How Does CBD Work In Relation To Health?

Cannabidiol or CBD is a cannabinoid compound found in hemp or cannabis that won’t make a person feel high, unlike tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. With the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp plants are now legally cultivated in the United States using sustainable methods, wherein CBD products with less than 0.3 percent of THC are produced. 

Now more than ever, consumers have more options when it comes to maintaining health and medical treatment with the popularity of CBD products. In this post, you’ll learn how CBD works in relation to health based on experts and research material available. 

CBD Can Treat Seizure Disorders

Scientists believe that cannabidiol quiets the excessive chemical and electrical activity in the brain, causing seizures. Even CNN chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, changed his mind about medical cannabis upon meeting Charlotte Figi and learning about studies and reports pertaining to the therapeutic effects of CBD.

One of the most notable anecdotal evidence of the therapeutic effects of CBD was the case of Charlotte Figi, who was just three months old when hospitalized due to a seizure attack and was later diagnosed with Dravet Syndrome, which is a rare and severe type of intractable (uncontrolled by medication) epilepsy.

Here are the good-to-know facts about Charlotte’s case and how CBD helped her:

• Charlotte’s Journey: By age three, Charlotte would have 300 seizures a week. She had experienced various types of diagnostic exams, diet for epilepsy (ketogenic diet), and even tried eating different things, such as pine cones, to find a cure for her illness. While there was temporary relief, the seizures still came and went. There were many times when her life was in danger because of her medical condition. 
• CBD Treatment: Matt, Charlotte’s father, watched a video online of a boy who had Dravet syndrome and was successfully treated with cannabis with high CBD content. Charlotte was the youngest patient to undergo medical cannabis treatment, and oil was extracted from R4, a type of cannabis with low THC and high CBD. 
• Results: The results were promising because Charlotte did not have three to four seizures in the first hour like she normally did. For another hour, the seizures stopped, as well as within the next seven days. Charlotte is thriving, with her seizures only happening two to three times a month, almost unnoticed during her sleep. She can do what other children are doing, like feeding herself and riding a bicycle. Today, CBD oil is now widely used as a treatment for seizure disorders because of Charlotte’s story.

CBD Can Treat Other Medical Conditions

CBD products are popular, and for good reason. Aside from anecdotal evidence, researchers and healthcare workers believe in the healing effects of CBD when it comes to reducing signs and symptoms of various medical conditions. 

CBD pioneer Dr. Raphael Mechoulam of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has discovered the effects of CBD on bodily tissues. He believes that cannabidiol could be modified to fit various types of body receptors and treat atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. 

In an animal study conducted, rats with areas of dead tissue or infarcts due to a poor blood supply were pretreated with CBD, and the infarcts became 30 percent smaller. The findings reveal promising results, most especially in patients with diabetes. The researchers believe that cannabidiol’s anti-inflammatory properties help treat inflammation and improve the metabolism of the body, which results in better insulin and sugar regulation. 

CBD Can Help Improve Sleep

CBD improves the health and wellness of both children and adults. Aside from pain relief, it can also improve sleep, helping people who have insomnia. It can also improve the mood of depressed and anxious patients. A pain-free body sleeps faster and better. 

According to the American Sleep Association, cannabinoids like CBD attach to body cells and may affect sleep, which affects a person’s sleep and wake cycle. And because CBD has analgesic properties, people can enjoy sleeping with little to no pain at all, contributing to better sleep.

Because the human body naturally has endocannabinoid receptors, CBD directly works with different organs in the body, to help reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and influence the production of hormones and chemicals to attain better health. The oils now have been manufactured to be easily ingested in a variety of forms, like CBD oil, gummies, juice, wax, creams, and other edibles.