What’s the deal with CBD and does it really work?

CBD is EVERYWHERE. The data pulled over from users across various social media platforms and 12,000 URLs by cannabisMD, a non-advocacy educational group found that CBD is a buzzword that has managed to become more popular than Jesus, Kanye West, and Taylor Swift in 2019. The trends since then have changed in favour of CBD and related products and we are here to know why!

The BUZZ

CBD or cannabidiol is a natural and active ingredient found in hemp and cannabis plants. If you’re reading this and thinking, “So, hemp and cannabis are not the same?” then we understand your confusion. Scientifically speaking, both come under the same plant species category- cannabis sativa. Under the US Farm Bill, 2018, hemp and cannabis differ based on a chemical compound found in cannabis plants called THC or tetrahydrocannabinol. A cannabis plant that contains less than 0.3% of THC is considered for legal use and is called hemp. A plant containing more than 0.3% of THC is considered illegal and is classified as marijuana or what is popularly known as weed, or pot. 

Or to simplify….

You know how graphite and diamond are both made of carbon but you still will not propose your partner with a graphite ring, right? (DON’T, it’s a rhetorical question). The two differ fundamentally in carbon structure and therefore, aren’t the same. Similarly, not all cannabis-based products make you high. Let us learn why and how of it all. 

THC – Gives us THE BUZZ.  

THC is the reason Snoop Dog gets high as  a kite. It is a psychoactive drug and is the point of debate for so many years now. Though, now it has been legalized in many US states such as Washington, Nevada, California, Colorado and New York but the other states continue to struggle with the legalization process. THC’s high (due to the >0.3% concentration) makes cannabis sativa – marijuana or pot and also controversial!

Entourage Effect

A hemp plant contains many chemical compounds called cannabinoids or phytocannabinoids. These naturally occurring compounds affect what is called the endocannabinoid system or ECS. ECS is so important that its deficiency has been linked to causing serious chronic diseases such as migraine, irritable bowel, fibromyalgia, and other treatment-resistant syndromes. ECS has been linked to many significant bodily functions such as sleep, memory, mood. It has three core components: 

1. Endocannabinoids, 
2. receptors, and 
3. enzymes. 

From the blog’s scope, it is important to understand that our body is capable of producing CBD but its production is need-based and therefore, it is not known how much our body truly needs it. 

The following compounds affect the ECS and bring the desirable health-related changes in the body: 

• CBD- Cannabidiol     
• CBG- Cannabigerol    
• CBN- Cannabinol     

Beyond these, there more compounds that contribute to the effectiveness of CBD:

• Terpene
• Terpenoids
• Flavonoid

Terpenes are volatile compounds found in all plants and herbs, including hemp. They produce aromas, flavour, and colour. When hemp is dried and cured for producing products, terpenes are denatured by oxygen-producing terpenoids. Ever wonder what that smell is when people are smoking weed?

Flavonoids are compounds that give hemp its colour, attracts pollinators, and helps in preventing plant diseases. These are found in all plants and their numbers could vary, for example, CBD has 20 flavonoids. Flavonoids in hemp have been associated with therapeutic potential to reduce cancer cells. 

How does it all translate into CBD’s health benefits? The answer is Entourage Effect.  The entourage effect is the theory that all hemp compounds work more effectively when taken together. Ozia retains maximum potency of all these compounds in CBD based products. 

What are the benefits after all?

CBD based products have been touted for their health benefits. Clinical studies have proven its effectiveness for the following:

1. Epilepsy amongst children: Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut, two rare forms of epilepsy found their cure in CBD based medicine called Epidiolex. The US government in June 2018 approved its usage among adults and children up to 2 years old. 
2. Anti-anxiety effects: CBD has proven to be effective in managing anxiety, for example, before going for that big public speech but the optimal dose continues to be a point of investigation. 
3. Chronic pain management: The current evidence supports the use of medical cannabis for treating chronic pain in adults but our understanding of CBD is still evolving and a lot is yet to be learned. 
4. Improved sleep: In a study, it was found that anxiety score decreased and sleep scores improved amongst the subjects within one month of CBD use. 

It’s not magic though 

Marketing in the 21st century is all about creating larger than life images of the product which are, at times, absolutely senseless or overhyped. Hemp has been an integral part of our lives for over 12,000 years now. It has evolved with us and we are still learning about it especially after discussions around its touted benefits. 

CBD dosage is under clinical investigation and we are still figuring out just the right amount that can help us feel good. In research studies that we mentioned earlier, the subjects took larger amounts as compared to what people take in everyday life. So, it is a natural course that to witness CBD’s effect, we wait a little longer. Maintain a CBD journal to understand what works for you. You may choose to take it in the form of oil, tincture, or powder but remember how ECS produces natural CBD based on needs? Well, similarly, the consumption of natural CBD via hemp products needs to be monitored according to individual needs. 

For CBD to work, you need to find that sweet acoustic spot of dose and identify the form that works for you. Our bodies are different and so are our needs. At Ozia, we encourage our users to be mindful of their requirements and choose from our wide variety of products. 

We are unique in that we maintain a full-plant profile that preserves naturally present cannabinoids found in hemp such as CBD, CBG and CBN as well as a complete terpene profile giving it the “entourage effect” with ZERO THC. That’s right 0.0% THC. Our products are Hemp Gel Caps, Hemp Oil Tincture, and Hemp Powder. Don’t wait up and begin your health journey today!

References:

Commissioner, O. (n.d.). FDA approves new indication for DRUG containing an active Ingredient derived from cannabis to Treat seizures in rare genetic disease. Retrieved April 07, 2021, from https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-new-indication-drug-containing-active-ingredient-derived-cannabis-treat-seizures-rare

Hasse, J. (2019, November 03). CBD is more popular Than JESUS, Kanye West, The NBA, Taylor Swift, The Beatles AND Aoc right now, data shows. Retrieved April 07, 2021, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/javierhasse/2019/11/01/cbd-popularity/?sh=6182a5ee54e7

Linares, I. M., Zuardi, A. W., Pereira, L. C., Queiroz, R. H., Mechoulam, R., Guimarães, F. S., & Crippa, J. A. (2019). Cannabidiol presents an inverted u-shaped dose-response curve in a simulated public speaking test. Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry, 41(1), 9-14. doi:10.1590/1516-4446-2017-0015

Map of marijuana legality by state. (2021, April 01). Retrieved April 07, 2021, from https://disa.com/map-of-marijuana-legality-by-state

Moreau, M., Ibeh, U., Decosmo, K., Bih, N., Yasmin-Karim, S., Toyang, N., Lowe, H., & Ngwa, W. (2019). Flavonoid Derivative of Cannabis Demonstrates Therapeutic Potential in Preclinical Models of Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer. Frontiers in oncology, 9, 660. https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2019.00660

Russo E. B. (2016). Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency Reconsidered: Current Research Supports the Theory in Migraine, Fibromyalgia, Irritable Bowel, and Other Treatment-Resistant Syndromes. Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 1(1), 154–165. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2016.0009

Shannon, S., Lewis, N., Lee, H., & Hughes, S. (2019). Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series. The Permanente journal, 23, 18–041. https://doi.org/10.7812/TPP/18-041

Vučković, S., Srebro, D., Vujović, K. S., Vučetić, Č., & Prostran, M. (2018). Cannabinoids and Pain: New Insights From Old Molecules. Frontiers in pharmacology, 9, 1259. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2018.01259