Myths about CBD oil
April 2, 2021
With the growing popularity of CBD, we are hearing more and more about it. Despite the fact that the regulations concerning this substance could change in the future, CBD products are becoming more and more popular. Undoubtedly, these are products that raise some controversy due to the lack of information of a large part of the population, so it is not difficult to find different data from different sources.
In this article we will detail the four most widespread myths about CBD oil that you have probably heard at some point. Read on to learn the truth about cannabidiol.
CBD oil gets you high
Because CBD comes from the hemp plant, many people mistakenly assume that it is a psychoactive substance that “gets you high”. But this is not true. People who use recreational hemp get that high because of the effects of another substance, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which causes intoxicating and psychoactive effects on the user.
However, CBD does not have the same property. Several studies have been conducted on the subject, such as the research conducted by Wertlake and Henson under the title “A urinary analytical procedure for the identification of cannabidiol in patients undergoing medical hemp therapy”.
This study focused on investigating whether CBD was suitable for medical use in the U.S., and the researchers looked at its possible psychoactive effects. It turned out to have no such effects. CBD does not cause that high. Even the WHO has declared it to be a substance with no potential for abuse.
So don’t let anyone tell you that CBD and hemp are the same, because CBD is completely safe for consumption and has no psychoactive properties. This is perhaps one of the myths about CBD oil that most concerns those who hear about this substance for the first time.
CBD is good, THC is bad
Having cleared up the first myth, it is not surprising that many take it for granted that THC is the devil’s child. Hemp has been stigmatized for decades by the media, and that stigma is due, in part, to the psychoactive effects caused by consuming the plant. What exactly causes that effect? THC. As CBD becomes more and more accepted and THC remains under heavy criticism, the two substances are often presented as antagonists, claiming that CBD is good and THC is bad. But is this true?
Not really. In some U.S. states, hemp has been legalized for medical purposes. Typically, patients try to seek out hemp strains with a high CBD content because this substance is believed to interact with the body in positive ways. However, other patients opt for strains with a higher THC content because it is not a “bad” substance. If you are willing to experience the psychoactive effects, THC could have potential health benefits.
Sativex was the first Hemp-based drug to be legalized in many countries in Europe, although it is only prescribed in specific circumstances. It is a drug with a high CBD content, but with the same amount of THC. Sativex is used for severe forms of epilepsy, but how would they prescribe it if the THC was so terrible?
Have you heard of the entourage effect? Most likely not, but it’s an important concept if you want to know more about cannabinoids. Some studies have shown evidence that cannabinoids are more effective when taken together, and that phenomenon is what is known as the entourage effect.
For example, a study by Ethan Russo investigated the synergistic effects of cannabinoids when used together. Russo concluded that such synergy does indeed exist, and that THC, among other cannabinoids, could therefore be beneficial when used in conjunction with CBD.
Furthermore, one need not worry too much about the psychoactive effects caused by THC, as studies such as this one by Dalton, Martz, Lemberger, Rodda and Forney suggest that CBD can reduce those psychoactive effects of THC.
This is why Sativex works, because the cannabinoids act in unison thanks to the entourage effect, and the high CBD content can reduce the intoxicating effect of the THC present in the drug. Basically, we can say that THC is not a bad substance if you know how to use it.
scientists do not know how CBD works
It is true that we don’t know everything about CBD or any other cannabinoid. In many countries it is necessary to obtain a license to grow hemp that can be used in research, and such licenses are not always easy to obtain, which deters some scientists. Fortunately, some researchers are dedicated to this issue and are sure to discover many more details about CBD in the future.
On the other hand, it is fairly well understood how CBD works. The body has a system known as the endocannabinoid system (ECS), a network consisting of a series of receptors and substances called endocannabinoids. The body therefore produces its own version of these substances found in the hemp plant, which are useful for various functions. There is still a lot to know about SEC, but we know enough to explain how CBD works and what effects it has on the body.
For now we know of two main receptors, CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors are mainly found in the nervous system and brain, while CB2 receptors are mainly present in the immune system and tissues. It seems that CBD basically interacts with CB2 receptors, which is why it could provide health benefits.
SEC has a strong relationship with the maintenance of homeostasis, a term that refers to the perfect conditions for our survival. If something is out of balance, the body creates endocannabinoids to send signals to fix the problem. Ingesting CBD means bringing extra cannabinoids into the system, which can bind to CB2 receptors and help us maintain normal body function.
In other words, scientists do know how CBD works, and we know that it interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system to keep us healthy.
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