Questions About CBD?
Nowadays, you see it everywhere: CBD. CBD is commonly hailed as a natural remedy to countless mental and physical health ailments. Here, we’ll break down what it is, how it works, and some of the ways it can support your wellness routine.
What is CBD?
Cannabidiol, or CBD, comes from Cannabis sativa plants. CBD can be THC-free and completely non-psychoactive. You’ve probably heard the terms cannabis, marijuana, and hemp all tossed around in relation to CBD. The plant Cannabis sativa has two primary species, hemp and marijuana. Both contain CBD, but there’s a much higher percentage in hemp, which also has very low (less than 0.3%) levels of THC compared to marijuana. Here at Mother Nature Trading Company™, we employ the use of hemp extract in our products, which is rich in CBD.
How Does CBD Work?
CBD works by targeting the endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system is a complex network of cell receptors and neurotransmitters within the human body that are responsible for maintaining homeostasis. The endocannabinoid system controls sleep, mood, temperature, immune response, pain and pleasure perception, fertility, memory, and appetite. When you are sick, or the body is thrown out of homeostasis, the endocannabinoid system releases its own, natural cannabinoids to bring you back to optimal health. When you ingest CBD, it stimulates the endocannabinoid system to produce its own cannabinoids, and slows their breakdown so they can stay in your body for longer.
What Are Some Benefits of CBD?
While we cannot make any definitive health claims on the effects of CBD, research has shown some ways it may be effective in promoting better health.
Anxiety and Mood Disorders
There is scientific evidence that CBD may have a positive effect on anxiety and mood disorders. One experiment showed that CBD reduced anxiety and cognitive impairment in patients with social anxiety. In 2011, another study researched CBD’s effects on people with Social Anxiety Disorder. Participants were given an oral dose of 400 mg of CBD or a placebo. Those who received CBD experienced overall reduced anxiety levels. Multiple recent studies have shown that CBD may help with PTSD symptoms, such as nightmares and replaying negative memories.
Sleep
Research published in 2019 looked at whether CBD could improve sleep. The study involved 72 subjects, with 47 experiencing anxiety and 25 experiencing poor sleep. Sleep scores improved within the first month in 48 patients (66.7% of the study), after patients were given 25 mg of CBD daily. While more controlled clinical trials are needed, the study concluded that Cannabidiol may hold benefits for anxiety-related disorders, insomnia being one of them.
Pain Relief
Studies have shown that CBD may help reduce chronic pain by impacting endocannabinoid receptor activity, reducing inflammation, and interacting with neurotransmitters. One study examined the effects of taking a CBD and THC oral spray in patients with multiple sclerosis.
The participants experienced improvements in pain, walking, and muscle spasms. Another study found that the same oral spray significantly improved pain during movement, pain at rest and sleep quality in 58 people with rheumatoid arthritis.
We encourage you to explore the ample evidence suggesting that CBD can improve a variety of conditions, even beyond those we mentioned. Products from Mother Nature’s Trading Company™ are formulated with high-quality hemp extract, and are an all-natural addition to any health regimen.
While CBD and hemp-related products are widely used, we still recommend that you consult your physician prior to introducing hemp extract into your daily wellness routine.
Sources: Healthline.com
