What does CBD do to your brain? Your body? If you’re into the Bill-Nye-science of CBD and its effects on your body and mind, welcome! You’re in the right place. Let’s dive in.
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What Does CBD Do for the Mind?
As early as 1940, chemist Roger Adams successfully extracted cannabidiol (CBD) from the marijuana plant for the first time. But for many years, CBD was poorly understood. Researchers eventually noticed that CBD had a completely different effect on the human body than the related THC. Still, with no obvious evidence of mind-altering effects at first, CBD took a backseat to Big Brother THC. (All that marijuana testing probably made the scientists a little forgetful.)
A few clever minds were undeterred by CBD’s lack of noticeable effect, and they began investigating. The CBD effect is so diverse that despite years of research, we still don’t know everything about it.
Many users report that CBD influences their mood, especially when used before sleeping and at night. Scientists don’t know the precise connections between CBD and sleep, but users report falling asleep faster and sleeping more peacefully after taking CBD.
Various studies have examined the effect of CBD on our psyche because experts believe CBD has an anti-anxiety effect in certain situations. The first indications of an antipsychotic effect came from early studies in the 20th century, which found that the additional administration of CBD could mitigate the adverse psychological effects of THC. The two substances basically cancel each other out.
It was later discovered that CBD actually affects how THC is metabolized in our bodies. There are indications that CBD uses a complex process to increase the body’s signaling molecules (endocannabinoids).
How Do Cannabinoids Affect Your Nervous System?
You may not know that the human body produces its own endogenous cannabinoids, the natural equivalents of compounds found in the cannabis plant, such as THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol).
The endogenous cannabinoid system is one of the most important physiological systems in establishing and maintaining human health. You have endocannabinoid receptors everywhere in your body: your brain, organs, connective tissues, glands, and immune cells.
Researchers believe that CBD’s ability to affect the endocannabinoid system and other brain signaling systems may benefit people with neurological conditions. One of the most studied CBD uses is in the treatment of neurological conditions like epilepsy and multiple sclerosis.
What Does CBD Do to the Brain?
What does CBD do to your brain function? Researchers asked this central question during their extensive research and quickly discovered that CBD acts on the cannabinoid receptors in our brain. As components of your endocannabinoid system, these receptors have special tasks in our pain and inflammation processes.
Endocannabinoids maintain balance in your body or brain, a process called homeostasis. For example, these messenger substances are increasingly released when you’re in pain. They have varying effects, including pain relief, reduced stress and anxiety, and improved learning and memory. Endocannabinoids also impact hunger, inflammation, and immunity.
These receptors are far from the only molecular targets of CBD. The CBD effect is based on the activation of many other proteins in the brain, which likely include the serotonin receptor and ion channels. Ion channels are like the little connected alleyways that span cell membranes, allowing ions to pass from one side of the membrane to the other. Ion channels and serotonin receptors control the signal transmission to your nerve cells via calcium regulation.
Whew! Are you still with us? That was a lot of science, but the bottom line is that we have conclusive evidence that CBD helps our brain and nerves.
CBD Dosage
You can take CBD in many forms, from flowers to oils to CBD edibles. How long the CBD effect lasts depends on the individual dosage, as well as body weight and size. As a general rule, bigger, heavier users must consume more than smaller CBD users.
Besides the dosage, there are a few other questions when consuming CBD products — how quickly does CBD work, and how long does CBD work? Both depend on height and weight, plus other factors like how much food was consumed beforehand or whether you just finished a high-cardio activity like playing soccer. Read more on CBD effects in our more in-depth articles here.
CBD’s Mega Bundle of Benefits
The described effects of CBD are just a glimpse of the substance’s incredible diversity. More and more studies are researching the effects of CBD and other cannabinoids on humans and developing drugs based on them.
Exciting studies have already been carried out, for example, on using CBD for headaches and migraines. CBD is also fascinating because, besides its diverse positive effects, it has hardly any side effects and is easily digestible.
The bottom line on what CBD can do for your brain and body is that it:
- Acts on the body’s endocannabinoid system
- Affects inflammation and pain
- Promotes sleep
- Has an antispasmodic effect on nerves and muscles
- And more! (Way more than we can fit into just one article!)
CBD products are effective problem solvers, and demand is at an all-time high, starting with the skincare and antioxidant functions to faster regeneration, improved sleep, relaxation, and increased well-being. The benefits of CBD are just as diverse as the plant itself. Worldwide, people are raving about the many favorable properties of this powerful natural substance.
