Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychotropic component of cannabis with some health benefits, from analgesic or anticonvulsant to anxiety control. We analyze the reasons of its boom, its uses and its benefits.
You can also learn how to choose the best CBD oils online by reading here!
About CBD
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Cannabidiol (CBD) is in vogue and more and more products are being sold with the drawing of the marijuana leaf on their packaging with the promise of helping to alleviate various health problems.
However, it is essential to emphasize that the products marketed with the relevant authorization contain CBD, a part of cannabis with no psychotropic or psychoactive effect. That is, it has no effects on behaviour or consciousness, such as those produced by cannabis – the conventional marijuana, as clarified by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Creams, makeup, oils, chewing gum, jellies, vaporizers for electronic cigarettes and even suppositories that include cannabidiol among their ingredients can already be found on the market… even on platforms like Amazon. The beneficial properties of CBD for health are becoming more and more popular, which has made the industry take advantage of it and begin to produce a multitude of term pharmaceutical products. However, it is also used as an oral treatment for some diseases.
The first thing to know is that cannabidiol is one of the 80 chemical substances the “Cannabis sativa” plant has. It is a natural compound in the resinous flower that does not contain THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the substance that gives cannabis its psychoactive power and drug effect.
The CEO of MEDCAN, an information centre on the therapeutic use of cannabis, reveals that “products with cannabidiol are on the rise because they have little, almost no toxicity; furthermore, it has a multitude of beneficial effects since it affects our endocannabinoid system. There are no risks; it is an accessible treatment and improves patients’ quality of life”.
What does the law say about cannabidiol (CBD)?
The WHO does not consider cannabidiol a substance that causes addiction and attributes to it a series of therapeutic properties, some of which have not yet been scientifically proven in consolidated studies. For example, among the effects that have been demonstrated are its anticonvulsant effects, which is why it is being used in children and adults with refractory epilepsy that do not respond to other treatments.
The consumption and use of cannabidiol are allowed, for example in Spain, without restrictions in the case of cosmetic products such as creams, ointments, balms… José Antonio Sánchez indicates that “in Spain, cannabidiol can be marketed as long as it is accredited as a cosmetic and always below 0.2% THC level”.
However, when ingested orally, through capsules, tablets, syrups or infusions, it is considered a narcotic, so then, according to María Jesús Escribano García, “it must be authorized by the AEMPS (Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products) because it is a drug for oral administration”. This is the case of the drug Epidyolex, used to treat epileptic seizures in diseases such as Lennox Gastaut syndrome or Dravet syndrome.
What is cannabidiol used for? Discover the benefits of CBD
Cannabidiol can be presented in various formats, such as oil, capsules, jellies, shampoos, creams, ointments, suppositories…
In addition, the expert assures that CBD is being used to treat moderate to severe spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis in patients who have not responded to other treatments since it has been seen that when ingested, they showed clinical improvements.
In addition to the above benefits, cannabidiol is also a perfect muscle relaxant. In fact, CBD can modulate the balance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters, leading to muscle relaxation.
A study from the University of Messina (Italy) analyzed the effects of cannabidiol in patients with multiple sclerosis. Specifically, a drug approved in some countries called Sativex was shown to reduce muscle stiffness, pain and muscle spasms.
It is widespread in the UK and in Europe to see creams and ointments with CBD oil, for example the one you can find at JustBob online store, used to massage or relieve muscle injuries.
