THE HISTORY OF HEMP
The use of CBD Oil in the health and wellness industries has increased with the change in laws. It is known to cure epilepsy, reduce pain and inflammation, and many other ailments. It is anti-psychotic, anti-inflammatory, and causes relief from pain.
CBD is not new when it comes to the provision of benefits. It was known, but not popular.
THE HISTORY OF HEMP OIL, CBD AND CANNABINOIDS
CBD and hemp was widely used in ancient times, and yes, it isn’t a new discovery. It was first used in ancient China when oils and teas were used to cure various ailments. Hemp was used to produce clothing, paper products, and more, quickly spreading to the Western world for use in the health and beauty industry.
It was used to treat cough and tumors in Europe, while physicians Garcia de Orta and Li Shih-Chen discovered that it could treat appetite disorders and also work as an antibiotic.
By the 18th century, hemp plants were established as a crop in North America, while other states were passing laws for the cultivation of hemp by farmers. The medicinal benefits were no mystery to early growers. Thomas Jefferson grew hemp at Monticello just like George Washington at Mount Vernon. Robert Burton’s Anatomy of the Melancholy recommended it as a treatment for mental disorders, while “The New England Dispensatory” and the “Edinburgh New Dispensatory” advised it to get relief from pain, inflammation, and cough.
Hemp extract was listed in the U.S. Pharmacopeia as well as the U.S. Dispensatory, along with medical cannabis, after physician W.B. O’Shaughnessy conducted experiments with cannabis indica. Since then, it is recommended to cure many health ailments.
Besides ancient China, hemp is also popular in the Middle East, India and Greece for its anti-depressant properties.
CBD IN RECENT HISTORY
In 1998, the British Government licensed GW Pharmaceuticals to grow cannabis and develop an extract for use in clinical trials. A cannabis-based medicine was produced which didn’t have any psychoactive properties, like that of marijuana.
While CBD-rich strains have a long history of medical usage, they were not commonly available to users in California and other areas where cannabis was legal; CBD had been effectively bred out in favor of THC-rich strains.
As time passed, the International Association for Cannabinoid Medicine started recognizing the medicinal benefits of CBD and conducted more studies on it. CBD became popular after it showed positive results in reducing epileptic seizures.
In April, the FDA in the US approved the use of Epidiolex, a cannabidiol medicine, to cure epileptic seizures.
THE ISSUES FACED DURING LEGISLATION
CBD faced one major legal issue – the source of cultivation. CBD is known to be derived from both, hemp as well as marijuana. With the introduction of the Farm Bill, it was made clear that CBD was legal to use. Because of the Hemp Farming Act, production of hemp is legal, meaning that CBD can be extracted from hemp cultivation. The most recent legislation gave hemp a definition which stated that it was a product extracted from the cannabis plant with not more than 0.3% THC. Hence, it cannot get you high.
RESEARCH ON CBD IS ESSENTIAL
CBD is still being researched upon for its medicinal benefits. In 2015, a study was conducted to see whether CBD could reduce the incidence of diabetes, with the help of an experiment conducted on mice.
Cannabinoids have been shown to inhibit tumor growth in animal subjects. CBD has even proven effective in protecting and healing the skin: studies show that applying topical CBD treatments can treat ailments from acne to psoriasis and promote faster healing of damaged skin. CBD is also proven to engage with the endocannabinoid system in organs throughout the body, helping to dramatically reduce inflammation.
Another research was conducted in the year 2012 to see whether CBD could cure anxiety, insomnia, and chronic pain. As laws soften and more research is allowed regarding the benefits of CBD, we’re sure to find other uses for this new and exciting cannabinoid component.
CBD AND ITS FUTURE
Since CBD was used as a medicine in ancient times in countries like Greece, China, Europe, and even America, it is known to cure many health problems. CBD and its effectiveness on epilepsy have received lots of attention. With the Farm Bill coming in, more research is being conducted on CBD and its legality to be sold to consumers.