Although cannabis plants have been with us for a very long time, we still know very little about them. The first traces of their use by humans date back over 12,000 years to the present-day Taiwan. It was there that hemp ropes were discovered, which were used by local potters. So, it can be said that hemp (in various forms) is one of the oldest plants that have accompanied humans.

If you're wondering whether cannabis products are right for you, let us tell you a short story about a woman named Bex, who once reached out to Dr. Dani Gordon, the author of the book "The CBD Bible." Bex works as a manager in an advertising agency. In her daily duties, she manages a small team of employees and has a boss who demands better results from her. You could say she's like many others. Her daily work exposes her to many stressful situations, which, of course, also affect her private life. When she has an important project to complete, she can stay up all night just to satisfy her boss. Since this isn't a one-time situation but a recurring story, Bex has problems with sleep. She has also lost her appetite and experiences palpitations in her chest. All these symptoms are due to the constant stress and anxiety she faces. Even breathing exercises or yoga didn't help because her condition prevented her from relaxing. Before Bex went to Dr. Gordon, she went to her local doctor, who immediately prescribed sleeping pills, supplements, and mood-enhancing antidepressants. However, Bex was skeptical about using pharmaceutical drugs prescribed by a doctor because she didn't want to become dependent on them. In search of other (natural) methods of treatment, she came to Dr. Gordon, who recommended trying CBD oil. Bex, with limited knowledge, had the misconception that cannabis meant marijuana and was afraid of the "high" effect caused by too much THC, tetrahydrocannabinol. However, she was quickly reassured and informed that products containing CBD do not cause such effects and can even be taken while working. After three months of regular CBD use, she saw its therapeutic effects. Her sleep quality significantly improved, she became much calmer at work, had more energy, and regained her enthusiasm for yoga classes.

This short story illustrates that in today's world, where we face stress almost every day (if not every hour), and our tasks continue to increase, our time for sleep, especially deep sleep, is drastically reduced. A large part of society uses various pain relievers that can be purchased not only at pharmacies but even at gas stations. They usually contain one active substance intended to "help" us. Without demonizing the pharmaceutical industry and its chemical methods of dealing with various ailments, there is a significant group of people who prefer to rely on natural methods to help them function better every day and contain many more active factors, thus supporting the entire body. And this is where CBD products come into play, but let's take it step by step...

To understand what cannabidiol is, we must first take a step back and mention the entire group of cannabinoids.

In Latin, hemp is "Cannabis," and it's the first part of this name that forms the basis for defining all products related to hemp. For a long time, it was believed that cannabinoids were found only in cannabis. Today, we know that they can also be found in other plants such as liverwort, echinacea, or helichrysum. However, cannabis is capable of producing over 100 different cannabinoids, including:

However, today's article will mostly focus on CBD, which stands for cannabidiol. It is one of the many substances found in cannabis. When people hear about cannabis, the first thing that comes to mind is often a state of intoxication. It's important to clarify that this is a mistaken association. This misconception occurs because people often confuse the two most popular substances, CBD and THC. The former doesn't have any psychoactive properties, which means it doesn't produce a "high," and it's entirely legal. It doesn't induce euphoria or intoxication but can alleviate the symptoms of various conditions, including pain, anxiety, insomnia, and can serve as an ideal (and more importantly, natural) alternative to pharmaceutical drugs. CBD can be a potent tool for preventive medicine due to its strong anti-inflammatory and anti-stress properties. As a result, it can become our ideal companion in our daily lives. Cannabis products are becoming increasingly popular every year, ranging from healthcare to the food and cosmetics industry. It's highly likely that they will also have a significant impact on interpersonal relationships in the near future. They might become an ideal (healthy) substitute for alcohol and other stress-relieving substances. Remember that alcohol is neurotoxic, causing harm to our bodies, while CBD is neuroprotective, not only helping us relax but also protecting receptors in our brains, strengthening our immune system, and not causing hangovers!

As an interesting side note, it's worth mentioning Polish researchers who discovered a substance very similar to cannabidiol (CBD) in genetically modified flax seeds and fibers. This discovery sparked a discussion about whether it's possible to produce CBD from such modified flax.

We've written a separate article about the endocannabinoid system that provides a detailed and accurate description of this topic. Therefore, we strongly encourage you to familiarize yourself with its content. Here, we'll use a brief summary related to this topic. We already know what CBD is in general, so let's consider how it affects our body and what actions CBD exhibits. It's no secret that every person has their natural system that responds to cannabinoids. This system is the ECS, the endocannabinoid system. It helps control functions and receptors in our brain and body. These receptors are associated with pain perception, body movement, mental health, sleep, gastrointestinal function, and even processes related to brain protection. It also serves to maintain homeostasis, the balance between our body and mind. Although ECS is still underrated for many, it plays a vital role in our body, similar to other systems (e.g., hormonal, endorphin, or nervous systems). Cannabis oil affects the ECS and helps us function better in aspects such as:

The impact of CBD on our body is very diverse. It is a natural combination of herbal medicine and pharmaceuticals, with the distinction that it surpasses both of these groups. It has a natural origin, is non-addictive, and is just as effective (if not more so) as the medications many of us take. The uniqueness of cannabis lies in the fact that it can be consumed in virtually every possible way: topically on the skin, orally, inhaled through vaporization, or taken in the form of patches or suppositories. Additionally, it can be safely combined with various herbs or pharmaceuticals. It's worth noting that no other medication or single substance is as versatile and effective. Apart from its medicinal properties, it also improves our mood, helps during moments of intense mental work, and aids in recovery after workouts. CBD oil can also be used for our pets (which, just like humans, have an endocannabinoid system).

The medical properties of CBD include:

Remember that CBD can also be taken in everyday occasional situations. A good example is a study from 2011 that examined whether CBD could alleviate social anxiety caused by public speaking. You'll probably agree that public speaking is a paralyzing experience for many people. The participants in our study felt the same way. Half of them received CBD, and the other half received a placebo. The participants' task was to prepare a 4-minute presentation, which would be recorded in a video format and then analyzed. To increase stress levels even more, the participants were given only 2 minutes to prepare. It turned out that those who took CBD performed much better than those who received a placebo. This happened because CBD reduced their anxiety levels (CBD had calming properties), improved cognitive function, significantly increased psychological comfort during the performance, and had anti- anxiety effects. This is a perfect example that you don't need serious ailments to take CBD by itself; you can use it for everyday activities (that may cause increased stress), as it provides a full spectrum of positive properties.

CBD oil consists of two main components:

There are several methods of extracting CBD oil, the two most popular are:

At room temperature and under standard atmospheric pressure, carbon dioxide exists as a gas. However, at lower temperatures and higher pressures, it turns into a liquid. To extract CBD, the plant is saturated with liquid carbon dioxide. Once the temperature rises and the pressure drops, the CO2 returns to its gaseous form and evaporates, leaving a highly concentrated extract. Then, a carrier is added, and the product is ready. This method is considered non-toxic and is the preferred way of producing CBD products.

In this process, the plants are soaked in ethanol for several hours or even several days. They release their properties in this way because cannabinoids dissolve only in fats and alcohols. Then, the entire mixture is drained by heating. As a result, all the alcohol is completely evaporated, resulting in an extract with a very high concentration of cannabinoids. It's worth mentioning that after the whole process, there is no trace of alcohol left in the final product!

Often, one can come across questions regarding the right CBD dosage and potential side effects. It's difficult to provide definitive answers to both of these questions due to the comprehensive nature of CBD's effects and its many applications. Dosage and experiences vary greatly among individuals.

Unlike opioid-based medications (such as morphine), CBD (cannabinoids) is non-addictive, and the substance itself does not produce any adverse effects upon discontinuation. It's important to note that regular CBD supplementation can have a positive impact on our health, so discontinuing these products may lead to a return to the previous state (not a deterioration of our condition, but a return to the state before CBD use).

Generally, no. Of course, you should not take larger doses than those recommended, but CBD is a substance considered safe enough that many doctors believe that even intentionally drinking an entire bottle of CBD oil (no, please don't try this) should not cause any negative effects in your body.

No. Both CBD and any other cannabinoid cannot be overdosed. This is because, unlike many drugs (including alcohol), cannabinoid receptors do not exist in the brainstem. As a result, it is not possible to suppress respiratory and heart function due to excessive consumption of cannabinoids.

In summary, you can use CBD to treat daily discomforts as well as serious illnesses because it is a product with a very wide range of effects. CBD can help with many of your ailments (just like the protagonists of our post), allowing you to replace popular drugs (such as painkillers) with natural methods of treatment. CBD has many applications, and it's worth getting to know the CBD products from Cannoffi and improving your daily quality of life. Remember to always carefully read the dosage information for each product and its detailed description of effects. This way, you will be sure to choose the best product for yourself. If you have any doubts, feel free to contact us, and we will be happy to help.