The Science of Cannabidiol CBD and How It Interacts with the Human Endocannabinoid System

Key Highlights

• Cannabidiol (CBD) is a compound found in the marijuana plant with no psychoactive effects.
• You can avail of CBD in different products or ways, such as edibles, topicals, tinctures, and oils.
• The benefits of CBD health-wise include neuroprotection, managing pain, anxiety reduction, and stress mitigation.
• In the U.S., the legal status of CBD varies. Ditto with how the FDA regulates the compound across the nation.
• To make a more informed buying decision, learn the science behind how CBD works and how it can help people health-wise.
• CBD interacts with the human ECS or endocannabinoid system that’s responsible for the regulation of a multitude of functions of the body.

Introduction

Cannabidiol (CBD) has risen lately in popularity due to its supposed benefits health-wise. It’s an all-natural chemical that works with the endocannabinoid (ECS) system of the body, which is a network of receptors and agents that assist in balancing any bodily imbalances (homeostasis).

This includes dealing or resolving issues with neuropathy, immense pain, stress, and anxiety. This guide is here to see the science behind CBD and how it affects your ECS.

It will also cover the potential health benefits to taking this non-psychoactive compound of the cannabis plant, which is usually ingested or taken by patients as CBD oil among other forms (tinctures, capsules, and creams).

Unlocking the Secrets of the Endocannabinoid System (ECS)

The ECS is a complicated network composed of enzymes, receptors, and endocannabinoids (hence its name). Its role as part of the human body is to manage many of its functions. This includes keeping balance in processes like memory, mood, pain, and hunger.

In the ECS, you can find two types of receptors—CB1 and CB2. They’re found all over the body, including areas like the brain and components within the immune system, among other places.

The key to understanding how cannabinoids like marijuana’s CBD affect the body depends mostly on your knowledge of the workings of the ECS.

ECS and Homeostasis Maintenance

Homeostasis is when the body keeps its internal systems in check with stability and balance, even when faced with outside change. The ECS assists with homeostasis through the management of processes like inflammation, pina, hunger, sleep, mood, inflammation, and the immune system.

When there’s body imbalance, endocannabinoids are produced and spread throughout the body. They’re then received by cannabinoids receptors to correct the imbalance and ensure internal bodily health. 

Indeed, inflammation and pain from when you get hurt is reduced through the production and release of endocannabinoids. The ECS is a function regulator that prevents imbalances from affected homeostasis, thus ensuring the wellbeing of the individual.

ECS Components like Enzymes, Receptors, and Endocannabinoids

The three main parts of ECS include the endocannabinoids, the cannabinoid receptors, and enzymes. They all cooperate and process signals from the body to manage imbalances and keep everything healthily in homeostasis.

CB1 and CB2 are types of cannabinoids receptors found outside the millions of cells of the human body. The activation of these receptors through various imbalances involving hunger, pain, mood, and so forth lead to a domino effect of cell reactions.

Endocannabinoids are natural molecules produced by the body capable of interacting with CB1 or CB2 like how keys could fit into locks.

Meanwhile, enzymes are responsible for breaking down endocannabinoids which help manage the levels of these chemical compounds inside the body. They’re produced to manage imbalances then they themselves are broken down by enzymes after their purpose is fulfilled.

An Overview of Cannabidiol CBD

CBD is an important agent from the sativa variant of marijuana plant. It doesn’t intoxicate users and have many benefits to human health. Many use CBD oil to assist with managing health issues like anxiety and chronic pain.

Clinical studies reveal that CBD can also assist in the treatment of seizures rooting from Tuberous Sclerosis Complex and Dravet syndrome.

Before taking CBD, talk to a doctor first. There might be adverse effects to you depending on your preexisting conditions or any medication you’re taking (CBD interaction with other drugs). 

CBD products are also affected by legality on a state-by-state basis in the U.S., which makes them hard to use and/or find.

What is Cannabidiol CBD?

CBD is one of more than a hundred agents in the sativa plant. The cannabis plant is also known as hemp or marijuana. Unlike THC and its psychoactive effects, CBD doesn’t produce a high. 

It instead, as discussed, regulates pain and anxiety, among many other bodily functions that contribute to homeostasis. This makes many people interested in using it for medicinal purposes. 

The cannabis plant’s CBD can be turned into multiple byproducts, such as oils, edibles, topicals, capsules, and tinctures. The potency and quality of such byproducts depends on how well the CBD is extracted then distilled.

The potential health benefits of CBD rotos from how it interacts with the ECS. Research so far has linked it to the betterment of conditions involving sleep, pain, and anxiety.

The Cannabidiol Chemical Structure

CBD is just one of many cannabinoid agents you can extract from the marijuana plant. Cannabinoids have a special molecular structure that enables them to interact with the ECS, making them quite different from THC in terms of effects.

Researchers need to know CBD structure in order to develop and improve upon any products that have CBD as an active ingredient. They can uncover more about the health benefits of CBD by studying how within the ECS it connects with receptors and interacts with enzymes.

The quality and chemical makeup of CBD is directly affected by the purification process and how it’s extracted from the marijuana plant. 

Therefore, only pick CBD products from trusted sources. Go for companies with good quality control and third-party testing.

CBD vs. THC

The cannabis plant produces both THC and CBD cannabinoids. Although they’re both cannabinoids, they have strikingly different effects on the human body.

THC is the more psychoactive cannabinoid agent that causes highs. THC compounds mostly attach to the brain’s CB1 receptors, which in turn changes your perception of things as well as how you think and what your mood is.

CBD, in contrast, has no psychoactive effects and won’t make you high. Although it connects to CB1 receptors too, its effects aren’t as potent as THC and it mostly affects the ECS and its receptors (such as CB2 receptors).

CBD mainly affects serotonin production, among other brain chemicals. The effects and chemical structures of THC and CBD leads to their unique interaction with the body. 

CBD is considered the more medicinal cannabinoid of the two because it won’t get you high or intoxicated but it can manage your pain or anxiety as well as affect your mood and eating issues. 

How Cannabidiol CBD Interacts with the Human Body

CBD interacts with the human body chiefly through the ECS. The ECS is made up of brain chemicals that have their release regulated by its many receptors. CBD affects ECS by specifically interacting with the cannabinoid receptors like CB1 and CB2, unlocking them like keys to locks.

According to experts, the interaction of CBD with ECS is one reason why it might assist in the treatment of various health issues that involve chronic pain, anxiety, or moodiness as their symptoms.

CBD interaction or unlocking allows those who take CBD oils and tinctures to manage issues related to the ECS. It improves homeostasis in case of injury or sickness and specifically manages pain and anxiety as well as stress and sleeplessness.

ECS Receptor Interaction

The unique way CBD interacts with ECS involves the following. CBD doesn’t attach to cannabinoid receptors the way THC would. Rather, CBD changes how the receptors react instead. It doesn’t trigger them necessarily yet impacts their signaling paths.

For example, the endocannabinoid known as anandamide has its effects are boosted with CBD. It connects mainly with CB1 receptors to assist with chronic pain and moodiness management. 

CBD’s ability to raise anandamide quantities may aid with pain and mood improvement. Furthermore, CBD can link with serotonin receptors, among others. Serotonin receptors deal with appetite, sleep, and mood (again). 

CBD’s ability to affect different receptors in the ECS is believed to directly link it to quantifiable health benefits.

Cannabidiol’s Non-Psychoactive Effects

Unlike THC, CBD doesn’t give off a psychoactive high. It doesn’t affect y our thinking, feeling, or perception. This makes it more medicinal than psychoactive or “recreational”. 

This fact also makes CBD byproducts the medicinal byproducts of choice by patients needing health benefits without suffering from unintentional psychoactive side effects linked with THC.

CBD is non-psychoactive because it mostly interacts with the ECS and its chemical makeup is different from THC. While THC linked to the brain’s CB1 receptors, CBD changes the way CB1 and CB2 receptors react instead without triggering them.

Researchers are ostensibly researching into CBD’s health benefits for health benefits related to homeostasis and the functions of the ECS. This includes issues involving epilepsy, chronic pain, and anxiety.

CBD is also beneficial to those who might react negatively to THC’s “high”. CBD can also be used with a clear mind and without your perception being altered since it’s not a mind-altering compound.

The Benefits of Cannabidiol CBD Health-Wise

Early studies have shown huge promise in CBD’s potential health benefits. Additional research is required to fully understand how safe CBD is and how well it works though.

Regardless, there is evidence linking several health benefits to CBD. It can be used for pain relief, anxiety mitigation, brain protection, and inflammation decrease. Therefore, CBD can be considered a form of medical cannabis.

The chemical agent still needs to be used wisely, preferably with a doctor’s prescription. Go to a doctor to find the right form and dose of CBD for you and your specific needs.

Reducing Stress and Anxiety

Anxiety is pretty common. It’s a condition involving feelings of nervousness, fear, and worry. With that said, CBD has become a popular way to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety, particularly by those with anxiety disorder.

It works by interacting with your body’s ECS and affecting or effectively boosting serotonin signals. According to studies, CBD has shown evidence of lowering anxiety levels in people suffering from generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD.

CBD’s calming effects root from its ability to change amygdala activity. The amygdala, by the way, is the part of the brain that helps process emotions and fear.

Researchers are still studying CBD’s effects on anxiety, but early evidence indicate how safe and natural it is in anxiety management. Future clinical trials will show everyone the best dosage for CBD and its long-term effects as well as its drug interactions.

The Management of Pain

Chronic pain management is one of the most popular uses for CBD and CBD byproducts. It’s because chronic pain directly affects your quality of life. CBD can be a great pain reliever without resulting in dire side effects.

People who suffer from neuropathic pain, back pain, and arthritis are indeed looking into CBD as a solution. According to studies, CBD does cause pain relief in a myriad of ways.

It can change how neurotransmitters work, interact with pain receptors, and reduce inflammation. CBD’s anti-inflammation abilities originate from how it’s able to mitigate certain harmful proteins in your system.

Moreover, CBD can interact with receptors responsible for how we feel pain, which in turn can decrease pain signals that travel to the brain.

By changing systems that interact with neurotransmitters—such as serotonin systems and ECS—CBD can affect how you and your body processes the pain sensation.

Neuroprotective Properties and Epilepsy Treatment

CBD has shown huge promise when it comes to brain protection. Meaning it might assist with neurological disorders such as epilepsy. 

Studies claim that CBD could decrease how frequently and powerful your seizures are if you suffer from one of many epilepsy types (such as Dravet syndrome).

Epidiolex, an FDA-approved CBD solution taken orally, assists in seizure treatment in those who are two years old and above who have serious (uncommon) forms of epilepsy. The FDA approval came after many tests that showcased CBD’s effectivity and safeness in seizure reduction.

CBD’s brain protection abilities root from its anti-inflammation and anti-oxidation features. It can also assist in balancing brain chemicals that also affect seizure frequency. 

It’s believed that CBD can protect your brain cells from seizure-caused harm while also helping calm the brain down to mitigate seizure events.

Anti-Inflammation Benefits

Inflammation is an immune system response that helps protect itself from infection and injury. Further health complications can happen due to long-lasting inflammation, leading to disorders like autoimmune disease, heart disease, and arthritis.

CBD’s anti-inflammation properties can treat, mitigate, or manage inflammatory issues by reducing cytokines production (cytokines actually cause swelling). 

CBD also affects the receptors responsible for the inflammation response. This all assists in changing how the body deals with swelling.

CBD oil is a popular method of taking in CBD. It’s known for its anti-swelling effects by topical usage. Just put the oil on your skin to lessen any swelling on your body as well as relieve localized pain from sore muscles and arthritis.

The Pharmacology of CBD

It’s important to know how CBD affects the human body. It explains how it’s able to treat health issues. Researcher observe at how CBD is ingested, moved around the body, changed, and then removed to know how to make safer and better CBD byproducts.

CBD studies involve pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Pharmacokinetics observes how the body interacts CBD from ingestion to excretion. Pharmacodynamics explores the small-scale effects of CBD on the body. 

Pharmacokinetics of Cannabidiol

Pharmacokinetics is the study on how the body deals with drug effects. It observes how the drug is taken, moved, metabolized, and removed by excretion.

The knowledge of pharmacokinetics assists in determining dosage, how to take CBD byproducts, and any potential drug interactions with the compound.

There are many methods to take in CBD. You can apply it topically, you can administer it lingually, you can ingest it orally, or you can inhale it. How CBD is taken affects how quickly it affects you and how much of it ends up in your blood.

When taking CBD by ingestion, CBD goes through the liver via first-pass metabolism, which lowers its potency and effectiveness. Sublingual administration involves putting the oil under the tongue and letting it get absorbed into your blood quickly while avoiding liver screening.

CBD inhalation by smoking or vaping, meanwhile, involves fast absorption, but researchers are still researching its long-term effects. Topical application of CBD mostly works on the injured area. Only a tiny amount of CBD ends up in the bloodstream.

Pharmacodynamics or How Cannabidiol Works on Small Scale

Pharmacodynamics is about how CBD works at a molecular level. This is the study on how the compound affects signaling pathways, enzymes, and receptors on a microscopic level or smaller scale. Knowing this info is important to figure out how CBD treats different issues.

Even though CBD doesn’t trigger or bind strongly to cannabinoid receptors, it can still alter their activity in another manner. 

It increases levels of anandamide, which is an endocannabinoid that links with CB1 receptors for the sake of anxiety and pain reduction.

CBD also mingles and links with other bodily receptors, such as receptors for serotonin. Your appetite, mood, and sleep are regulated by your serotonin levels. Changing signals for serotonin production may help CBD provide treatment for insomnia, depression, or anxiety.

Different Uses and Forms of CBD

There are many forms of CBD. Each of them has their respective benefits and drawbacks. The common forms include topical application forms like oils, tinctures, topicals, and creams. Some are instead ingested like edibles and capsules. Oils, like vape liquids, you’re supposed to inhale.

Picking the right type of CBD byproduct depends on your preference, goals, and the disorder or condition you wish to treat.

Flexibility is the name of the game for CBD tinctures and oils. You can spread them on your skin, mix them with your food and drinks, and place them under your tongue.

Topicals should be spread on the affected area. Edibles are known for their long-lasting effects but it takes longer for them to work. Capsules allow for exact dosing and convenience. Finally, vape liquids ensure quick absorption.

Oils and Tinctures

CBD oils and tinctures are popular forms of CBD product. Oils are extracted from hemp lants and mixed with a carrier oil like hemp seed oil or MCT oil to ensure easier absorption. Tinctures, meanwhile, are CBD extracts that use alcohol as a medium.

There are multiple methods to utilize CBD tinctures and oils. You can take them by putting a few drops under your tongue and letting them get absorbed into your system for a minute. 

This lets the CBD flow through your bloodstream immediately. There’s also the option to mix them with food and drinks, thus making them edibles. 

When you go the oils and tinctures route, research how they were extracted, how many third-party tests are done to them, what’s the carrier oil used, and their potency. Choose topnotch products from brands you can trust ensures you get CBD that’s safe, strong, and pure.

Creams and Topicals

CBD creams and topicals are CBD byproducts that can only be used on the skin and not sublingually or as edibles like oil. They’re supposed to be spread in problem spots on your joints, muscles, and skin to reduce pain and swelling.

Many people use creams and topicals for localized pain relief in joints and muscles as well as for arthritis. They can offer you direct and immediate relief in localized areas of your body wherever there’s pain. 

The creams also help moisturize skin and deal with issues such as eczema, psoriasis, and acne. It could also lessen swelling, itching, and redness along with dry skin.

When choosing CBD topicals, take into consideration the product’s quality, its ingredients (sometimes they include arnica or menthol), and potency or strength. To ensure their safety and efficacy, choose goods only from trusted name brands.

Capsules and Edibles

CBD capsules and edibles provide an oral method of taking CBD. It’s best used for people who don’t like the taste of CBD oil or wish for a more discreet way of consumption.

There are multiple forms of edibles out there, including baked goods like brownies, chocolate bars, and gummies. Capsules, on the other hand, give you a measured CBD dose that’s tasteless and adjustable.

The great benefit of consuming capsules sand edibles is that their effects persist further than when compared to other CBD intake methods. After taking the CBD products, the CBD ends up absorbed b your digestive system. This ensures a longer-lasting period of CBD effects.

The liver has to first break down the CBD before releasing it to your body, resulting in CBD staying longer in your system yet being less potent.

However, the amount of CBD being used is actually lower compared to other intake methods. Ingestion and absorption processes reduces the potency or levels of CBD in your system due to them being digested by the liver.

When choosing capsules and edibles, make sure to buy only trusted brands that ensures the quality of the product while also sending clear information on dosage when all is said and done.

The U.S. Legal Status and FDA Regulation of CBD

Beware of getting confused by the FDA rules and legal status of CBD. As long as CBD products come from hemp and contain less than 0.3 percent THC in them, they’re legal on the federal level. However, it’s also true that states have their own individual laws on CBD you must follow.

CBD that doesn’t come from hemp or contains more than 0.3 percent of THC are considered illegal nationwide. Check with state laws to know the legality of CBD on a state-by-state or case-by-case basis.

The precedent for FDA approving of CBD comes from them approving Epidiolex, which is a CBD product used for seizure disorder treatment. At present, the FDA doesn’t control any other CBD products like it does with medications or supplements, resulting in labeling and quality issues.

Hemp-Derived Cannabidiol Federal Regulations

The 2018 Farm Bill took hemp out of the definition of “marijuana” in the Controlled Substances Act. Therefore, it’s now legal to grow hemp (as opposed to the marijuana plant) and make hemp byproducts across the U.S.

According to federal law, hemp is from cannabis sativa plants containing less than 0.3 percent THC. Long story short, it’s now legal to sell hemp-derived CBD byproducts with less than 0.3 percent THC. Then again, the FDA still has the power to regulate CBD byproducts, even hemp byproducts. 

Thusly, the FDA doesn’t permit companies to market CBD products as food additives or dietary supplements. CBD also lacks daily intake information and safety rules. Regulation of CBD products is therefore at times confusing as it is challenging.

State Laws for Cannabidiol CBD

In the United States of America, CBD derived from hemp is legal on a nationwide or federal level. However, on a state level, there are individual state laws governing CBD products. There are some states that allow for the sale and use of CBD products.

Others have strict rules that override the federal-level legality of hemp-derived CBD. Several states allow CBD for medicinal use in the treatment of specific conditions.

You can buy CBD for cancer treatment, epilepsy, and chronic pain. When using CBD under medical laws, you have to get a prescription or a medical marijuana card from your doctor.

You should be knowledgeable of your state laws for CBD. Such laws can affect the availability and legality of CBD byproducts. The laws also specify how much CBD you can possess. Awareness of such laws is important so that you can follow the rules as a law-abiding U.S. citizen.

Side Effects and Safeness of CBD

While most patients can take CBD without major complications, they still have to watch out for side effects. Some common ones include changes in your appetite, upset stomach, exhaustion, and sleepiness. 

For best results, start with small CBS doses and slowly increase it to allow your body to acclimate to the compound. Always watch out for bad bodily responses such as allergic reactions.

CBD can react to certain medication, particularly those that need liver processing. If you take prescription medicine or certain disorders or conditions, talk to your doctor first before taking CBD for all these reasons and more.

CBD Side Effects and Their Methods of Mitigation

Most people can safely use CBD. However, some mild side effects might occur. They can depend on dosage, the form of CBD used, and how it’s taken.

The most common side effects of CBD usage are appetite changes, dry mouth, tiredness, drowsiness, and diarrhea. Drink more water or chew sugar-free gum to help with your dry mouth. As for tiredness or drowsiness, it’s best you avoid operating heavy machinery or driving.

If you suffer from any unusual or rare negative side effects from CBD, stop your intake and talk to your doctor about it. 

You can reduce the dose or try a different form of CBD to ease severe side effects, but only with the assistance or advice of your doctor.

Cannabidiol’s Drug or Medication Interactions

CBD can interact with certain medications and drugs, changing how they work in ways that wouldn’t otherwise happen without the drug interaction. They can boost primary effects or create new side effects.

Such alterations are possible mainly due to CBD’s effects on enzymes that help in drug digestion. One important group is the liver’s cytochrome P450 system.

When taking medications—especially those that require specific doses—you should watch out for your CBD use. Talk to your doctor once more as well as a pharmacist for the best course of action.

It’s helpful to share a full list of medications you’re taking to your doctor on top of your medical history. This list should include over-the-counter (OTC) and recreational drugs, herbal supplements, vitamins, and the like.

This enables your doctor to understand the risks and what possible drug interactions or combinations you’ll be faced with when you start taking CBD.

In Summary

Learning how CBD works with the body’s ECS can tremendously assist us in knowing its health benefits and how you can apply it on different ECS-related issues. CBD doesn’t make you high. Its lack of psychoactive effects makes it the better choice for anxiety treatment.

It’s also “medicinal” enough to reduce inflammation, protect your brain, and mitigate pain. CBD’s safety and legality are crucial considerations in the future.

Stay updated with the ongoing promising CBD studies and the ever-changing CBD landscape so that you can make the best decisions for its usage and health value.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can CBD make you high?

No. CBD has no psychoactive effects. THC is the cannabinoid that causes that psychoactive high that alters your perception and attaches to the brain’s CB1 receptors. CBD lacks that effect and deals more with ECS interaction, pain relief, and anxiety regulation.

How Legal is CBD Oil in the 50 States of the U.S.?

In the U.S., hemp-derived CBD oil with less than 0.3 percent THC is legal nationwide. However, its legal status also differs from state to state You should check state laws regarding hemp products and CBD oil for more details.

How Does CBD Oil Affect You?

The effects of CBD oil depend on the individual person, but it should universally not make you feel high (depending on its THC content). Some people might become calmer from it. Others might reduce their anxiety or have an improved mood. Its effects comes on a case-to-case basis.

Can You Use CBD Oil Daily?

Check with your doctor about CBD oil dosage. The effects of daily CBD oil usage depend on your conditions and how your body reacts. Your doctor should know best on how much CBD you should take every day.

What Should You Search for When Purchasing CBD Products?

Only buy high-quality, first-rate CBD products from trusted brands with good quality control. Check the labels to get info about the potency and purity of the oil, tincture, or edible.

What’s the Deal with Emerging Studies and Clinical Trials?

The new emerging clinical trials and studies about CBD exist to further explore proper dosage and health benefits of the product in a scientifically backed manner.

Clinical tests and new studies are happening as we speak. They’re researching all the potential health benefits of CBD outside of its ECS or homeostasis regulation. These studies have the goal of obtaining conclusive proof of how to properly use CBD health-wise.

What are the Potential Therapeutic Uses of Cannabidiol?

CBD clinical research is developing nicely. New studies are researching how CBD can assist with different health disorders. These studies collectively contribute in bringing about new healthcare ideas. They’re also beneficial in supporting treatments based on solid evidence.

What’s the Future Direction of CBD Research?

There’s a lot of hope in the treatment of different medical conditions based on the ongoing research on the new ways to use cannabidiol for treatment. The benefits of this compound for dealing with various disorders are increasing.