What is CBD?

The cannabis plant contains 113 active compounds called cannabinoids. CBD, short for Cannabidiol, is one of them. It also happens to be the second cannabinoid – next to THC – that occurs in abundance.

Contrary to THC, CBD has no intoxicating properties, so it won’t make you feel “high.” Better yet, CBD has been scientifically shown to counter the psychoactive effects of THC, including elevated anxiety caused by overconsumption of this compound.

On top of that, CBD comes with a myriad of health benefits, and although hemp-derived CBD is classified as a dietary supplement, there are legions of people who have improved the quality of their life with the simple use of Cannabidiol.

We will elaborate on this later, though. For now, let’s answer another important question.

Cannabinoids, or phytocannabinoids (phyto = plant in Greek) are capable of interacting with the body and the brain through the endocannabinoid system (ECS). While THC and other cannabinoids act directly on the cannabinoid receptors in the ECS, Cannabidiol has a slightly different nature.

CBD And the Endocannabinoid System:

In the 1980s, President Ronald Reagan threw tens of millions of dollars into studies that were aimed to prove that marijuana causes brain damage and cognitive impairment. As you might guess, these studies failed to prove the politically biased claim and instead, they ended up discovering the endocannabinoid system.

The endocannabinoid system is a complex network of cell receptors and neurotransmitters that are responsible for maintaining homeostasis in the body. Cannabinoid receptors are spread throughout the entire body, with largest concentrations in the central and peripheral nervous systems, and in the immune system. The ECS improves the communication between all those systems.

The endocannabinoid system also controls a wide range of biological functions, including sleep, mood, temperature control, immune response, pain and pleasure perception, fertility, memory, and appetite. Whenever something wrong happens with your health, the endocannabinoid system will release its natural cannabinoids (endocannabinoids) to restore the balance and bring you up and about.

In animals such as dogs, as part of the central nervous system and the peripheral system, endocannabinoids are made up of lipids. They are neurotransmitters, meaning that they transfer chemicals to and around the brain of your dogs.

There is a plethora of studies about the effects of CBD for dogs so you will feel comfortable about giving CBD and hemp products to your best friends.
Sometimes, however, the ECS can’t catch up with the damage, which can be the cause of serious chronic conditions, according to some researchers.

Like we said, CBD doesn’t interact directly with cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2), but instead, it stimulates the endocannabinoid system to produce its own cannabinoids. In addition, it slows their breakdown by inhibiting the FAAH enzyme, so the endocannabinoid can stay in the body for longer.

Besides, CBD operates on 60 different molecular pathways, affecting serotonin receptors, immune system, vanilloid receptors, and more. It’s a versatile compound and the number of health-conscious consumers who use it on a regular basis is a living proof of that.

While we are not able to make medical claims in regards to Cannabidiol and CBD products, we strongly recommend doing further research into the benefits of this amazing cannabinoid.