The pursuit of good health and wellness never ends, and you’ve probably seen the massive industry that serves this goal. Without a doubt, cannabidiol (CBD) has become a major player in the health/wellness industry from the ground up. Consumers like you have tried and benefited from CBD, and the industry has taken notice. Let’s take a look at where CBD fits in the health and wellness side of life.
Contents
1. What is CBD? CBD, Well-Being, and Effects
1.1 The Endocannabinoid System
1.2 CBD and the ECS
2. Why the CBD Industry Joined the Health and Wellness Industry
2.1 The Legal Journey of CBD
2.2 The Medical Journey of CBD
2.3 Joining the Health and Wellness Industry
3. Where Can You Find CBD in the Health & Wellness Industry?
4. CBD Health, CBD Wellness: What Does It Mean for the Industry?
5. The Role of CBD Health and Wellness/CBD Fitness Products in Your Routine
6. CBD Health Factors to Consider before Buying
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1. What Is CBD? CBD, Well-Being, and Effects
CBD is a relatively safe and bioactive compound that exerts multiple effects on the human body. CBD is one of the major cannabinoids produced by the Cannabis sativa L. species. Unlike THC, CBD does not produce a high. It is for this reason that CBD is considered not to be impairing or intoxicating. [1]
When it comes to CBD, well-being and health can be greatly impacted by it. CBD appears to produce indirect effects on our natural cannabinoid receptors, along with numerous other targets. Combined, these physiological effects of CBD include a vast array of potential benefits, including: [2]
- Anti-inflammatory
- Analgesic (pain reliever)
- Anti-nausea
- Antianxiety
- Antipsychotic
- Anti-ischemic (promotes blood flow)
- Anti-epileptiform (reduces seizures)
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CBD is able to exert these effects through numerous physiological mechanisms that we are only beginning to understand properly. What we do know is that CBD has enough unique and understood impacts to make it the leader of the pack.
Unlike THC, which is associated with both medical and recreational use, CBD has no abuse or dependence potential. In fact, many of the effects of CBD are the polar opposite of THC’s. Furthermore, administering CBD can actually reduce some of the negative effects of THC. [3]
This is crazy:
Once again, CBD has a good safety profile, even at much higher doses than those used by people at home. Moreover, there is no evidence of any recreational usage of CBD. In fact, there are no public health-related problems due to the CBD compound itself. [3] (Click to Tweet)
The only major concern with CBD involves interactions with other pharmaceuticals. So ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about using CBD and the meds you take. [1]
1.1 The Endocannabinoid System
To help us understand the impacts of CBD, let’s turn to some basic human anatomy. The human body contains an ancient lipid signaling system now called the endocannabinoid system (ECS). [1]
The ECS consists of receptors and ligands, which act on those receptors. In the ECS, receptors include cannabinoid 1 and 2 (CB1 and CB2) receptors. The ligands of the ECS are anandamide and 2-AG. That said, there are far more receptors and ligands that may officially join this system soon. [1]
Here’s the deal:
The ECS is known to play a moderating role in the human body, in just about every cell. This vast distribution of the ECS and its overall regulating function are reasons we now know that the ECS impacts so many physiological processes. For example, the ECS is involved in the following: [1]
- Nervous system development
- Immune function
- Inflammation
- Appetite
- Metabolism and energy
- Homeostasis
- Cardiovascular function
- Digestion
- Bone development and bone density
- Synaptic plasticity and learning
- Pain
- Reproduction
- Psychiatric disease
- Psychomotor behavior
- Memory
- Wake/sleep cycles
- Regulation of stress and emotional state/mood
Furthermore, we know that dysregulation of the ECS can lead to all sorts of problems, including: [1][2]
- Pain
- Inflammation
- Psychiatric disorders
- Immune system imbalances
- Neurodegenerative diseases
- Respiratory problems
- Sleep dysregulation
- Fertility issues
- Skin conditions
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We have seen how many impacts the ECS can have on the human body.
Now, you might be wondering...
What does CBD do to the ECS? In the following section, we’ll explore this topic as we discover how CBD impacts all of us.
1.2 CBD and the ECS
While THC acts quite similar to anandamide, CBD does not. In fact, CBD may be more comparable to 2-AG in that it influences activity throughout our body and in numerous other systems. The high from THC comes from the way it impacts CB1 receptors in the brain, effects opposed by the indirect actions of CBD.
As you can see, there is plenty of scientific evidence to support the mechanisms of action of CBD. Based on the science today, we know that CBD is an entirely unique compound with so much promise beyond that of THC.
It is this therapeutic potential of CBD that helped it enter the health and wellness industry. As we’ll learn in the following sections, this was not an easy journey. However, CBD is now firmly implanted in this industry and for good reasons. We will discuss this below.
2. Why the CBD Industry Joined the Health and Wellness Industry
Combining the lack of impairment with the presence of real-life benefits, CBD has become a household name. Out of the over 100 phytocannabinoids produced by cannabis, the CBD industry has become a multibillion-dollar one.
Once again, unlike the usage of THC, CBD has drawn the attention of people of all ages. If THC is the party drug and medical therapeutic, then CBD is the health-promoting supplement with considerable medical potential. (Click to Tweet)
This is crazy but amazing:
Consumers all over the world are flocking to CBD and using it every day. While it has taken a while to emerge from the “all-cannabis-is-bad” narrative, we now understand that the plant has many compounds, and overlooking them could be bad for our health. (Click to Tweet)
This change did not happen overnight, however. It took years of research, patient advocacy, and the support of persistent hemp growers to get us to where we are now.
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2.1 The Legal Journey of CBD
CBD has gone through a long journey to arrive where it is today. Regulatory bodies like the FDA have been incredibly slow to adapt to the growing interest in CBD.
Thankfully, this journey made massive steps forward with the 2014 and then 2018 Farm Bills. Combined, these regulations helped create a legal CBD industry for the first time in the US. [4]
Ultimately, the rules allowed for industrial hemp to be grown legally if it contains under 0.3% THC by dry weight. Hemp is still a regulated agricultural product with rather strict guidelines. Nonetheless, a legal CBD industry emerged. [4]
Growers have been producing massive amounts of hemp since these bills passed. Through the use of extraction methods, producers have been able to extract CBD from large amounts of plant matter. This CBD is concentrated into products for human and pet consumption, often in the form of tinctures, edibles, and capsules.
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2.2 The Medical Journey of CBD
The path CBD has taken inside the medical world has been very slow to progress. Unfortunately, as CBD is a compound found inside Cannabis sativa L., it has been considered a Schedule I drug.
This categorization has made growing hemp incredibly difficult in prior decades. It has also slowed down the scientific investigation of CBD, as any study using it must get a Schedule I research license. [5]
Fortunately, CBD has made massive progress due to the effort of GW Pharmaceuticals and others. GW was the first company to perform clinical trials and have a CBD-based product approved by regulatory bodies. [5]
The FDA approved the drug Epidiolex, made by GW Pharma, after numerous trials. These trials demonstrated that Epidiolex was effective at reducing the frequency of seizures in specific forms of childhood epilepsy. [5]
In the coming years, we are hopeful that more evidence will emerge to support the medical usage of CBD. Currently, CBD has plenty of promise, and many are heavily promoting further research. As consumers and medical patients, we will benefit from this growth in knowledge and study.
It gets better...
Furthermore, the growth of evidence will be sure to cement the place of CBD inside the health and wellness industry. As we discover more benefits and find clinical evidence to support health claims, we can expect more people to consider using CBD than ever.
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2.3 Joining the Health and Wellness Industry
As we learned more and more about the ECS and CBD, interest in the compound continued to grow. Once it was known that CBD demonstrated medical benefits in patients, many people at home started to wonder if it would benefit them.
There are so many stories of people discovering the CBD compound and benefits from consuming it. Many of these people started CBD businesses to help spread the message and promote more usage of CBD. Several of these companies have grown massively in the prior years.
It has been the emergence of CBD as a health and wellness product that has led to massive growth in sales. In fact, the global CBD industry was worth $303 million in 2018 and is expected to be worth over 2 billion by 2025. [6] (Click to Tweet)
While there are still many obstacles for CBD in the US and throughout the globe, the industry continues to grow. In the following section, we’ll find out where we are now. You’ll learn about the variety of health and wellness products that now contain CBD.
RELATED: The Growth of A Multibillion-Dollar CBD Oil Industry
3. Where Can You Find CBD in the Health & Wellness Industry?
CBD has quickly emerged as a massive player in the health and wellness industry. Nowadays, you can find CBD inside many products, including:
- CBD beauty products
- CBD skincare products
- CBD food products, including those with dairy
- CBD fitness products
- CBD sleep products
- CBD supplements
- CBD beverages
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4. CBD Health, CBD Wellness: What Does It Mean for the Industry?
CBD may soon be replacing many other items in your cabinet at home. The health and wellness industry has seen CBD emerge and is now largely jumping on the bandwagon. We can expect that CBD wellness products will continue to be a prominent part of this industry as consumers demand it more and more.
The impacts of CBD on the health and wellness industry will continue to rely on the benefits that people get from it. In general, there are so many reasons people consume CBD nowadays that we cannot go through them all.
That said, we’ll list some of the major health and wellness benefits that people have experienced. Overall, CBD appears to be helpful in the management of:
- Pain and impaired physical functioning
- Insomnia and sleep issues
- Stress and muscle tension
- Anxiety, including social anxiety
- Distress and mood dysfunctions
As you can see, CBD may provide foundational benefits that can translate to so many other areas of life. If CBD can help you get to sleep, that means you’ll have more energy to exercise the next day. The same goes for the management of pain, which is essential for maintaining proper functioning in daily life.
What’s the bottom line?
In regard to the health and wellness industry, expect CBD to stick around for the long haul. If the industry does not adapt to this changing landscape for the future of CBD, it may find itself falling behind. But there is more to CBD than the product itself.
What is critical is the ways CBD helps you. So, let’s turn to the role of CBD in your pursuit of optimal health and wellness below.
5. The Role of CBD Health and Wellness/CBD Fitness Products in Your Routine
CBD is often taken daily, sometimes multiple times in the day. You can think of CBD like any other supplement or nutritional product. Consistency is important to obtain the optimal benefits of CBD. Most often people consume tinctures like our 3600mg CBD Tincture.
The dosage of CBD health and wellness products you consume will depend on your goals and your body. In general, you should start low and gradually increase the dosage until you attain the desired benefits. Avoid side effects by completing this titration process slowly and carefully. (Click to Tweet)
Many people prefer to take CBD with food, as these products are often sold with carrier oils such as MCT oil. There is also some evidence that eating alongside CBD consumption can enhance absorption. Generally, avoid CBD on an empty stomach, unless you find this tolerable. (Click to Tweet)
RELATED: What's the Right CBD Dosage?
Want to know the best part?
CBD can be taken in multiple different forms, which is important for individual preferences and issues. For example, you can buy CBD capsules for easy consumption. For those suffering from skin issues, there are also CBD topicals like our CBD infused skin care.
When it comes to CBD fitness products, there are many supplements that can help with post-workout recovery, joint stiffness, and muscle soreness. These can fit into your workout routine nicely and are the perfect CBD fitness addition to your gym bag or medicine cabinet.
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6. CBD Health Factors to Consider before Buying
Just like with all the products you buy, effort is needed to ensure that you’re getting what you paid for. The best thing you can do when buying CBD health products is picking a reputable and trusted source.
To be safe, CBD must be free from contaminants. To be effective, CBD products must contain the amount of CBD listed on the label. The best way to ensure that both of the qualities are met is by looking at the certificate of analysis. (Click to Tweet)
Many CBD companies share these third-party laboratory results to prove that the CBD is present and pure. Avoid buying from companies that do not share this information.
Also, consider your expectations around CBD. The benefits of CBD are often on a mild to moderate level. And these effects can take weeks to be noticeable, especially if you are starting low and slowly increasing your dosage.
It should be noted that CBD is not a silver bullet for all your issues. CBD consumption should be combined with other health-promoting activities like exercise and eating well. If CBD becomes a part of your health and wellness routine, it can enhance benefits and play a major role.
WATCH: SOL*CBD Liposomal
But here’s the kicker.
Not all CBD is the same. Advances in the industry have led to more efficient CBD products. Examples include our Fastest-Acting Liposomal CBD, which uses advanced processing technologies to make better CBD products. A little research and planning will go a long way toward enhancing the benefits you receive when you add CBD to your health and wellness routine.
Sources:
- https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-medication/cannabis/information-medical-practitioners/information-health-care-professionals-cannabis-cannabinoids.html
- https://www.thorne.com/take-5-daily/article/the-endocannabinoid-system-the-most-important-system-you-ve-never-heard-of#:~:text=Appetite%20and%20Metabolism&text=Both%20animals%20and%20humans%20that,overeating%20and%20reduced%20energy%20expenditure.
- https://www.who.int/medicines/access/controlled-substances/CannabidiolCriticalReview.pdf
- https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2018/12/14/the-farm-bill-hemp-and-cbd-explainer/
- https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-02524-5
- https://www.healtheuropa.eu/cbd-establishing-cannabis-in-the-wellness-market/97184/
