Cannabidiol or CBD is a bioactive element that is extracted from the cannabis plant. It is rapidly gaining popularity because of the medical benefits especially the ones related to brain health. Experts are sure that Cannabidiol will not compromise your learning abilities, focus or short-term memory.
When you are dealing with self-medication or you are on prescription drugs, an important thing you need to remember is that there is nothing that is called a biologically free lunch. You will have to suffer from an equal reaction for every action you are planning to take in your life.
That is why something simple like Aspirin can kill more than 1,000 every year, while alcohol is killing 110,000 people, but instead of killing, CBD has the potential of saving lives. It has impressive medical benefits and can help to improve your brain health.
Read everything you need to know about “How CBD affects the Brain“.
What is CBD?
CBD is now a very well-known substance that is produced by the cannabis plant species. It is the second most common cannabinoid besides THC in the cannabis plant. The Cannabinoids that are extracted from the cannabis plant have the ability to act on the cannabinoid receptors of the endocannabinoid system in the human body.
Cannabidiol is gaining popularity as a therapeutic agent that will allow you to maintain your focus and improve your mental capabilities. Currently, some experts are looking at ways to use CBD for the treatment of many brain-related health conditions.
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CBD vs THC
You may have wondered that THC is more common than CBD, but it is not as popular as CBD (In the medical, not recreational sense). The reason is that THC has strong psychoactive properties. It makes you high, for which it is appreciated by cannabis users. In addition, it has been found that many of the medicinal properties attributed to THC are actually due to CBD. On the contrary, this does not mean that THC has no medicinal value.
But an overdose of THC can be very unpleasant and also has negative side effects. On the other hand, CBD does not have that kind of psychoactive effect neither does it have dangerous Side Effects. Which means that you will not have to deal with getting high when you are using Cannabidiol.
Some side effects of THC include nervousness, paranoia, shortness of breath (in some cases), and increased risk of getting psychoses. This is not the case with CBD. At no dose were such side effects noted. Therefore, you will not have to deal with such unpleasant side effects. It will help maintain the normal transmission of nervous signals.
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Neurological effects of CBD
CBD has become known worldwide, among other things, for its positive effect on epilepsy patients. However, in a recent research, it has been shown that CBD has various neurological effects that can help us maintain the health of our brain.
Experts are working hard to find out if CBD can be used to treat various mental and psychological problems such as ADHD, schizophrenia, anxiety, and other brain-related issues. If the evidence and experiments support these initial investigations, CBD could soon be used to treat various mental health problems.
However, here are some of the most common effects of CBD on the brain.
Neuroprotective effect
The biggest attraction of Cannabidiol is that it has various neuroprotective effects. It will protect the neurons from degradation. That means that CBD could be used for the treatment of various neurological diseases.
One of the most common diseases that occurs due to the degeneration of neurons is Alzheimer’s disease. Studies have shown that CBD can be used in the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease as it can protect against neurodegenerative disease. In a case where a person is already suffering from the disease, CBD can be used to delay the onset.
Analgesic effects
Pain is caused when the brain sends signals to pain receptors of our body. However, in a recent research, it has been found that CBD has the potential to effectively reduce pain. It has been shown that CBD acts on the neurons that send the signals of pain to different parts of the body.
Once the CBD inhibits the signals, the transmission ceases, eventually stopping the sensation of pain. There is no analgesic tolerance produced by CBD, which makes it reliable for treatment.
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- CBD Oil for Pain – Cannabidiol for chronic Pain
- CBD for Neuropathic Pain & the Role of the Cannabinoid System in Pain Control
Anti-Tumor
A wonderful feature of cannabinoids like CBD is that they are also produced by the body itself. The so-called endogenous cannabinoids. Because of this, there are no dangerous side effects of CBD on the body. Experts are investigating whether or not CBD can be used to treat cancer.
It has been shown that CBD can help stop the growth of cancer cells. The exact mode of operation of CBD in achieving this still remains unclear. However, the therapeutic potential of CBD also stands out in cancer treatment.
Anti-Anxiety effects
If you pay close attention, you will notice that the main cause of anxiety is prolonged stress. A key factor in dealing with anxiety is reducing stress. CBD has the potential to help to reduce stress and anxiety. Some studies and experiments, as well as countless user reports, indicate that CBD has strong anxiolytic properties. as Also, it may be used for the treatment of various other brain diseases such as post-traumatic disorders and other related problems.
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How CBD works with Central Nervous System
Knowing how CBD affects the brain cells can help us to understand how it can be beneficial to our bodies. There are two types of receptors in the brain that are responsible for controlling the functions. These are CB1 and CB2. The reason why most cannabinoids have psychoactive effects is because they bind with CB1 receptors like THC.
In the case of CBD, however, it will not bind directly to the CB1 receptors. There are several other receptors and channels that CBD uses for CB1 and CB2. That’s why you can experience the benefits of CBD without getting high.
Here are some of the channels used by CBD for action on receptors.
Serotonin system
The most important receptor to which CBD binds is serotonin 1A. It is an important receptor in the brain because it controls various reactions related to stress and pain. Serotonin receptor is also responsible for the release of cortisol hormone, which is important in relieving stress and in dealing with other associated conditions. It is important to know that CBD can regulate the production of serotonin, which will help to control conditions like.
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Pain
- Depression
- Nausea in Chemotherapy
- Appetite
Vanilloid Receptors
CBD binds to vanilloid receptors, also known as TRPV1. It is a famous receptor because it helps to manage various important processes in the body. The main function of vanilloid receptors is to maintain thermoregulation. It means that it helps to maintain the temperature of the body.
The binding of CBD to TRPV1 can help maintain normal body balance, thereby reducing pain and inflammation. When the body’s internal system is balanced, the causes of certain pain or other side effects can be avoided.
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Orphan Receptors
Orphan Receptors also known as GPR55 is still under research. Experts are not sure whether it belongs to a famous family of receptors or not. However, a recent research has shown that Orphan Receptors play a role in maintenance of blood pressure, regulation of bone resorption, and bone density.
However, overactivation of orphan receptors can be dangerous to the body. It can lead to osteoporosis. Furthermore, it helps in the multiplication and migration of cancer cells. CBD will inhibit the orphaned receptors. It means that CBD could be used in the future as an effective treatment for cancer.
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors are commonly known as nuclear receptors. They are found on the surface of the nucleus, which makes them known as nuclear receptors.
It has been found that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors bind with CBD and produce an element known as PPAR-gamma. This can stop the proliferation of cancer cells. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors have anti-proliferation properties that can help to regress tumor cells.
It may be effective in the case of cell lines associated with lung cancer. But other areas of the body are also examined by experts to determine the effectiveness of a treatment.
Stress and Depression
Various studies in humans have shown that CBD is useful as an anxiolytic compound, meaning that it can alleviate the side effects associated with stress, anxiety, and depression.
A study in which the dosage of 40 mg of CBD was administered in a controlled manner reduced the nervousness of subjects in the midst of a reproduced open conversation strategy and Neuroimaging showed changes in thought work identified with the control of passionate procedures.
It is thought that CBD influences the neuronal effect in the animals (the location of the cerebrum associated with the union and arrangement of the memories) through the expansion of the calcium particle fixations in the mitochondria.
In addition, it has been shown that CBD reduces oxygenation (oxidation) of the blood and weakens the availability in the amygdala, the area of the cerebrum required for the encounter of emotions.
When hoping to tie an announced advantage, for example, diminished tension or worry, with a particular target system, things can turn out to be entirely untidy.
Despite the fact that the right components still need to be explained, CBD clearly pursues several different pathways to alleviate the manifestations of stress and nervousness. In fact, any research shows that something as normal and harmless as CBD, can be as successful as a pharmaceutical drug like valium or diazepam.
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Sleep Quality
There are around 70 million individuals in America who experience the effects of a sleep disorder, poor rest, or another related rest issue. Strangely, however, CBD really has a gentle stimulatory impact on indistinguishable receptors in the mind (Similar to caffeine). Reports demonstrate that taking a certain dose of CBD oil before sleep time can really encourage profound, soothing rest. But with lower dosage, it can promote alertness.
In terms of dose, there is an enormous delta that can range from 5mg CBD to 1300mg depending on the application.
Unmistakably there are a lot of singular inconstancies with regards to compelling dosing, however, benefits have been seen in measurements of every unique amount.
Fortunately, there appears to be no limit to the dosage in terms of well-being or harmfulness. Basically, you just have to find the dose that works for you and your area of application.
Clinical use of CBD
While the benefits of CBD are encouraging and promise a wide range of possible uses, the clinical application remains obscure.
An important point to remember is that clinical studies have the advantage of introducing CBD specifically into cerebral tissue to monitor its mode of action, particularly through testing. However, since many studies were not performed on humans, you should also take this into account and expect to experience it in a slightly different way.
However, there are a lot of reports and studies on the different medical applications of CBD. Below are our reports about it. Read more: What is CBD used for – A list of known uses of CBD
Sources:
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- Blessing EM, Steenkamp MM, Manzanares J, Marmar CR. Cannabidiol as a Potential Treatment for Anxiety Disorders. Neurotherapeutics. 2015;12(4):825-36. PDF
- Mechoulam R, Parker LA. The Endocannabinoid System and the Brain. Annu Rev Psychology. 2013;64:21-47. PDF
- Morgan CJ, Schafer G, Freeman TP, Curran HV. Impact of cannabidiol on the acute memory and psychotomimetic effects of smoked cannabis: naturalistic study: naturalistic study. Br J Psychiatry. 2010;197(4):285-90. PDF
- Parsons LH, Hurd YL. Endocannabinoid signalling in reward and addiction. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2015;16(10):579-94. PDF
