CBD

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid produced by cannabis. Many people consume it in its various forms to manage pain, anxiety, stress, and other physical and mental issues. While cannabis is typically associated with getting stoned or high, CBD can be isolated so that you do not have to get high when consuming it.

There are more than one hundred cannabinoids in the cannabis plant. THC is the most abundant in many strains and is considered the most psychoactive substance in the plant. CBD is the second-largest and is the most researched cannabinoid for medical purposes.

How Does CBD Work?

The body has a network of cannabinoid receptors that interact with cannabinoids. These receptors are scattered throughout the body through a network called the endocannabinoid system (ECS). This network of receptors works as a signalling system that helps keep the body in chemical balance, or homeostasis.

CBD and other potent cannabinoids interact with the body’s cannabinoid receptors and mimic the effect of endocannabinoids (natural compounds produced by the body). Hence, CBD can help keep the body’s homeostasis by affecting the synthesis and release of hormones, neurotransmitters, and endocannabinoids. CBD’s ability to interact with many systems throughout the body suggests many more potential uses in medicine and psychiatry.