How Does CBD Work?

Considering purchasing CBD oil? We believe it’s important that all our valued customers are informed and familiar with the various benefits that cannabinoids like CBD have on the human body.

Of course, understanding how CBD works inside the human body is a complex process. Let’s explore that.

Cannabidiol – otherwise known as CBD – is little-known among the general public and is best recognised as the main active compound in hemp.

However, it’s important to stress that, unlike THC, it doesn’t have psychoactive qualities and won’t make you “high”.

Your body has a wider endocannabinoid system (ECS), connecting a series of receptors which spread from your brain to various other parts of the body.

CBD and THC often work separately within this system: the latter activates your cannabinoid receptors, whereas the former doesn’t directly stimulate them.

In order to differentiate between the two, let’s first take a look at how THC affects these types of receptors found in hemp.

However, it’s important to stress that, unlike THC, CBD doesn’t have psychoactive qualities and won’t make you “high”.

The CB1 and CB2 receptors

Cannabinoid receptors can influence your moods, ability to feel pain, appetite and memory functions, among other things. They can be activated by the endocannabinoids your body produces or plant cannabinoids, such as those found in hemp or cannabis.

These receptors can be split into CB1 and CB2 categories.

The former are mostly found in the central nervous system, as well as the kidneys, liver and lungs. The latter are found in hematopoietic blood cells.

So what do they do? CB1 receptors influence the production and release of neurotransmitters; play a part in the lipogenesis process within your liver; appear to help maintain your CBD homeostasis; and may possibly influence other factors such as pleasure, concentration, pain tolerance and memory. 

Alternatively, CB2 receptors are involved in various functions related to your immune system, including apoptosis and immune suppression.

That’s what THC stimulates; now let’s take a look at CBD by means of comparison.

CBD’s action inside the body

CBD instead activates a variety of other receptors, including adenosine, serotonin and vanilloid. Take the TRPV-1 receptor, for example: once activated, it can affect your body temperature and perception of pain.

To use another example, activating the adenosine receptors affects the body’s release of dopamine and glutamate, the former of which plays a part in your levels of motivation, reward mechanisms and motor control.

The latter has a major impact on learning, cognition, memory and excitatory signals.

The amount of CBD used can impact the receptors it’s able to activate.

For instance, high concentrations can activate the 5-HT14 serotonin receptor which can influence appetite, mood, nausea, and addiction mechanisms.

Finally, it can also block CPR55 signalling, a factor linked to your blood pressure and the modulation of your bone density.

The endocannabinoid system influences many aspects of our health, but can cannabinoids like CBD help treat conditions like anxiety?

CBD oil for anxiety

Much recent research into cannabinoids focuses on the endocannabinoid system and CBD oil for anxiety.

Stress is very closely linked to anxiety, and is one of the biggest causes of illness in the UK.

But can CBD oil help reduce stress and the negative impact it has on the body?

Numerous research studies have found that CBD could provide relief for a variety of conditions―one of the most well-supported of which, is stress.

In 1995, scientists discovered a network of receptors throughout the human brain and many of our vital organs that interact exclusively with cannabinoids like CBD.

Naturally, it was deemed the Endocannabinoid System (ECS).

Now, the reason that CBD may help relieve stress is because, of the many receptors found throughout the ECS, many are concentrated in the area of the brain that regulates our mood and stress levels.

The interaction between CBD and these receptors has shown to reduce erratic stress signals and improve our stress response by moderating how we process a stressful situation.

By doing so, CBD can significantly relieve symptoms of stress, while improving how we respond to similar situations in the future.

The stress response

To be able to discuss CBD oil for anxiety, we must first understand the stress response, and how stress affects the human body.

It is important to say now however that CBD does NOT cure or prevent stress.

In simplest terms, stress is the result of how a person responds to a situation.

While there are numerous factors behind a person’s response to a situation, the process of responding is a psychological process that occurs in the brain.

The activity in the brain can be described a series of energy signals constantly being transferred throughout the body to make our body work.

Some of these signals tell our arm to move, while others are the response to a situation that was perceived to be stressful.

A normal, healthy brain will have functions in place to manage how we respond to stressful situations; however, if the brain is off-balance or there’s too much going on, the brain will get overloaded and this function will not work properly.

This combination of reactions to stress is also known as the “fight-or-flight” response because it evolved as a survival mechanism, enabling people and other mammals to react quickly to life-threatening situations.

The stress response begins in the brain and it is a biological list of events that occurs in response to a real or perceived threat to homeostasis.

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) helps our immune systems, protects our brains, help us manage stress and even keep our bodies in balance, so it’s vital we keep this system ticking over.

When the body is functioning at an optimal level then we are more able to cope with the stresses and strains of modern day living.

The ECS regulates our stress response in a very specific way, which we will now discuss.

The endocannabinoid system and the stress response

One of the primary functions of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) is to regulate the stress response within the body. It is thought to do this by regulating hormone levels, primary cortisol. When we experience stress our bodies produce higher levels of this stress hormone.

Cortisol is vital to human survival and is responsible for mediating our natural “fight or flight” response.

However, increased levels of cortisol are problematic, producing symptoms that can range from weight gain and mood swings, to increased anxiety.

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) works to reduce damaging levels of cortisol when prolonged stress causes a build-up within the body.

Studies have shown that it does this by influencing endocrine processes and activating receptors in the brain and body, which directly influence activity in endocrine glands like the thyroid, pineal, and pituitary glands

Studies show that when CBD interacts with these receptors, cognitive functions improve and the brain is able to respond to stressful situations more effectively.

As a result, negative behavioral output is mitigated and the stress cycle is negated.

By improving the brain’s capacity to respond to stressful situations, CBD can help support current stress levels, while serving as a supporting preventative measure against future stress.

The endocannabinoid system and sleep

Why is good quality sleep important?

Sleep is a vital part of our health. Sleep allows our bodies to repair themselves and our brains to consolidate our memories and process information.

Poor sleep is linked to physical problems such as a weakened immune system and mental health problems such as anxiety and depression.

When you sleep, your body heals and repairs itself at a cellular level. Your brain signals the release of hormones encouraging tissue growth.

Your heart and blood vessels are healed and repaired. Your body also stores up energy for the next day’s activities.

Sleep is essential to building your body’s natural defense system. As you sleep, your body makes more white blood cells, the foot soldiers of your immune system. Your brain forms new pathways to aid in memory and learning.

Your body needs sufficient sleep to accomplish these things. It’s amazing to think this all happens while we sleep.

The human body is truly a wonderful thing.

The route cause of many sleep disorders is stress. We have already discussed how CBD and the endocannabinoid system can help support stress hormones within the body.

CBD oil for sleep

It is critical for brain function for people to get enough sleep.

Sleep deprivation can even induce unwanted psychological symptoms like anxiety and depression, and is worse for the body’s health overall.

Along with reducing the negative impact of stress on our health and sleep patterns, CBD is also calming and can help support restful sleep.

Many people choose CBD oil for sleep but while scientists have yet to fully elucidate how the ECS influences sleep, what we do know is that the ECS influences many parts of the brain and the body that are vital to a healthy night’s sleep.

Likewise, if you have an endocannabinoid deficiency, it will likely adversely affect your sleep cycle.

In conclusion, CBD may aid restful sleep by improving and restoring our stress response, and it also has a general calming effect on those who choose this natural remedy.

The THC connection

Earlier, we said that CBD and THC often work separately within the system, leaving some leeway for exceptions.

The way CBD affects the FAAH enzyme is one such case.

Through it, the cannabinoid activates the CB1 receptor, thereby minimising how far THC can activate it in turn. The whole process ends up reducing the psychoactive effects of the latter.

This ability to keep THC in check is why both compounds are often combined together when used for treatment purposes.

Yet ultimately, CBD can be advantageous without its THC cousin, purchasing products which only label “non-psychoactive CBD” in their list of ingredients have huge potential for improving your wellbeing.

CBD supplements

We sell a wide selection of CBD products offering an effective and convenient option for everyone.

If you are looking for a natural way to improve your health and wellbeing, then look no further. Love Hemp CBD supplements are an ideal addition to your daily wellness routine.


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