What Does CBD Stand For?

WHAT DOES CBD STAND FOR?

With CBD’s recent rise in popularity in the health and wellness space, you have probably heard something about it on the television, seen it mentioned on the news, or been told about it by a friend. But are you entirely clear on what this chemical compound is?

Even though CBD is now legal on a federal level and has gone from sporadically being available to being everywhere you look lately, there is still some confusion surrounding it. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at what CBD stands for and what it is to clear up much of that confusion.

WHAT IS CBD?

CBD — short for cannabidiol — is one of the 100+ primary active compounds (or cannabinoids) naturally found in all varieties of Cannabis Sativa L. plants such as marijuana and hemp. CBD and THC are two of the most well-known cannabinoids. While THC is famed for its psychoactive effects or “high,” CBD is non-psychoactive (in other words, it can’t get you high).

HOW CBD WORKS?

To understand why CBD has the possibility to be an excellent health benefit, it is important to understand how this chemical compound interacts with the body and brain.

CBD, and all cannabinoids including THC, work by interacting with our bodies’ endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is essentially a complex network of cannabinoid receptors and neurotransmitters located throughout the body which work to bring the body back into balance, also known as the state of homeostasis.

The two primary cannabinoid receptors are labelled Cannabinoid 1 (CB1) and Cannabinoid 2 (CB2). CB1 receptors are found in abundance in the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) and some areas of the peripheral nervous system (the body), while CB2 receptors exist predominantly outside the nervous system, in blood and immune cells. CBD modulates CB1 and CB2, helping to maintain the chemical stability in the body.

CBD DERIVED FROM HEMP VS. MARIJUANA

If you are interested in using CBD for your health and wellness, you should know where your CBD products are sourced from. After all, CBD sourced from marijuana is much different from hemp-derived CBD.

From a genetic standpoint, CBD is the same, whether it is sourced from hemp or marijuana. However, when it comes to the product’s psychoactive properties and legal status in a given state, the source of your CBD can make all the difference.

See, hemp plants contain a higher percentage of CBD with little to no THC (less than 0.3%); therefore, hemp-derived CBD does not cause the “high” commonly associated with cannabis. On the other hand, marijuana plants have a THC level that is significantly higher than that of hemp plants (between 5% and 35%), and that would obviously cause an intoxicating effect. Due to its high THC concentration, marijuana CBD is only legal for medical or recreational uses in a handful of states, while hemp-derived CBD is legal on a federal level, as long as it is properly sourced according to the 2018 Farm Bill.

To know if your product is sourced from hemp and not marijuana, you will need to ask your CBD supplier for lab test results.

CBD POSSIBLE BENEFITS

Although there are just a few well-conducted trials, several studies suggest that CBD can be a powerful natural treatment for multiple health issues. Here are just a few benefits and uses for CBD:

• Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, CBD exhibits a promising result in treating several skin conditions such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, etc.
• CBD has a natural approach to regulating your social behaviors and even calming your anxiety and stress.
• Several studies confirm that CBD is a safe and effective analgesic for chronic pain: migraine, arthritis, nerve-related aches, and more.
• CBD can also help treat sleep disorders like sleep apnea and insomnia.
• CBD manages high blood pressure and keeps away related problems like heart attack, stroke, or metabolic syndrome.
• CBD is effective in maintaining an ideal weight by converting white fat into weight-reducing brown fat.
• Studies suggest that CBD can ease (and even reduce) the progression of neurodegeneration, helping patients with disorders like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, seizure activities, epilepsy, and more.
• Studies also suggest that CBD can promote programmed cancer cell death (also known as apoptosis) in certain types of cancer.

Let’s face it: CBD is not a miracle drug and is not an answer to all of your health conditions. However, when used wisely, it can be really effective at targeting the underlying causes of the problem to give you relief. That being said, you must always consult with your physician before using CBD to treat your medical condition.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Now that you know what CBD stands for, how it works, how is marijuana CBD different from hemp-derived CBD, and the numerous benefits of this chemical compound, you are good to explore CBD! Head over to the main page of New Age Hemp’s blog for more insights and news on CBD or check out our online storefront for all your CBD needs!