עבריתWhat is CBD, and how does it work?
- Saturday, August 5 2023 at 15:39
- Snir Mutzafi
- CBD
- 8 minutes
He’s the nice guy, the one that is always there for you, he’ll open the door and move the chair for you. He’ll be there when the times are tough when your heart’s been broken by other cannabinoids. CBD is the nice guy, the less exciting, charismatic, and spontaneous compared to his friend, THC, the one that all the girls want to hang and dance with, he who makes them giggle like teenage girls and blush as maids. the one who gets their heart rate racing, for better - or worse. CBD is the one who repairs and decreases the damage his heartthrob friend, THC, does to them all, he is less sexy, but he will always be there, he is less memorable, but no less important - if not more CBD stands for Cannabidiol, a major phytocannabinoid, and was first obtained from cannabis in the year 1940 by Adams and colleagues at the University of Illinois, but only in 1963 was its structure fully elucidated by Israeli Refael Meshulam. CBD is one of the "big six" phytocannabinoids:
CBD IS a psychoactive material – meaning that it does influence the user’s brain, but with a positive and suggested desired effect – a neuroprotective effect (elaboration below ) – without feeling "high" and is one of at least 85 active cannabinoids identified within the Cannabis plant. In 2018 the WHO (World Health Organization) determined that CBD does not endanger the public's health or hold addictive qualities (in contrast to its cousin – THC).
CBD on its own does not connect to the cannabinoid receptors (such as CB1 + CB2) in our ECS (Endocannabinoid System), but encourages it to produce its endogenous cannabinoids while delaying their disintegration by inhibiting a certain enzyme - FAAH (Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase) - it means those endocannabinoids can last longer in your body. 5HT1A receptors - a subtype of serotonin receptor in the brain, CBD induced both anti-depressant and anxiolytic like effects (compared to Imipramine). The wide list of different receptors CBD interacts with, suggests why the wide therapeutic variety of CBD exists and why it is speculated it can aid in so many different conditions and illnesses. (See attributes and effects) CBD suppresses an enzyme system called P450 Cytocrom (THC and CBN also lightly suppress although the former is stronger), approximately 60% of prescription drugs dissolve using this system, and the level of which CBD acts as an inhibitor of P450 depends on:
Studies have demonstrated CBD’s anti-inflammatory abilities, by reducing inflammation it can be a great aid in chronic pain, especially the one that stems from inflammation in different joints, arthritis, IBD’s and more, it can be used systematically by using oil under the tongue, or through ingestion (Gummies bears), or locally with lotions and creams
CBD also holds an anti-oxidant effect, it can help protect your skin from damaging elements such as free radicals and aid in anti-aging your skin by using it in cream with other vitamins and minerals such as vitamins E and A.
Different studies have shown CBD’s ability to treat and reduce pain by reducing inflammation and interaction with different neurotransmitters responsible for pain signaling. In 2005 Sativex, a spray given under the tongue, containing both THC and CBD, was approved by the FDA for treating neuropathic pain caused by multiple sclerosis. CBD may aid in different types of pain, orthopedically caused, central pain in conditions such as fibromyalgia, and arthritis.
Compared to a placebo, CBD in a dosage of 300 mg, managed to significantly reduce anxiety while giving a speech in public. In mice, CBD affected depression similar to Imipramine, an antidepressant. An animal study in 2019 concluded that CBD has an antidepressant-like effect which is quite fast. The speculation about CBD’s ability to reduce depression is still in dire need of clinical trials, but the evidence suggests it might be quite effective. In patients with bipolar disorder, 12 weeks of 150-300 mg per day given to them reduced their anxiety and depression.
CBD's relation with THC is an interesting factor you need to be aware of if you use cannabis medicinally or recreationally. Since the '70s, It's suggested that CBD influences the way THC binds to CB1 receptors in your brain, CBD binds to a site on the CB1 receptor distinct from the THC binding site. This attachment causes the receptor site where THC binds to change the shape of the receptor which creates a lesser binding of THC and less activation of the CB1 receptor, thus reducing THC‘s psychoactive properties – the combination of the two can maximize the benefits of these two phytocannabinoids – while reducing THC‘s unwanted effects if you want to avoid or reduce the "Stoner effect"! A 2015 study suggests that the supplementation of CBD reduced the potency and efficacy of 2-arachidonylglycerol (2-AG) and THC, putting CBD into the category of a negative allosteric modulator. In some instances, CBD reduced the effects of THC, and in other cases, it exacerbated the effects of THC. The reason for this is because of multiple mechanisms in which CBD interacts with THC. Grapefruit – yeah, not orange or lemon juice, grapefruit! you should decrease or avoid consuming grapefruit – to increase the effectiveness of CBD and cannabis in general acts enzymatically similarly to grape juice, the active ingredient changes your livers behavior, and the toxin-neutral mechanisms stop dismantling the drug and its active materials build in your bloodstream, meaning using Cannabis, CBD, and GRAPE JUICE could pose a danger of drugs blood level increase.
Side effects related to using CBD are not common (also due to lack of studies in humans), patients/consumers have reported mainly these side effects in a 2016 literature survey:
CBD-based products have rapidly become more popular and can be purchased in many states in the US, in 2018 president Trump signed the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (aka the 2018 Farm Bill) into law, removing Hemp from the Controlled Substances Act for it to be legal it can only be made from Hemp plants and has to contain no more than 0.3% THC. During that year the FDA officially recognized CBD as a medicinal material by approving Epidiolex as a treatment medicine for two severe pediatric seizure disorders:
*It is recommended to always check your current state’s laws before trying to purchase products with either CBD or THC. Under US federal law, cannabis and THC included are controlled substances – making them prohibited, not including states making them legal.
Epidiolex - used for drug-resistant epileptic seizures connected to Dravet Syndrome and Lennox-gastaut syndrome, was tested in a 2019 study on mice with different doses causing within a day liver damage (connecting to grape juice remark above) - suggesting that further studies examining chronic usage of CBD and its possibility to interact with other medications or drugs, especially in humans is paramount before. Nabiximols (SATIVEX) - Cannabis-based medicine administered sublingual (under your tongue) – with a ratio of 1 to 1 CBD:THC, used to treat spasticity in MS (Multiple Sclerosis).
CBD can be put into almost any product:
Don’t look at me like that for raising this question… I know it was one of the first questions to pop into your mind, By consuming CBD products, disregarding the lack of psychoactive attributes can be traced? The answer is yes and no, pretty simple ah? A urine test sets out looking not for CBD - since it does not impair your motor skills or judgment, they’re looking for its psychoactive cousin – THC (we all have that family member don’t we… ;)) Since THC can exist in different CBD products (even in low ratios of less than 0.3%) and remain in your body for weeks, this is where (and this is the part where I grab a pack full of vomiting bags), the government or state needs to step in and r…e…g…u..l…a…t…e… (sorry almost vomited there), to minimize the chances of different companies with centric intentions of stepping out of line and not following the strict guidelines. Tests of CBD products from unlicensed stores have come back positive for THC. Not all CBD is extracted from the same sub-species of cannabis-Sativa, in 2009 the United States Farm bill – allows the growing of industrial Hemp and sell CBD based products based on this industrial hemp, but the law does not permit the usage of CBD which is the source in cannabis for recreational use, even if the THC has been completely removed. CBD derives from plants that include a high content of THC fall in the grey area of legal in the US, even in states where cannabis usage is legal. Hemp is grown differently from the cannabis plant we consume, while both belong to the cannabis-Sativa species, Hemp:
The future is bright CBD-wise, no longer taboo or illegal, more human trials are needed to assess its safety and effect, but it holds a promising future in many aspects. In the present, you should always consult your physician especially if you suffer from chronic illnesses, take chronic medications, and avoid interactions.