{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-tags-template-js","path":"/tag/medicine/","result":{"data":{"allArticle":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"Article_1998-markdown","title":"CBD (Cannabidiol): The Medicine of the Future","slug":"cbd-cannabidiol-the-medicine-of-the-future","content":"If you're anything like me, you've probably spent a fair deal of time\nhoping that the medical establishment would begin transitioning to more\nuser-friendly, safer drugs. So many of the medicines doctors prescribe\ntoday are damaging or downright dangerous, and it's easy to wonder if\nthe results are worth the price consumers pay - both financially and\nphysically.\n\nToday, however, it looks like there's light at the end of that tunnel.\nIt comes in the form of cannabidiol (CBD), and all evidence points to\nthe fact that it may well be the medicine of the future.\n\n**CBD 101: What You Need to Know**\n\nWithin the cannabis plant, there are more than 60 chemical compounds\ncalled\n[cannabinoids](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55da2ff26430380006690000/cannabinoids-chemical-compounds-with-huge-therapeutic-potential),\nincluding cannabidiol. These cannabinoids work within the body to\nactivate the cannabinoid receptors in the endocannabinoid system. While\nall of these cannabinoids offer benefits of their own, recent research\nhas shown that\n[cannabidiol](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55e12afb6539390006040000/cbd-oil-breaking-the-stereotypes-of-cannabis)\nmay present more health benefits than any single manufactured drug\nthat's being prescribed today.\n\nCannabidiol is present in the cannabis plant in high levels. In fact,\nit's the second-most abundant cannabinoid in the entire herb, which is\nfortunate because doctors are now singing the praises of CBD for\ntreating everything from [autoimmune\ndiseases](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/560c73fa62373500064d0000/cannabinoids-and-the-immune-system)\nand diabetes to\n[arthritis](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5822789665e8fd000cc74ebc/cannabis-soothes-arthritis-pain),\n[nausea](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55b7eb226264330006320000/the-next-step-for-nausea-treatment-medical-marijuana),\n[digestive\ndisorders](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/561d5de53233340006be0000/cannabis-shows-promise-in-treating-crohns-disease-and-colitis)\nand much more.\n\nCBD has also been suggested to possess neuroprotective effects, which\nmakes it a fantastic potential treatment for people at high risk of\nrecurring head injuries (like NFL players).\n\nThanks to the medicinal value of CBD, this unique little compound could\nbecome big news in the medical world sooner rather than later.\n\n**CBD and THC**\n\nUntil recently, medical professionals believed that THC was a byproduct\nof CBD. But today we know that THC and CBD are separate compounds that,\nwhen subjected to heat or extraction processes, undergo extensive\nchanges that make them psychoactive.\n\nBecause CBD can be used without the psychoactive effects of THC, the\ncompound is an exciting alternative for patients who are attempting to\ndo away with their current medication in favor of something safer, more\neasily accessible, and with far fewer side effects.\n\n**CBD and Cancer**\n\nCBD is the main compound that gives cannabis its soothing, relaxing\neffect. Because of this, CBD has emerged as a powerful treatment for\nanxiety disorders, epilepsy, eating disorders and pain. Some scientists\nare even evaluating the compound with regard to potential treatment\noptions for cancer patients - and CBD has already [proven\npromising](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22506672)!\n\nWithin the last several years, a scientist with San Francisco's Pacific\nMedical Center named Dr. Sean McAllister discovered that CBD can\nactually restrict the growth of cancer cells throughout the body, thus\nslowing tumor growth and providing more time for cancer patients to\nexplore treatment options.\n\nWhen Dr. McAllister studied the effect of CBD on [breast cancer\npatients](http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/can-cannabidiol-cbd-fight-metastatic-cancer-according-to-the-latest-research-the-answer-is-yes-170681736.html),\nhe found that the administration of CBD actually decreased the number of\ncancer cells present. Plus, since CBD is completely nontoxic, applying\nthe compound didn't present any unwanted side effects for the patients\nin question.\n\n**CBD and Diabetes**\n\nIn addition to showing promise for cancer treatment, CBD has also given\nhope in the world of diabetes treatment. In a study conducted by Marc\nFeldman at the Imperial College of London, CBD was administered to mice\nsuffering from genetic type-1 diabetes, which generally begins to affect\nthe mice around 14 weeks of age.\n\nBut when one group of mice was treated with CBD during the first seven\nweeks of their lives, only 30 percent showed diabetic symptoms at the\nregular time of onset. From these results, Feldman concluded that the\nadministration of CBD is actually capable of preventing the onset of\ndiabetes in mice - a development which is, needless to say, incredibly\nexciting for the human population.\n\n**CBD and Inflammation**\n\nWhen it's not treating cancer or diabetes, CBD is busy being a\nformidable opponent for inflammation. CBD has been tested by dozens of\nscientists worldwide and has consistently been shown to reduce the\nsymptoms associated with inflammation from gastrointestinal disorders\nand even arthritis.\n\nIn fact, numerous lab studies have found that the correct doses of CBD\ncan reduce symptoms of inflammation [up to 50\npercent](http://www.beyondthc.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Mechoulam-on-CBD.pdf)\nin lab mice.\n\n**The Future of CBD**\n\nOver the last several years, consumers of medical marijuana have\ndisplayed a marked preference for high-THC indica strains which often\nprovide an intense psychoactive experience. Because of this, CBD-rich\nstrains have fallen out of popularity; today, it's tough to find strains\nwith more than 1 percent CBD.\n\nFortunately, some growers have recognized the medicinal and recreational\nimportance of CBD-rich\nstrains,\nwhich are making a comeback around the country. Strains such as\n[Charlotte's\nWeb](https://www.hellomd.com/strains/5b903761404e830001078772) and\nHarlequin have been shown to possess a multitude of medical benefits,\nand new strains are being developed on a regular basis.\n\nIt's clear that CBD offers a whole host of health benefits, and the\nresearch into this exciting compound will continue in the coming years.\nAs it stands now, I'm optimistic about the future of CBD and all of the\nincredible treatment options it presents us with.\n\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/29792566@N08/5495492674/in/photolist-9nBQvG-aEupdX-nwkaeT-7bbt8P-6Y8XS9-dfh569-n22tcJ-k8XFWc-dHmSPx-dfh6af-8rJoxs-91uSk-7bfhgo-5rD8x2-dfh1QJ-dfgZRC-NQ2J7-aEygTo-aEursa-aEt3Yb-dfgYNC-qGJaSk-8Mm8rb-dfh5BS-9nyNFR-n4Vas8-dfh2SS-dfh4Cj-dfh252-6Y8Xr3-3u1CEx-dfh2Uv-aEyeXL-JfJQV-7AvwPK-9nyNDi-9nyNEt-JfCNA-p4ctsX-4wv3L-9nBQDf-bEKqPs-dfgZaZ-8mhi7P-bcBUSV-6L1qcA-9hprca-n1ZE4D-9KY9Wj-a3rZWA)\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3513513513513513,"src":"/static/349ebbb1c8d7351225dd919d8d926856/ee604/7b47cc7b76d805dd2d47e0c48ba7a931.png","srcSet":"/static/349ebbb1c8d7351225dd919d8d926856/69585/7b47cc7b76d805dd2d47e0c48ba7a931.png 200w,\n/static/349ebbb1c8d7351225dd919d8d926856/497c6/7b47cc7b76d805dd2d47e0c48ba7a931.png 400w,\n/static/349ebbb1c8d7351225dd919d8d926856/ee604/7b47cc7b76d805dd2d47e0c48ba7a931.png 800w,\n/static/349ebbb1c8d7351225dd919d8d926856/dff58/7b47cc7b76d805dd2d47e0c48ba7a931.png 944w","srcWebp":"/static/349ebbb1c8d7351225dd919d8d926856/58556/7b47cc7b76d805dd2d47e0c48ba7a931.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/349ebbb1c8d7351225dd919d8d926856/61e93/7b47cc7b76d805dd2d47e0c48ba7a931.webp 200w,\n/static/349ebbb1c8d7351225dd919d8d926856/1f5c5/7b47cc7b76d805dd2d47e0c48ba7a931.webp 400w,\n/static/349ebbb1c8d7351225dd919d8d926856/58556/7b47cc7b76d805dd2d47e0c48ba7a931.webp 800w,\n/static/349ebbb1c8d7351225dd919d8d926856/2bbfb/7b47cc7b76d805dd2d47e0c48ba7a931.webp 944w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}}]}},"pageContext":{"limit":12,"skip":0,"numPages":1,"currentPage":1,"id":5496,"name":"Medicine","slug":"medicine","country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}