What Is CBD?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a natural active ingredient found in the flowers and leaves of Cannabis sativa. The plant is believed to be native to the central and southern regions of Asia. It has been cultivated for thousands of years, and it grows in the wild all over the world.

Cannabidiol has physical effects that make it a popular legal additive to beauty products, tinctures, and topical treatments. Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD is not psychoactive or intoxicating. CBD is usually sold as an oil, extract, flower, or liquid. It is also available in capsules, patches, vapes, and creams.

What Is a Cannabis Flower?

A cannabis flower is the dried, unprocessed hemp bud that contains the full spectrum of that plant’s terpenes and cannabinoids. Smoking a cannabis flower quickly delivers all bioavailable cannabinoid compounds to the bloodstream.

What Is CBD Oil?

When cannabidiol is combined with a carrier oil like coconut or sunflower oil, the dilution can be applied topically or ingested for pain and anxiety relief and overall wellness.

What Is a CBD Tincture?

CBD tinctures dissolve cannabidiol into high-proof alcohol. Tinctures are meant to be applied sublingually and are not effective as topicals. They may also include vitamins and other herbal extracts to provide complementary benefits.

What Is the History of CBD?

Hemp was one of the first plants humans cultivated for food, oil, and textile production. Genomic analysis has revealed that Central Asians domesticated cannabis around 12000 BC, and it has been used medicinally for thousands of years. In 2737 BC, Chinese Emperor Cheng Neng brewed cannabis tea to treat various maladies and credited it with improving mental acuity. The Indians, Egyptians, and Persians considered cannabis to be anti-inflammatory. Ancient Greek and Latin medical texts mention its ability to treat toothaches. In medieval times, Arabic physicians drew upon knowledge from around the world and established cannabis as a treatment for epilepsy, gout, wounds, and pain.

Eventually, trade brought hemp to Europe. Napoleon investigated the plant for its sedative qualities. Cannabis became better known in the 1830s, when William B. O’Shaughnessy encountered its medicinal properties while traveling in India. British and European medical journals republished his research, which found cannabis to be calming, analgesic, and effective at relieving seizures and muscle spasms. O’Shaughnessy collaborated with pharmacist Peter Squire to create commercially available cannabis tinctures. It is rumored that Sir Russell Reynolds, Queen Victoria’s physician, prescribed cannabis to relieve her menstrual pain.

Despite advances in research and widespread availability, hemp fell out of favor in the early 20th century. In 1914, the United States began passing laws prohibiting marijuana, and hemp was tarred with the same brush. The Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 effectively prohibited the use of cannabis in almost every form. Nevertheless, scientific research into cannabis continued. In 1940, a Harvard-trained chemist named Roger Adams isolated CBD. In the 1960s, Dr. Raphael Mechoulam applied stereochemistry to identify its 3-D molecular form. Hemp-derived cannabidiol became legal when the Farm Bill was passed in 2018. Individual regulations regarding its use and marketing vary from state to state.

What Is the Benefit of Including CBD in a Wellness Regimen?

Today, CBD is widely accepted as a natural remedy for pain, inflammation, anxiety, and depression. Many people believe it promotes skin healing. Evidence-based scientific studies have documented the effects of cannabidiol on the human nervous system, and it has been approved in the United States as a seizure treatment. Many more of its neuroprotective, cardiovascular, and rheumatological benefits are being researched but remain unproven.

Continued research may help scientists discover specific strains and dosages of cannabidiol that are well-suited to treating particular ailments. Despite the regulatory limitations imposed by state and federal governments, cannabidiol is popular, available, and appreciated for the benefits it provides.

What Is a Popular Set of Reasons People Use Cannabidiol?

Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Cannabidiol may reduce pain and inflammation by bonding to nerve receptors. Research suggests that cannabidiol may relieve symptoms of arthritis, rheumatism, and fibromyalgia. As a soothing agent, cannabidiol is widely believed to ease the symptoms of troublesome skin ailments like acne, psoriasis, and eczema. Its hydrating and antioxidant properties may be anti-aging.

Anxiety and Stress Relief

Cannabidiol may promote a sense of well-being without causing negative side effects or chemical dependence. It may ease social anxiety, anxiety-related insomnia, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and insomnia. Anecdotal evidence suggests that cannabidiol may help regulate mood and improve concentration.

If you’re curious to learn how CBD can improve your life, it’s important to consider the quality of the product. Small-batch, organically farmed cannabis can be inspected and analyzed by the farmers who grow it to ensure customers know the characteristics of each oil, tincture, and flower available. Eight Horses Hemp is a New York based CBD company that grows and processes their CBD all organically and from within house and we are pleased to bring the benefits of CBD directly to you.