Understanding how CBD acts on the brain could provide more insight into its therapeutic potential

When discussing cannabis, THC is the most uttered word because it is the principal psychoactive compound in cannabis responsible for both its popularity and ill fame.  THC gives users the most magical experience by creating a feeling of well being that keeps lingering and results in ecstasy.  Seeking pleasure from cannabis is taboo and even illegal in many states across the US and other countries. However, THC has many other properties too which though not very prominent can contribute to human health. Low doses of THC combined with CBD works wonders in providing relief for a variety of health conditions. The cannabis plant produces THC in large quantities that can be as high as 20% followed by CBD that constitutes 4% at the peak level.

image:pixabay.com/en/brain-electrical-knowledge-migraine-1845962

CBD is one of the several cannabinoid strains obtained from the cannabis plant and a contestant in the race with THC for making cannabis products popular to the masses. CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system of the body and bonds with cannabinoid receptors to provide many beneficial health effects. Several diseases and chronic pain conditions vanish when treated with CBD, which makes it earn the name of medical marijuana.  Since CBD does not have any psychoactive properties and free from side effects, its popularity as alternative medicine is rapidly growing. CBD displays a broad range of medical properties that make it attractive for use as a therapeutic agent.

The role of CBD begins where traditional medicines end

The popularity of CBD started growing when researches and studies began to show its effectiveness in the treatment of some diseases like childhood epilepsy. The traditional treatment for childhood epilepsy has hit a wall as the disease has become resistant to it.  Patients do not respond to the treatment anymore, and CBD is showing enough promise to prevent fits and seizures. Even some studies carried out on animal models, and some laboratory studies have revealed the neuroprotective property of CBD as well as its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Therapeutic use of products from Everydayoptimalcbd can help in the treatment of addiction, anxiety disorders, and depression.

CBD - The versatile cannabinoid

What is the source of such medicinal powers of CBD that has such wide variety of applications? The answer to this is that CBD has the ability to influence a wide range of receptors in the brain by interacting with the endocannabinoid system of the body and brain. The most interesting aspect is that CBD does not only influence cannabinoid receptors but also a large number of other receptors, too.

CBD influences many several different receptors

Despite being a cannabinoid, CBD does not interact with CB1 and CB2, the pair of the classical cannabinoid receptor. However, it does affect signaling through these receptors but in a different and indirect way. This explains why unlike THC, CBD does not have any intoxicating effect. Besides influencing CB1 and CB2, CBD has the ability to increase the levels of endocannabinoids, which are cannabinoids that the body produces naturally. CBD inhibits the enzymes that break down the endocannabinoids.

 Another very interesting aspect of CBD is that it influences many non-cannabinoid receptors in the brain through its interaction with receptors sensitive to a variety of neurotransmitters and drugs. CBD influences the opioid receptors that play a role in regulating pain. The painkillers used in traditional medicines target the opioid receptors and even drugs of abuse like fentanyl, heroin and morphine act in the same way for relieving pain.  CBD can even interact with dopamine receptors that control many aspects of general behavior cognition related to motivation and reward-seeking behavior.

CBD may help in de-addiction

 Those suffering from drug addiction might find hope in their fight to stay away from drugs by using CBD. That CBD can influence both dopamine receptors, and opioid receptors point to its ability to treat the withdrawal symptoms effectively and even put brakes on the cravings for drugs. However, these are only the early stages in the use of CBD for de-addiction, and it needs more studies and trials to arrive at a conclusion about its effectiveness.

CBD and serotonin receptors

The drug seeking behavior of people largely stems from the serotonin receptors with which CBD can interact closely. This raise hopes about the therapeutic potential of CBD in protecting people from the menace of drug addiction by bringing down the urge to take drugs. When CBD interacts with multiple serotonin receptors in the brain, it could result in reducing the drug-seeking behavior in people addicted to drugs. CBD's influence on the serotonin system is also the reason for its ability to deal with anxiety disorders and keep it under control. Several clinical studies on humans as well as on animal models bear the evidence that CBD is effective in the treatment of anxiety disorders.

More possibilities with CBD

 CBD can target serotonin 1A receptor, and this raises immense therapeutic possibilities that could address a wide range of issues related to ameliorating disorders. This could pave the way for using CBD for the treatment of opioid dependence, anxiety disorders, depression and neuropathic pain as well as the negative symptoms of schizophrenia, nausea, and vomiting. Most of the studies in this regard are on animal models, and more research on humans is necessary before arriving at some concrete decision about CBD's effectiveness in this area.

The more we are able to explore and discover new aspects of how CBD interacts with various receptors in the brain, better would be our understanding of its therapeutic abilities that seem almost endless.  Although it is a complex exercise, it holds the key to expanding the application of CBD for a much wider range of issues concerning the activity of the brain.

CBD itself is a complex compound that can target a variety of receptors in the brain and by closely following its activities, we that can find the answers to many unexplained causes that lead to anxiety disorder and drug addiction.  The day is not far away when we should be able to uncover the full therapeutic potential of CBD.