There’s been a lot going on in the wellness industry, and CBD has become somewhat of a holy grail product category. Cosmetics, clothes, food, liquor—it can be found in almost every imaginable consumable form. Every other day, a new brand is entering with uniquely flavored gummies, oils, and vapes.
While most people eat CBD gummies just to wind down after a long and hectic day, for some, it has become a one-dose solution for sleep, anxiety, stress, pain, inflammation, and appetite management. Despite numerous research and data out there, many find it a very less explored option even now.
In the scientific community, you’ll find many enthusiasts who think that CBD might do something that has never been explored or studied before. Yet, for an everyday person, the only thing that matters is the proven ways in which this plant compound can improve life quality. Let’s take a deep dive and try to understand what CBD might do if you try to use it judiciously.
What’s the new CBD study indicating?
CBD is touted as one of the best natural alternatives to traditional medications when it comes to pain and inflammation. This study recently shed some light on how exactly it works to keep the body’s inflammatory response in check.
CBD works by blocking a specific enzyme, 5-lipoxygenase, that is mainly involved in making inflammation-causing compounds known as leukotrienes. To further prove its anti-inflammatory effects, CBD also increases the production of two specific enzymes, 15-lipoxygenase and 12-lipoxygenase.
This results in the formation of compounds responsible for claiming inflammatory activity. The study was done on mice in a controlled environment, and it was concluded that CBD’s anti-inflammatory prowess stems from its ability to redirect fat processing away from inflammation-causing pathways to inflammation-controlling/reducing pathways.
The only gripe for now is that these are animal studies, and there’s a need to carry out large-scale human trials for proper confirmation. Still, the demand is growing at a good rate, and it must be working at least somewhat; otherwise, the trend would have faded long ago. Even the most conservative states have now allowed the sale of CBD products.
The intricate workings of the endocannabinoid system and CBD’s impact
Whatever positive thing that CBD does in your body happens because of the endocannabinoid system. In organisms that don’t have ECS, CBD simply won’t work. The ECS was first observed in the 90s. It’s a complex cell-signaling network that comprises a vast network of receptors, neurotransmitters, and enzymes to keep a state of balance in the body. It’s like an internal mechanism that controls our mood, pain, sleep, memory, appetite, inflammatory response, immunity, and metabolism.
The two major receptors in this system are CB1 and CB2. The first is mainly present in the brain and nervous system, and the second is present in immune cells and many other body tissues.
Our body activates these receptors by flooding them with two internally produced cannabinoids, anandamide and 2-AG. These cannabinoids come in contact with receptors and break down to exhibit anxiolytic, analgesic, anti-oxidative, and anti-inflammatory effects.
The process keeps going around the clock to support our body and brain functions. CBD, after getting absorbed in our bloodstream, does not directly bind to these receptors. Instead, it indirectly manipulates them to increase their working efficiency. To prolong the relaxing and nerve-calming impact, CBD slows the breakdown speed of anandamide and 2-AG.
It then triggers a chemical response in receptors responsible for making endocannabinoids to increase their quantity, hence kind of restoring the cannabinoid balance in the body. All of this happens without any feeling of intoxication or euphoria.
CBD also affects serotonin receptors, which play a major role in controlling our moods and anxiety. CBD won’t make you go all high and happy, but it will certainly help you to calm down and enjoy the moment with total bliss and calmness.
Which CBD product should I buy?
It’s a common and very frustrating option for beginners. The market is flooded with so many variations. First, decide the type of CBD you want to consume. There are three options: full spectrum, broad spectrum, and isolate. Full-spectrum products have all hemp compounds in them, including a full range of cannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes.
This means there’s also THC, but not more than 0.3%. If you don’t like THC or have a blood test coming up, go with broad-spectrum CBD. Everything in this version is the same as full spectrum, except for the THC presence. THC is completely removed through a specific filtration process from full-spectrum extracts to get broad-spectrum extracts.
The last option is isolate, which has nothing but CBD in it. It’s the purest form of CBD and is often found in the form of powders and oils only. Once this is decided, the next step is pretty easy.
You can go with oils if you want to experience calming effects within 15-20 minutes of consumption. You can go with gummies if you don’t mind waiting for an hour or two. You can go with flowers or vapes if you want a very quick hit within a few seconds.
The highest demand these days is for gummies, though, as they come in many flavors, and every gummy cube is precisely dosed with an exact amount of hemp extract, as mentioned on the label. Maybe try all the options and stick with what works best for you.
The End Note
To sum it up, if you use CBD regularly, it might decrease your pain, inflammation, and stress levels. It may also improve your sleep, focus, and overall relaxation. You can safely use it every day without worrying about any major side effects.
Just make sure to read the label carefully for dosage instructions. Lots of research is happening in the CBD and wellness space, and so data from ongoing trials will come out. It’s being actively studied for managing treatment of neurological conditions, different kinds of pain, and lots of other physical and mental issues.
If you do decide to buy some gummies in the near term, ensure that they are made in a GMP-certified facility and come with a lab test report from the latest batch. Lastly, if you are a beginner, try to stick with reputable websites like Colorado Botanicals.
