WHAT IS A CANNABINOID?
Cannabis has been part of the human journey for most of our known existence. It has coexisted symbiotically with us as far back as 2,900 B.C. The plant spread far and wide across the globe as we migrated. Originating in central Asia and spreading to every continent for a multitude of reasons. The stalk of the cannabis plant provides strong fiber to make textiles, paper, and even houses. The seeds provide humans with a source of food and even biodiesel. The leaves and flowers contain molecules that are used religious ceremonies, recreational use, and medicine. These molecules are known as cannabinoids.
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Various cannabinoids interact with the CB1 receptor. Image from the Crystal Structure of the Human Cannabinoid Receptor CB1
CBD
Although cannabis is known for inducing a psychoactive effect, this effect is only a specific cannabinoid interaction with your body. That cannabinoid is THC. There are a myriad of other cannabinoids that do not induce a psychoactive effect and are not so well known. One of those cannabinoids is cannabidiol or CBD. As of recently CBD has shown great potential to be a viable alternative to certain pharmaceuticals. Most notably it has opened up the door for a viable treatment to epileptic seizures in children. So, what is CBD?
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Image: 2D structure of CBD via pubchem.
WHAT IS CECD?
Clinical Enocannabinoid Deficiency is a condition in which the body has a lack of production or overproduction of endogenous cannabinoids. The term was coined by Dr. Ethan Russo in 2004 through his conductive study Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency Reconsidered: Current Research Supports the Theory in Migraine, Fibromyalgia, Irritable Bowel, and Other Treatment-Resistant Syndromes and was revisited again in 2012.
SYMPTOMS OF CECD?
The same story goes for cannabinoids, too much of any cannabinoid will have adverse effects, too little and there won’t be any effect at all, you need just the right amount of cannabinoids for the job to get done. We will take THC for example, too little THC you won’t feel any psychoactivity, too much THC you will feel it’s adverse effects such as paranoia and anxiety, and what was once a stress reliever is now a stress inducer. You need just the right amount of THC to give enough of an effect to be able to treat the ailment at hand.
HOW DO YOU TREAT CECD?
The treatment of CECD is through the introduction of exogenous cannabinoids specifically phytocannabinoids such as THC and CBD. Depending on the ailment will depend on the treatment necessary for an efficient recovery. In order to do this you must first figure out what ailment they currently suffer from. Just like any other doctor’s medical treatment would be based on their ailment at hand and they will determine what type of medicine the patient would need and in what dosage.