Every once in a while, a substance comes along that suddenly everyone thinks is the best thing ever. In the 19th century, for example, would-be entrepreneurs boiled rattlesnakes and skimmed the oil that rose to the surface, bottling it and calling it “snake oil.”
Ever since “snake oil” has been used to refer to any substance that is very popular but only offers legitimate benefits. Sick of encountering many such substances throughout their lives, some Americans are still afraid to give cannabidiol (CBD) a chance.
Unlike snake oil and the dubious substances that followed, however, CBD has been thoroughly researched and even formulated as a prescription drug. Yes, there is a lot of hype surrounding CBD and other cannabinoids, but for once, all the hype seems justified. Learn why.
What is CBD?
CBD is a non-intoxicating compound found naturally in sativa cannabis. Originally only present in cannabis in concentrations around 1%, selective breeding has resulted in modern strains that can contain up to 25% CBD.
Biologically speaking, CBD comes from cannabis, but it comes from hemp from a regulatory perspective. The 2018 Farm Bill separated the illegal drug delta 9 THC from other naturally occurring cannabinoids, making CBD products containing less than 0.3% THC “industrial hemp,” a category of products you can sell in line and send across state lines.
Why do people use CBD?
People originally used CBD almost exclusively for pain. Over the years, however, this non-intoxicating cannabinoid has become a lifestyle substance that is increasingly used for mood, relaxation, and sleep.
This does not mean that CBD is suddenly no longer used for serious medical reasons. Epidiolex, the prescription form of CBD, is prescribed for a number of debilitating seizure conditions, for example. Many people still use CBD for pain, and some now also use it for multiple sclerosis, diabetic neuropathy, and a whole host of other conditions.
Does CBD Really Work?
Whether you’re looking for the best CBD oil for pain or want to use CBD for other reasons, there’s one thing you’ll want to know first: Is it worth my time? If CBD doesn’t really work, there’s no reason to use it, and there’s no reason to consider hemp anything more than hype. Luckily, that’s not the case.
CBD appears to be so beneficial for such a wide range of conditions that dozens of scientific studies are conducted to determine the medical benefits of this cannabinoid each year. Scientists around the world are very interested in how much CBD can help with sleep, anxiety, pain and many other conditions. If CBD were mere hype, this international research initiative would have fizzled out a long time ago.
Coupled with this massive scientific interest is the testimony gathered from average CBD users everywhere. People who have used this cannabinoid attest that CBD has improved their lives and helped them overcome conditions they thought would never come. Even if we don’t yet know everything there is to know about CBD, we’ve certainly learned enough to fully determine that something amazing is going on here.
What other cannabinoids are there?
CBD is far from the only non-THC cannabis substance receiving significant attention. Also highlighted are the other non-intoxicating cannabinoids cannabigerol (CBG) and cannabinol (CBN), which have unique chemical structures and potential medicinal benefits.
Instead of dying and fading into obscurity, the popularity of CBD has led to the recognition of other similar substances that can be just as beneficial. CBD isn’t just a fad that will eventually die out—the advent of hemp-derived CBD opened a Pandora’s box of healing potential spread across dozens of unique cannabinoids.
What is the Entourage effect?
Added to the benefits of CBD is a phenomenon that scientists refer to as the environment effect. Cannabis researchers theorize that this hidden synergy is responsible for the increased efficacy seen when multiple cannabinoids are used together.
Used alone, CBD is one thing. Used with other cannabinoids, CBD becomes something else entirely. It still won’t make you dive, but it can be even more powerful. Snake oil is not more effective when combined with other substances – it just stands there.
Bottom line: Is CBD just hype?
At this point, it’s only reasonable to be weary of the health claims made about natural products. While it’s good to be skeptical about the health benefits of any substance, that doesn’t mean we should discount legitimate evidence when we see it.
CBD may sound too good to be true, but the honest truth is that CBD is much more than hype. We may not yet know exactly what CBD is, but at least we know what it is not: a fraud, a scam, a danger, or a deception.
Thousands of people have experienced the transformation of their lives after using CBD. Scientists continue to research cannabinoids at an ever-increasing pace. Something is happening here: now is the time for you to discover the benefits of CBD for yourself.
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