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Health & Fitness

What are Cannabinoids? What is CBD? How can it help me?

Cannabis science is intriguing and complicated.  Many people want to know exactly how and why cannabis works.  Others just want to feel positive results from taking medical cannabis and/or hemp.  Whether you are in one group or the other, I will attempt to make this complex science easy enough to understand and share with others.  

What are Cannabinoids?  Cannabinoids are chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant and humans/animals.  The Cannabinoids found in cannabis and humans are different, but they act much in the same way.  Cannabinoids that are in cannabis are specifically called Phytocannabinoids.  Cannabinoids that are in humans/animals are specifically called Endocannabinoids.  The most well-known phytocannabinoids are THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (Cannabidiol).  The most well-known endocannabinoids are Anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (or 2-AG).  

What do they do in humans/animals? Cannabinoids regulate every system in our bodies – nervous/digestive/reproductive/immunological/endocrine system. They are essential for maintaining the body’s internal health and stability.

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What is CBD?  How does it work? CBD, or Cannabidiol, is the second most prevalent phytocannabinoid in cannabis.  It is affectionately known as the ‘non-psychotropic’ cannabinoid (it will not get you ‘high’ like the cannabinoid THC).   According to many researchers, CBD may be the single most important cannabinoid ever discovered!  Simply put, CBD either inhibits or promotes the workings of cells in the body – all with one goal in mind – homeostasis (internal stability).  CBD has been shown to cause apoptosis – or cell suicide – of cancer cells in the body.  CBD has also shown to be effective in treating seizures in those with different forms of epilepsy.  CBD has also proven to decrease pain, stress, anxiety and inflammation.  It does all these things by either promoting or inhibiting the proper workings of cells in the body.

How can I get CBD?  There are several sources for CBD.  If you are fortunate enough to live in a medical marijuana state, you can get access to CBD through your local dispensary (a business that sells different types of marijuana for medical patients).  If you do not live in one of these states, you can also get CBD from legal hemp plants.  Hemp and Marijuana are both ‘cannabis’ – but hemp is legal because it is naturally low in THC – the cannabinoid that makes marijuana illegal.  CBD from hemp is no different from CBD in marijuana.  Hemp is a great, legal option for those who need CBD to treat their ailments without having to move to a medical marijuana state.

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 For more information on CBD from Hemp, check out our site www.nicolesnaturalsllc.com

About the Author:  Nicole Penson is the owner/operator of Nicoles Naturals LLC - we sell products that are rich in CBD extracted from organic, lab-tested hemp.  Check us out at www.nicolesnaturalsllc.com

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