A Brief History of CBD

CBD is known for its countless health benefits like its ability to fight chronic pain, reduce stress and anxiety levels, and ease the discomfort you may feel from other ailments and diseases. 

These are some of the more common things that come to mind when you think of cannabidiol, but what else is there to know about this natural substance that offers so many advantages for your health? 

How Does CBD Work?

We are all equipped with something called an endocannabinoid system, which is a network that runs through our entire body that helps establish and maintain overall wellness. 

CBD works directly with the endocannabinoid system by intercepting the CB1 and CB2 receptors. These receptors are responsible for transmitting messages to the brain. By impacting the activity of these receptors, cannabidiol (CBD) is able to reduce sensations of chronic pain, alleviate stress and anxiety, reduce inflammation, and so much more. 

When Was CBD Discovered?

While some may believe that cannabidiols therapeutic effects are a relatively recent discovery, that actually isn’t the case. The use of hemp seeds date back thousands of years, and there is evidence that suggests Queen Victoria used CBD for menstrual cramps in the 19th century. Aside from this very early utilization of cannabidiol, you can trace CBD back to the 1940s, while the first real breakthrough occurred in the early 1960s. 

The first person to ever successfully extract CBD from the cannabis plant was a Harvard graduate and chemist by the name of Roger Adams. Although he was able to do this back in the ’40s, he wasn't fully aware of his findings and failed to realize what he had achieved. It wasn’t until years later that Adams and other scientists truly began researching cannabidiol and uncovered it’s potential.

In 1963, Dr. Raphael Mechoulam made the first real strides towards understanding the effects of cannabinoids. He successfully identified CBDs stereochemistry, and one year later made another breakthrough by discovering THCs stereochemistry. This finding uncovered the euphoric effect that is commonly associated with THC, and he was able to dissociate CBD with being a mind-altering, psychoactive substance.

As research continued, Dr. Mechoulam and his team conducted a study in the 1980s on the potential of using CBD as a treatment for epilepsy. During this study, they administered 300mgs of cannabidiol to a group of 8 subjects. Half of these subjects stopped having seizures, and the rest had a noticeable decrease in the frequency of their seizures. 

These findings had the potential to change the world for epilepsy sufferers, although the negative stigma surrounding cannabis hindered this discovery from being publicized. 

CBD Today

Cannabidiol is quickly becoming accepted across the map. Now that we understand CBD more and are able to differentiate it from THC, the rules and regulations surrounding it have changed. 

People have become much more open to the idea of using CBD and since the world has become more accepting, we are seeing many new methods of ingestion and products available on the market for consumers. 

Different Forms of CBD

Earlier on when everyone was first learning about CBD, the most common forms you’d find would primarily be oils and tinctures. These would be applied orally under the tongue. Today, there are so many different types of cannabidiol infused products available you probably wouldn't know where to begin. Let’s start by taking a look at three favored methods. 

1. Edibles

Consuming CBD edibles has become increasingly popular due to ease of use, discretion, and of course, the taste. A common complaint when it comes to other CBD products is an overwhelmingly earthy taste that is hard for some to swallow. Edibles can mask the taste, and make the experience more enjoyable and even delicious. CBD can be found in food items such as baked goods, smoothies, candies, chocolates, and many other types of snack foods.

Something to consider if you are using CBD mainly for its health benefits or antioxidant properties is that ingesting it through edibles is probably a less desirable choice since lots of companies tend to infuse “junk food” with cannabidiol.  Oftentimes you will see not-so-healthy ingredients, preservatives, additives, and excess amounts of sugar in these products.

2. Balms, Lotions, Creams, and Salves

Topical administration of CBD has also become quite favored in recent years. Consumers with pain such as arthritis, aching joints, sore muscles, muscle cramps, restless legs, and skin issues can benefit tremendously from CBD infused topicals that can be rubbed directly into problem areas. 

The reason this is effective is that cannabinoid receptors are found in many places all over our body, including our skin. Therefore applying CBD balm or body lotion would have an isolated effect on a localized area of pain. 

3. Vaping 

CBD vape products have earned popularity with consumers because research suggests that inhalation of cannabidiol products is one of the most effective and fast-acting methods of ingestion. 

Orally consuming CBD through oil, tinctures, capsules or edibles works by the body processing it through digestion, and eventually, it is absorbed into the bloodstream. Inhalation of CBD vape products results in almost immediate absorption through the respiratory tract. 

Although vaping seems to be a popular and effective choice, it’s very important to check the ingredients beforehand to avoid using potentially dangerous and unregulated infused vape juices. There are plenty of reputable CBD companies that offer safe e-liquids made with regulated and healthy ingredients, while some companies do not.