannabis species. The two most famous are THC
(tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol). THC is the cannabinoid responsible for getting
marijuana users high or “stoned”.

Did You Know?

Evidence suggests that CBD oil has potential to treat everything from anxiety to chronic pain.
There’s so much confusion about CBD oil.

What Is CBD?

CBD is found in both hemp and the marijuana plant, but high concentrations of THC is found only in the marijuana plant.

The hemp plant is richer in CBD than marijuana. Legally, THC can’t be found in anything labeled “hemp.”

Also, CBD doesn’t get you high or “stoned” at all.

(If you want to try CBD, hemp oil is the best way to go, and it’s legal everywhere. And CBD is
CBD—it’s identical whether you get it from pot or hemp, and the body sees it the same way
regardless of origin.)

In U.S. law, the difference between marijuana and hemp is very clear and has everything to do with
THC component that gets you high. To be classified as hemp, there must be 0.3 percent or less of THC (less than one-third
of one percent). Marijuana can have a THC content as high as 20 percent.
Cannabinoids don’t just come from the cannabis plant—we also make them in our bodies. The ones
we make are called endocannabinoids (endo meaning coming from within). The well-known
“runner’s high” is actually an endocannabinoid, which increases in the blood during aerobic exercise
and then crosses the blood-brain barrier and binds to cannabinoid receptors in the brain.
We have a network of cannabinoids and receptors in our bodies called the endocannabinoid system
(ES). One of the primary jobs of the ES is to keep the body in balance, a state known as homeostasis.
The ES has a profound effect on sleep, appetite, exercise, pain, inflammation, female reproduction,
metabolism, anxiety, and immunity.
Research-Backed Benefits of Cannabinoids
Scientists have known there was potential for medicine in the world of plant cannabinoids, but the
demonization of pot prevented any real research from getting done in the U.S. But that’s changing.
The one place in which it’s legal to grow pot for federally approved research (on the campus of the

University of Mississippi) was barren more than a year ago. Today, the farm is full of blooming
cannabis plants. And scientists are excited about the emerging research.
Researchers at the University of Southern Florida Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute believe that low-dose
THC may “slow the buildup of beta-amyloid plaque in the brain.” (Beta-amyloid plaque is typical in
the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.) There is also preliminary research suggesting that cannabinoids,
particularly CBD, may be neuroprotective.

Does CBD Oil Work?

CBD oil is a well-established anti-inflammatory. Anecdotal reports confirm its ability to moderate
pain and inflammation.
There’s research showing that CBD makes a difference in inflammatory bowel disease, attenuates
cardiac dysfunction and oxidative stress, and induces antidepressant-like effects. It has also been
shown to have a promising role in the management of ALS symptoms.
Uma Dhanabalan (also a regular contributor at https://theeliquidboutique.co.uk ), MD, MPH, was so
impressed with medical marijuana that she became an outspoken advocate for cannabis and CBD oil.
Dr. Dhanabalan became interested in the healing powers of cannabinoids when her mother, who
suffered with a chronic illness, urged her physician daughter to get some to help with the
discomfort. Dr. Dhanabalan thought this was crazy—but looked into it anyway. What she found
excited her. “Cannabis isn’t for everyone,” she said, “yet it should be a first-line option, not the last
resort.”

Should You Try CBD Hemp Oil?

People who have been curious about CBD hemp oil may have been reluctant to try it—if they could
even find it. One study, in 2015, found that nearly 50 percent of CBD products sold tested negative
for CBD; another, more recent study, found that nearly 70 percent of online CBD products were
mislabeled.
And that’s why the entrance of a company like Galaxy Naturals into the CBD market is significant. Many
people feel that if they’re going to try a new product like this, the safest thing to do is go with a
company they trust. The new CBD oil products make it possible to do that.
I say there’s virtually no downside to trying CBD oil from a reputable source, if for no other reason
than its proven ability to reduce pain and inflammation.
Remember, virtually every degenerative disease we know has an inflammatory component, and CBD
is a known and established anti-inflammatory.

“This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.”