6 Reasons To Fall In Love With CBD

Guest post, Grace Hawkins

Ever since industrial hemp got legalized, there's been a significant influx of CBD (cannabidiol) products in the market. The industry is approximately worth more than a billion dollars and is still on a substantial rise. Online stores and convenience stores have already started selling CBD in various types and forms.

The Brightfield Research group has estimated that CBD markets are expected to have a 57% annual growth. Medical cannabis is facing acceptance and appreciation from the pharmaceutical industry. Medical professionals have discovered that CBD can naturally treat chronic pain, inflammation, epileptic seizures, and several other conditions. A survey from the Brightfield Group concluded that 42% of respondents turned to CBD products, and have stopped using pharmaceutical drugs or medication. The FDA has approved Epidiolex, a first-ever cannabis-derived drug for treating rare forms of epilepsy. Let us talk about the reason why you should consider falling in love with CBD. 

1.   Research Shows Promising Results

 Research in the field of cannabidiol has gone through numerous trials and studies.  Fortunately, the research has shown positive results. In 2017, the World Health Organization stated that CBD's pure state is well-tolerated by humans and animals. There are currently no risks and chances of physical dependence. Research shows a lot of encouraging results; therefore, the hype for CBD has reached another level. It might prove to be useful, especially on matters regarding epilepsy. It's always advisable to check in with your doctor before replacing any of your medication with CBD. 

2.   Can Alleviate Chronic Pain

 CBD affects ECS minutely. Instead, it activates or transforms other compounds present in the endocannabinoid system. If our body produces increased amounts of amandine, a compound responsible for regulating pain, it may reduce pain intensity. Studies have suggested that CBD can be used to treat chronic pain and inflammation. In 2017, the Health and Medical Division of US National Academies concluded that CBD is effective for neuropathic pain in adults and improves sclerosis spasticity symptoms.

3.   Can Improve Sleep Cycle

If you have insomnia, here's some good news for you. People consuming CBD have reported improvement in their sleep cycle when consumed an hour before bedtime. Therefore, it promotes a relaxing goodnight sleep. CBD is an excellent muscle relaxer as well. If your chronic pain keeps you awake at night, the best way to deal with the issues is by going for CBD edibles before bed. *Weed online canada Retailers can give you a greater insight into what options are available for consumption. 
(*This is not an endorsement by AV Stim, LLC implied or otherwise.)

4.   Its Legal Status

 For decades, all varieties of the cannabis plant have been considered Schedule I Substance. This means that they have high chances of abuse and no medical use. Substances with higher levels of THC are still illegal in the US. However, derivatives of the hemp plants have been legalized in many places. According to the Farm Bill of 2018, CBD containing a maximum of 0.3% of THC has been nationally legalized. Businesses have started selling as well as in many local stores. The ways of consumption vary from CBD edibles to oils and supplements. 

5.   Safe For Pets 

 Another quality of CBD is that it's safe for animals. Like humans, all animals have an endocannabinoid system. This system ensures that the cell receptors accept the benefits of CBD. It means that you and your pets can safely consume this natural remedy. Research has shown that CBD has helped alleviate symptoms of anxiety, insomnia, and osteoarthritis in their pets. 

6.   Reduced Mental Issues

 In recent times, CBD has drawn increasing interest as a treatment for many neuropsychology disorders. Fear and anxiety are natural responses that are necessary to cope with survival threats. But the excessive presence of concern can be a disability. According to studies, CBD shows positive results for curbing anxiety. Other than that, active research is being conducted, and experiments have suggested that it may decrease symptoms of schizophrenia. CBD is also considered to be useful for PTSD,  insomnia, and depression. It can be a great muscle relaxed as well. Those wanting to vape CBD can visit authorized smoke shop supplies retailers and reap all benefits.

Conclusion

 That's not all; it even shows promise to cure addiction among people. Since the benefits are immense, it has been positively received by the public. The CBD market is continuing to grow and has received great reviews from users. There's been an influx of CBD products in various forms, such as oils, bath bombs, edibles, supplements, dog treats, etc. The future of this industry is undoubtedly bright.

Could Marijuana Substance Help Prevent or Delay Memory Impairment in the Aging Brain?

November 23, 2008

Science Daily/Ohio State University

Ohio State University scientists are finding that specific elements of marijuana can be good for the aging brain by reducing inflammation there and possibly even stimulating the formation of new brain cells.

Their research suggests that the development of a legal drug that contains certain properties similar to those in marijuana might help prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Though the exact cause of Alzheimer’s remains unknown, chronic inflammation in the brain is believed to contribute to memory impairment.

Any new drug’s properties would resemble those of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the main psychoactive substance in the cannabis plant, but would not share its high-producing effects. THC joins nicotine, alcohol and caffeine as agents that, in moderation, have shown some protection against inflammation in the brain that might translate to better memory late in life.

“It’s not that everything immoral is good for the brain. It’s just that there are some substances that millions of people for thousands of years have used in billions of doses, and we’re noticing there’s a little signal above all the noise,” said Gary Wenk, professor of psychology at Ohio State and principal investigator on the research.

Wenk’s work has already shown that a THC-like synthetic drug can improve memory in animals. Now his team is trying to find out exactly how it works in the brain.

The most recent research on rats indicates that at least three receptors in the brain are activated by the synthetic drug, which is similar to marijuana. These receptors are proteins within the brain’s endocannabinoid system, which is involved in memory as well as physiological processes associated with appetite, mood and pain response.

This research is also showing that receptors in this system can influence brain inflammation and the production of new neurons, or brain cells.

“When we’re young, we reproduce neurons and our memory works fine. When we age, the process slows down, so we have a decrease in new cell formation in normal aging. You need those cells to come back and help form new memories, and we found that this THC-like agent can influence creation of those cells,” said Yannick Marchalant, a study coauthor and research assistant professor of psychology at Ohio State.

Marchalant described the research in a poster presentation November 19 at the Society for Neuroscience meeting in Washington, D.C.

Knowing exactly how any of these compounds work in the brain can make it easier for drug designers to target specific systems with agents that will offer the most effective anti-aging benefits, said Wenk, who is also a professor of neuroscience and molecular virology, immunology and medical genetics.

“Could people smoke marijuana to prevent Alzheimer’s disease if the disease is in their family? We’re not saying that, but it might actually work. What we are saying is it appears that a safe, legal substance that mimics those important properties of marijuana can work on receptors in the brain to prevent memory impairments in aging. So that’s really hopeful,” Wenk said.

One thing is clear from the studies: Once memory impairment is evident, the treatment is not effective. Reducing inflammation and preserving or generating neurons must occur before the memory loss is obvious, Wenk said.

Marchalant led a study on old rats using the synthetic drug, called WIN-55212-2 (WIN), which is not used in humans because of its high potency to induce psychoactive effects.

The researchers used a pump under the skin to give the rats a constant dose of WIN for three weeks – a dose low enough to induce no psychoactive effects on the animals. A control group of rats received no intervention. In follow-up memory tests, in which rats were placed in a small swimming pool to determine how well they use visual cues to find a platform hidden under the surface of the water, the treated rats did better than the control rats in learning and remembering how to find the hidden platform.

“Old rats are not very good at that task. They can learn, but it takes them more time to find the platform. When we gave them the drug, it made them a little better at that task,” Marchalant said.

In some rats, Marchalant combined the WIN with compounds that are known to block specific receptors, which then offers hints at which receptors WIN is activating. The results indicated the WIN lowered the rats’ brain inflammation in the hippocampus by acting on what is called the TRPV1 receptor. The hippocampus is responsible for short-term memory.

With the same intervention technique, the researchers also determined that WIN acts on receptors known as CB1 and CB2, leading to the generation of new brain cells – a process known as neurogenesis. Those results led the scientists to speculate that the combination of lowered inflammation and neurogenesis is the reason the rats’ memory improved after treatment with WIN.

The researchers are continuing to study the endocannabinoid system’s role in regulating inflammation and neuron development. They are trying to zero in on the receptors that must be activated to produce the most benefits from any newly developed drug.

What they already know is THC alone isn’t the answer.

“The end goal is not to recommend the use of THC in humans to reduce Alzheimer’s,” Marchalant said. “We need to find exactly which receptors are most crucial, and ideally lead to the development of drugs that specifically activate those receptors. We hope a compound can be found that can target both inflammation and neurogenesis, which would be the most efficient way to produce the best effects.”

The National Institutes of Health supported this work.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081119120141.htm