By Paula Givens, JD, CFE
CBD, or Cannabidiol, is a substance found in cannabis and hemp,
with powerful preventive and curative properties for some of our
most serious diseases
CBD is CBD regardless of its source, and has
a specific molecular structure that looks like
this: It doesn’t matter whether it is derived
from cannabis or hemp, they both come
from the same plant genus – Cannabis
Sativa L. The term ‘Hemp’ commonly refers
to the commercial use of the cannabis
stalk and seed for textiles, foods, papers,
etc. Hemp was also banned in the US with
the Marijuana Tax Reform Act of 1937. The
USFDA currently considers the hemp plant,
with less than .03% THC, including its CBD,
to be “food based” and therefore saleable,
and no medical card is needed.
Initial research does suggest it is most effective
when taken with THC, but has proved
plenty effective used on its own.
Clinical studies conducted outside the
United States have shown that CBD is an
effective painkiller – particularly for peripheral
neuropathy associated with cancer,
multiple sclerosis, diabetes, arthritis, and
other neurodegenerative conditions.
Extensive preclinical research – much by
the U.S. government – indicates that CBD
has potent anti-tumoral, antioxidant, antispasmodic,
anti-psychotic, anti-convulsive,
and neuroprotective properties, and directly
activates serotonin receptors, causing
an anti-depressant effect as well. The
US Government quietly holds a patent on
the therapeutic use, US Patent # 6,630,507,
which involves research performed by the
National Institutes of Health.
How does it work? CBD directly activates
the 5-HT1A, serotonin receptor, thereby
giving an anti-depressant effect. The
5-HT1A receptor is implicated in a range
of biological and neurological processes,
including, anxiety, addiction, appetite,
sleep, pain perception, nausea and
vomiting. CBD also binds to the TRPV-1
receptor, which is known to mediate pain
perception, inflammation and body temperature.
CBD is a TRPV-1 stimulant. This
is likely one of the reasons why CBDs may
be a particularly effective treatment for
neuropathic pain. Studies indicate that
CBDs may also block another receptor
known as GPR55, which might act to decrease
cancer cell proliferation.
With more antioxidant potency than
either vitamins C or E, CBD has consistently
demonstrated neuroprotective
effects, and its anti-cancer potential is
enormous. CBD has been shown to suppress
colon cancer tumors in mice and
to kill breast cancer cells in lab studies.
Sean McAllister,PhD at California Pacific
Medical Center said “CBD could spell the
end of breast cancer,” and claims it could
render chemotherapy and radiation a
distant 2nd and 3rd option for cancer patients.
“Cannabidiol offers hope of a nontoxic
therapy that could treat aggressive
forms of cancer without any of the painful
side effects of chemotherapy,” says McAllister.
Dr. Don Abrams M.D. at UCSF says
the studies point to “a remarkable ability
of CBD to arrest cancer cell division, cell
migration, metastasis, and invasiveness.”
The images above are from an experiment
by McAllister testing how CBD can
stop the invasion of cancer cells in human
cell lines. Compare the untreated breast
cancer cells on the left to the breast cancer
cells destroyed by CBD on the right.
The previous Kurple article was correct
in stating that there are certain companies
offering CBD products that truly may
be snake oil. *Medical Marijuana Inc, an
umbrella corporation, created a network
of subsidiaries which include HempMeds,
Dixie Botanicals, Kannaway, and KannaLife
Sciences.
Dixie Botannical’s chief scientist quit and
blew the whistle. And after leaving, posted
this message on Facebook (since removed):
“These formulations start with a crude and
dirty hemp paste… and
perhaps even contain residual solvent and
other toxins as the extraction [is] made in
a process that actually renders it unfit for
human consumption…Since I formulated
most of these products as head of Dixie
science, I feel responsible for spreading the
truth…. ”
There are numerous documented cases of
people getting sick from RSHO, products
of Kannaway and HempMeds. Laboratory
testing ensued as a result of the reported
illnesses, where Dr. Noel Palmer found significant
levels of hexane, a highly toxic industrial
solvent, in both RSHO Gold vials. Symptoms
of hexane poisoning include nausea,
vomiting, headaches, dizziness, and mental
confusion.
The CBD used by Fruit of the Earth Organics
and Bhang Chocolates are derived
from European organic hemp using CO2
extraction. This high quality extraction
process preserves heat-sensitive vitamins,
enzymes or nutrients that are often lost
using other extraction methods. Recently
tested by the premier cannabinoid laboratory
in the world in Israel, our CBD was
found to be 99.93% pure CBD, and is now
purchased by this laboratory for their research.
The main point of this article is to confirm
the effectiveness of CBD against countless
diseases and conditions, whether from
cannabis or hemp, but also to advise care
when deciding where to purchase your
CBD.
“CBD has dramatically relieved my MS symptoms.
I no longer have tingling and numbness
in my fingers and toes, severe depression has
greatly improved, and generally symptoms
have largely subsided as long as I use CBD.”
– Nathan
