CBD: Is it worth the hype?
What is it?
Before we can get into the nitty gritty of CBD we must first understand what it is. CBD, or more formally known as Cannabidiol, is one of the most prevalent active ingredients in the marijuana and hemp plants. Unlike THC, CBD does not cause any psychoactive effects (aka it does not get you high). However, the source (hemp vs marijuana) may impact the amount of trace THC available in the product. Not to worry, legally no CBD product can have more than 0.3% of THC. Also, the ratio of THC:CBD in hemp is far greater than marijuana which is why you see a lot of hemp derived products on the market.
The Sciency Stuff
Our bodies are amazing. We have so many systems which work together to regulate our entire being, one of which being the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is essentially our own personal CBD factory acting upon two major receptors in our bodies: CB1 and CB2. These receptors are populated in two main areas.
The CB1 is present in very high levels in the brain and central nervous system, impacting many of the psychoactive benefits of using CBD like stress and anxiety.
The CB2 receptors, on the other hand, are more prevalent in our immune cells impacting inflammation and pain.
The research is still varied and a little contradictory on how external CBD impacts these receptors, however more is coming out on the benefits of using CBD.
What we know right now: more evidence favors the impact of CBD on the CB1 receptors.
What does this mean? If your goal is to ease anxiety, improve sleep, or decrease stress, CBD may alleviate these symptoms. However, if you are trying to decrease inflammation and pain (CB2 receptors) from a heavy workout or chronic condition, there is less evidence to support this.
The good news? Our bodies are able to act on this system endogenously (on its own). However, sometimes this system can get dysregulated and not work properly - enter the CBD market.
Fun fact: Recently the FDA approved a medication called Epidiolex which is the first approved cannabidiol to treat seizures! #progress
How to take CBD?
CBD oil, cream, lotion, drinks, you name it, CBD is in it. How can we know if the products we choose are safe and effective? At this point in time, I think the short answer is, we can’t. However, it’s not all doom and gloom. Studies have shown that CBD has a favorable toxicity (meaning it’s hard to overdose or cause yourself harm) which means that even if your product isn’t necessarily effective, it's unlikely to cause any negative side effects (except maybe to your bank account). This also means, we aren’t exactly sure what the most effective dose of CBD is.
If you aren’t sure about dosage and don’t know where to start, experts suggest starting low and increasing to tolerance/desired effect. Oil tinctures allow for more experimentation with dosage vs something like a gummy or drink with a set dosage. *Always consult a doctor before taking CBD especially if you are on medications to ensure there are no interactions.*
Another good place to start is https://www.mydosage.com/ - this website asks about your reason behind taking CBD, takes a few biometrics (age, weight) and provides you with a dose based on these answers. It also includes up to date CBD studies and a team of experts constantly monitoring the site to give you the most accurate information to date!
So… Is it worth the hype?
Like anything, if you expect something to cure your entire being without working on additional factors like sleep, diet, exercise, lifestyle habits, etc. CBD alone can only do so much. However, if you are rocking your health and wellness and want to add something to supplement/aid your wellness journey it appears there is some favorable research behind CBD with more to come.
Links:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/cannabidiol-cbd-what-we-know-and-what-we-dont-2018082414476
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3820295/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6710502/
https://www.forbes.com/health/body/cbd-dosage/#footnote_1
*Please note this content is informational only and is not intended to treat, cure, or diagnose any ailment. It is always advisable that you visit your healthcare professional before taking any CBD products.
