CBD Research: History of CBD Oil

Reading time – 4 minutes

For many people, CBD seems to have just popped up all of a sudden in the U.K., but it actually has a long history of research and people using it for the many benefits. But it definitely has seen a surge in popularity in the last few years. As more people are trying CBD and finding how much it adds to their mental and physical well-being, the industry and scientific advancements only continue to flourish. 

If you’re new to CBD or even if you’ve been taking it for a while, it's essential to know your history! We thought we would highlight just a few of the great moments in the timeline of CBD oil. 

CBD in the 1940s

Even though people have been using Cannabis for thousands of years, we’re going to start our history lesson in the early 20th century with Roger Adams. He was the first to successfully isolate and synthesize CBD in the 1940s  at the University of Illinois. People often think it was Raphael Mechoulam, who is known as the ‘Godfather of Cannabis’, that discovered CBD. Although he contributed in a big way, it was Adams who made the significant discovery.

CBD in the 1960 and 1970s

It wasn't until the 1960s that CBD research was really able to start gaining sped and that's because of Dr Raphael Mechoulam. He was able to isolate and find the chemical structure of CBD  in 1963 and later THC in 1964. This discovery allowed for more research to occur alongside the growing popularity of cannabis culture in the 60s in places like the U.K.

During the 60s and 70s, they were able to make important discovers like the fact that THC is ‘psychotropic’ while CBD is not and that CBD may help with epilepsy.

CBD in the 1980s

In 1988 the first cannabinoid receptor was discovered in the brain of a rat. That helped researchers understand how bodies interacted with cannabinoids and would go on to lead to the discovery of the endocannabinoid system (ECS). 

CBD in the 1990s

The discovery of the ECS probably had one of the most significant impacts on CBD research and is the reason it’s so popular today! In 1992 researchers at Hebrew University discovered a major endocannabinoid and went on to discover another one that same year. That helped establish more knowledge about the ECS we know today. 

CBD interacts with ECS to help keep balance in your body. ECS is made up of endocannabinoids, receptors and enzymes that help to regulate so many different functions we have like mood, pain, sleep and more. It's a fantastic system that is always trying to achieve homeostasis and create overall wellness in your body. It’s responsible for some of the most popular reasons people use CBD like anxiety, pain issues and insomnia.

In 1998 another surprising discovery was made by researchers Raphael Mechoulam and Shimon Ben-Shabat. They found that when cannabinoids were working together, they produced an 'entourage effect' that presented ‘a novel route for molecular regulation of endogenous cannabinoid activity.’ They also found that botanical drugs were more effective in producing results than ‘isolated components.’ 

CBD in the 2000s

In 2011 Ethan Russo found even more evidence for the entourage effect and published research that supported the benefits of it. He found that cannabinoids and terpenes working together may produce better results. In 2019 he released another study stating that Cannabis synergy via the entourage effect is currently sufficiently strong, and that research has shown that only using one element may reduce 'synergistic potential.'

The entourage effect is possible when you use full-spectrum, broad-spectrum or distillate CBD oil products. CBD is an excellent cannabinoid on its own, but it's just so much better when it's joined by the other elements found in the cannabis plant like terpenes, antioxidants and fatty acids. 

Terpenes are the molecules that create the tastes and wonderful smells you get from plants, fruits and veggies. They also have great medicinal benefits on their own, like Caryophyllene, for instance, is found in rosemary and helps reduce inflammation.

We only use broad-spectrum distillate products at Amphora because of all the benefits it provides. Our specialized formulas with terpenes can help you with your specific health and wellness goals.

The Future of CBD Oil

The future for CBD is really exciting, and the U.K. has become a hub for research, with 10% of all studies in the world happening here. Most of the research going on at London Universities, including; the University of Nottingham and the University of Reading. CBD products are also big business, and the economy around it is growing. It’s estimated to be worth a staggering £1B by 2025.  

At Amphora, we're really excited to be part of this amazing wellness movement. We've worked to have some of the best organic formulas  created to give you all of the benefits of broad-spectrum and distillate CBD oil products. The future is looking bright for CBD!