A lot of news has been going around medical cannabis lately and it hasn’t been all that bad. People are mainly talking about Cannabidiol (or CBD for short), an ingredient of the hemp plant where it is directly extracted from. There’s been a lot of talk pertaining to its legalities or its safety, but there isn’t much discussion about the facts pertaining to this healthy substance. With that being said, we’re taking the liberty today to introduce you to some interesting facts about CBD and why it offers a lot of potential in the field of medicine.
CBD can Block the Addictive Side Effect of Other Drugs
One of the most common drugs that people ingest from around the world are painkillers, and among the strongest of these drugs is morphine. Unfortunately, morphine can be quite addicting, leading patients to a self-destructive path. Luckily, in a 2013 study done on rats, scientists discovered that CBD reduces the pleasurable effect of morphine in the brain, making it less likely to be treated by the body as a reward.
CBD Could Potentially Stop Cancer Cells from Spreading
One of the most dangerous aspects of cancer is its ability to metastasize—the development of secondary malignant growths at a distance from a primary site of cancer. Numerous studies done by the National Cancer Institute suggests that medical cannabis could potentially reduce the chance for some types of cancer from metastasizing. Scientists believe that CBD might naturally inhibit ID-1, a DNA-binding protein inhibitor, thus restricting the cancer cells from getting into the bloodstream and reaching other tissues.
It’s Impossible to Get High with CBD
Tetrahydrocannabinol (or THC for short) is one of the main components of the Cannabis Indica variant, also known as marijuana. It has psychoactive effects and it is the main reason why people get high. CBD, on the other hand, is non-psychoactive in nature, which means that patients taking it as medication wouldn’t feel any sort of high nor have their mental states altered.
CBD Oil Naturally Affects the Body
CBD gets naturally absorbed by our bodies thanks to our cannabinoid receptor sites that mammals have. The endocannabinoid system (or ECS for short) is primarily found within the central nervous system and brain. CBD binds to our cannabinoid receptors that relieve pain, helps with relaxation, reduces the severity of epilepsy, and more.
The First-Ever Medicinal Use of Hemp Began Around 2,700 B.C.
For over 10,000 years, humans have been using hemp, along with its oils and seeds, for numerous reasons. It was among the first plants to be used for making shoes, clothing, paper, and rope. The seeds and oils that our ancestors extracted from hemp were used for all sorts of medicines, and it was also being used as a food source.
Medical cannabis isn’t new, and it has been in fact, used by ancient human civilizations. Now that it’s making a comeback and with the high level of technology we have today, we are sure to find and make better use of CBD. Right now though, a lot of scientists and researchers are looking into it for health purposes to find a cure, treat ailments, and provide people with a much better life.