What Are the Real Health Benefits of CBD?

The use of CBD has been the subject of a lot of discussions in the past couple of years. As celebrities and professional athletes continue to promote the use of the substance, the general public is left to wonder if the benefits of CBD are real. Does it really do all that it promises, or are CBD health claims just a byproduct of paid sponsorships and content marketing?

The reality is somewhere in the middle. Let’s take a look into what CBD actually is, and what it can do.

The origins of CBD

So far, scientists have isolated around 113 different active agents that are found in plants of the cannabis family. Among those, two are most famous: THC and CBD. Not only are they both among the most abundant substances found in cannabis plants, but they also happen to be polar opposites.

THC stands for tetrahydrocannabinol. It is a stimulant with intoxicating properties. THC is responsible for the subjective feeling of intoxication associated with smoking marijuana. THC is also the substance that induces paranoia when users consume too much of it.

Meanwhile, CBD is a mood-suppressant. CBD stands for cannabidiol, and the substance has anxiolytic, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties. As a result, CBD makes users feel calm and relaxed. It should be noted, however, that CBD has no intoxicating properties — no matter how much you use it, you won’t get high or stoned. Not unless you’re using products contaminated with THC.

One of the markers that differentiate different strains of cannabis is their THC to CBD ratio. You see, both substances have the same precursor molecule within cannabis plants. This means that in general, the more THC a strain of cannabis has, the less CBD it contains, and vice-versa.

Since hemp consists of strains of cannabis grown to have as little THC as possible, it naturally contains massive amounts of CBD. Hence why the legalization of hemp in the US also led to the massive popularity of CBD products within that country.

Legal status in Finland

At the time of writing, it’s legal to buy and consume CBD in Finland as long as you use THC-free products, like the ones offered by Cibdol. You don’t need a prescription to get it. However, some European nations do limit who can have access to CBD, so check local laws before you attempt to leave the country carrying the substance.

The benefits of CBD

The three CBD benefits mentioned above are the core of what we understand to be the real benefits of CBD. The substance works as an anxiolytic, an analgesic, and an anti-inflammatory. This means it can help people deal with stress, anxiety, and various types of pain. There’s also some indication that CBD can help people fall asleep more easily, and it has helped some cancer patients deal with nausea associated with chemotherapy.

Beyond these core benefits, most CBD health claims are either exaggerations or based on early trials that might not reflect the real impact of the substance. At the time of writing, CBD has not been confirmed to act as a cure to any specific condition, and you should avoid sellers who claim otherwise.