What is Cannabidiol and where does it occur?
Cannabidiol, usually abbreviated as CBD, is a non-psychoactive active ingredient of the hemp plant. It is the most abundant cannabinoid, a group of more than 100 active ingredients that are unique to the hemp plant. Its benefits have become more apparent after decades of misunderstanding. Due to the changing legality of hemp cultivation, medical research is beginning to focus more on the potential uses and effects of CBD.
There are already promising studies and findings on the anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, analgesic or sleep-promoting properties of CBD. Notably, CBD not only lacks the psychoactive effects of its cannabinoid colleague THC, but also counteracts them in sufficient doses.
CBD was first isolated by Israeli scientist Raphael Mechoulam in 1963. CBD is found in its highest concentration in the upper third of the hemp plant.
This CBD-rich hemp, at which the THC concentration is below 0.2 percent, is approved for industrial cultivation throughout the European Union. Unfortunately, due to the continuing tough legal approach to drugs, legislators continue to consider restricting all hemp cultivation. Thusly, they would combine CBD hemp with THC hemp in all its health and industrial applications. Such a discussion took place recently in Austria, for example.
However, since CBD hemp is of economic importance, as an insulating material in the textile industry, for natural fibre-reinforced plastics, or as a foodstuff, legislative action would hurt several branches of industry, including agriculture.
The body has its own natural collection of pharmacologically cannabinoid-like substances, called the endocannabinoids.
How does CBD work in the body?
CBD activates cannabinoid receptors in the body, special docking sites in the cells, whereby a distinction is made between CB1 and CB2. These receptors are distributed throughout the entire body, in the nervous system, but also in the intestines and in the brain. The discovery of these docking sites was linked to the understanding that the body must also use them for its own substances. Subsequently, the endocannabinoids were uncovered, enhancing our knowledge about these endogenous substances with a structure similar to that of the hemp plant.
Their inhibitory properties are believed to play their most important role in protecting nerve cells, which could give them a special role in the fight against degenerative nerve diseases such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease.
This entire network is collectively referred to as the endocannabinoid system. Depending on where in the body the receptors of the endocannabinoid system are located, their activation leads to inhibition of pain conduction, suppression of inflammations or other physical and psychological effects.
Cannabinoids such as CBD not only act by docking to receptors, they also have a strong antioxidant effect, i.e. they are scavengers of free radicals.
The same applies to the 21 different flavonoids, secondary plant substances contained in the hemp plant, which have also been the focus of intensive research for years due to their antioxidative and anti-inflammatory as well as their cancer-inhibiting and anti-allergic effects.
CBD is a promising candidate for enhanced pain therapy and in use against sleep disorders, intestinal diseases, epilepsy, or certain types of cancer.
What applications does CBD offer?
As already proven, cannabinoids and especially CBD can be used in a wide range of applications. Unfortunately, the state of scientific research is often limited to basic research or animal experiments, which can make it impossible to make any concrete statements about the future viability of CBD in medical uses.
The antispasmodic and anti-epileptic effect of CBD has been quite well researched. Certain forms of epilepsy and multiple sclerosis have been shown in studies to improve the frequency and intensity of seizures, in some cases significantly.
Furthermore, current studies deal with possible effects of CBD on chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, sleep disorders, certain types of cancer such as brain tumours, Parkinson’s disease, or in pain therapy, to name but a few examples.
In particular, some fundamental findings, such as that CBD can help to inhibit the formation of blood vessels in cancer cells, are examples of the potentially groundbreaking importance of cannabinoids in the medicine of the future. So, we can’t wait to see what new knowledge the “rediscovery” of the ancient cultivated plant hemp will bring us.
