Obsessed With CBD? Here’s the Quick Science Behind It

If you’re currently obsessed with CBD, it’s for a good, scientific reason—you’re experiencing a fresh approach to wellness without the whole getting high thing. And while that’s certainly something to celebrate, so is getting your head around the scientific facts—here’s a quick, digestible scientific snapshot to lean on at your next social gathering:

“CBD—Where Does it Come From Again?”

CBD is one of more than 60 compounds found in the Cannabis Sativa plant that belongs to a class of ingredients called ‘cannabinoids’.  While CBD can be found in other plants, like broccoli and kale, it’s most abundant in the hemp plant. To be classified as hemp, it has to have less than 0.3% THC (the compound that creates the psychoactivity).

Source: Optimal Hemp

“CBD—I Read Somewhere the Human Body is Programmed to Use It? Is That True?”

Yes. We have what’s called an endocannabinoid system — a central regulatory system that helps to regulate immune, nervous and digestive systems and keeps the body in balance. This network of the body knows how to process these naturally occurring CBD chemicals because the human body and the cannabis plant both make cannabinoids. Like a lock and key system, we are biologically programmed to be able to use CBD effectively.

“CBD—CB1 & CB2 Receptors, Please Explain!”

Before you have nightmare flashbacks to chemistry class, let’s break this down simply. So, you know how we have this incredible endocannabinoid system in our body? Well within that system are two kinds of receptors found on cell surfaces—CB1 and CB2. And since the job of a receptor is to be the “eyes” and “ears” of the cells, they receive messages from substances (like CBD) in the bloodstream and then tell the cells what to do.

“OK, I’m Feeling Like a Chemistry Cool Kid—What Else Can You Tell Me?”

Now that you can see and understand why the human body is set up so favorably to receive the plant compound CBD, it’s even easier to understand why you’ve been loving how you’re feeling. Here are some of the most common uses:

Targets Temporary, Occasional Discomfort

CBD works to release tension, leaving you feeling refreshed and revived while simultaneously nurturing your body.

Promotes Relaxation

CBD can quickly stimulate a sense of balance because of its calming, hydrating effect.

Encourages Restful Sleep

CBD promotes a calm and relaxed mood before bedtime, turns your brain to sleep mode, and helps you to wake up feeling fully rested.

Many people are feeling the physical and mental strains of everyday life. So it’s easy to see why CBD is becoming a fast-growing treatment option courtesy of Mother Nature. But while finding a natural product to help get back to what you love is golden, doing so while being a fully-informed consumer is absolutely priceless.