Nowadays, more alternative methods of treatment are being introduced to our society. An alternative method of treatment can be simply described as a form of medication that goes beyond what is usually used (more traditional forms of medication, like drugs) for the sake of achieving specific health benefits, which often results in alleviation and comfort.
Read More: Cannabis Topicals
Most of the time, this type of treatment is used along with other forms of medication just because they, by themselves, cannot provide the intended benefits required to properly relieve a person.
However, there are indeed very specific instances in which alternative methods of treatment are capable of providing enough relief by themselves to be considered effective at dealing with certain physical or mental conditions.
A good example of this includes the use of Chamomile-infused tea to improve the quality of sleep of people as well as ease the symptoms related to stress or depression. Among the many options available in the market right now, there are two options that have started to gain a lot of popularity: Medicinal cannabis and CBD.
In this article, we will mainly focus on CBD, discuss the main difference between both medicinal cannabis and CBD medication, and in which way both humans and animals can benefit from CBD oil, one of the many presentations of CBD-based products.
Getting to Know Medicinal Cannabis and CBD
Medicinal cannabis is being slowly accepted all around the world as a great alternative method of treatment, and along with cannabidiol-based products, mostly known as CBD products, they are capable of achieving great health benefits and relieving a lot of physical conditions.
But before we jump into the benefits of both options, we have to talk about something: THC and CBD as compounds. You see, CBD (or cannabidiol) is a compound that is found in the cannabis chemical structure, and it enters the category of cannabinoid. There are many types of cannabinoids found in the plant, and THC (also known as tetrahydrocannabinol) is also one of those.
The main difference between medicinal cannabis and all cannabidiol-medication is that the latter contain really low levels of THC in comparison to actual cannabis. Just so you know, this is really important just because THC is the one compound providing the plant with its psychotropic prowess. So, simply put, it is THC that gets people high.
THC’s Effect on Humans and Animals
Getting high is a very complicated feeling. As mentioned over here, it involves several aspects of human physiology, and it can alter things like our sensorial perception, memory, mood, mental health, stress, sleeping capabilities, and even our creativity. But for us, getting high is just a matter of remaining in a safe environment without engaging in dangerous activities that require precision and care, like driving.
However, that is not the case when it comes to animals, especially dogs and cats. Just like us, dogs and cats could benefit a lot from consuming medicinal cannabis, since they are also prompt to suffering from physical conditions similar to us.
The problem is that THC is actually very toxic to animals, just because of the way their body works. You see, THC and CBD are capable of providing an effect in our body because of a combination of neurotransmitters sensible to both, known as the endocannabinoid system.
The thing is: animals have a very sensitive endocannabinoid system, much stronger and fragile than ours. Thus, although CBD is not psychotropic and doesn’t influence the endocannabinoid system as aggressively as THC, THC can actually overwhelm their systems in a way that intoxicates them, causing intense side effects that can last for a very long time.
In fact, after the legalization of recreational and medicinal marijuana, the cases of intoxicated pets all around the world heavily increased. Thankfully, we have cannabidiol products as an alternative.
CBD, a More Reliable Choice for All Parties Involved
It’s not like medicinal cannabis is not capable of providing health benefits. The problem is the THC inside of it. However, CBD-based medication is there for us. You see, all cannabidiol-based medication is created using a plant similar to the cannabis plant, but very different at the same time: the hemp plant.
As showcased over https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemp, the hemp plant is a variation of cannabis that contains really low levels of THC, only reaching up to 0.5% of its chemical structure. Most products out there only reach about 0.2% as well, making it a very safe option for animals, and a much more reliable alternative for humans, just because you won’t get high from consuming them.
The Actual Benefits of CBD oil
CBD oil has been proclaimed as one of the best alternative methods of treatment to fight inflammatory diseases such as arthritis and joint problems caused by old age, problems that are very common in cats and dogs as well. The reason is simple: Cannabidiol is capable of greatly reducing inflammation, thus, alleviating pain in the process.
Cannabidiol is also known for being a rather effective sleeping-disorder aid since it can greatly improve sleep quality. I myself use CBD oil from Cheef Botanicals to deal with my insomnia problems.
Some pet owners also use cannabidiol to help their pets deal with anxiety, and there are people who use it to fight anxiety problems, stress, and panic attacks. It is especially good to help pets deal with separation anxiety, a very common condition in those pets that have been abandoned and are adopted.
Overall, CBD oil is one good choice for beginners, since it is easy to manage doses with it, but you can also rely on edibles as well, and if you are a pet owner, you also have the option of using treats.
