What is CBD?

August 15, 2019

If you've spent any time researching natural pain relief, it's almost guaranteed that you've come across CBD oil. Many are praising CBD oil as being life-changing due to all of its purported natural benefits like relieving pain and calming anxiety.

Because understanding new natural wellness products can be confusing, we’ve written this blog post to help you better understand this widely talked about supplement so that you can make a more informed decision on whether CBD is right for you.

What is CBD?

When discussing CBD, it is important to understand the difference between hemp and marijuana. Marijuana and hemp are different types of cannabis. They share many properties but they are not the same. One of the most important differences is that marijuana has a significant level of THC; which is what can be credited for the feeling of being high that someone might experience from ingesting or smoking marijuana.

The amount of THC in hemp is so low that it is impossible to get high from it. CBD can be produced from either plant, but federal law in the United States makes Marijuana and CBD oil from marijuana technically illegal. Many states are changing their laws to allow marijuana if used for medical conditions, but it must be approved by a doctor. The CBD we will be discussing today comes from hemp and is therefore legal across the United States.

Cannabis has been a popular ingredient in medicinal products for centuries. One well-known example of the popularity of cannabis as a pain reliever is Queen Victoria. Her doctor prescribed it to her to help with her menstrual pain (1 ).

During the late 19th century, cannabis was a popular ingredient in many products that were openly sold in public pharmacies (2 ). Cannabis remained popular until the release of aspirin and other pharmaceutical pain-relieving drugs. Due to the potential side effects of long term use of many pharmaceutical drugs, many people have begun looking at cannabis as a potential alternative.

Since its rise in popularity, one concern among those who utilize CBD oil is verifying quality. Because CBD is not regulated, this means that there are products on the market that could potentially be contaminated or (in more likely cases) could be lower quality than advertised. This is why doing your research and finding a company with the highest quality, all-natural CBD oil is a top priority.

Benefits of CBD

People have been known to use CBD to find relief from a plethora of issues like:

Inflammation
Pain Relief
Migraines
Arthritis
Sleep Aid
Stress, Anxiety, and Depression
PTSD
Alzheimer's
Parkinson’s
Muscle Spasms, and tremors
Multiple Sclerosis
Seizures, Epilepsy
Autism and ADHD
Antibacterial
Diabetes

The Endocannabinoid System

Scientists have recently discovered another system working inside of the human body: the endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system has been recently recognized as playing an important part in regulating brain function, the endocrine system, and immune tissues. It also appears to help in the secretion of hormones related to reproductive functions and stress response (3 ).

CBD indirectly impacts 2 types of receptors in the endocannabinoid system: CB1 and CB2. These receptors are located throughout the body. This is done a few different ways, but one key way CBD works with these receptors is by activating the TRPV1 Receptors that are also located throughout the body. These receptors are credited with helping regulate pain perception, inflammation, and body temperature.

CBD also helps the body create more of its own cannabinoids. One of the cannabinoids it helps the body produce more of is called anandamide, also known as the “bliss molecule” because it’s an essential part of the neural generation of pleasure and motivation.

Because of CBD’s effect on the endocannabinoid system, we are beginning to see how it might be helpful for treating many different conditions. The National Academies of Science, Medicine and Engineering concluded that adult patients that suffer with chronic pain and choose cannabis or cannabinoids for treatment are “more likely to experience a clinically significant reduction in pain symptoms (4).”

A 2015 study tested the potential for using CBD to treat arthritis (5 ). Rats with arthritis were administered different amounts of CBD gel transdermally and had their pain symptoms monitored and the inflammation in their joints measured. The study concluded that the “use of topical CBD has potential as an effective treatment of arthritic symptomatology”.

CBD + DMSO = Alpha Warrior+

Using full-spectrum CBD oil derived from medicinal hemp that’s organically grown and manufactured in the United States, Alpha Warrior+ combines CBD with our pain-relieving DMSO gel and a special blend of MSM, Magnesium, and soothing essential oils like Frankincense, Copaiba, Lavender, and Peppermint.

In addition to CBD having anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties of its own, we’ve also included DMSO in our specially formulated CBD blend because of its ability to easily penetrate the skin and help carry other ingredients with it. In other words, DMSO strengthens the absorption rate of the other ingredients in our blends. This means that you shouldn’t need as much CBD as you would with an ordinary CBD oil or salve.

Whether you've tried CBD before or not, you've got to feel the Alpha Warrior+ difference. Try our new CBD Infused blend that’s undoubtedly earned its name today!

References

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition.