It’s not just your imagination – new CBD shops are popping up all over Austin!
But what exactly is CBD? What does the research say about it? Is it worth trying? Good questions! Let’s dig into what we know and how this could be of use to you:
CBD stands for “cannabadiol” which is a type of cannabanoid found in cannabis plants, marijuana and hemp. Cannabis plants have a second type of cannabanoid called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in them as well.
THC is the compound that produces psychoactive effects in marijuana, whereas CBD does not produce these effects.
Because marijuana is illegal in the state of Texas, all of the CBD sold in Texas is derived from hemp plants. Hemp plants naturally have far less of the psychoactive THC, and there is a law requiring the amount of THC to be less than .3%. Take note that any CBD oil labeled “full spectrum” will NOT be completely free of THC, but the amount of THC will be lower than what would be needed to have psychoactive effects.
CBD works on the body’s existing endocannabinoid system (ECS), a part of your nervous system that was only first discovered about 25 years ago, so we are still learning a lot about it. What we know so far is that the ECS plays an important role in modulating nervous system function, particularly in motor coordination, sleep, inflammation, pain modulation, and in the stress response.
CBD works by inhibiting the reuptake (or disposal) of the endocannabinoids the body naturally creates, thereby making them stay in the blood longer and have greater effects than they would otherwise(1). This is why CBD is being used so widely now to treat sleep issues, anxiety, stress, pain; a wide variety of nervous system related disorders that can be affected by the ECS.
And, though it is still in the relatively early stages of research, there is some solid research to back up the claims. For example, CBD was shown to reduce anxiety compared to placebo in a double blind study, and several studies have been done to show it’s effects on pain and inflammation (2, 3, 4).
Although CBD has far ranging effects, it is not going to be the best choice for all conditions. In fact, this study found that a higher dose actually increased anxiety in patients, so more is clearly not always better.
If you’re curious about CBD or have more questions about natural health care options that fit your needs, I encourage you send me a note at chris@balanceatx.com or call me at 512-676-5494.
I am a big proponent of using the safest, most effective treatments possible, and that could mean CBD would be a good fit for your needs!
