Cannabidiol, or CBD, is one of the key ingredients in cannabis. CBD is one of more than 60 compounds unique to the marijuana plant and grouped under the umbrella term “cannabinoids”. CBD and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) are the most common cannabinoids in the cannabis plant and are therefore the most widely studied. CBD does not get us high like THC can. CBD can be made from medical marijuana plants or industrial hemp plants. Industrial hemp, when grown in other countries, can be imported legally into the United States, making it easier for consumers to get high-quality CBD treatment. CBD and THC levels vary between plants. Marijuana plants grown for recreational use tend to be high in THC and varying amounts of CBD. Industrial hemp plants are very low in THC and high in CBD. It is legal to purchase CBD made from industrial hemp plants for use in any state without a prescription. Scientific studies show CBD provides therapeutic medicinal benefits.

 A healthy appetite is vital to a healthy body, especially when the body is healing. Some illnesses decrease the appetite to the point of preventing the body from healing itself. According to the National Cancer Institute, CBD stimulates appetite and is therefore therapeutic from this standpoint. In the human body, CBD binds to cannabinoid receptors in the body. Scientists believe these receptors play an important role in regulating feeding behavior. CBDs stimulate appetite when they dock onto these receptors.  According to a 2013 review published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, CBD soothes nausea and vomiting, acts as an anti-oxidant to reduce free radicals that cause neurodegenerative disorders, and works as an anti-inflammatory to reduce swelling. CBD also relieves pain and may work to reduce chronic anxiety and depression disorders. These benefits of CBD are also helpful for patients struggling with temporary anxiety and depression resulting from a more serious medical condition. The effects of CBD on children with uncontrolled seizures is currently under investigation. Study participants suffer symptoms resistant to conventional treatments. Many participants have Dravet syndrome, a condition that begins in early childhood and causes frequent, disabling seizures on a daily basis.

Even with the wave of states legalizing medical marijuana, many physicians are still reluctant to prescribe cannabinoids because they are not sure what dosages to prescribe. After all, most medical schools never cover CBD in their pharmacology courses. Medical scientists are just now developing dosing schedules for medical marijuana, medicinal hemp and their extracts, including CBD.

CBD-rich hemp oil comes in various concentrations and forms, including liquid hemp oil, hemp oil as a thick paste, oil in capsules, sublingual tincture drops or sprays, salves for topical use, edibles as in candy or gum, and CBD vapor from vaporizers similar to e-cigarettes.

Bert Telles is the founder of Allegiance Wellness Center Inc. For more information, visit AllegianceWellnessCenter.org.