CBD, or cannabidiol, is one of 113 chemical constituents, known as cannabinoids, which are part of the cannabis plant and it’s most known for its medicinal and recreational properties. What separates CBD from the others is the fact that it’s not psychoactive but at the same time, it contains all of the health benefits observed in general in the entire cannabis plant.
If you want to learn more about how CBD was discovered and how it affects the medical world, make sure you continue reading…
The Discovery Of CBD
Cannabis has been known to medicine for thousands of years. There are recorded medical uses dating back to 1400-2000 BC! Its medicinal properties were not properly confirmed until the 19th century when William Osler suggested cannabis as an effective natural treatment for migraines.
Humanity has been aware of the properties of cannabis for a long time, but when it comes to CBD, things are a little different. CBD was first discovered by Dr. Roger Adams and his team at the University of Illinois in 1940, making it one of the newest discoveries in the medical world.
Medical Benefits Of CBD
As we already mentioned, CBD is a fairly new discovery so there are not a lot of studies currently available. However, scientists have confirmed that CBD can be of great help in certain medical situations where modern medicine is not very effective.
For example, CBD has been proven as one of the biggest pain relief treatments to this date. The best part? There are few to no negative side effects of its use, compared to opioids. CBD reduces pain by stimulating the activity of the endocannabinoid receptors and interacting with our neurotransmitters.
What not so many people realize is that it is very recommendable for phobias because it does not get you addicted, compared to common medicines used.
CBD is also famous for providing depression and anxiety relief. One study has shown us that it can be extremely effective in treating insomnia and anxiety. Another study discovered that CBD can affect our brain as an antidepressant too.
When it comes to multiple sclerosis, modern medicine can only do so much. That’s where CBD steps in. According to research, CBD combined with THC has the potential to be one of the best available treatments for reducing spasms in MS patients.
The same goes for cancer symptoms. CBD helps reduce chemotherapy-related symptoms like nausea and vomiting.
CBD has also been able to help children with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome by significantly reducing their seizure activity. Several recent studies have shown us the benefits of CBD for patients with epilepsy who are not responding to traditional treatments.
Because of its immensely positive effect, Epidiolex, a cannabidiol drug, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2018 for treating these two epilepsy disorders. Essentially, Epidiolex is nothing else but a type of CBD oil.
Expectedly, CBD statistics show the industry is extremely successful.
The Bottom Line
The more we research the cannabis plant, especially CBD, the more we learn about the power it has. Modern medicine has come a long way, but with the discovery of cannabis’s medicinal properties, we enter new dawn full of fresh opportunities that will lead us to a better understanding of our body and how to heal it.