People have been using cannabis for many purposes since ancient times. William Brooke O’Shaughnessy conducted one of the earliest known studies on the plant’s medicinal properties in 1839. His study was among the earliest experiments to show that people could use cannabis medicinally. He published his findings on the cannabis plant in the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal.
O’Shaughnessy’s controversial study was in-depth, implemented the anesthetic properties of the plant, and laid the foundation for further research into its medicinal uses.
Cannabidiol (CBD) was first extracted from cannabis in 1940 by Roger Adams. However, Raphael Mechoulam — the father of cannabis research — discovered CBD’s structure and chemical composition. The following year, he isolated tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
The pharmacology of cannabinoids became a significant focus of research in the 1960s and 1970s. The emphasis, however, was on THC and its psychoactive properties. Later, in the mid-1980s, Allyn Howlett’s research established the existence of cannabinoid receptors. Howlett and Bill Devane discovered in 1988 that cannabinoids act on a G-protein coupled receptor. They learned that if the human body had receptors, it must produce them naturally.
Scientists found two “endocannabinoids” that the body naturally produces a few years later. These substances were referred to as anandamide and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2AG).
The human body’s extensive network of endocannabinoid receptors and chemical signals, which are distributed throughout the body and brain, is known as the endocannabinoid system.
Thanks to recent legislation, you can now use more CBD products for health benefits. As a result, CDB oil is growing in popularity and may have several advantages. Let’s explore the structure and function of the human cannabinoid system, some potential benefits, and why you might use CBD oil.
What Is the Human Cannabinoid System?
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a complex physiological system that plays a vital role in many of your day-to-day neural functions.
The ECS regulates many essential functions, including:
- Emotional processing
- Sleep
- Body temperature
- Inflammation
- Chronic pain control
- Appetite
- Immune system responses
- Memory and learning
The ECS is active throughout the central nervous system, particularly in the cannabinoid CB1. These cannabinoid receptors might be necessary for controlling behavior.
Although much of the ECS is still not fully understood, it maintains the balance of your internal processes.
How Does the Cannabinoid System Work?
Although research on the ECS is ongoing, it is currently known to control bodily processes like hunger and temperature. The ECS consists of three main parts:
- Endocannabinoids
- Receptors
- Enzymes
Because there are more cannabinoid receptors than neurotransmitters in the brain, they help regulate the amount of these chemicals in the brain. Your body’s endocannabinoids can help control your appetite. They function by activating the cannabinoid receptors and share many chemical properties with CDB.
The primary activators of CB1 and CB2 are the endocannabinoids. They are lipids rather than conventional neurotransmitters. CB1 is in the brain’s learning, memory, and decision-making regions. CB1 might contribute to reducing obesity-related problems in America.
CB2 receptors are located in your immune system tissues and play a role in intestinal inflammation.
The enzymes break down the endocannabinoids after their role is complete.
Homeostasis, or maintaining the balance of your internal processes, is essentially the ultimate goal of all the ECS functions.
CBD vs. THC
The cannabis plant contains two cannabinoids: THC and CBD. Despite their similarities, the two differ significantly from one another. For instance, THC is the primary psychoactive ingredient, while CBD is not intoxicating at all. Both have potential health advantages, such as reducing pain and nausea, but how each responds to the ECS differs. Their atoms, for instance, are arranged differently despite having the same molecular formula, which is one of the reasons why they have different effects.
THC’s binding to the CB1 receptors brings on feelings of intoxication. However, CBD slows down the breakdown of anandamide while also not binding to the cannabinoids.
People with anxiety disorders may benefit from CBD, whereas THC may increase anxiety symptoms.
Why Use CBD Oil Products?
Oil is a convenient method for taking CBD. You can easily mix CBD oil into your regular drinks or foods, or drop some on your tongue. CDB oil can also be consumed sublingually, under the tongue.
CBD oil may potentially help you with:
- Easing pain
- Lowering stress
- Improving sleep
- Reducing inflammation
- Reducing nausea
The ECS is also crucial to memory. Cannabis can cause short-term memory loss. As it can aid in the eradication of some invasive, horrible flashbacks and terrifying memories, CBD oil may be beneficial for people with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Your overall health might benefit from CBD oil. However, how well CBD oil might work for you will depend on many factors, including dosage.
Please consult your primary care physician before trying CBD oil to determine whether it is right for you. In addition, your doctor can determine whether the CBD will interact with any current medications you may be taking or if it will affect any existing medical conditions you may have.
If you are interested in a broad-spectrum CBD that uses distillate to remove the THC and is 3rd party lab-tested to ensure high quality, you should try CBD Direct Club’s Broad-Spectrum CBD. It comes in three flavors: natural, berry, and peppermint.
Another great option with some THC still present is CBD Direct Club’s Full-Spectrum CDB oil. This oil also comes in three flavors: natural, berry, and peppermint.
CBD’s Potential Health Benefits
CBD oil has a wide array of potential health benefits. Much research has been conducted on these potential benefits since the discovery of the ECS. Recently, laws have changed, allowing something with a long history of research to now be available for much of the general population to try.
Even so, there is still a great deal to learn. More research is needed to establish other potential benefits of CBD use and better understand the human cannabinoid system. If you think CBD oil might be right for you and want to give it a shot, try CBD Direct Club and take advantage of our high-quality CBD at affordable rates.