Although the use of medical marijuana and other cannabis plants is on the rise, many are still not sure what exactly is the cause of medical marijuana’s health benefits. However, there is some evidence to suggest that a chemical compound called cannabidiol (CBD) is responsible for much of medical marijuana and other cannabis plants’ effectiveness in dealing with certain health problems.
CBD is not the chemical compound that gets a user high when they smoke marijuana. That high comes from the compound THC. Indeed, CBD counteracts the psychoactive properties of THC that gets users high. This means that recreational marijuana is often bred to have low amounts of CBD, because having too much CBD in the plant would prevent users from getting high or lessen the high that they do get. This means that those seeking marijuana with high levels of CBD may want to find sources other than traditional recreational marijuana. But CBD does more than just prevent people from getting high. Because of the way CBD interacts with a person’s endocannabinoid system, it also has many medical benefits.
One of the more effective uses of CBD is to treat anxiety disorders or PTSD. There is evidence to suggest that when CBD blocks certain receptors in the human endocannabinoid system, namely the CB1 and CB2 receptors, users will feel calmer and less anxious. This may help those struggling with anxiety. Moreover, individuals with PTSD tend to have more CB1 receptors than both the average individual and those who have suffered trauma but not developed PTSD. When CBD blocks CB1 receptors, those individuals also tend to feel a lessening of their symptoms.
Cannabidiol will not cure people of anxiety disorders or PTSD, but it can help them cope with their symptoms. This may help patients get on or stay on the road to recovery. By lessening the severity of the disease, CBD can help people live easier and more normal lives.
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