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Aug. 3, 2020

CBD: THE BASICS

CBD: THE BASICS

You've probably seen the letters "CBD" thrown around in your circles on social media. You probably have also seen it on store shelves, mall kiosks, or even at your favorite grocery store now, but what exactly is it? We will take a look at what CBD is, what its benefits are, and the four CBD ingestion options available to you.

WHAT IS CBD?
By now, you've heard of CBD, that's why you're looking up what it even is. Some of the less informed may tell you that it's just marijuana, and that might put a sour taste in your mouth. However, we need to break the negative stigma attached to CBD because of its relation to the marijuana plant. It is true that CBD is found within a hemp or marijuana plant itself. However, cannabidiol, or CBD, does not have the same psychoactive effects as THC, another compound found in these plants. THC is normally associated with the "high" you think about when you think of marijuana. 

CBD and THC do not react to the same receptors found in your brain. While THC reacts to certain receptors in your brain to get you high, CBD does not attach to the same ones. There are CB1 and CB2 (cannabinoid receptors) in the brain. CBD was long believed to attach to the CBD2 receptors, but studies have shown it doesn't attach to either of them. Instead, it influences these receptors to provide a number of benefits to your overall well-being. Let's take a look at some of the benefits of CBD.


WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF CBD?
Now that you know what CBD is and how it works, let's take a look at some of the benefits of CBD and why it's all the rage today. The first, most obvious benefit of CBD, is what it can do for those who suffer from pain. 

Those who suffer from pain issues from simple inflammation to chronic pain can find a good alternative to conventional pharmaceutical medications with CBD. Those with muscle pain often use topical CBD products to soothe muscle pain caused by general soreness or disease. Some women use CBD to treat menstrual pain such as cramping. 

One of the first medical issues that CBD helped treat was epilepsy. In fact, the FDA even approved CBD as a treatment for the condition. That's because many people find their medication or medications either stop working, are not as effective, or cause side effects so terrible that there's little benefit to taking it. It's understandable that those who suffer from seizures want to take a more natural approach with CBD. 

One of the main benefits of CBD is its effectiveness for inflammation issues such as arthritis. One such condition, an inflammatory arthritis of the back, is known as Ankylosing Spondylitis. Many have turned to CBD for relief from the pain caused by inflammation in the joints instead of conventional medicine. Conventional medicine often causes unwanted side effects that can exacerbate the pain and reduce the quality of life. 

The best part is, CBD comes with very few, if any side effects, for most. CBD may cause dizziness, nausea, or sleepiness, but the good far outweighs the bad as side effects from conventional medication can cause serious issues such as allergic reactions, high blood pressure, or anxiety. If you've decided that CBD is something that you want to try, then you should take a look at different CBD products and the options for using them.

THE FOUR CBD APPLICATION/ INGESTION OPTIONS
You can find many different CBD products. Each enters or is applied to your body in different ways. The first way you can ingest CBD is through drops (sublingual). Sublingual means you're taking these drops right under the tongue. This is touted as one of the fastest ways you can get CBD into your bloodstream. 

CBD edibles are another way you can ingest cannabidiol. You can find them in candy or gummy forms. This normally takes a little longer than if you took it sublingually, but it's a tastier option if you can't stand putting CBD oil under your tongue. It may also take longer to take effect if you're consuming it with food. 

Some choose a vaporizer when taking CBD. Many prefer this method as they enjoy the vape smoke and taste, but it can have some cons such as health risks for those who are prone to lung diseases. 

The last method for applying CBD is using it topically on your skin. Some enjoy the feeling of rubbing a cream or oil on the skin and it doesn't take too long to reach your bloodstream. You don't get the taste benefits of vaping or edibles, but it's good for those who are using it to treat certain skin conditions. 

From Ankylosing Spondylitis to anxiety, CBD can help improve the quality of life for those who are seeking an alternative to conventional medications and treatment.


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