The Leaf THE LEAF Nov-Dec 2018 | Page 29

Now, keep this in mind: CBD won’t get your pet “high”. Unlike THC, the main psychoactive compound in marijuana, CBD is completely non psychoactive and safe to be used on pets. CBD also has no known toxicity level, and is incapable of causing an overdose. In fact, the CBD found in cannabis pet supplements is usually sourced from hemp, a variety of cannabis that naturally contains extremely low concentrations of THC. How Does CBD Interact With the Body? CBD interacts with the body via the endocannabinoid system, or ECS. The ECS is a biological system found in all mammals, and is involved in managing a wide variety of biological processes, including memory, sleep, immune response, and more. It mainly consists of two types of cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2). These receptors are built to interact with endocannabinoids (cannabinoids naturally produced by the brain). However, they can also interact with plant- derived cannabinoids like CBD, which in turn cause a variety of responses throughout the body. When it comes to CBD, many of these responses are very beneficial. The endocannabinoid system is essentially the system that processes cannabinoids introduced into the body. Below I’ll outline some of the main benefits of CBD in more detail. Note that most of these findings come from studies on lab animals (like rats) or clinical trials on humans. Nonetheless, the effects of CBD are similar in humans, dogs, cats, and other pets. This is because, just like humans, dogs and cats also have an endocannabinoid system that functions much in the same way as the human ECS. Plus, many of the conditions we’ll list below (like anxiety, arthritis, pain, and convulsions) manifest much in the same way in pets as they do in humans. The 7 Most Common CBD Benefits • Powerful Painkiller • Anticonvulsant • Anti-Inflammatory • Stress Reliever • Antiemetic • Anticancer Effects • Promotes Homeostasis Let's Take a Closer Look at This List Here is a detailed list of some of the major benefits of CBD which can improve the health of your pet. Keep in mind these apply to dogs, cats, and other pets. There are even more benefits than these, however these 7 will apply to the majority of conditions. 1. CBD is a Powerful Painkiller In 1997, a study published in the European Journal of Pharmacology showed that the endocannabinoid system was deeply involved in managing pain. Today, CBD has become renowned for its painkilling properties. CBD can help manage pain in many different ways. First of all, studies have shown that CBD can temporarily stop the absorption of anandamide, a chemical that helps dampen pain signals in the brain. This temporary increase in anandamide can have various effects, one of them being reduced pain sensations. Secondly, CBD has been shown to be a powerful anti-inflammatory By reducing the inflammation caused by conditions such as arthritis, for example, CBD is also able to reduce the painful symptoms caused by the condition. 2. CBD is a Known Anticonvulsant Perhaps one of the best-known medicinal uses for CBD is its ability to help controls seizures, tremors, tics, and spasms. That’s because CBD is a natural anticonvulsant.