Unsurprisingly, one of the most common questions that people ask about CBD is whether or not they can build up a tolerance. Those who have taken various pharmaceutical drugs know that it’s very common to build up a tolerance over time, causing them to have to take higher and higher doses as time goes on.
However, CBD is a very unique compound that interacts with the body in a way that’s very different from many popular medications. In order for us to fully understand whether or not CBD users can develop a tolerance, we have to first discuss exactly what this compound is and how the body uses it to treat various ailments.
What Is CBD?
CBD is derived from the cannabis plant. It’s often confused with marijuana, a member of the cannabis family. However, commercial CBD comes from hemp, not marijuana. Unlike marijuana, hemp has no psychoactive properties because it contains less than 0.3 percent THC. THC is the psychoactive compound in the marijuana plant, and is what makes a person feel “high.” CBD contains so little THC, no psychoactive or “high” effects are felt.
Because of recent changes in laws regarding hemp cultivation in the United States, CBD is enjoying incredible popularity in the natural health world. Currently, many studies are being performed so that medical researchers can confirm the various benefits of this unique plant-based compound.
How CBD Affects the Endocannabinoid System
CBD is known for its multi-tasking properties that have the potential to tackle a wide range of health issues. This is because CBD is more of a supplement than a drug. It supplies the body with cannabinoids that keep our various bodily systems functioning properly. The human body has an endocannabinoid system. This system’s function is to regulate a wide variety of processes, including mood and pain tolerance. The endocannabinoid system is also responsible for keeping the immune system functioning properly.
The endocannabinoid system relies on cannabinoids that are naturally produced within the body in order to keep a person in good health. The problem is that many of us are deficient in these cannabinoids. We can become depleted of cannabinoids as a result of stress, environmental toxins, and poor lifestyle habits. CBD is so beneficial because it naturally supplies us with the cannabinoids that we need in order to achieve good health. This is why CBD is considered safe when taken in large doses and over a long period of time. This is also why CBD is capable of tackling so many health-related problems at once.
What Is CBD Used For?
People take CBD for many different reasons. As CBD is still being studied in clinical environments, more and more studies are being released regarding the many ways in which it benefits the mind and body. Below are just some of the popular benefits of CBD.
Neurological Benefits
CBD has been found to have many neurological benefits. The FDA recently approved a CBD-based drug for children who suffer from epilepsy. CBD has been found to protect the brain’s neurotransmitters when taken daily. CBD may also benefit those who suffer from Alzheimer’s. As a neuroprotectant, CBD prevents premature death of brain cells. For this reason, CBD may also act as a treatment for those who have suffered from a traumatic brain injury.
Pain-Relieving Properties
CBD is widely used as a natural, relatively safe pain reliever. It’s unique in that it has both analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. Its anti-inflammatory properties reduce pain and swelling by lowering inflammation throughout the body. Its analgesic properties disrupt the brain’s ability to receive pain signals from the nervous system.
Anxiety-Relieving Properties
CBD is also used as a natural alternative to popular anxiety medications. It’s been found to have a profound effect on anxiety disorders. Studies have found that CBD can help with social anxiety, panic disorder, PTSD, and general anxiety. It does this by lowering cortisol and boosting serotonin and dopamine.
Ability to Improve Sleep
Many people take CBD for sleep. This is because the compound has been found to regulate the secretion of melatonin, the hormone that controls a person’s sleep cycle. Unlike many popular sleep aids, CBD’s effects are gentle and typically don’t leave users feeling drowsy or disoriented the next day.
So, Can You Develop a Tolerance to CBD?
It’s very common for people to think that they can develop a physical tolerance to the effects of CBD. For one thing, it’s common to develop a tolerance to prescription medications, resulting in a need to take higher doses as time passes. Plus, it is possible to develop a tolerance to THC, the psychoactive compound in marijuana. Marijuana users who start taking CBD commonly believe that they’ll have to increase their dose over time. This is because they have to increase their marijuana dose as they develop a tolerance to THC.
However, CBD is different. Because of how CBD interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system, the compound accumulates in the body over time. This means that people typically need to take less and less as time goes on. Once it’s been consumed, it’s stored in the body. Therefore, those who take it daily are able to slowly lower their dose if they wish. This is known as a reverse tolerance.
Why Is Reverse Tolerance a Good Thing?
There are many reasons to celebrate the fact that CBD users tend to develop a reverse tolerance. For one thing, high-quality CBD costs may slowly add up over time. By being able to lower your dose over time, you’ll find that you spend less and less money. Additionally, developing a reverse tolerance shows that the compound is working. When you notice that you don’t need to take as much CBD as you once did, this means that your body is receiving the number of cannabinoids that it was once lacking. Therefore, you can feel confident that your endocannabinoid system is functioning properly.
Does It Matter How I Take It?
When it comes to taking CBD, you can choose any method that works for you. Because of how the endocannabinoid system works, it doesn’t matter if you vape it, consume it in the form of an edible product, apply it to your skin, or take it as a tincture. The way in which you take it really depends on your own preferences.
The Benefits Are There
CBD is an incredible plant-based compound that can benefit the mind and body in several different ways. Even better, it can be taken daily without causing the user to develop a tolerance. If you’re interested in treating an ailment with CBD, speak to your doctor in order to learn more about how it can benefit you.
Author: CBDfx is a Southern California-based company focused on providing high quality, full-spectrum CBD to customers in a wide variety of formats. A respected industry leader, the company began with a full range of CBD vape products, and has since expanded to include edible, topical, and pet-oriented CBD products as well. CBDfx’s mission is to offer the purest and most effective organic/ethically sourced CBD options on the market today, and the company demonstrates this commitment to quality by making all batch lab reports publicly available online.
