Despite the widespread availability of CBD products, myths about CBD abound. Some exaggerate its advantages, often claiming false health benefits. Other myths go in the opposite direction, claiming CBD is a scam with no benefits and many side effects.
The truth lies between the extreme myths. To set the record straight, our experts at Pacific Rheumatology, led by Dr. Behnam Khaleghi, wrote this blog post exploring the reality behind four of the most common myths.
Beyond correcting the myths, our goal is to make sure each person gets real therapeutic results from CBD. If you have any questions, talk with us before you go out and buy CBD products.
It’s easy to get confused about how CBD might affect your mind or alter your consciousness for one simple reason: CBD comes from the same plant family, Cannabis, that gives us marijuana.
Marijuana is often called Cannabis, which is confusing because hemp, together with many other species, also belong to the Cannabis family. Their differences lie in the type and concentration of their active ingredients.
As a group, Cannabis plants contain more than 100 active ingredients called cannabinoids. Two of those cannabinoids are cannabidiol (CBD) and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
CBD products primarily come from hemp, which has a high level of CBD and barely a trace of THC. Marijuana comes from Cannabis plants that have a very high concentration of THC. Though marijuana contains some CBD, it delivers a significant amount of THC, the ingredient that gives you a high, euphoric experience.
CBD is generally considered safe from side effects. However, it can interact with medications. It affects the way your body metabolizes certain medications, which may change their blood levels and affect their therapeutic impact.
The potential for medication interactions points to the importance of getting CBD under the guidance of a physician. Knowing your medical history and the medicines you take gives us the ability to prescribe a safe dose of CBD.
Your body produces substances called endocannabinoids that are similar to the cannabinoids found in Cannabis plants. Your natural biochemicals activate receptors in different parts of your body, where they trigger specific reactions, and improve your health.
The active cannabinoids in CBD products bind with the same receptors, causing the same beneficial effects.
CBD improves problems such as:
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a purified CBD medicine that reduces seizures. Additionally, CBD may help relieve side effects associated with chemotherapy.
Quality varies widely between CBD products. Testing by the FDA shows that the CBD content found in some products doesn’t match the claims made on the label. Other CBD products tested by the FDA didn’t contain any CBD.
The amount of CBD in the product you buy, as well as its potency, depends on who made the product. Since you only get therapeutic results by taking the right dose, you can’t be sure what health benefits you may or may not get from the products available on the market.
You can be sure of what you get with the medical-grade CBD products available through Pacific Rheumatology. And you benefit from the advice of an expert physician who recommends the appropriate dose for your specific health care needs.
To learn more about CBD, call Pacific Rheumatology or book an appointment online today.
