WHAT DOES CBD DO TO THE BRAIN?

Regarding CBD, the interest in this ingredient has increased dramatically over the last few years. One of the main reasons for this interest is the use of CBD to help people dealing with certain ailments or diseases and its ability to do so without getting you high or without you having to smoke cannabis. This article will talk about what CBD is, how CBD is used to help with ailments, and what CBD does to the brain.

CBD or Cannabidiol is one of the most prominent active ingredients in cannabis sativa plants, and it has been shown to have many health benefits. According to Watt et al. (2017), CBD contains various properties, including analgesic, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and anti-psychotic effects that have been known to positively impact an individual’s health when taken regularly over time. Although these properties of CBD may be very useful in relieving pain and inflammation, as stated by Pellati et al. (2018), some individuals may wonder what CBD does to the brain if it is introduced into an individual’s system over time.

What is Cannabidiol (CBD)?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a compound in cannabis that has medical effects but doesn't make people feel stoned and can counteract some of the effects of THC (the part of cannabis that gets you high). CBD on its own doesn't cause much psychoactive effect. It is only when it is isolated from other compounds in marijuana and combined with THC (or tetrahydrocannabinol, another chemical in marijuana) that it becomes psychoactive. Since CBD has a low affinity for CB1 receptors compared to THC, it doesn't get you high. A higher concentration of THC may decrease how much Cannabidiol can bind to your body receptors.

Although there have been a lot of misunderstandings about the cannabis plant, it is suggested that CBD might have a lot of benefits for human ailments. CBD is available in many forms for the body; it can be ingested orally, applied on the skin, or vaped or smoked. Although CBD and THC are from the same plant, CBD products are made to be legal only if they have a legal level of less than 0.3% THC.

How does CBD interact with our Bodies?

It's not yet clear how CBD interacts with the body. Most scientists, such as Elbekai et al. (2004), argued that CBD is metabolized by several pathways, including cytochrome P450, which is responsible for breaking down many medications; UDP-glucuronosyltransferase, which releases CBD into the bloodstream; and fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), an enzyme that degrades endocannabinoids. This means that chemicals in cannabis might have a variety of effects on users, depending on their sex, weight, age, and genetics. A recent study from a researcher at UBC used positron emission tomography (PET) scans to examine CB1 receptors in people's brains before and after smoking cannabis or receiving a placebo as part of a double-blind study.

There are a few known health benefits of using CBD. Naftali (2020) showed that it can be used as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, help patients with Crohn’s disease and colitis (inflammation of tissues in your intestines), and has even shown some potential as an anticancer agent. Because these uses aren't scientifically tested, experts recommend consulting with the doctor before trying alternative therapies. If you're thinking about doing so, keep in mind that the doctor should verify all medical claims; for legal reasons, manufacturers are not allowed to make medical claims about their products on their packaging. Any perceived benefits of cannabis should be discussed with a doctor with expertise in cannabis treatment.

Why Does Everyone Want CBD?

Medical marijuana has been growing in popularity over recent years. People want to know what CBD oil is and if it could be the best option for them. Most people specifically ask for something that could help with pain, anxiety, or sleeplessness. Many queries also involve why people use cannabis oils which are often considered a better alternative than pharmaceutical drugs. There is a lot of evidence, such as that by Zuardi (2018), which proved its help with PTSD and its effects on mental health conditions like depression.

The problem is that there isn't a good way to get it into your system via traditional methods, such as smoking. Researchers have been stumped on how it works in our bodies. What is clear, though, is that unlike THC, which has medicinal effects, CBD has medical and recreational uses. Its legality varies depending on an individual’s place of residence, so be sure to check before getting yourself into any legal trouble.

The Positive Effects on the Brain

The most important thing that Cannabidiol (CBD) could help with is to treat severe forms of epilepsy such as Dravet syndrome. In a 2014 survey, parents of children with severe forms of epilepsy reported significant improvements in their child’s seizure frequency after treatment with Cannabidiol (CBD). It is estimated that around 0.9% of people have at least one epileptic seizure yearly. A person might be more likely to experience seizures if they suffer from another condition like stroke or high blood pressure. As explained by Pamplona et al. (2018), CBD counters seizures by lowering the degree of excitation of cells that might be responsible for seizures. Rohleder et al. (2016) also commented that CBD enhances inhibitory neurotransmitters’ release of anandamide in the brain, which reduces the effect of psychosis. CBD is famous for reducing inflammation and pain by blocking pain signals from going to the brain. So this will help calm you down and eliminate anxiety and depression. Although THC is widely known for giving relaxation and calming down, CBD reduces anxiety too. It does this by working on a serotonin receptor that is thought to control depression. This is a great advantage for those with anxiety disorders and depression without the intoxication of THC.

Watt et al. (2017) identified that CBD has also been in the spotlight for helping people with conditions such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. It does this by reacting with CB2 receptors in the cells to give an anti-inflammatory response. This protects the brain cells from harm that might be caused by oxidation. CBD can be used to raise moods because they react with Anandamide, a cannabinoid in the body that regulates chemicals such as dopamine and serotonin.

Conclusion

With the huge craze about CBD and its products, there is still insufficient information. Although a few studies have shown that CBD has promising health benefits, more research is needed to find out for sure. It is not quite as simple as just adding a lot of it into your body because you can become immune to its effects, and some negative side effects are not being considered. More studies need to be done, and only then will we know what CBD does. Enjoy researching as much as possible about it and see if it will work for you! It may or may not, but at least you can rest knowing that there are some proven benefits.

References

Aras, L. M., Isla, J., & Mingorance-Le Meur, A. (2015). The European Patient With Dravet Syndrome: Results From A Parent-Reported Survey On Antiepileptic Drug Use In The European Population With Dravet Syndrome. Epilepsy & Behavior, 44, 104-109.

Crippa, J. A., Guimarães, F. S., Campos, A. C., & Zuardi, A. W. (2018). Translational Investigation Of The Therapeutic Potential Of Cannabidiol (CBD): Toward A New Age. Frontiers In Immunology, 9, 2009.

Elbekai, R. H., Korashy, H. M., & El-Kadi, A. O. (2004). The Effect Of Liver Cirrhosis On The Regulation And Expression Of Drug-Metabolizing Enzymes. Current Drug Metabolism, 5(2), 157-167.

Naftali, T., & Dor, M. (2020). Cannabis For The Treatment Of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A True Medicine Or A False Promise?. Rambam Maimonides Medical Journal, 11(1).

Pamplona, F. A., Da Silva, L. R., & Coan, A. C. (2018). Potential Clinical Benefits Of CBD-Rich Cannabis Extracts Over Purified CBD In Treatment-Resistant Epilepsy: Observational Data Meta-Analysis. Frontiers In Neurology, 9, 759.

Pellati, F., Borgonetti, V., Brighenti, V., Biagi, M., Benvenuti, S., & Corsi, L. (2018). Cannabis Sativa L. And Nonpsychoactive Cannabinoids: Their Chemistry And Role Against Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, And Cancer. Biomed Research International, 2018.

Rohleder, C., Müller, J. K., Lange, B., & Leweke, F. M. (2016). Cannabidiol As A Potential New Type Of An Antipsychotic. A Critical Review Of The Evidence. Frontiers In Pharmacology, 7, 422.

Watt, G., & Karl, T. (2017). In Vivo Evidence For Therapeutic Properties Of Cannabidiol (CBD) For Alzheimer's Disease. Frontiers In Pharmacology, 8, 20.