Both THC & CBD help relieve pain
By: Cyrus Sepahbodi
I’ll be the first to admit it: I am a cannabis user and advocate of safe access for all people (over the age of 21). Cannabis is an amazing plant! There is tremendous anecdotal, as well as scientifically backed, evidence of the plant’s healing potential. The real power of cannabis comes from cannabinoids, and the most commonly known are THC & CBD.
The Science of How THC and CBD Works
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD) have complicated histories as medicine. More recently though, the efficacy of both THC and CBD have become more normalized, mainstream, and popular as viable means for fighting pain, helping aid in healthy sleep, reduce anxiety, and promote overall health and wellness. In fact, a recent gallup poll shows that one in seven Americans say they personally use CBD and over 55 million Americans have tried cannabis (with over 35 million defined as ‘regular users’).
Infographics courtesy of Gallup: https://news.gallup.com/poll/263147/americans-say-cbd-products.aspx
But to understand the power behind both compounds, we have to first understand how both behave within the human body. That leads us to the human Endocannabiniod System.
The Endocannabinoid System (ECS)
The endogenous cannabinoid system, also known as the endocannabinoid system (ECS), can be thought of as the air traffic control center for the body. It controls physiological processes, including appetite, pain sensation, mood, and memory. The ECS consists of two primary cannabinoid receptors: CB1 receptors (most concentrated in the central nervous system and brain) and CB2 receptors (abundant in the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and peripheral nervous systems). The natural cannabinoids and phytonutrients found in cannabis communicate with these signal receptors of the ECS to help reduce aches, pains, and inflammation.
Cannabinoids: the Power Behind the Plant
THC & CBD are among over 100 other phytocannabinoids (cannabinoids), the natural chemical compounds produced by cannabis flowers that provide the plant with natural protection. Cannabinoids closely resemble natural compounds produced by our own bodies. Both THC & CBD work on different cannabinoid receptors throughout our bodies to provide relief from pain and inflammation. When working in conjunction with the ECS, a full spectrum of cannabinoids has the ability to compound their effects, which is known as the Entourage Effect. When consumed, THC and CBD molecules bind to the body’s cannabinoid receptors to help regulate pain and inflammation as well as other functions.
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