Cannabis Education
What it can do for you…
Medical patients swear by it. Researchers are intrigued by it. Government regulators are flustered by it. And investors are head over heels for it.
Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of more than 100 unique “cannabinoid” compounds that are found in the oily resin of the cannabis plant. The sticky, gooey resin is concentrated on the dense clusters of cannabis flowers, commonly called “buds,” which are covered by tiny, mushroom-shaped “trichomes.” This is where the magic happens.
Trichomes are specialized glandular structures that contain a treasure trove of oily, medicinal compounds, including CBD, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and various aromatic terpenes. Why does cannabis create these oily compounds? What does the resin do for the plant?
The oily trichomes protect the plant from heat and ultraviolet radiation. The oil also has antifungal, antibacterial and insecticidal properties that deter predators. The stickiness of the resin provides another defensive layer by trapping bugs.
As it happens, the same oily resin that protects the health of the plant includes components that are beneficial for human health. CBD, a non-intoxicating compound, has shown promise in treating and managing the symptoms of a broad range of diseases. Ditto for THC, CBD’s intoxicating cousin.
via: Projectcbd.org
Benefits of CBD
Cannabidiol (CBD) has been recently covered in the media, and you may have even seen it as an add-in booster to your post-workout smoothie or morning coffee. What exactly is CBD? Why is it suddenly so popular?
CBD has been touted for a wide variety of health issues, but the strongest scientific evidence is for its effectiveness in treating some of the cruelest childhood epilepsy syndromes, such as Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), which typically don’t respond to antiseizure medications. In numerous studies, CBD was able to reduce the number of seizures, and in some cases it was able to stop them altogether. Videos of the effects of CBD on these children and their seizures are readily available on the Internet for viewing, and they are quite striking. Recently the FDA approved the first ever cannabis-derived medicine for these conditions, Epidiolex, which contains CBD.
CBD is commonly used to address anxiety, and for patients who suffer through the misery of insomnia, studies suggest that CBD may help with both falling asleep and staying asleep.
CBD may offer an option for treating different types of chronic pain. A study from the European Journal of Pain showed, using an animal model, CBD applied on the skin could help lower pain and inflammation due to arthritis. Another study demonstrated the mechanism by which CBD inhibits inflammatory and neuropathic pain, two of the most difficult types of chronic pain to treat. More study in humans is needed in this area to substantiate the claims of CBD proponents about pain control.
via: Harvard Health Publishing
New Research Indicates Cannabis Consumption May Motivate One to Exercise…
Cannabis users reported that they engaged in more aerobic and anaerobic exercise and found the most benefit when they consumed immediately before or after working out.
“In addition, the majority of participants who endorsed using cannabis shortly before/after exercise reported that doing so enhances their enjoyment of and recovery from exercise, and approximately half reported that it increases their motivation to exercise,” the study reads.
The researchers note that physical activity is one of the most important behaviors for healthy living, but that many Americans do not get enough exercise.
“Common issues surrounding low exercise rates include inadequate enjoyment of and motivation to exercise, and poor recovery from exercise,” according to the authors of the study,” they wrote.
With data that now shows cannabis can lead to more physical activity, perhaps the dated stereotype that pot users are lazy and unmotivated can finally be put to rest. The authors of the study called for more research on the issue.
“This study represents an important step in clarifying cannabis use with exercise among adult users in states with legal cannabis markets, and provides guidance for future research directions,” the summary concludes.
Via: Hightimes.com
One of the best…
One of Siskiyou Sungrown’s foundational practices is to formulate our wellness products with the highest quality whole plant medicine. Why do we go to the trouble of using the whole plant, rather than using isolated cannabinoids, which are cheaper and easier to obtain?
Whole plant medicine captures the full spectrum of beneficial phytochemicals found throughout the plant. Phyto is a Latin prefix for plant, thus phytochemicals are the chemicals produced by plants. Of the several hundred phytochemicals that have been described in cannabis, the most beneficial include cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids and other phenolic compounds.
There are over one hundred cannabinoids in the cannabis plant, including THC, CBD, CBG, and CBC. They interact with our body’s endocannabinoid system to influence essential physiological and cognitive processes — inflammation, pain-sensation, mood, appetite, metabolism, immune system, and more.
Edible forms of cannabis, including food products, lozenges, and capsules, can produce effective, long-lasting, and safe effects. These forms of cannabis are also the most likely to produce unwanted effects and overdose symptoms, which can be very unpleasant. The difference is, of course, the dose.
Here, you’ll find a chart that describes typical effects felt at different ingested doses. However, there are factors to consider when choosing the right dose for you, which you can read more about below.
