picture of various marijuana related products

Cannabidol sources and benefits

Cannabidiol, or CBD oil or Rick Simpson Oil is a natural non-psychoactive component of the cannabis or marijuana plant that bears a wide range of therapeutic benefits. By itself, the component does not carry any effects commonly associated with marijuana and when present in high quantities it minimizes the negative side effects and enhances the positive effects of tetrahydrocannibinol, the major component found in cannabis. Because of this benefit and many more, CBD is slowly transforming into an important nutritional and medical treatment legalized in most countries of the world. It is one of the most studied cannabinoids out of the 100 other chemical components found in marijuana.

SOURCES OF CBD
Cannabidiol is found naturally in significant quantities in the seeds, stalk and flowers of the cannabis plants, including marijuana and hemp. The component is also manufactured synthetically in a laboratory. Study reports indicate that the amount of CBD in cannabis is around 4 percent, however, the cannabis plant intended for use as hemp often contains an extremely high concentration of CBD and medical marijuana may have as much as 40 percent in its extracts. Hemp products have already been on the market for several years, including oil, supplements and creams. CBD infused products such as capsules, lotions and edibles are still less known.

MEDICAL BENEFITS
There are several therapeutic uses for cannabidiol, which has been reported to have positive effects on many conditions whose permanent solution has not been unveiled such as diabetes and cancer. Some of the benefits include:

1. REDUCES SEVERITY OF SEIZURES
Studies carried out over several decades have indicated that CBD oil causes decreased frequency of seizures and is effective for treating drug-resistant epilepsy.

2. EFFECTIVE TREATMENT FOR ANXIETY
Most people claim to find a mind-relaxing feeling from marijuana, which significantly reduces psychological and behavioral effects of stress and anxiety such as discomfort during public speaking. It also minimizes post-traumatic stress disorders enabling patients to get over traumatic memories.

3. KILLS CANCER GENES
CBD prevents the development of genes that cause cancer cells to multiply and spread. It also provides symptom relief through reducing pain, increasing appetite and eliminating nausea, and decreases tumor growth although these findings have not been extensively explored in human beings.

4. BEARS NEUROPROTECTIVE AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EFFECTS
Cannabidiol has been shown to counter effects of various neurodegenerative illnesses such as stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease. When taken in the right dosage, the component reduces inflammation by 50 percent in patients suffering from arthritis and can offset damage resulting from chronic alcoholism.

5. CONTROLS PSYCHOTIC EPISODES
A strain of marijuana that has high doses of THC and low in CBD can cause chronic psychotic episodes in persons with specific genetic risk factors such as schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease. CBD mitigates these effects by offsetting most negative mental effects of THC in patients having a history of mental illness. Strains with high amounts of Cannabidiol found in medical marijuana are always free from psychotic symptoms.

6. PREVENTS THE ONSET AND DEVELOPMENT OF DIABETES
70 percent of individuals that take CBD-rich products and drugs are always free from diabetes and those with the disease get the symptoms alleviated significantly.