25 May First, What is CBD?
The cannabis plant contains a unique profile comprising various compounds and nutrients. In the seeds, natural proteins and amino acids are abundant; in the leaves, compounds known as cannabinoids are in rich supply, with one particular cannabinoid – CBD, or cannabidiol – being one of the most common.
When learning about CBD, one of the most important things to understand is its distinction from THC – another cannabinoid found in cannabis, and, of course, the most widely known.
THC is the cannabinoid responsible for the ‘high’ associated with smoking and eating cannabis, while CBD does not have the same impact on our mental faculties.
When ingested, CBD is capable of interacting with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) – an incredibly complex network of receptors thought to be involved in functions as diverse as pain, mood, appetite, memory, fertility, and immunity. The ECS remains something of a mystery, though it remains a key topic for many researchers looking for new ways to treat a broad spectrum of conditions, from chronic pain conditions to depression and anxiety.
In these lines of inquiry, CBD takes on a central role. Its ability to act as a neuromodulator within the endocannabinoid system, and to interfere with the usual pathways these physical and mental experiences take through the body, holds remarkable potential for the future of medicine.