CBD versus THC. Cannabidiol versus tetrahydrocannabinol. What’s the real difference? Turns out, quite a lot, and in fact the two compounds both complement and differ from each other in effect.
What Do THC And CBD Have In Common?
First, it’s important to understand what a cannabinoid is. Apart from the name, which suggests that they’re part of the cannabis sativa plant, what’s the deal with these?
Well, they’re compounds that interact with the human body’s endocannabinoid system — yes, we actually have a system that’s naturally designed for processing the active THC and CBD from cannabis — to make us feel “high,” decrease physical inflammation, or mediate feelings of pain — along with many other use cases for both THC and CBD. CBD can come from both cannabis and industrial hemp plants, but THC can only come from cannabis.
How CBD And THC Are Different
Though both CBD and THC can be extracted from cannabis, making up much of the plant’s chemical structure, how they’ll make you feel if you supplement with one or the other is incredibly different.
THC, which is psychoactive — meaning it changes the way that your brain is working — has effects such as sleepiness, euphoria, appetite stimulation (“the munchies”), and general relaxation. It’s suggested as a treatment for ailments like nausea, pain and stress.
Meanwhile, CBD helps to fight anxiety and depression, decrease inflammation, armor the body against neurogenerative disease, decrease seizures and improve psychotic behavior. It’s prescribed for everything from inflammation to anxiety, depression and stress, but can also help with the effects of other conditions like migraines and arthritis.
Most interesting of all is the relationship between THC and CBD. To start, THC can actually increase anxiety or promote paranoia, while CBD calms those symptoms down.
But what’s fascinating is the way that the two can work together in different ratios to ease different types of symptoms. For example, a 1:1 THC:CBD ratio (equal parts THC and CBD) is said to give therapeutic relief for many different symptoms, without too much high/euphoric effect.
If you want to avoid impairment — completely, so you can supplement and experience the benefits of CBD at any point in your daily life — full-CBD supplements are the way to go.
Did we answer all your questions? Got more? Leave them in the comments below, and let us know what your thoughts on CBD vs. THC are! And don’t forget to use my special promo code TAKE5 to get an extra discount.
