CBD is a term that gets thrown around a lot these days. It’s popping up in health supplements, topical creams, and yes, even men’s grooming products. But what exactly is CBD? Does it offer real, tangible benefits, or is it just one more item in an endless stream of “hot” or “new” supplements? Let’s get to the bottom of it!

What is CBD?

CBD is short for cannabidiol. It is a naturally occurring substance found in cannabis (and more specifically, hemp) and belongs to the family of endocannabinoids. Endocannabinoids are substances that can interact with your endocannabinoid system, which is a system that helps regulate bodily functions like mood and appetite. A good way of thinking about it is the endocannabinoid system is responsible for making sure that your body is not dramatically impacted and changed by outside stimulation.¹

CBD is a naturally occurring substance and belongs to the family of endocannabinoids. Endocannabinoids are substances that can interact with your endocannabinoid system, which is a system that helps regulate bodily functions like mood and appetite.

Wait, Is CBD Legal?

You have seen the word “cannabis” and gotten nervous since a famous off-shoot of cannabis, marijuana, is still federally prohibited (though specific states have approved medical or recreational use). Regardless of which state you live in, rest easy! CBD is derived from hemp, which is itself an off-shoot of cannabis. However, unlike marijuana, hemp is federally legal, thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill. Products containing CBD, or even raw hemp, are not only federally legal but are also readily available through a number of different retailers.²

Why Is CBD So Popular?

Aside from its relatively recent legalization, research into CBD has uncovered some promising results. For starters, there’s enough research into how CBD can prevent seizures that the FDA has approved a prescription seizure medication with a main component of CBD. CBD has also been shown to help treat anxiety, and early research is extremely promising in showing how CBD reduces inflammation, including when applied to the skin. Not only is it showing great promise in being able to effectively treat a myriad of conditions, but may able to do so without the negative side-effects that often accompany antidepressants, like weight gain and loss of libido. CBD can also treat anxiety faster than traditional antidepressants, which can often take weeks to start showing positive signs of improvement, whereas the impact on anxiety can often be seen within 24 hours of first taking it.³

CBD also offers some other great benefits, too. It can help treat insomnia (especially if that insomnia is related to anxiety disorders), it can help treat inflammation disorders like Krohn’s disease or IBS, and it can be applied topically in order to treat joint pain related to arthritis. When used topically, it doesn’t just mask the pain like most over-the-counter creams do. Instead, it attempts to remove the pain entirely (for a short time, at least). That’s because you have endocannabinoid receptors all over your body, not just in your brain, so CBD is able to interact and affect a number of different bodily systems to your benefit.⁴

Should I Try CBD?

Well we certainly think so. While a lot of research regarding the effects of CBD is still relatively new, we are discovering more positive impacts it has on the human body all the time! Since CBD largely doesn’t have significant negative side-effects and begins to work quickly, it’s easy to try it and see if it’s a good fit for your body. Of course, if you plan on taking large doses of CBD or are on a variety of prescriptions medications, you should always talk with your doctor beginning a CBD regimen.

Have more questions? We’d love to answer them! Take a look at our other CBD related articles or reach out directly to us at support@evanalexandergrooming.com. We would be happy to help you out!

References

1. “Human Endocannabinoid System - UCLA Cannabis Research Initiative - Los Angeles, CA.” Uclahealth.Org, 2014, www.uclahealth.org/cannabis/human-endocannabinoid-system.
2. Hudak, John. “The Farm Bill, Hemp Legalization and the Status of CBD: An Explainer.” Brookings, Brookings, 14 Dec. 2018, www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2018/12/14/the-farm-bill-hemp-and-cbd-explainer/. Accessed 7 July 2020.
3. Nagarkatti, Prakash, et al. “Cannabinoids as Novel Anti-Inflammatory Drugs.” Future Medicinal Chemistry, vol. 1, no. 7, Oct. 2009, pp. 1333–1349, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2828614/, 10.4155/fmc.09.93.
4. Caceres, Vanessa. “Do Topical CBD Products Work?” US News & World Report, U.S. News & World Report, 2019, health.usnews.com/wellness/articles/do-topical-cbd-products-work. Accessed 7 July 2020.