Dispelling Myths: Why CBD Alone Isn’t the Whole Picture for Wellness

There is a stubborn stigma surrounding Cannabis and it no longer is simply that Cannabis has no merit or is an entrance drug, but that the non-psychoactive cannabinoid, CBD, is ALL you need for health, wellness, and other ailments which is not totally true.

While CBD is a wonderful, major cannabinoid and something I take daily, other cannabinoids are also necessary when bringing the body back to “homeostasis” or balance. 

If CBD is your primary go-to when using Cannabis, look for one that is Full Plant Medicine. Full Plant Medicine is exactly that, using the full plant.

When she was alive, my beautiful wife Corinne, always a teacher, would wisely use this metaphor. She’d say that single isolate use, “Is like baking a cake and leaving out some other major ingredient(s) like the flour and eggs! They all play an important role when baking a delicious dessert.” The same goes for using CBD only, we leave out other important cannabinoids. As Corinne taught us, they all play a role in healing and bringing the body back to balance.

When it comes to using CBD, Full Plant Medicine contains 0.3 % THC as well as terpenes. Terpenes are the component of the plant, which contain many wonderful properties and are best known for their smells and tastes, like smelling a rose or peeling an orange. These scents in terpenes (1), in Cannabis, many terpenes also play a role in healing. Linalool for example, is from lavender…this helps with calm and sleep. Pinene – the scent from a pine forest, is known for pain relief and relaxation. Limonene – the scent from a lemon – promotes alertness. Many of these terpenes occur naturally in nature as well as in the Cannabis plant.

Thus our latest stigma, that CBD is the “medical” part of the plant while THC is the “recreational” part, is incorrect.

Like CBD, THC helps fight off infections, manages pain, and even regulates moods and appetite. There are approximately 160 +/- cannabinoids in the Cannabis plant which ALL play a role in bringing your body back to balance. Explore other cannabinoids like CBD-A and CBG as they have been shown to help with inflammation, anxiety, and depression—so don’t forget about them!

Yes, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the compound in Cannabis that gets you high. However, you don’t have to be high/intoxicated to receive the benefits that this Full Plant, major cannabinoid has to offer.  The precursor to THC is THCa which is non-intoxicating. THCa (2) is a viable option for the use of this compound without the intoxicating effects while still offering similar benefits in helping with inflammation, and pain, and as a neuroprotectant. 

Like any medicine, more is not always better. Age, weight, type of ailment, sensitivities, along with drug to drug interactions should be addressed. When adding THC into your Cannabis routine, try 1 – 2 mg at first. Chances are you will get a bigger buzz from a cup of coffee than a dose of THC at that level. 

As we are blessed and/or fortunate to finally have safe access to this plant research, ask questions and enjoy what Full Plant Medicine has to offer.

1. Malanca, John. “The Purpose of Terpenes: Nature’s Aromatic Wonders.” United Patients Group, 23 July. 2023, unitedpatientsgroup.com/blog/the-purpose-of-terpenes-natures-aromatic-wonders/. 

2. Malanca, John. “Unlocking the Healing Potential of THCA: A Glimpse into Its Therapeutic Benefits.” United Patients Group, 21 Sept. 2023, unitedpatientsgroup.com/blog/unlocking-the-healing-potential-of-thca-a-glimpse-into-its-therapeutic-benefits/.