Article sponsored by:
Winchester Bed & Breakfast.
CBD and Marijuana are now mainstream and eventhough Cannabis is now legal in Canada, one big question remains: what is the difference between CBD and THC (the psychotropic element in Cannabis)? Most people, not quite knowing the difference between the two, refrain from taking CBD in fear of getting a 'high', somehing they are afraid of or do not want. CBD has marveleous medical properties and in this series of articles, I will try to explain their differences, how to use both of them, their medicinal properties, their possible side effects or their negative interactions with precription drugs. So let's start with CBD.
CANABIS 101
CBD vs THC
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are the two most prevalent compounds in marijuana, also known as cannabinoids (a cannabinoid is one of a class of diverse chemical compounds that acts on cannabinoid receptors in cells that alter neurotransmitter release in the brain. The two most important are CB1 and CB2). Though they’re just two out of more than 100 cannabinoids found in cannabis, they’re present in the largest quantities across the different varieties of the cannabis plant. Here’s what you need to know about each compound, so you can choose the marijuana strains and products that will give you the effects you need.
What Is CBD?
CBD is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid. Unlike THC, it can be derived from industrial hemp, but it’s often much more potent when it is derived from marijuana. We now know that CBD lacks the psychoactive effects of THC because it doesn’t bind with the same receptors in the endocannabinoid system (ECS).
* CBD has little affinity for the two cannabinoid receptors. Instead, it acts as an indirect antagonist of cannabinoid agonist. This means that CBD acts to suppress the CB1 and CB2 activating qualities of cannabinoids like THC.
CBD also has the ability to reduce the high caused by THC. For this reason many people, even those who prefer cannabis with a high THC percentage, keep a CBD product like a tincture close by, in case they consume too much THC and want the intense high to go away quickly.
What Health Conditions Can CBD Help?
Folks who suffer from skin disorders such as psoriasis and eczema tend to treat their conditions with CBD-rich topicals such as creams, balms and salves.
CBD is an anti-emetic, meaning it can reduce nausea and vomiting. Cancer sufferers who deal with nausea in relation to chemotherapy could turn to CBD to quell this symptoms.
CBD also has the ability to reduce seizures and muscle convulsion or spasms, making it effective in helping patients with seizures or muscle spasms caused by conditions such as Parkinson’s disease.
CBD is successful at promoting healthy bone growth and can help reduce vascular tension and artery blockage.
Studies show that CBD can also help reduce blood sugar, making it helpful for patients with diabetes or other conditions that require monitoring blood sugar levels such as hypoglycemia.
For anxiety sufferers, CBD has been shown to reduce the condition for people who have general anxiety disorders or conditions such as PTSD.
In my next article, I will talk about THC and its benefits.
Article written by:
Dr Pierre
Milot, PhD, PhD (tc)
Life Transition / Therapeutic Counsellor / CBD Sales Consultant
Grief Recovery Specialist – Clinical Hypnotherapist
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