Cannabis 101: NEW Facts about CBD You May Not Know
By: Heather Ciprani
Holistic Cannabis Practitioner and Founder of Flower & Bone Supply, small batch, organic skincare shares some facts you may not know about CBD!
I want to start off by saying this post will not be me telling you that everyone needs to be taking cannabis or that it’s the newest superfood. However, I will say yes, there are amazing, wonderful herbs out there and cannabis is one of these herbal tools we have to use. But just like anything else, one persons super food (or herb) is another persons poison and everything has the potential to be abused (ahem, binge watching Netflix, while binging that pint of ice cream... I know, its not our finer hour).
So the compounds in the cannabis plant actually interact with our bodies own system. It’s called the Endocannabinoid System (yep, if they said that in health class, maybe we would have perked up ;) ) and its job is to maintain balance or homeostasis in the body, let’s call it the body’s trauma response crew.
This system is responsible for signaling to nerves and communicating messages throughout the body. The cells in our bodies have receptor sites and we actually make our own cannabinoids that bind to these receptor sites to do all this signaling and communication. In order to maintain balance, this system is running backup making sure the rest of our systems are functioning and calm, helping to decreasing inflammation and oxidative stress. So in todays overstimulated, overstressed and overexposed world, having this system is kind of a big deal. The main sites are located on cells in the brain, spinal cord, nerves, reproductive tissue, cells used in metabolism like fat & liver, as well as the cells of the immune system.
What I absolutely love about plants is that they have so many cool things to give besides oxygen, and in the case of the cannabis plants it contain phytocannabinoids that interact within our Endocannabinoid receptors sites in the same way our own cannabinoids do. I am sure by now you have heard about THC & CBD, but they are only 2 of 114 phytocannibinoids found in the plant. Unlike opioids that interfere and block chemical messages, cannabis actually works within the system and can help out in all sorts of issues that we can face, such as: stress, pain, depression, inflammation, PTSD, chemo side effects (nausea and vomiting), anxiety, seizures, spasms, and digestive issues.
BUT here’s the real dirt, THC works with differently with the receptors sites then CBD and has different effects besides intoxication, which is only present with the activated THC (CBD is nonintoxicating). On top of that, within a particular strain you can have so many different amounts of particular cannabinoids, which can all help with different symptoms or conditions, which is what I really geek out on.
However, the cannabinoids are not the only thing at work here....
Cannabis is a lot like a tomato plant, you can have SO many varieties or strains, flavors, colors, etc. Lets say we both buy the same exact tomato seed pack from the same exact seed catalog. The tomato plant that I will grow in the mountains of Northern CA will look and taste different than that same exact tomato plant that you will grow on your balcony, say, in Philly or even NYC. They will have different soil, water, and sun, just to name a few, which affects the flavor and smell or what we call in the essential oil and cannabis communities, the terpenes. These terpenes contain the other side of the medicinal compounds of the cannabis plant, in addition to the cannabindoids like THC & CBD and there are lots. Think about your love of lavender and how calming it is and helps you sleep; that’s the terpene linalool. Or how bright and uplifting the smell of lemon is; that’s the terpene limene. Guess what? These same exact terpenes are also in cannabis and have the similar medicinal effects as they do in other plants. For instance, a cannabis strain that has linalool is most likely going to help you sleep and one with limene will keep you more alert. So what does that all mean? Variety, variety, variety... you can have SO many different kinds of combinations that may work well for you, but maybe not your husband, mother, father, or dog. What are your individual needs, symptoms, issues?
Over the counter CBD or Hemp Oil, contains only 0.3% or less of THC and may not help every ones problems. For some people its just perfect, where others needs are more specific and they need more medicinal compounds. It’s is about getting to know your own body and well as understanding the depth of the medicine and what it may be able to do to help bring your body back into balance.
Working with a doctor and cannabis practitioner who understands the nuances, as well as understanding that the body is a system is key. Cannabis is a tool that is best used holistically and in combination with a well balanced diet, meditation or prayer, exercise, journaling, sleep, etc. It can have a huge impact on your quality of life, when used properly, without nasty side effects.
This post just merely scratches the surface of information about there about the Cannabis plant, so if you find yourself wanting to know more about Cannabis &/or Nutrition, please feel free to contact me here for more info!