DOWN IN THE WEEDS A Closer Look at CBD by Patricia Staino
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s with many holistic approaches to wellness, cannabidiol (CBD) has been around a long time but is experiencing a resurgence in interest and popularity. One of the many naturally occurring chemical compounds, or cannabinoids, found in both hemp and marijuana plants, CBD is mentioned in Hindu and Chinese healing texts dating back to 1500 B.C. Today, CBD is available in just about everything, including lip balm, gummies,
chocolates, bath bombs and dog treats, and there’s quite a bit of confusion around what it can and can’t do. Let’s start with the science: Yes, CBD does alleviate symptoms of pain, anxiety, depression, insomnia and more, because it acts on the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS helps maintain homeostasis, through receptors located throughout the body. The receptors, which have been identified in nearly every major organ system,
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react uniquely to each type of cannabinoid, so the effects felt after ingesting or applying a CBD product will depend on which compound the product contains. So, one person could be experiencing stress, another could be experiencing joint pain, and both could use a CBD product to soothe those ills. “CBD tailors itself to what a body needs,” says Jonathan Mickens, owner of Your CBD Store in Danbury. “It runs to where the fire is and takes care of it.” Because of this, Dr. David Tolk, of Tolk Chiropractic and Wellness Center in Simsbury, recommends patients choose their CBD product wisely, depending on the cannabinoid it contains, in order to achieve the desired result. CBN (cannabinol) contains more sedation mechanisms, while cannabichromene (CBC) reduces pain and inflammation and cannabigerol (CBG) has been shown to relieve anxiety and stress. “Each cannabinoid, depending on the ratio used, acts a little differently,” says Tolk. “You really need to find a product that fits what you’re looking to achieve to be sure you’re driving the right reactions.” Researchers continue to discover more applications for cannabinoids, which may transform healing in the future. For example, cannabidivarin (CBDV) may be particularly valuable for people suffering neurological disorders. Preliminary studies on mice have shown its efficacy as an anticonvulsant and antiepileptic, which could profoundly change the lives of those living with epilepsy and Parkinson’s. If it works so well, why would such an effective product with a storied history be so misunderstood? For the uninitiated, many confuse it with THC, a psychoactive compound found in hemp and marijuana plants which gives users a “high,” which CBD won’t. THC is extracted from the hemp plant—which produces better-quality CBD than the marijuana plant—before the CBD compounds are extracted for use, so contrary to many misconceptions, CBD is not a hallucinogenic. That’s only part of the story; basically hemp fell victim to a propaganda war waged by Big Industry. In the early days of this country, hemp was used in paper
