CBD and Wellness
Clients have been asking me more and more about how I feel about CBD and if it really works. Unfortunately, I never knew that much about it to give an educated answer. I wanted to know more, so when a friend told me about an educational master class with a reputable CBD company in Denver, I jumped on the opportunity. I applied for a scholarship and received it, which was quite exciting. It also came with lots of lovely products for me to try.
How does Cannabidiol (CBD) work in the Body?
CBD sends information to the Endocannabinoid System (ECS). ECS was only recently discovered in 1990 and is located in the brain and throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems consisting of neuromodulatory lipids and their receptors. It is said to be perhaps the most important physiologic system involved in establishing and maintaining human health. Although the ECS affects a wide variety of biological processes, experts believe that its overall function is to regulate homeostasis, which is to maintain stability and balance in your body.
The chemical compound of CBD is polypharmacological - meaning, it affects more than just one part of our bodies at any time. Compared to THC in cannabis (that binds to receptors in your cells and alters their state), CBD does the opposite. It interacts in several different ways, which is part of the reason it has several different properties. CBD activates various receptors, like vanilloid, serotonin, and adenosine receptors. Vanilloid receptors help to mediate pain signals in your body. Serotonin receptors affect and change your mood. Adenosine receptors determine your sleeping and waking cycles. However, that is not where the CBD compound stops, it also blocks fatty acids that help to regulate pleasure functions like memory, pain, reward, appetite, and sleep. It boosts chemical levels in your body and can affect one or more of these functions.
In layman terms, CBD aids systems for healing your body without experiencing the psychoactive effects that you would with THC. It can be ingested or applied topically for localized relief. CBD is obtained from the flower of the hemp plant that is non-psychoactive. Hemp has been used for thousands of years for medicinal purposes and should not to be confused with marijuana, which is a totally different plant.
CBD effects the following:
appetite
energy & balance
immune function
memory
metabolism
sleep
stress response
pain
thermoregulation