What Does CBD Stand For? Origins, Properties, And Uses

What does CBD stand for? The short answer is cannabidiol, one of hundreds of cannabinoids in cannabis plants. But there’s a longer answer too. Which we’ll cover in today’s post.

Planet earth provides so many wonderful products.  And one of those is cannabis. For over a thousand year, cannabis has been serving us for a variety of purposes. Initially, mankind used it for everything from construction material to a source of fabric. But then came the 20th century, and law enforcement took issue with cannabis for very specific reasons. (Some that weren’t completely fair. More on that later.)

While legal opinions shift, its still the same plant as it was in years past. Which means it may be beneficial, thanks to the complex chemical workings inside cannabis. Plus, thanks to technological  advances, we now have even more uses for cannabis and its derivatives.

Nowadays, you can find tinctures, gummies, vapors, massage oil, and the ever-present medical marijuana. But why is cannabis so versatile? It all comes down to its cannabinoids, an abundant family present within. And one of them, which goes by the acronym CBD, will be our focus for today.

CBD

CBD is an acronym for cannabidiol. It is one of the most abundant cannabinoids inside cannabis, particularly abundant in industrial hemp.

Another famous cannabinoid people often compare CBD to is THC. And that’s not surprising, since THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the psychoactive cannabis compound that’s particularly abundant in marijuana. While these two are the most abundant cannabinoids, they’re not the only ones. Others include CBC, CBGA, CBDA, CBCA, CBDVA, and CBCA.

Why all this alphabet soup, you may wonder? Well, we give these molecules acronyms for easy identification, since their chemical names are often long. And, while their names sound similar, and they all come from the same plant, they have different compositions and effects in and on your body.

That’s most true when it comes to CBD vs THC. Because you can be certain that CBD is not, under any circumstances, capable of getting you high. Like THC, CBD might deliver therapeutic effects on its own, but it could do so without causing impairment.

So how does it bring about those potentially therapeutic effects?. One way is that upon ingestion, cannabidiol inhibits the breakdown of anandamide and serotonin. Both chemicals are responsible for things like pain sensation, mood, and a slew of other functions. Naturally, they have a relatively short lifespan inside your body. But with CBD, you can delay their breakdown for a considerable amount of time.

What Does CBD Stand For? – It’s Uses

Thanks to those effects in your body, CBD may help manage symptoms of the following conditions.

Acne

Acne is a common condition affecting people of all ages. Genetics, age, and environment all contribute to breakouts. But one common aspect between all those triggers is excessive sebum production. When your sebaceous glands produce excessively, you start developing acne due to inflammation. And, since CBD has anti-inflammatory properties, it may reduce redness and also help regulate sebum production. In this way, it could deliver a one-two-punch as a natural acne fighter.

Chemotherapy Relief.

Cancer’s main treatment, chemotherapy, brings about discomfort, nausea, and vomiting. CBD might effectively prevent nausea-related symptoms that are almost a fixture of chemotherapy. Researchers discovered that ingesting a combination of CBD and THC can deliver relief. But people who don’t enjoy THC’s psychoactive properties may be more open to trying THC-free CBD products.

Depression And Anxiety.

Depression and anxiety are disorders affecting the mind. Many face these issues at different points in their life. Left untreated, the results can be devastating. The World Health Organization denotes depression as one of the largest contributors to disability across the world.

Often, doctors prescribe synthetic drugs to patients suffering from these conditions. But some of these medications are addictive and may cause even worse damage in the long run. Thankfully, CBD is an all-natural compound that has few side effects compared to prescription meds. It works by binding to receptors in your brain that are responsible for regulating serotonin. This may be important, since fluctuation serotonin levels is sometimes linked to depression. Meaning CBD’s action may help you stay balanced and possibly stave off depression and anxiety.

Pain.

Many people report that CBD helps them manage pain. It’s one of the reasons why people used cannabis in the first place. But why and how does it work?

Well, your body has an endocannabinoid system (ECS). It manages a variety of functions, including pain, sleep, and appetite. And it’s composed of a complex web of two different kinds of receptors, CB1 and CB2, as well as neurotransmitters. When you ingest or apply CBD, it binds to and interacts with CB2 receptors. And that yields pain and inflammation relieving responses.

Heart Diseases.

Your heat is responsible for pumping blood to keep you alive and kicking. So it’s quite literally your most vital organ. Now, what does CBD stand for when it comes to your heart? CBD may aid the heart and circulatory system in distinct ways. Blood pressure originates from this part of the body. A low as well as a high level of blood pressure for an extended period of time can be fatal if not well managed. The other conditions associated with the diseases include stroke, metabolic syndrome, and heart attacks. Consuming CBD does seem to deliver vasodilatory effects, meaning it helps blood vessels to dilate, making blood circulate better. Thus, it might lower blood pressure and, in the long run, reduce the chances of stroke and heart attack.

Side Effects

CBD is a generally safe product, especially when compared to alternatives. That said, there are some minor side effects attached to the consumption of excessive amounts of the compound. And, CBD interacts with certain medications, so talk to your doctor before trying this compound. Below are some of the few side effects that you can expect if you consume massive amounts of the product.

• Diarrhea
• Loss of appetite.
• Low blood pressure
• Drowsiness
• Dry Mouth.

Nothing that serious compared to prescription medications, eh? Anyone that is already regularly taking any meds should first consult a doctor’s opinion before thinking of taking CBD. CBD tends to interact with other medications and deliver unintended effects you might not be fond of.

Quality Signs

Wondering what does CBD stand for when it comes to long-term use? The research should provide comprehensive results for consumers. The current outcomes are quite promising, but the future looks even better. There are more potential benefits of this product than drawbacks, as long as you remain mindful of some minor precautions. However, since the CBD market is relatively new, there are a lot of sketchy companies out there. Buying from one of those is likely to have you end up with a subpar product that does not work as intended. Better watch out for the following to make sure you buy from a high-quality seller.

Labeling

Since the market is still evolving, it’s easy to see manufacturers update the label rather frequently. Yet, there’s something that should always appear on the label of a good manufacturer: third-party testing.

Third-Party Testing

It is critical for all CBD products to go through third-party testing. A laboratory unaffiliated with the manufacturer verifies their product before they hit the market with it. Manufactures worthy of your trust will post these results on their website, which all good manufacturers have, and also include them on their labels.

Batch

CBD products do have an expiration date. Therefore, you must always check the batch number to make sure the commodities you are about to buy are not already spoiled. As you can imagine, sketchy sellers do not provide this info clearly or at all on their labels. Check them thoroughly.

What Does CBD Stand For? – The Takeaway

Beyond cannabidiol, what does CBD stand for is a product more and more people are trusting to give them relief from various conditions. And, for the looks of the thousand of online testimonies from enthusiasts, it indeed does give them the relief they want. Undoubtedly, CBD is one of the most promising products to hit the market in a long, long time. You can currently find it in many different presentations, one of which might be beyond perfect to fit your needs and tastes. Just be mindful of always double-checking the manufacturer’s background before buying the product.