CBD, NATURE'S MIRACLE!
Can CBD really be useful in the treatment of various disorders, from chronic pain to sleep problems and even mental health?
Faced with the growing public interest in these questions, Hudson Valley Hemp Co delves into the subject, focusing on what is behind the effects of CBD on certain disorders that have been the subject of various scientific and medical research.
Until now less publicized than THC, the main psychoactive molecule of cannabis, cannabidiol (CBD) is now everywhere. Specialized shops are now offering a variety of cannabis-based products rich in CBD coming in different formats: smokeables, edibles, topicals, tinctures and even CBD products for pets prepared to fight against insomnia, anxiety, chronic pain and many other medical conditions
As the craze for CBD-based products continues to be exponentially growing, it seems relevant to look at what the science is saying.
What does the scientific data published to date really show? Can CBD really be useful in the treatment of various disorders, from chronic pain to sleep problems and even mental health?
Faced with the growing public interest in these questions, we focus on the scientific facts behind CBD and its effect on certain disorders
CBD, THC: Understand the difference!
Cannabis (or hemp) is a plant native to equatorial regions. Several species exist. Those consumed for their psychotropic properties, that is to say capable of modifying the functioning of our central nervous system, come from the Cannabis sativa family. Nearly 500 compounds of the plant are known, including about sixty cannabinoids.
The main psychoactive compound in cannabis is the cannabinoid tetrahydrocannabinol (commonly known as THC). Cannabidiol (CBD) is also present in large quantities in the plant, and is not legally classified as a psychotropic although it also exhibits psychoactive effects via an interaction with the serotonergic system. This would also explain the “soothing” effect highlighted by CBD gurus to help people with anxiety, sleep difficulties but also chronic pain.
It should be noted that the products offered commercially and sold under the CBD label come in the form of natural extracts of flowers or whole cannabis flowers. They contain mainly CBD but always also a little THC (even if this is sometimes present in minute quantities). This is reduced to "CBD products" in everyday language. For the past ten years, the interest of the scientific community in CBD has been growing, the molecule being involved in some of the potential therapeutic effects of cannabis. The medical and biological effects of CBD on the human body was first put in the spotlight by a CNN documentary in 2013. The documentary told the story of Charlotte, a girl with Dravet syndrome , a rare form of epilepsy. In the absence of an effective treatment for the hundreds of seizures she suffered each week, these parents turned to an alternative solution: a cannabis oil particularly rich in CBD that miraculously relieved Charlotte’s seizures. Today, while the use of cannabis for therapeutic purposes is authorized in many countries, the only pharmacological treatment based on CBD that has been rigorously tested in clinical trials in the United States and has received authorization from the FDA is Epidiolex, indicated in the treatment of pediatric epileptic seizures.
Beyond epilepsy, CBD is widely used in self-medication for a range of conditions. It is in particular the opioid crisis in the United States and Europe that has contributed to renewing interest in this molecule. Faced with the scale of the problem, researchers have indeed worked to identify alternative solutions to relieve patients with chronic pain. In this context, therapeutic cannabis has regularly been presented as a potentially effective and non-addictive treatment, and CBD, a molecule considered to have fewer adverse effects than THC, has been particularly highlighted.
But CBD is also regularly used by many individuals to reduce stress and anxiety, to help oncology patients better tolerate chemotherapy or to help people who suffer from sleep disorders.
CBD and self-medication
To highlight the diversity of the disorders for which CBD is used by consumers, we can cite a study published in JAMA Open Network in 2020 which thus looked at the reasons most frequently cited by those who take it for self-medication.
More than 300 testimonials were thus scrutinized. Result: more than 63% of Internet users considered in the study reported using CBD to relieve symptoms related to anxiety, depression or autism spectrum disorders. More than 26% of them used it to fight against orthopedic pain and nearly 15% to improve their sleep.
At Hudson Valley Hemp, our commitment is to promote our clients wellness and well-being in order to keep their mind, body, and spirit holistically & healthy. Through our various CBD products and treatments we indulge our customers in the healing powers and benefits of CBD. to make them look and feel their best every day.
Speak to one of our CBD care specialists today and learn more about the most adapted CBD products and wellness services to your needs and how they can make you look and feel your best every day.
