Know About Hemp and How Cannabidiol Acts in the Body
Many of us have heard about hemp and its derivative, cannabidiol (CBD), and we associate it with cannabinoids and, therefore, with marijuana. However, even though it comes from the same plant, CBD has different properties than the molecule that gives the high, which is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and offers pharmacological uses and other potential benefits attributed to health.
In the blog, learn about the hemp plant, cannabidiol, how it affects the human body, and how it differs from THC. If you find this interesting and educational, I invite you to continue reading.
About Hemp
The plant species Cannabis sativa, also known as Indian hemp, belongs to the Cannabaceae family and is cultivated mainly in Central Asia (India and China). Taking the botanical aspects into account, Cannabis sativa is an annual herbaceous plant that, depending on environmental conditions and genetic variety, can reach up to five meters in height.
Its palmate leaves are composed of five to seven leaflets sharp at both ends, whose edges are toothed. As for the flowers, the male ones are staminate, and the female ones are pistillate, the latter being organized in clusters (Bonini, 2018; Messina, 2015).
On the other hand, this plant has abundant microscopic glandular protuberances of epidermal origin, better known as glandular trichomes. These trichomes are distributed mainly on the surface of bracts and flowers of female plants and, to a lesser extent, on the surfaces of stems and leaves. The main function of these trichomes is to store and secrete a “sticky substance” known as resin, which contains the plant’s secondary metabolites.
Several quantities of cannabinoid molecules with potential therapeutic properties used as Cannabis medication are isolated from this plant; among them, the best known are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).
What is Cannabidiol (CBD)?
The chemical compound THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is part of the cannabis plant that most people are familiar with because it produces a euphoric effect. THC causes most of the effects of marijuana that people have heard about.
However, among the phytocannabinoids found in Cannabis sativa, one of the most abundant is cannabidiol. Considering the therapeutic properties attributed, you can buy products like cannabis CBD oil ldue to the lack of psychoactive effects it has, its notable safety profile, and the fact that it is one of the most abundant compounds of Cannabis sativa,
CBD has become one of the most interesting phytocannabinoids for study and represents a leading structure for the development of new synthetic cannabinoids, which can enhance and even improve their bioactive properties, as well as their pharmacokinetic properties for Cannabis medication uses
About Endocannabinoids
Before talking about the effect of CBD on the body, it is necessary to talk about cannabinoids since the word cannabis is immediately associated with marijuana, joints, and highs, and the truth is more complex.
Cannabinoids are organic molecules that function as neurotransmitters. The human body produces cannabinoids called endocannabinoids (endo = inside). These are ligand molecules that, when secreted and bound to cannabinoid receptors, release endorphins and dopamines, which are molecules linked to pleasure.
The neural communications network that uses these cannabinoid neurotransmitters called the endocannabinoid system, plays a key role in the normal functioning of the nervous system.
How Does CBD Produce Effects?
Phytogenic cannabinoids (phyto= plants) like CBD also act as neurotransmitters. They send chemical messages between nerve cells (neurons) throughout the nervous system and affect regions of the brain that influence pleasure, memory, thinking, concentration, movement, coordination, and the perception of time and space.
Because of their structural similarity, CBD can also attach to cannabinoid receptors on neurons in these brain regions and activate them, altering various mental and physical functions and causing the effects described above.
Acting through cannabinoid receptors, THC also activates the brain’s reward system, which governs the response to healthy pleasurable behaviors, such as sex and food. Like most drugs that people misuse, THC stimulates neurons in the brain’s reward system, which release the chemical messenger dopamine in quantities greater than those normally seen in response to rewarding stimuli. The surge of dopamine “teaches” the brain to repeat the rewarding behavior, which contributes to the addictive properties of marijuana.
On the other hand, cannabidiol is what is known in biochemistry as a partial agonist ligand; this means that CBD, having a similar structure but not the same as other endocannabinoids and THC, produces an effect to a lesser degree that does not create addiction or psychotropic effects. It also interacts with other cannabinoid receptors, which could explain the possible medicinal properties attributed to it.
That is why CBD is used as a Cannabis Medication and to produce synthetic derivatives with pharmacological effects that offer greater safety without side effects.
In conclusion
The word cannabis, commonly associated with marijuana and drugs, has a broader connotation than one might expect. It is well-known what it encompasses and the potential benefits it can bring.
For example, CBD, which is an extract from the hemp plant, is attributed to a lot of benefits and uses in Cannabis medication without the side effects produced by THC since, biochemically, it has a lesser effect.
Now, you are aware of the differences between THC and CBD and how they affect the body differently. Do you find this blog interesting? If you have any doubt, you can leave us a comment below and remember to share this blog if you liked it
Remember that at Hempiverse, we offer our clients the highest-quality CBD products in India to satisfy everyone’s tastes. In our catalogue, you can find a wide variety of safe and reliable CBD items that will benefit you personally.