CBD is being looked at from an interested point of view for a long time now because of how beneficial it has proved to be for health despite coming from the same plant that contains THC. Now a new study says that perhaps cannabis strains that contain THC as well as a high content of CBD aren’t as harmful because of how CBD has been found to stifle the negative effects of THC.
What Did This New Study Reveal?
A new research which has been published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology has used fMRI to assess how varying strains of cannabis impact the brain’s working. For the past two decades, psychoactive properties have been associated to cannabis use, and unfortunately, cannabis strains that contain a higher content of THC and lower of CBD have become more common.
This new study has found that CBD buffers the effects that THC has on the brain of the user. There is more and more evidence that while THC is linked to psychosis, CBD has therapeutic properties. However, how these two interact with one another is not yet known.
For this study, researchers involved analyzed the brain activity of the 17 participants who were at rest after taking different cannabis strains. Two strains were used, one called skunk which has high levels of THC and low of CBD. The other strain had high levels of both THC and CBD.
The study found that the low-CBD strain disrupted functional connectivity in the default mode of the brain and salience networks while the strain that had a high content of CBD caused minimal impairment in these regions, showing that CBD could combat the harmful impacts of THC.
Researchers say that this study solidifies that cannabis strains with high CBD content are less harmful. The study’s lead author, Dr. Matt Wall said, “As cannabis is becoming legal in more parts of the world, people buying cannabis should be able to make an informed decision about their choice of cannabis strain and be aware of the relative risks.”
Health Benefits Of CBD
CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system of the human body which regulates sleep, anxiety, appetite, and pain. A study conducted on rats showed that oral CBD treatment could reduce nerve pain and inflammation. Both animal and human studies show that the use of CBD can help decrease not only anxiety but also depression.
Moreover, CBD has anti-cancer and neuroprotective properties can reduce symptoms related to Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. Some studies also show that CBD may be of assistance in improving cardiovascular health by reducing heart damage and blood pressure.
Key Takeaway
CBD comes with several health benefits as it interacts with ECS which regulates many functions of the body. It has been previously established that while CBD comes with therapeutic effects, THC is addictive and has psychoactive properties. A new study shows that cannabis strains that have a high content of CBD and THC may not be as harmful because CBD has shown to have the ability to buffer THC’s effects on the brain.
