What is CBD?

Since Congress legalized industrial hemp with the 2018 Farm Bill, the market has been flooded with all kinds of hemp-derived CBD products. But what really is CBD, and how can it help you?

CBD, short for cannabidiol, is one of the many compounds that naturally occur in the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa) and is now a widely available wellness supplement. Unlike its cousin tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD does not have psychoactive properties. Both CBD and THC occur in hemp, but hemp has been bred to comply with federal regulations and contains less than 0.3% THC. There are several types of CBD on the market, both with and without THC, but we’ll get into that in another post.

Onto what CBD can do for you. It’s best known for three benefits: relieving pain, reducing inflammation, and managing symptoms of anxiety and stress. People have been using CBD for these reasons (and several others) for centuries. Without getting too technical (again, I promise we’ll get to it in another post), CBD acts on receptors in the body’s endocannabinoid system. Studies have shown that the endocannabinoid system regulates sleep, pain, appetite, and immune response, among other things. Research suggests that CBD mimics the actions of the body’s natural cannabinoids (AKA endocannabinoids) on receptors in this system, thereby reducing nerve pain and inflammation. As far as anxiety is concerned, we don’t understand the exact mechanism yet, but early research shows that CBD can reduce anxiety and depression in humans and promote a sense of calm.

Thousands swear by CBD’s restorative and relaxing effects, but the only way to know if it will work for you is to try it. Wondering where to begin? Start with our tasty tincture for whole-body calm or our body butter for localized pain relief.

What questions do you have about CBD? Tell us what you want to know in the comments!