Month: December 2019

CBD is considered by many pet owners to be a therapy option for skittish dogs with high anxiety levels but current research shows CBD is effective for even more serious degenerative diseases like Canine hip-dysplasia, arthritis, epilepsy or cancer. Another reason people may want to offer medical cannabis to their dogs is for general pain relief. Like humans, medical cannabis’ success for animal patients depends on the weight and size of your pet.

Dosage

Start with a minimal amount (0.25-0.5 mg / kg) of CBD based on canine body weight, per day. Then, every few days, slowly increase the dose until you’ve achieved the desired effect for whatever is being treated.  Administer a few small doses over the course of the day rather than one big dose. Use the same dose and ratio for several days. Observe the effects and if necessary adjust the ratio or amount. Don’t overdo it. Cannabis compounds have ‘biphasic properties’, which means that low and high doses of the same substance can produce opposite effects. Small doses of cannabis tend to stimulate; large doses sedate.

Dosing Video

Health Benefits

“Whole-plant medicine” is a term used to describe medicines utilizing the full spectrum of compounds cannabis has to offer, including cannabinoids and terpenes.

The Entourage Effect is the effect produced from the synergistic interaction of the cannabinoids, flavonoids, terpenes, and fatty acids naturally found in cannabis.

It refers to the beneficial effect of all these compounds working together as opposed to just one or two of these compounds working in isolation.

Simply put: the Entourage Effect is the benefit you get from ingesting multiple components of the cannabis plant together instead of ingesting one component at-a-time.

What is CBG?

Cannabigerol (CBG) is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid that plays an important role in the biochemistry of the cannabis plant. CBG displays a multitude of potential health benefits including working as a neuroprotectant, having antioxidant properties, aiding with skin ailments as an antibacterial and antifungal agent, appetite stimulation, treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, inflammation reduction, shows promise in fighting cancer, and lowering intraocular pressure, which may benefit glaucoma patients.

How CBG Works

CBG is often referred to as the Mother of all Cannabinoids. CBG holds promise to be a key constituent in the overall medicinal benefits cannabis may provide. As cannabis research continues to rapidly evolve, CBG may emerge as one of the most therapeutically applicable and diverse cannabinoids to offer a wide range of possible remedies. CBG interacts with both the CB1 and CB2 receptors, acting as a possible inhibitor to the psychoactive effects of THC. CBG is also thought to boost anandamide, an endocannabinoid that naturally increases dopamine levels and responsible for regulating various health functions such as mood, sleep, and appetite. GABA uptake in the brain may be obstructed by CBG, making this cannabinoid a possible anti-anxiety agent and muscle relaxant. CBG may also block serotonin receptors, showing potential antidepressant traits.

“An Italian study published in the May 2013 edition of Biological Psychology suggests that cannabigerol (CBG) has strong anti-inflammatory properties and may benefit patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It is also useful in the treatment of glaucoma, as CBG can increase the fluid drainage from the eye and reduce the amount of pressure. Further, cannabigerol (CBG) has anti-depressant qualities and may inhibit tumor growth.”

What is the Endocannabinoid System?

It’s a network of receptors that exist throughout our bodies. It is thought to exist in all animals on earth, and it is crucial to our survival. The cannabinoid receptors exist on the surface of cells and “listen” to what’s going on in the body. They communicate this information about our bodies’ status and changing circumstances to the inside of the cell, allowing for the appropriate measures to be taken. In other words, they allow us to maintain homeostasis by monitoring what is going on in our bodies. Scientists have identified two primary cannabinoid receptors, called the CB1 and CB2 receptors. 
The cannabinoids found in plants are called phytocannabinoids, but the body also produces its own, which are referred to as endocannabinoids. These molecules are created whenever we need them, usually in response to some change in the body. 

The Endocannabinoid System’s Role in Your Body

The Endocannabinoid System plays a HUGE role in keeping us healthy. It is thought that having a deficiency of endocannabinoids could cause a range of complications. If we don’t have enough endocannabinoids, our bodies can’t fix certain problems that arise. This relates to both mental and physical complications. Anything you can think of that homeostasis helps to regulate, the ECS will be involved in.

Cannabinoids and the Endocannabinoid System’s Relationship

THC is the most infamous active compound in cannabis and it has the ability to interact directly with our endocannabinoid system. When marijuana is consumed, the THC can bind directly with our cannabinoid receptors, in the same way as our endocannabinoids do. THC seems to have a preference for our CB1 receptors, found in the brain, which is why THC can cause psychoactive effects. But what about CBD? Cannabidiol is slightly different; instead of binding directly with our cannabinoid receptors, it has an indirect influence on the system. It can help us to produce more endocannabinoids naturally, which in turn leads to a better functioning of the endocannabinoid system and a healthier body. Basically, when you take CBD products, you are absorbing CBD into your bloodstream and allowing it to interact with the ECS.