East Amherst Chiropractor Explains What CBD Oil Is

In order to understand what CBD oil is, we have to start with understanding the cannabis plant. Cannabis is simply a flowering plant. There are two primary species of cannabis, cannabis Indica and cannabis sativa. Contained within the cannabis plant are little compounds known as Phytocannabinoids. THC and CBD are two of the most abundant cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. THC is the primary cannabinoid found in the marijuana plant. THC is what produces a high and is the defining compound that makes marijuana, marijuana. CBD is the most abundant cannabinoid found in hemp. CBD cannot produce a high, it is non-psychoactive. This article primarily focuses on CBD, the primary Phyto-cannabinoid found in hemp/ CBD oil.

Cannabis Indica is known to have higher levels of THC while cannabis sativa is known to have lower levels of THC. Therefore, industrial hemp (which contains 0.3% THC or less) is usually derived from a cannabis sativa species. I repeat, Marijuana and hemp are both verities of the cannabis plant. The only defining factor between marijuana and hemp is the amount of THC contained in the plant. Hemp contains very little to no THC while Marijuana contains high levels of THC. CBD oil derived from industrial hemp cannot get you high due to its lack of THC.

EAST AMHERST CHIROPRACTOR EXPLAINS HOW CBD OIL WORKS IN THE BODY

In order to understand how CBD oil works in the body we must begin by understanding the endocannabinoid system. If you can, try to picture your nervous system or your lymphatic system. If you are unable to picture this google it. Now picture an entirely different system (seen in the photos below) of tissues and receptors located all over your body, in your joints, gut, muscles, brain, reproductive organs, heart, and the list goes on and on. Top East Amherst chiropractor explains how our endocannabinoid system is responsible for regulating pain, mood, disease, our bones, our brains, reproductive organs… it plays a role in every aspect of our bodies and health. The job of the endocannabinoid system is to restore balance.

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) has a system of receptors all throughout the body, CB1 and CB2 receptors. Did you know your body already makes its own cannabinoids known as AEA and 2-AG? That’s right your body already makes its own cannabinoids, but when disease or illness strikes this system becomes unbalanced. When we have decreased levels of our bodies own cannabinoids (AEA and 2-AG) we are unable to turn on our body’s endocannabinoid receptors. This leads too addiction, anxiety, depression, insomnia, chronic pain, GI dysfunction, reproductive disorders and etc. Without our bodies own cannabinoids the receptors cannot be turned on.

Try your best to stick with me as I walk through the science. Phytocannabinoids come from plants specifically THC and CBD. Phyto means plant. Endocannabinoids come from within our bodies specifically AEA or anandamide and 2-AG. Endo means from “within”. When we become ill our ECS is thrown out of balance. CBD oil acts to rebalance our endocannabinoid system. How you ask?

CBD stimulates our bodies endocannabinoid system by blocking an enzyme known as FAAH. FAAH in high concentrations breaks down our bodies own naturally occurring cannabinoids specifically AEA/anandamide. Studies show people with higher levels of FAAH tend to have anxiety, depression, insomnia, pain, and addictive personalities.  CBD oil blocks FAAH activity which leads to an increase in AEA (our bodies natural cannabinoid). The AEA is then able to activate our bodies CB1 and CB2 receptors resulting in a host of beneficial effects listed below.

• Antidepressant effects
• Antidiabetic effects
• Antiepileptic effects
• Antinociceptive effects
• Antipsychotic effects
• Anti-inflammatory effects
• Anti- Tumor Effects
• Anxiolytic effects
• Hepatic Effects
• Immunomodulating effects
• Neuroprotective effects

Due to CBD oil’s mechanism of action more is not always better. As I mention in my article about CBD oil dosing start with a low/ micro dose and work your way up. At too high or too low of a dose the oil will be ineffective. Many people find that over time they need to use less and less oil to get the same benefit. The reason being is that CBD oil balances out your endocannabinoid system. For more information about CBD Oil in East Amherst, contact us at Northtown Chiropractic & Injury Rehab.

Research on CBD oil is being studied for a host of different diseases and illnesses: How you may ask? Remember your ECS system is present in almost every part of your body.