PICTURED:
DR.BRADY EXPLAINS THE BENEFITS OF CBD OIL TO A PATIENT CBD and Chronic Pain By David M. Brady, ND
ing. At the birth of this trend, pharmaceuti- cal narcotics were dished out with little forethought of the future and the potential societal impact. Consequently, narcotic dependency, as well as deaths from opioid pain medications and related drugs of abuse, soon became a national concern requiring more stringent guidelines on the dispensing of these drugs and forcing both patients and practitioners to begin looking for alternatives for pain management.
C
Natural botanicals with anti-inflam- matory pain-relieving compounds, includ- ing turmeric (Curcuma longa; a source of curcumin) and frankincense (Boswellia carterii) began gaining attention. Among these natural therapies, rose a very effective compound – cannabidiol (CBD) – but its familial connection to marijuana shadowed it with caution and political debate. Its popularity has continued to gain momen- tum as the courageous have sought to un- tangle CBD from its psychoactive cousin, THC, and make it an acceptable tool for some of the most stubborn cases of chronic pain.
32 Natural Nutmeg - March 2019
hronic pain conditions continue to be among the top reasons people visit their physician, and this is ris-
CBD From Hemp or Medical Marijuana?
CBD (cannabidiol) is a cannabinoid compound extracted from the cannabis plant. Various Cannabis species exist and supply over 100 cannabinoids, but medicine has focused primarily on either tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or cannabidiol (CBD) for pain management.
Cannabis indica is a short plant and densely populated with broad leaves. This species is often referred to as marijuana since it contains up to 30% of the psy- choactive cannabinoid, THC, which can be harvested from its flowering tops for its euphoric properties. Cannabis indica naturally contains very little CBD, which counteracts the psychoactive properties of THC; however, some strains of marijuana can be bred to promote higher levels of CBD. Commercially growing high-CBD strains of marijuana for medical use has re- mained controversial but is becoming more acceptable on a state-by-state basis.
Cannabis sativa L. is a taller and
more narrow species, relatively low in THC (approximately 0.3% or less) but rich in CBD, which is harvested from the oil of the seeds and stalk fibers. This species
is traditionally known as hemp, and like medical marijuana, is grown commer- cially under controlled conditions. It may sometimes be referred to as “industrial hemp” because it can be harvested for a variety of commercial uses.
It is important to note that CBD from either medical marijuana or hemp is an identical substance. Its source is not rec- ognized by the body. By dry weight, CBD is more concentrated in marijuana plants, but after the oil is extracted from each, the difference is insignificant. Hemp grows faster than high-CBD strains of medical marijuana, making it an environmentally sustainable and good source of CBD.
How Cannabinoids Act on the Body Both CBD and THC act upon a
comparatively recently discovered com- munication system in the body, known as the endocannabinoid system. This system is laced throughout the central and periph- eral nervous system. The complex nature of this system is still being researched, but we know there are two primary receptors through which THC and CBD can attach and carry out their effects on the body. One receptor is called CB1 and when activated by a compound such as THC, it stimulates
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44
