The effects of CBD (cannabidiol) are attracting more and more consumers, especially since CBD has no psychoactive effect and does not make them dependent. In France, although the cultivation of cannabis and its general use is prohibited, no law prohibits the consumption of CBD.
So derivatives are multiplying on the market, and that’s good. However, it is sometimes difficult for the (future) consumer to distinguish between what is meant here and there and the real opportunities offered by cannabinoids in general and CBD in particular in terms of benefits.
Especially since scientific studies continue, one after the other, to demonstrate the effects of cannabidiol on our body, but most European governments continue to not recognize medical cannabis.
The Weedy.fr team looks back at what we know about the effects of CBD… and what remains to be discovered!
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Top 6 Effects and Benefits of Cannabidiol (CBD)
What is CBD?
Cannabis or hemp: different benefits?
Top 6 effects and benefits of cannabidiol?
Effect of CBD #1: Relieve chronic pain
Effect of CBD #2: Antidepressant properties
Effect of CBD #3: Soothe skin irritation
Effect of CBD 4: Accompanying neurological diseases
Effect of CBD #5: Relieve intestinal disorders
CBD effect #6: CBD and cancer treatment
How does CBD work?
In which cases can CBD be used as an oil?
What is CBD?
Cannabidiol, also known as CBD in France, is a natural chemical from the flower of cannabis. CBD is the cannabinoid most present in the plant, after tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Although strongly related to THC, it is known not to reproduce the unwanted effects of THC, such as anxiety or addiction. Although it is not illegal to consume CBD, the sale of products containing CBD remains highly regulated. Thus, only certain varieties of hemp are allowed, and only certain parts of the plant are usable.
Above all, the THC content must be less than 0.3% in order not to become illegal.
CBD is marketed in various forms, depending on the laws in force in the countries where it is consumed. Highly sought after for the effects that CBD brings, it can be obtained as an extract, in CBD infusions, CBD oils, CBD cosmetics, CBD e-liquids for e-cigarettes or in food.
See also: Definition of CBD
Cannabis or hemp: different benefits?
It should be noted that hemp is not grown solely for its properties on the human body. It is also widely used in industries such as automotive, textile, construction and cosmetics.
This use, which is much less problematic in the eyes of the French authorities, owes in part to the distinction made in the country between cannabis (grown for its cannabinoids and their effects) and industrial hemp (grown for mulching, rope or tissue mainly).
The strictness of French laws can thus seem paradoxical when we know that the cultivation of hemp in France is a more than profitable sector. The country is the leading hemp producer in Europe, and the second in the world, just behind China.
Top 6 effects and benefits of cannabidiol?
The effects of CBD are recognized by scientists and doctors around the world. It is a safe, non-addictive substance and therefore distinguishes itself from tetrahydrocannabinol. CBD and THC both have important therapeutic properties.
But unlike THC, the properties of CBD do not give the impression of being in a second psychic and physical state. This is because the two components act differently on the receptors of our body. It would even be able to mitigate the psychoactive effects of THC, depending on the quantities used.
Extensive scientific research, as well as more and more patient and physician testimonies, highlight the potential of CBD as a treatment for a wide range of diseases.
A small warning: the French government, like many other governments in Europe, does not recognize cannabis, nor any of its cannabinoids, as a medical treatment. It is therefore not a question of encouraging self-medication on the basis of the elements presented here. If you are considering taking advantage of the possible effects of cannabidiol, we strongly recommend that you speak to a doctor beforehand.
That being said, what are the main effects of CBD?
Effect of CBD #1: Relieve chronic pain
CBD has anti-inflammatory and relaxing properties. This has the double effect of promoting both the reduction of possible inflammations present in the human body, but also of encouraging muscle relaxation. These two effects of cannabidiol complement and encourage each other, in what could be described as a virtuous circle.
The action of CBD on the body thus makes it possible to relieve some pain, or even to help alleviate chronic diseases over time such as fibromyalgia or osteoarthritis, which we know affects several million French people.
CBD can also limit inflammation of the brain and nervous system, which can provide relief for people suffering from pain, insomnia and certain immune system reactions.
effects of oil-cbd-cannabis
CBD would help relieve some chronic pain
Effect of CBD #2: Antidepressant properties
Anxiety and depression are pathologies that can affect us at many points in our lives. They disrupt our social life, our productivity and, most importantly, our health. Medicine has made it possible to develop drugs that make it possible to reduce these pathologies, but they are not necessarily all effective over time, especially because of the unwanted side effects they can cause.
Among the short and long-term side effects of the most common antidepressants, we find memory loss, jumps, etc.
Effect of CBD #3: Soothe skin irritation
Thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, cannabidiol is increasingly used in creams and cosmetic products for the treatment of skin diseases (acne, dermatitis and psoriasis in particular). In the case of the fight against acne, for example, it seems that cannabidiol, by acting on the CB2 sensors of our endocannabinoid system, can regulate an excessive secretion of sebum by the sebaceous glands, a major cause of acne attacks.
Although mostly benign, common skin diseases are particularly disturbing to those who suffer from them. This is true on the physical level (tension, itching), but also on the aesthetic level (appearance of red plaques or even long-term scarring). CBD creams and oils once again present a natural and effective way to improve the daily lives of those suffering from skin problems.
Effect of CBD 4: Accompanying neurological diseases
Neurological diseases are numerous, and most of the time still extremely difficult to understand and treat. These include, but are not limited to:
Neurodegenerative diseases: Alzheimer’s (cognitive impairment), dementia, Parkinson’s disease (affecting the central nervous system), epilepsy, stroke (strokes), Huntington’s disease, multiple sclerosis.
Neuropsychiatric diseases: autism disorders, alcoholism, schizophrenia, OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorders), depression.
It is of course absolutely impossible to consider treating all of these diseases in the same way, or even to suggest that CBD is an effective solution for each of them. Thanks to its soothing properties and its apparent ability to slow down the aging of nerve cells, cannabidiol, however, is a natural and safe way to help improve the daily lives of many patients with disorders directly related to the nervous and cerebral systems.
Another effect of cannabidiol, German researchers have reported that hemp stimulates neurogenesis, the growth of new brain cells, in adult mammals.
Effect of CBD #5: Relieve intestinal disorders
Again, the studies are still at a relatively early stage. However, initial research has already focused on the role that the properties of CBD could play in intestinal disorders such as Crohn’s disease or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
The link is not so difficult to establish since more than two-thirds of our immune system is actually located in our gastrointestinal tract. Cannabinoids, and therefore CBD, can interact directly with our nervous and cerebral systems. Once again, the anti-inflammatory and anti-nausea effects it causes are an opportunity for the treatment of intestinal disorders.
CBD effect #6: CBD and cancer treatment
Cannabidiol also has neuroprotective effects and anticancer properties that are currently being studied in academic research centers around the world.
A 2010 study of brain cancer in California found that the effects of cannabidiol enhanced the inhibitory effects of THC against the proliferation and survival of cells responsible for tumours. Thus, CBD would be much more effective in treating cancer, with the negative consequences of tetrahydrocannabinol being reduced.
Another study, published this time in 2014, also shows encouraging results for breast cancer. The acid form of CBD, CBDA, was specifically studied. Not yet tested on humans but only in the laboratory, the relationship between CBDA and diseased cells seems to limit the spread of cancer cells.
Benefits of CBD in oil.
How does CBD work?
CBD, like THC, interacts with our body in a variety of ways. One of the main effects of CBD is to mimic and increase the effects of compounds in our body called “endogenous cannabinoids”. They are named because of their similarity to the compounds found in the cannabis plant. These endocannabinoids are part of a regulatory system called the endocannabinoid system.
The discovery of this system has greatly improved our understanding of health and disease. It has major implications in almost all areas of medical science and helps explain how and why legal cannabis and THC are versatile compounds.
Acting on several levels in our body, this explains the large consumption of this plant that changes the mood, despite its illegal status.
In which cases can CBD be used as an oil?
CBD oil has many advantages, prompting many customary or neophyte users of CBD to turn to it. It is as follows:
Probably the simplest cannabis product to use, thanks to a clear dosage displayed at the packaging and, in most cases, a dropper bottle.
Very easy to store and store, thanks to its easy bottles to seal and place in a safe place.
Softer in its modes of use than more raw products like CBD flowers or CBD pollens.
Also sweeter in taste, with earthy notes and hazelnut typical of cannabis that can easily be masked by depositing the right number of drops on a sugar or directly in the diet.
In addition to these definite advantages, CBD oil also allows to enjoy the effects of cannabidiol quickly, over a long time.
By opting for an oil to …