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Is CBD Addictive? Let's Find Out
With the rise of popularity of CBD-based products – oils, tinctures, edibles, etc. – many people have started considering its addiction potential since it originates from the hemp plant. Even though it’s still fairly new to the market with limited research available, there’s some pretty concrete evidence that’s backed up by scientific explanations of the processes that occur once CBD is consumed. Here we will discuss the question “Is CBD addictive?”
The efficacy of CBD for pets has been tested, especially for dogs, cats, and horses. Studies have shown good results when using CBD oil in addition to conventional medication. It is not a cure, but it is an agent that contributes to the improvement of animal health and alleviates problems.
CBD oil is an organic, cold-pressed, unrefined industrial hemp oil. CBD oil is considered one of the most valuable oils because of its nutritional value because of the presence of Omega 3, 6, and 9 essential acids in an ideal ratio. Depending on the animal’s body weight and general condition and health problem, three variants of CBD Pets oils of 3%, 6%, and 10% of active cannabidiol (CBD) are available for small, medium and large animals.
CBD's Interaction With The Human Body
In order to understand the subject better, you first have to learn the basic terminology. CBD, which is short for cannabidiol, is the most common cannabinoid found in Cannabis sativa plants (alongside THC). Unlike the latter, CBD doesn’t induce any psychoactive effects that are responsible for the “high” feeling. Instead, its main purpose is to augment other elements of your body that contribute to the overall well-being.
To achieve this, CBD doesn’t directly attach to the brain’s receptors like almost all of the other cannabinoids do. Rather, it modifies their ability to bind to other types of cannabinoids, while also having an impact on other receptors such as those connected to the release of serotonin (a key hormone that stabilizes our mood and promotes happiness) and adenosine.
The fact that CBD has the potential to promote joyful feelings and serotonin production might seem worrying as far as addiction goes. However, regular activities such as eating chocolate or even exercising have the same effect, and they’re something that’s often recommended.
Individuals who have taken CBD (more specifically, oils) have reported feelings of relaxation, calmness, and increased focus. This is in total contrast with the effects of its counterpart, THC, that has been shown to increase heart rate and even lead to the so-called “fight or flight” feeling even when there’s no reason for it.
Why CBD Is Not Addictive
For a substance to be addictive, it has to go through three states:
– Release an influx of dopamine
– Require continued exposure
– Cause withdrawal symptoms
No matter which type of CBD product you use, there’s no chance of any of this occurring as long as it’s 100% THC free. According to a report/review from the World Health Organization, there’s no evidence of any public health-related problems associated with the use of pure CBD. As a matter of fact, CBD has shown to counter the effects of psychoactive high caused by THC on multiple different occasions.
Different Types of Addiction
However, there’s a significant difference between physical and psychological addiction. The former one is the cause of prolonged use, after which the body is no longer able to function without that particular substance. This particular form is associated with alcohol, nicotine, and all hard drugs.
Physical addiction takes control of a person’s whole life, often being fatal. Since CBD doesn’t directly react with the receptors, there are no changes to your brain function. Also, the brain doesn’t have anything to adapt to since the human body itself automatically produces endocannabinoids – in fact, there’s a whole biological system dedicated specifically for that.
On the other hand, psychological addiction is related to the emotional attachment to a substance. The substance itself doesn’t necessarily have to be addictive – it’s more of a connection that the person makes between the feelings of joy and its use.
However, even by looking at CBD from this point of view, there’s still almost no potential of psychological addiction occurring. This is because it works similarly to any other supplement – instead of promoting change, it works towards achieving a therapeutic effect.
CBD Can Prevent Relapses
This might come as the most surprising fact, but research has shown that CBD can be used to treat other dependencies. primarily alcohol and cocaine addictions. This is mostly due to its anxiety/stress-relieving effects as well as reduced cravings.
This is a massive advancement, especially since most of the existing medication is either partially effective, addictive by itself, or has potentially severe side effects. There’s still a lot of research to be done due to the severe lack of any human trials, but the existing results are quite promising.
Conclusion: Is CBD Addictive?
While the question of “Is CBD addictive?” is sure to appear for years the come, the science is slowly but surely making progress towards additional proof that’s going to put everyone’s minds at peace. Even though CBD has its beneficial properties with close to no side effects, you should still use it in moderation as you would anything else. There is still much research to be done due to the current lack of human trials, but the existing results are quite promising.
