Beginners Guide to CBD: What is it and what are the medical reasons for taking CBD?
CBD drops and supplements have been gaining more and more popularity in recent years due to an increase in people discovering the benefits and understanding the many different medical reasons for taking CBD.
CBD, short for Cannabidiol, is the naturally occurring compound derived directly from Cannabis Sativa – more commonly known as the hemp plant. CBD is the chemical substance found in cannabis that has medical benefits and is produced by the leaves of the hemp plant, as well as sometimes being supplied by the plant’s stalk as well.
There Are Different Types Of CBD
While the three different types of natural CBD are Full-Spectrum CBD, CBD Isolate, and Broad-Spectrum CBD, it is the CBD Isolate that’s the purest form of all and which is used in products such as Vitabiotics CBD. CBD Isolate also has the advantage of being Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) free – with no detectable traces to the 6th decimal. THC is a psychoactive component of the hemp plant which means it affects the mind. This is the reason that CBD is a very strictly controlled product
Uses For CBD
Please note that the uses for CBD are still being widely researched. The following areas are still being looked into and therefore should not be seen as set in stone as approved reasons for taking CBD.
Alleviating Symptoms
Though the hemp plant contains a range of cannabinoids that are psychoactive, there are also those that are not, such as CBD. For this reason, CBD does not contain the chemical which will make you high when taking it. However, it is also important to understand that medicinal CBD that is available on the NHS may contain a small element of THC and is therefore only available on prescription.
Epilepsy
There are several different medical reasons why people take CBD, one of these being epilepsy. Epidyolex, a highly purified liquid containing CBD, can be prescribed on the NHS to patients (both adults and children) who suffer from severe or rare forms of epilepsy such as Dravet Syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome. Because Epidyolex doesn’t contain THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), it will not make those who take it high.
Treating MS
CBD may also be prescribed for and taken by those suffering from Multiple Sclerosis (MS) – a life-long condition that can affect both the spinal cord and brain, potentially resulting in a variety of different symptoms including problems with balance, vision, sensation, and arm or leg movement.
CBD can be prescribed occasionally for those suffering from muscle stiffness and spasms as a result of having Multiple Sclerosis in the form of Nabiximols (Sativex). Nabiximols is a cannabis-based medicine (taken by spraying into the mouth) that is licensed in the UK for those suffering from MS-related muscle spasticity that has not improved with other treatments.
Chemotherapy
For people going through chemotherapy, Nabilone may be prescribed to help relieve the symptoms of feeling sick or vomiting throughout the treatment. Nabilone is a medicine, in the form of a capsule, and is often referred to as the ‘man-made form of cannabis’. The medicine has been designed and developed to act in a similar way to THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) – the chemical within cannabis that makes you high. Nabilone can be prescribed by healthcare specialists to relieve the periods of time throughout chemotherapy when patients vomit or feel sick, and this is generally prescribed when other treatments have not helped these symptoms or if alternatives are not suitable for the patient.
More general use of CBD
Of course, CBD is also a natural remedy used by many people aiming to achieve a healthy lifestyle. It is used for a number of common ailments and can be purchased in a variety of different forms from shops and online. If you are purchasing online, do ensure you always use a reputable, UK-based supplier.
Here are some of the more general reasons for taking CBD:
- Pain relief
- Reducing stress and anxiety
- Skin-care
- Reducing high blood pressure
- Promoting good sleep