CBD has become all the rave, and you may be finding it hard to keep up. There are so many excellent products and their incredible health benefits. Not to worry. We’ve got you covered with the lowdown on how things work and what it all means.
First off… We are not talking about marijuana/pot. We are talking about all the great stuff that gets squeezed out of it including taking ALL of the THC. You are safe.
What is CBD?
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a naturally-occurring compound of the cannabis sativa plants (hemp and marijuana). It is the most abundant non-psychoactive cannabinoid found in cannabis.
The industrial hemp has low tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a crystalline compound that is the main active ingredient of marijuana that gets its users high. Our products have ZERO THC. So please read on.
However, CBD extracted from hemp and marijuana is the same compound but with slight differences from the THC level. And this compound is processed into various products: CBD oil, terpenes, extracts, isolates, and full spectrum.
CBD oil is famous for its pain and anti-inflammatory benefits. See the benefits of CBD oil.
CBD Terpenes
CBD terpenes are the aromatic organic hydrocarbons often found in the essential oils of plants. These compounds provide the unique fragrance of plants, and it is what gives medicinal cannabis its appealing aroma.
Terpenes not only contribute to the flavor and aroma of the plant but significantly engage in how the cannabinoids interact with our endocannabinoid system.
There are a few abundant types that are most common: linalool, limonene, humulene, bite-myrcene, phytol and so on. Our cbd with terpenes of choice is myrcene.
Benefits of CBD Terpenes
- Effective for depression
- Anti-anxiety, (check with your doctor about these two)
- Pain killer
- Anti-inflammation
- Insomnia
- Cancers (according to government studies linked here.)
- And neurodegenerative diseases
CBD Extracts
CBD can be extracted from industrial hemp or marijuana known as:
- Hemp-derived pure CBD isolates: contains no THC or other cannabinoids
- Cannabis-derived CBD or full spectrum CBD, which may include low doses of THC and other cannabinoids.
The significant difference between them is that the Cannabis-derived CBD with low THC is found to be more effective than the Hemp-derived pure CBD because of the entourage effect.
The entourage effect is that individual cannabinoids, like CBD, increase their efficacy when working in conjunction with other cannabinoids, like terpenes, THC. Since our CBD products are THC free we defer to the other two for product efficacy.
CBD Isolates and CBD Full Spectrum
These two forms of CBD extracts: CBD full Spectrum and CBD isolate different and opinions about their effectiveness are still divided. CBD Full spectrum (whole-plant extract) and pure CBD isolate.
CBD isolate contains CBD and none of the other cannabinoids, terpenes, or healthy fatty acids that commonly result from the whole-plant extraction process.
On the other hand, full spectrum CBD oil contains a carefully measured amount of the cannabis plant’s most prominent cannabinoid, terpenes, THC ( usually in a small enough amount with no psychological effects).
Whichever you choose depends entirely on your needs. The deficient levels of THC in hemp make CBD oil non-psychoactive and safe for all ages to use. Parental guidance is suggested and perhaps talking with your naturopathic physician about how best to use it for size and age differences.
Also, some CBD-rich supplements have a 1:1 ratio with THC, some have a 30:1 CBD, THC ratio. Though CBD supplements are quite useful, they aren’t without their side effects such as diarrhea and drowsiness.
Research also indicates that the use of CBD may trigger other side effects such as:
- Changes in appetite. (Known to be helpful after chemo treatments when patients have lost their appetites but not great for dieting)
- Changes in mood.
- Dizziness.
- Dry mouth.
- Nausea.
As with anything, check with your doctor for questions and how best to use CBD properly for you.