CBD FAQs

“Simply put, and politics aside, marijuana is the single most medicinally valued plant that has ever existed.” Dr. Micheal, Moskowitz, MD

What is CBD?

According to Harvard Medical School, CBD, or cannabidiol, is the second most prevalent active ingredient in cannabis (marijuana). While CBD is an essential component of medical cannabis, it is typically derived directly from the hemp plant, a cousin of cannabis. One of hundreds of components in cannabis, CBD offers an astonishingly wide range of wellness benefits without mind-altering effects.

What are cannabinoids?

The term cannabinoid refers to the components in the cannabis plant that connect the cannabinoid receptors of your body and brain. The cannabis plant produces between 80 and 100 cannabinoids and about 300 non-cannabinoid phytochemicals. The two primary cannabinoids are cannabidiol (CBD), and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the part of the cannabis plant responsible for the psychoactive effects.

Will CBD make you ‘high’?

No, again, CBD offers wellness benefits without mind-altering effects. CBD may help you feel relaxed or less anxious, but you won’t get high from properly prepared CBD products, such as oils, tinctures, edibles such as gummies, etc.  Although cannabidiol (CBD) and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) both come from the plant Cannabis sativa, only THC has an intoxicating effect or “high’.

How do CBD and THC differ?

While THC is the source of the psychoactive effects in cannabis, or gently euphoric ‘high’, CBD, again, its benefits come without psychoactive effects, making it safe for people of all ages. In fact, CBD appears to counter and help moderate the psychoactive effects of THC, essentially ‘smoothing out’ the buzz, and helping to reestablish balance if too much THC is consumed for a given individual.

What is the endocannabinoid (ECS) system?

The endocannabinoid system, found in the human brain and body, is a unique communications network that affects many important functions. This system consists of cannabinoids and the pathways they interact with, which include the regulation of functions such as mood, memory, sleep, and appetite. We naturally produce cannabinoids in our endocannabinoid system, such as anandamide, which is important because it activates our CB1 receptors which affect many aspects of our well-being.

Can CBD help alleviate anxiety disorders?

CBD-rich products have the potential to support your health and wellness on every level−mentally, physically, and emotionally. Existing preclinical evidence strongly supports CBD as a treatment for generalized anxiety, panic disorder, social anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD). Overall, CBD shows considerable potential as a treatment for multiple anxiety disorders.

Does CBD help with sleep disorders like insomnia?

Research suggests that CBD may help with both falling asleep and staying asleep, in part by helping address chronic pain and anxiety. Thirty-four studies reported improvement in the insomnia symptoms of at least a portion of the participants in question. The results of that systematic review suggest that CBD alone or with equal quantities of THC may be beneficial in alleviating the symptoms of insomnia.

How does CBD address chronic pain?

In one of the first studies to explore the analgesic, or pain-killing mechanisms of CBD, researchers found that CBD models the perception of pain by acting on G protein-coupled receptors, which, for CBD, are primarily the cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2. CBD may also alleviate pain through serotonin receptors, supporting normal 5-HT neurotransmission−which is the process by which the neurotransmitter serotonin carries chemical messages between nerve cells in the body under neuropathic pain conditions.

Interestingly, both THC and CBD work to decrease nociception−the neurological process that converts harmful stimuli into information that can lead to pain−and symptom frequency via the endocannabinoid system. After reviewing 77 articles, researchers safely concluded that patients suffering from chronic pain may benefit from medical cannabis.

How does CBD combat chronic inflammation?

Although CBD is non-psychoactive, it appears to have many beneficial pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. CBD acts as an anti-inflammatory agent by reducing the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, inhibiting T cell proliferation, and reducing migration and adhesion of immune cells. These anti-inflammatory actions stem from CBD’s interaction with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), which regulates various physiological processes, including immune response and inflammation. By interacting with these receptors, CBD has been shown to modulate the body’s inflammatory response.

Can CBD help with depression?

There is growing interest in the therapeutic use of CBD and THC in managing neuropsychiatric disorders including anxiety and depression, due to the relative lack of efficacy of the current conventional treatments. CBD has been shown in a range of studies to have anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing), antidepressant, and antipsychotic effects.

How can CBD help with stress management?

Among other medical conditions, CBD is being increasingly studied for the management of stress and stress-related disorders such as depression, anxiety, and chronic pain. Preliminary clinical trials also support the efficacy of CBD for its positive risk-benefit profile. One study revealed that CBD was highly effective in assisting with stress management. The stress relieving benefits of CBD may be attributed to the ways in which CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid network, which sends signals to the brain to help try to manage and reduce stress.

What is Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency (CECD)?

Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency (CECD) is a syndrome in which individuals produce a lower amount of natural cannabinoids, which is potentially linked to many negative effects, including:

• Fibromyalgia
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Migraines
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Huntington’s Disease
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Autism

Ironically, the pharmaceutical drugs usually prescribed for these conditions can cause side effects which are worse than the symptoms. It could be argued that such drugs would be unnecessary if our endocannabinoid systems were properly and consistently fortified with natural cannabinoid (CBD) molecules.

Can CBD help relieve migraine headaches?

Preliminary studies show convincing evidence for cannabis and cannabinoid therapies (CCT) in the management of migraines. Additionally, physicians are finding that as patients safely utilize medical cannabis for migraine relief, they can often reduce their reliance on Rx meds that may be dangerously addictive, among other unhealthy side effects, such as opioid drugs.