What Does CBD Do and How Does It Work?

September 6, 2019

What Does CBD Do and How Does It Work?

Capsules, oils, edibles, tinctures and creams containing cannabidiol (CBD) are most often used to manage chronic pain, inflammation, anxiety and insomnia. There are also FDA-approved CBD drugs to treat conditions that cause seizures.

To put it simply, cannabidiol affects cannabinoid receptors in the body. These receptors, which are part of the endocannabinoid system (ECS), have an impact on all type of physiological processes and reactions in the body, including neuromodulation, synaptic plasticity and the central nervous system.

The Effects of CBD

Anti-Inflammation – The CBD cannabinoid have been shown to have an anti-inflammatory effect, which is believed to be in part due to its ability to delay adenosine receptor uptake – the signals that regulate inflammation in the body’s cells.

Pain Relief – CBD acts as an agonist on vanilloid receptor, part of the body’s pain sensation mechanism, resulting in a pain desensitizing effect.

Antipsychotic – Studies have suggested CBD has antipsychotic effects and displayed the ability to prevent psychosis for some patients in clinical trials.

Anxiolytic – CBD can inhibit serotonin actions by binding with 5-HT1A serotonin receptors, which are thought to be responsible for myriad sensations and physiological processes, including sleep, anxiety, appetite, nausea, pain and under certain circumstances, even depression.

The Endocannabinoid System (ECS)

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) was named after cannabis sativa. ECS is an apt name because the system’s discovery was in large part due to the decades of study on the effects marijuana has on the brain and human body. Sensations like pain, mood and appetite are believed to be regulated in part by the ECS.

The discovery of this system and the physiological reactions and sensations it governs opened many doors from a health care perspective. Scientists could finally identify the receptors responsible for these feelings, as well as 113 cannabinoids that have varying effects on these receptors.

Not all cannabinoids are derived entirely from cannabis plants. Endocannabinoids, for example, are produced naturally by the mammillary bodies in the brain.

Some of the Systems Regulated By the ECS

Neuromodulation – This is essentially the electrical or magnetic regulation of the nervous system. In a normal, healthy body, nerve cell activity can be modulated by natural responses of the body, such as the release of dopamine neurotransmitters.

Managing symptoms by neuromodulation is still relatively new in the medical field, but the potential for improving people’s lives is staggering. Better understanding neuromodulation can allow for better cochlear implants and even the implementation of auditory brainstem implants or retinal implants. There is also research being done in neuromodulation therapies for managing conditions like chronic pain, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, epilepsy and even stroke recovery.

Understanding the effects cannabinoids have on the body’s neuromodulation could potentially open a lot of doors when it comes to treating these conditions.

Synaptic Plasticity – The exact relation between patterns in synaptic activity and synaptic strength is still not fully understood, but it’s believed to be closely related to memory and learning. Although cannabis consumption has a relatively bad reputation regarding the effects it has on memory and learning, not all cannabinoids exhibit the same negative effects on memory as THC. To the contrary, studies have shown that CBD specifically counteracts the short-term memory loss people frequently associate with THC consumption.

Development of the Central and Peripheral Nervous System – Some scientists and medical researchers theorize there is a significant connection between certain cannabinoid receptors and neurological conditions such as memory deficits, neurodegenerative disorders and other central and peripheral nervous system conditions. Further understanding of the relationship between the ECS and the ever-important nervous system, as well as the ways cannabinoids can positively and negatively affect it, will be highly beneficial for the advancement of medical sciences.

Learn More About the Current and Future Potential Treatments That Can Be Derived From CBD

Although research on CBD has been progressing for decades, it’s still in relatively early stages. More is certain to be discovered as new technology is introduced and our understanding of the human body and the endocannabinoid system advances. Make sure to check back with TOP10CBD to stay up to date on the current and future potential applications for CBD!

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What Does CBD Do and How Does It Work?