Cannabidiol, The Magical Plant That May Be the Ultimate Natural Remedy For Anxiety and Depression

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Cannabidiol or CBD is believed to be one of the most powerful natural substances in the world. It has a lot of medical properties, including being a powerful anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, antioxidant, antiparasitic, analgesic, antipsychotic, and a whole host of others. It was first isolated from cannabis by German scientists in the 1940s. Today, it is one of the many identified active ingredients in marijuana, accounting for more than 40% of the active ingredient in the plant.

Cannabidiol, like CBD, is believed to be the most powerful of all natural substances, and the highest grade of CBD is approximately 15%. Many countries have banned cannabis and cannabidiol has become a significant export crop within the United States itself. To address this demand, the United States government and several Canadian provinces have placed restrictions on transfer, possession, and sale of cannabis and cannabidiol. However, in spite of these difficulties, it is still legal to buy cannabidiol in the United States under certain circumstances.

Cannabidiol, also known as CBD, is produced by the same type of biologically-active marihuana plant as THC, which is called THC by researchers. Unlike THC, CBD does not produce the "high" or "trip", common to cannabis users who are under the influence of the drug. Instead, CBD may provide pain relief and improve appetite while containing cannabidiol, similar to the way Sativex works. Because CBD mimics some of the same properties of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), Sativex cannot produce the same "high", which makes both drugs highly similar.

In a recent study conducted in Europe, mice were trained to run a maze. The mice were then given a dose of either CBD another chemical structure similar to THC, or a placebo. Mice given CBD showed no increase in efficiency in moving the maze compared to mice given the placebo. This study supports the idea that CBD can help reduce nausea related to chemotherapy or other types of medical marijuana treatments.

However, some medical marijuana users believe that CBD can actually be helpful for those who are experiencing anxiety and chronic pain related to these conditions. The most recent study performed at the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom found that CBD can alleviate the symptoms of anxiety and chronic pain in test subjects. The test subjects were not allowed to ingest any form of medication; they received CBD under their choice of a low concentration pill or a topical cream. The researchers found that the combination of CBD and a high-quality painkiller was the most effective treatment for chronic pain. The findings of this study are encouraging, but more work needs to be done to determine whether CBD is helpful in treating other medical problems.

Besides helping people with chronic pain, CBD may also benefit children with autism. Researchers believe that CBD is beneficial for children with autism because it reduces the frequency of epileptic seizures and improves overall mood and behavior. This is the first study to show positive results for CBD and autism. Although CBD does not have an active effect on blood pressure, the levels of DHA and EPA found in fish and flax seeds are much higher than the levels found in CBD. It is unknown if the levels of these fatty acids play a role in reducing the number of seizures a child with autism has. In addition, the study did not directly investigate how CBD works with medication on patients with anxiety disorders.

Cannabidiol is still a very young dietary supplement and research into its effects is ongoing. Currently, there are no known side effects related to consuming CBD. However, the use of CBD might become controversial in the near future as studies continue to reveal the benefits of this plant. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is currently undertaking a clinical trial using two doses of CBD to treat patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Other ongoing studies include evaluating the effects of CBD on patients with epilepsy, cancer, multiple sclerosis and Crohn's disease.