Written by Dr. Benjamin Watson
I am sure CBD rings a bell to many of you, whether you use it yourself, know of someone who uses it, or simply know of it via the many signs by the road or on the sides of buildings advertising its sale. However, unfortunately many may not be aware of what CBD is, and why it plays an important role in promoting health. I would like to briefly share information on this matter, as I have concluded that its inclusion into anyone’s supplement regimen is crucial.
Firstly, CBD is a phyto-cannabinoid, or an individual class within a series of chemical compounds referred to as cannabinoids, which are derived from cannabis. Here is where the important distinction between hemp and marijuana must be clarified. While both belong to the same genus and species, they have been cultivated for entirely different reasons. Hemp is grown for industrial uses, and marijuana has been grown for its psychoactive qualities. Throughout the remainder of this article I will be reefering, excuse me, referring to the former. Despite these differences, the growth of either was prohibited in the U.S. due to the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937. However in 2018, the Hemp Farm Bill allowed for restricted cultivation of hemp. Despite legislation in the US, Israel has been researching the medical role of these phyto-cannabinoids for decades now. What’s most interesting is that we now know that our body not only produces it’s own cannabinoids or endo-cannabinoids (endo meaning “within”), but that these endo- cannabinoids in addition to the phyto-cannabinoids (phyto meaning “of or relating to plants”) we consume via hemp influence every system in our body. More specifically, the hundred or so cannabinoids present within hemp regulate the functional rate of the various systems of the body enabling a greater degree of balance or homeostasis. One such example can be seen in it’s ability to influence the central axis of communication between our nervous and endocrine systems referred to as the HPA axis, which also regulates body temperature, circadian rhythm, and cortisol production.
Here is the part where this all ties in to Chinese medicine. You may have heard that hemp has been used all over the world for thousands of year. Did you know that it’s oldest documented medicinal use is in Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing, a Chinese herbal compendium dating back to 200-250 BC? While it is unclear which parts of the hemp plant were used, this demonstrates that the recognition of hemp’s medicinal value has been incorporated into Chinese herbalism for thousands of years. Below is a translation for the medicinal use of Ma Fen (hemp seed):
Treats the Five Taxations and Seven Damages, disinhibits the five zang organs, moves the blood down, and treats cold qi. Eaten in large quantities it causes you to see ghosts and run around manically. Consumed over a long time, it facilitates the breakthrough of spirit illumination and lightens the body. Grows in river valleys. The inner seed of hemp is sweet in flavor, balanced, and non-toxic. It is indicated in supplementing the center and boosting the qi. Consumed over a long time it makes you plump and strong and staves off aging.
Bare in mind this excerpt is from roughly 200 BC. Our use of hemp seed or Huo Ma Ren has changed, and contemporarily it is used mostly to relieve constipation. While it is primarily the ariel parts of the plant which are used for extraction, according to Chinese nutrition science, the seed enables one to cultivate an acceptance of one’s true nature, and it is from this energetic quality of the seed that the plant is produced.
In regards to incorporating hemp into your daily regimen, organically grown full-spectrum hemp extract is the best place to start. Although you are probably more familiar with CBD, a particular cannabinoid, there are actually roughly 100 different cannabinoids present in hemp such as CBN, CBG, and CBC. In order to get the most benefit from supplementing with hemp, a full-spectrum product provides you with all of these cannabinoids, which affect different systems within the body to varying degrees. For example, while CBN is more reliable in promoting sleep, CBG has been shown to inhibit cancer sell growth. In fact, CBD does not even bind to the cannabinoid receptors in our bodies. Rather it inhibits the enzymes which breakdown the cannabinoids our body produces. Additionally, studies have also demonstrated that CBD isolates typically have to be dosed higher to yield the same results, and can have a higher rate of side effects. Therefore, CBD certainly has its benefits; however full-spectrum products enable you to get the most medical benefit from the plant. This article is merely intended to provide a brief introduction to those unfamiliar with the medicinal benefit of CBD and full spectrum hemp products. Please contact me with any questions regarding this topic or the practice of Chinese medicine.
