This article was originally published on Topical CBD Effects. To view the original article, click here. 

Cannabidiol CBD is the main cannabinoid found in the hemp plant, and its popularity increased after the enactment of the US Farm Act of 2018. With this, industrial hemp cultivation and products made using it like CBD health and wellness products were legalized at the federal level. This made cannabidiol more accessible to the general population, which led to a surge in its demand. People found that it can be useful for reducing inflammation, relieving pain, helping with anxiety, depression, stress, sleep, etc. Let’s find out whether CBD can benefit your health.

What Is CBD?

Famed by the name CBD, cannabidiol is an active cannabinoid seen in hemp plants alongside many others. CBD and THC are isomers, i.e., despite similarities in their molecular formula, they differ in terms of their molecular structure. This is the reason tetrahydrocannabinol is psychotropic and cannabidiol is not.

Cannabidiol is naturally found in its acidic form cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) in the hemp plant. The acidic form is converted to CBD when it is exposed to temperature, or when it sits at room temperature. Also, research shows that CBDA has significant positive physiological effects, and this is because the receptors of the ECS have more affinity to it.

How Do CBD And CBDA Work On The Brain And Body?

Many of the versatile CBD health benefits are due to cannabidiol’s positive influence on the endocannabinoid system. Apart from this, studies show that this hemp-derived cannabinoid positively influences the serotonin receptors in the brain and thereby leads to improved serotonin levels. This can be beneficial for improving mood, reducing anxiety, and managing nausea.

Like CBD, CBDA also has similar therapeutic effects. That said, compared to cannabidiol, cannabidiolic acid has higher bioavailability; it is absorbed better, i.e., 5-11 times better when taken orally. Because of this, CBDA is more potent and acts more strongly on the body giving better relief from symptoms like vomiting, nausea, and pain.

Related: Are you ready to start using a CBD topical? Click here for a shirt list of the best products. 

What Conditions Can Be Treated With CBD?

CBD produces its effects by stimulating the ECS, which plays a key role in regulating homeostasis. Some of the important functions regulated by the ECS are the immune system, nervous system, cardiovascular, and musculoskeletal.

Listed below are the potential CBD health benefits:

  • Reduces inflammation
  • Improves sleep
  • Mood and anxiety
  • Cognition
  • Pain signaling
  • Neurological healing
  • Recovery from minor injuries
  • Gut function

More research is conducted to find other potential health benefits of CBD so that it can be used as part of the conventional treatment.

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