Understanding the Medicinal Value of Cannabinoids
Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has been slow to acknowledge the medicinal value of naturally derived cannabis products; it has approved the use of some synthetic products containing cannabinoids.
So What Exactly are Cannabinoids?
Cannabinoids are naturally occurring compounds found in the cannabis plant. There are more than 100 different cannabinoids that have been identified in the cannabis plant. The most well known is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which is the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis. Cannabidiol (CBD) is another well known cannabinoid.
Cannabinoid Research
How Cannabinoids Work in The Body
Although research on their therapeutic effects is still in its early stages, cannabinoids have shown to be helpful in the treatment of:
- Pain and inflammation
- Anxiety, depression, and insomnia
- Glaucoma
- Seizures, particularly in children
- PTSD
- Symptoms associated with HIV/AIDS
So what is it about cannabinoids that makes them so effective, where many traditional forms of medicine have failed? It might just be that our bodies are built to thrive on cannabinoids.
What is the Endocannabinoid System?
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is an essential communications system within our brains and bodies that affects many important functions, including how a person feels, moves, and reacts.
The ECS is made up of a network of cellular receptors located throughout our body. CB1 receptors are found in our brain and help to control neurotransmitter activity – regulating things like hunger and alertness. CB2 receptors occur mostly in our immune tissues and play an essential role in regulating immune function.
Naturally occurring chemicals produced by our body, called endocannabinoids, interact with these receptors to regulate important neural functions. Understanding cannabinoids, and the way they interact with our Endocannabinoid System, is essential in unlocking the therapeutic value of cannabis.
A List of Frequently Found Cannibinoids
What are the Types of Cannabinoids
If you are interested in learning about the differences between cannabis types, below are some answers to commonly asked questions about indica and sativa marijuana strains.
THC is a cannabinoid and the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis. THC is the substance that causes people who use cannabis to feel high. THC stimulates the release of dopamine in the brain, which is what causes feelings of euphoria. The effects on the body vary heavily from one person to the next, but users may experience: altered perceptions of time, feelings of relaxation, heightened sensory perception, and increased appetite.
Cannabis has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years, but research on its use to alleviate and treat illness is still relatively limited. Some ailments that THC may help include: anxiety, depression, glaucoma, inflammation, insomnia, irritable bowel syndrome, migraines, multiple sclerosis, nausea, pain, post-traumatic stress disorder, seizures, and symptoms associated with HIV/AIDS.
Where to Buy Cannabinoids
If you live in a state with a Bloom Medicinals dispensary, click link below to learn about the full range of medical cannabis products available to you.
As we continue to learn more about the potential benefits of medicinal cannabis, it is only a matter of time before more government agencies acknowledge its healing potential. But that doesn’t mean you have to wait to benefit from its therapeutic effects.
