A recent Gallup poll found 14 percent of Americans use a CBD supplement on a regular basis. Those surveyed reported using CBD oil for pain management (40%), anxiety (20%), and better sleep (11%).
But what is CBD, where did it come from, and where is it going?
Read on and we’ll fill you in.
What Is CBD?
Cannabidiol, better known as CBD, is a compound found in the flower of the cannabis plant. It’s a non-psychoactive compound. Meaning ingesting it won’t produce the intoxicating effect known as ‘getting high.’
CBD is one of more than one hundred unique, phytocannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. These are what give the cannabis plant its renowned therapeutic effects.
CBD in the Body
There have been many advances in research on CBD and the cannabis plant. For example, we now know that every animal has what’s called an ‘endocannabinoid system.’
This discovery was profound. It changed our understanding of the body and disease. It may help us understand the widespread use of the cannabis plant across the centuries.
The endocannabinoid system is important. It plays a crucial role in regulating a ton of physiological processes in our day-to-day lives. Such as:
- mood
- energy level
- intestinal strength
- immune response
- blood pressure
- bone density
- and glucose metabolism
But wait, there’s more! This system also impacts how we experience pain, stress, and hunger. And this is just what we know so far from the recent deep dives in research.
Taking CBD oil, or other CBD supplements can help to augment the effects of this system within our bodies.
The Roots of CBD
To those of us just getting to the party, CBD may seem like a new kid on the block. Truth is, this compound has been used for centuries in cultures spanning the entire globe.
As far back as 2737 BC, records show that Hemp crops were grown en masse in China. The leaves were infused in teas, used for a myriad of wellness benefits for the emperor.
The hemp plant was also used to make rope and clothing. It was even shipped by the ton to Britain! It’s said Queen Victoria used the plant to help with menstrual cramps.
Despite this rich history, hemp was largely forgotten as modern medicine became widely accepted.
Then came William B. O’Shaughnessy in 1839.
He was an Irish physician who published a paper that was controversial at the time. It investigated the therapeutic effects of cannabis.
His work paved the way for scientific exploration studying hemp and its compounds. It was the first of many steps to bring this incredible plant back into the public sphere of acceptance.
CBD, the Early Days
Since 1901 cannabis research has been impeded. Issues of legality and prohibition led to research roadblocks in all the states.
It would take another century for O’Shaugessy’s work to surface. Validated by the new instruments of science.
In 1940 a British chemist made an exciting discovery. Robert S. Cahn reported finding the chemical structure of CBD in the cannabis plant.
Two years later an American chemist, Roger Adams was the first to isolate the compound. Adams is often credited as the first to find CBD. His work also led to the finding of THC, the psychoactive compound of the cannabis plant.
Research continued. Scientists wanted to understand what compounds were causing what effect in the body.
At the end of the 70s cannabis had a huge win. The 1978 Controlled Substances Therapeutic Research Act, passed. This bill acknowledged the medicinal value of cannabis. Opening the doors for more research to begin.
Years of prohibition created a stigma that the cannabis plant struggles with to this day. In the early days of research, promising studies would end up out of public view.
CBD in Modern Times
By 1996 things started to change for cannabis in the United States.
California became the first state to legalize medical usage of the plant. Over the next seven years, other states would follow suit. Including Oregon, Alaska, Washington, Maine, Hawaii, Nevada, and Colorado.
With cannabis legalized in these states, the floodgates of research opened once more. The CBD benefits found were incredible. Including using CBD oil for pain, as a treatment for epilepsy and a wide array of neurological issues.
Perhaps one of the most well-known case studies is from 2004. With a little girl named Charlotte Figi at its core.
Charlotte has a rare but severe form of epilepsy, known as Dravat Syndrome. By the time she was 4-years-old Charlotte had lost her ability to walk, talk and eat. She was having upwards of 300 seizures per week.
Her parents tried every conventional medical treatment they could find. Nothing seemed to help Charlotte.
Desperation after years of research led them to turn to cannabis.
They treated Charlotte with CBD oil, made from a strain with a high-CBD concentrate. The seizures stopped almost immediately.
Today, Charlotte is alive and well and enjoys a pretty normal life. She has only 2-3 seizures a month. Charlotte’s CBD success story is one of many.
CBD Today
These well-documented success stories have helped change the stigma around cannabis and CBD. A change for the better.
While there are still those who are hesitant to embrace it, there have been some big wins for CBD.
- Hemp-derived CBD was federally legalized under the 2018 Farm Bill
- The FDA approved a CBD-based oral solution to treat seizures
- CBD products are widely available online and in major retailers across the country.
This all bodes very well for CBD’s future as a holistic remedy for many common ailments.
Where to Buy CBD
Since CBD’s explosion in popularity in the early 2000s, it has become readily available.
As CBD has gotten more popular there are many fun ways to enjoy the benefits of CBD oil. It’s now available in tinctures, CBD gummies, and other edibles, and even CBD beverages.
It’s safe to say that CBD is here to stay.
See what all the fuss is about yourself by checking out our online store. We offer a wide variety of high-quality, CBD products to meet all your needs.
