In recent years, the therapeutic use of hemp has gained followers around the world, not only among the scientific community but also among the general public. In fact, health authorities in many countries have changed their legislation to approve its use so that the population can access all the benefits of cannabinoids.

With this guide, you will be able to understand what CBD is and how to make the most of its benefits, as well as learn a little more about the processes, cultivation, and commercialization of medical hemp.

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol, also known as CBD, is one of the main active principles of “hemp Sativa” and is one of the more than one hundred cannabinoids, or phytocannabinoids, identified so far in the plant. This substance does not have psychoactive effects, but it does have a very important therapeutic potential. For this reason, it is, together with THC, the most researched cannabinoid.

What is CBD used for and what are its benefits?

Due to its analgesic properties, several studies have demonstrated the efficacy of CBD in treatments to reduce chronic pain. Likewise, cannabidiol-based drugs are used in many countries for the treatment of muscle spasms resulting from diseases such as multiple sclerosis.

Other studies have also associated the benefits of cannabinoids for the treatment of symptoms derived from pathologies such as diabetes, anxiety and depression, gastrointestinal problems, reduction of symptoms related to cancer (due to its antioxidant characteristics), heart diseases, or even the treatment of dermatological pathologies such as acne or to reduce body pain, which is why natural CBD moisturizing oil is used, for example, for different types of massages.

The medicinal properties of CBD are being investigated by laboratories around the world which, among other results, are demonstrating its efficacy as an aid to quitting smoking, for the treatment of obesity, or inhibiting CYP 450, the main cytochrome responsible for the oxidation metabolism of xenobiotics. Visit Hemp Revs for the details.

What is cannabidiol and what is it used for?

Cannabinoids are the main chemical compounds produced by the Hemp sativa L. plant, but they are also produced by other plants and even by the human body. Hemp can produce more than 100 different phytocannabinoids naturally. Of the more than 100 non-intoxicating phytocannabinoids – produced by hemp – cannabidiol (CBD) is the best known.

Others include Cannabigerol (CBG), Cannabichromene (CBC), and Cannabinol (CBN), among others. Cannabinoids that come from plants are called phytocannabinoids and those produced by the human body are called endocannabinoids. (The prefix Phyto- means plant, while endo- means coming from within).

As a curiosity, the two most abundant endocannabinoids are anandamide and 2-AG. “Ananda” from Sanskrit, ānanda, meaning ‘joy, supreme bliss’, is a popular term in yoga to define a state of serenity and peace. Cannabinoids, both phytocannabinoids, and endocannabinoids interact directly or indirectly with the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is present in all living things.

However, although one of the characteristics of CBD is its ability to act directly on the central nervous system, it is not a substance that carries the same psychotropic effects associated with THC. Currently, different medicinal properties of CBD are recognized for the treatment of some diseases and their symptoms, as well as its dermatological use, achieved mainly through CBD oil.