Why Is CBD So Effective?
17 July 2020In recent years, increasing numbers of people have been getting familiar with the health benefits offered by cannabidiol, abbreviated as CBD. This substance, derived from the cannabis plant, can have an analgesic effect, makes people experience a greater sense of relaxation, and improves their sleeping patterns. There are indications that suggest cancer cell growth slows down when these cells are exposed to CBD, and the substance has anti-inflammatory properties, too. So how can it be that one single substance can have so many different effects, how can CBD be so effective? In this blog, we try to answer that crucial question: why is CBD effective in treating so many different problems?
Communication Between Cells
Let’s go over a quick biology crash course to answer that question. The human body is made up of cells, forming a complex system that needs to stay in balance. Food enters the system through the digestive tract; our blood provides energy and oxygen throughout the body, while we sleep to rest and use our brains to think. All of these parts of our bodies are controlled by the central nervous system, which is also made up of cells in turn. In order to let all of these processes run smoothly, our cells need to communicate with each other. How else could your brain find out that your stomach is empty, and that you’re hungry?
Relation With Cannabis
To make this communication between cells work, our body uses substances called neurotransmitters, which are actually signalling agents. Each of us has many different kinds of these signal substances that control the various different processes in the body. The most important system our body uses to maintain balance between all of these different processes is called the ‘endocannabinoid system’. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2241751)
It is a part of our nervous system, and it reaches out across many different parts of the body. The name ‘endocannabinoid ‘ already hints at the fact that this system is related to cannabis. In fact, it was named after that famous plant!
CBD Brings Balance
The endocannabinoid system ensures the balance in our body. For example, it is involved in the metabolism, the biorhythm, clearing up old or diseased cells, pain perception, mental well-being and remembering and forgetting information. Yes, forget it too, because if we remember everything we go crazy.
But what does CBD have to do with this? Good question. CBD can be seen as a dimmer that adjusts too bright light to a calm, relaxed atmosphere. CBD puts the “endocannabinoid system” in a state where it can optimally do the important work it was created for. That work is balancing – and keeping – mind and body. All kinds of processes that we are not consciously involved in must run as smoothly as possible in order for our body to function as well as possible. These processes all require balance when it comes to the sticks and the conditions they need. Moreover, all those thousands of processes must also remain mutually in balance. The human body is incredibly clever, so usually we don’t even realize that we are so well balanced. You often only notice when the balance has been disrupted, which means that your endocannabinoid system is having a hard time. At that point, you can supplement your deficiencies with vegetable cannabinoids such as CBD. So you give your own body a helping hand. The fact that CBD from hemp is so similar to the endocannabinoids that your own body produces is the explanation. This makes CBD effective against such a staggering range of health problems.
