CBD is all the rage right now. People who understand what it is and what it can do for them and their loved ones, including our pets, are extremely excited about how CBD can help.
Written by By John Balinski
One of my clients, an avid runner in his younger days, has had knee discomfort for many years.
But after applying cannabidiol, or CBD, cream, the discomfort almost immediately goes away.
He said that an added benefit is that the CBD cream has reduced the intensity of the discomfort if it does return. CBD also can be given to animals. My dog Lyra hates having her nails trimmed. If I give her CBD drops prior to cutting her nails, she is nice and calm for the ordeal. However, without CBD, she will keep moving her paws and not allow me to trim her nails.
CBD is all the rage right now. People who understand what it is and what it can do for them and their loved ones, including our pets, are extremely excited about how CBD can help. Always check with your doctor about using CBD if you are pregnant, being treated by a physician or are taking medication.
How does CBD work? Humans and other mammals have an endocanabinoid system, which is responsible for regulating and maintaining many key functions of the human body. The endocanabinoid system has trillions of receptors called CB1 and CB2. CBD, which is just one of 113 cannabinoid compounds that can be isolated from the hemp plant, activates those receptors.
CB1 receptors are found on many organs, including the brain and the nervous system. They help regulate the heart and blood vessels, energy, thinking, memory, emotions, pain, muscle control, sensory regulation, the intestinal system and much more. CB2, on the other hand, is primarily anti-inflammatory, and regulates the immune system.
Will CBD get me high? No. By federal law, CBD products made from hemp must contain less than 0.3% THC, which is not enough to get you high.
Is CBD legal? CBD became legal at the federal level thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill that was signed by President Donald Trump in December. However, at the state level, there are still some states that have restrictions on CBD, but it is perfectly legal in Pennsylvania.
CBD may help with:
Maintaining or supporting healthy blood sugar regulation.
Supporting optimal cardiovascular health or function.
Joint discomfort or stiffness associated with overuse or overexertion.
Supporting cartilage and joint function.
Weight loss and support for keeping a healthy weight long-term.
Supporting healthy skin.
Supporting optimal immune function.
Maintaining healthy lung function.
Promoting healthy respiratory function.
Supporting healthy energy levels.
Occasional sleeplessness.
Supporting optimal digestive function.
Maintaining healthy cholesterol levels.
Promoting optimal cellular health and functionality.
Maintaining normal or stable mood.
Promoting normal heart function.
Maintaining healthy immune functions.
With so many CBD products on the market today, are they all the same? No. Some products on the market can actually harm you or may not work. Some companies save money by using dangerous chemical solvents to extract the CBD from the hemp plant. You should not be ingesting those chemicals.
Carbon dioxide extraction costs a little more but is much safer for our bodies. Always make sure your CBD is organic and that every batch is tested for mold, contaminants and potency at multiple points in the manufacturing process by an independent organization. It is also recommended that the CBD products be certified by a credible agency such as the U.S. Hemp Roundtable.
John Balinski is CBD adviser and vice president of the Berkshire Professional Referral Exchange and a MyDailyChoice/HempWorx independent affiliate, www.newlifeforyou.info.