Let’s clear the CBD clutter and get right to the point. What IS CBD?
There’s TONS of information flying around the internet about cannabidiol (CBD). People who use CBD seem really happy with it, but what is CBD and why is everyone so obsessed with it? Will CBD get you high? What’s this “entourage effect” everyone keeps talking about? Honestly, it can be pretty overwhelming.
Thanks to the passing of the US Farm Bill in 2018, you can find all sorts of CBD products. There’s CBD infused skin-care, supplements, vapes and I’m sure the list will continue to expand. But without understanding exactly what CBD is, how can you know if it’s right for you? That’s why we’ve put together the Ultimate Guide to CBD so you can find everything you need in one convenient place.
What IS CBD?
The short answer? CBD is a plant-based compound that can help bring your body back to homeostasis (or balance). The long answer? CBD is a chemical compound extracted from the hemp plant. It interacts with your endocannabinoid system (ECS) to bring several different physiological systems back into balance. Honestly, CBD isn’t really all that complicated. But the way it interacts with your body is fascinating!
Your endocannabinoid system is surprisingly complex. UCLA Health says that all vertebrates have an endocannabinoid system and that we’ve been evolving with them for millions of years. In fact, our bodies naturally produce endocannabinoids. The chemical similarities between CBD and our naturally occurring endocannabinoids are what make it possible for CBD to interact with the ECS.
What Does the Endocannabinoid System Actually DO?
The whole amazing purpose of the ECS is to promote balance! There are ECS receptors throughout your body, which is why CBD is said to assist people with so many different issues. The natural state of the human body is health. That can be pretty hard to believe when you wake up and immediately need an aspirin for back pain or a cup of coffee just to feel alive. But it’s true.
The problem comes when any of the systems in our body get out of balance, and that can happen pretty easily. Sometimes just sleeping through your alarm and having a hectic start to your day is enough to throw your body off. Stress and anxiety trigger panic responses in your brain that affect your hormones and your nervous system. Usually, once you calm down these systems fall back into balance. That’s sadly not always the case though.
Chronic stress, say from a high-pressure job or managing a hectic household, can make it hard for your body to know when it’s time to stop panicking. This means that your brain might not know when to stop producing stress-responses throughout your body. Long term this can lead to sleep problems, headaches, digestive issues, problems focusing, and a lot more.
That’s where CBD comes in! CBD interacts with ECS receptors to promote a wide array of effects. Healthline lists several of these effects, just some of which include less anxiety and depression, pain-reduction, and even neuroprotective properties. So CBD is pretty amazing, but really it’s just the human body that’s so amazing. CBD just helps your body do what it does best
Will CBD Get You High?
No, but I understand the confusion. One of the biggest reasons why CBD is still so controversial is because of its similarities to tetrahydrocannabinol (or THC). While some states HAVE legalized the medicinal and/or recreational use of THC, not everyone wants to experience its psychoactive effects. Put simply, not everybody wants to get high.
Luckily, you don’t have to worry about that. THC and CBD can do some of the same things, but they’re actually pretty different.
CBD vs. THC
THC is derived from the cannabis plant as opposed to the hemp plant. At the moment, the only CBD that’s legal is the kind that’s extracted from hemp. But it’s not necessarily the plant itself that determines why one gets you high instead of the other. It all comes down to their molecular structure.
Fig. 1 CBD molecule.
Fig. 2 THC molecule
Admittedly, they’re very similar. They have the exact same molecular formula and their masses are almost identical too. But because of their shapes, they fit into the ECS receptors differently. As overly simple as it may seem, it’s a case of “square peg and round hole.” THC really locks into those receptors which is what gives it those psychoactive effects. CBD, on the other hand, doesn’t fit perfectly and can even inhibit the ability of THC to attach properly. There’s more and more research coming out everyday, but scientists are now thinking that CBD actually encourages your body to produce more of its own naturally occurring endocannabinoids.
The main takeaway, however, is that while they both interact with your ECS only one of them actually gets you high. And it’s not CBD.
Is CBD Right For You?
The only person who can really answer that is you! And the only way you’ll know is if you try. Reports of side effects are minimal, but it’s always recommended to consult with your doctor if you’re taking any medications that it may interact with.
You probably already have friends or family members who have found relief of some kind through the use of CBD. I hope this Guide gave you a better idea of what CBD is and that it helped you decide whether or not you should give it a try.
Everyone deserves a life that promotes happiness and well-being, and at Singy’s we truly believe that one of the best ways to get there is through the use of high-quality, organic CBD oil. You deserve to live your best life, so get started today!