What is CBD?
Cannabidiol
Although an increasingly common ingredient in many health and wellness products, many still wonder, what is CBD? Cannabidiol (CBD) is, by far, one of the most studied compounds of the 100-plus known cannabinoids found in Cannabis sativa. It’s one of at least 85 active compounds inside cannabis plants and has quickly gained favor among those seeking a different approach to everyday wellness. CBD has quality benefits concerning the human body; emerging studies seem to support the idea that CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system (ECS)– a biological network composed of cannabinoid receptors – to help the body maintain overall health and wellness.
CBD WORKS WITH YOUR ECS TO PROMOTE EVERYDAY HEALTH AND WELLNESS SUPPORT AND IS A NATURALLY OCCURRING CANNABINOID FOUND IN THE HEMP PLANT.
WHERE DOES CBD COME FROM?
CBD is typically extracted from hemp, which is bred to contain minimal THC - industrial hemp, according to federal law, must contain less than 0.3 percent THC. Hemp-derived CBD products offer the properties of the entire hemp plant (CBD, additional cannabinoids, terpenes) without the presence of THC – so no associated high!
CBD is also a particular type of phytocannabinoid – one of the several identified phytocannabinoids found in Cannabis sativa, including others such as cannabinol (CBN) and cannabigerol (CBG). A phytocannabinoid is a cannabinoid that synthesizes in plants organically, and conversely, an endocannabinoid is one that our bodies naturally produce. Endocannabinoids and phytocannabinoids react to the same type of receptors stretched throughout the human body, which is why phytocannabinoids are particularly useful.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CBD AND PHYTOCANNABINOIDS?
Cannabis sativa contains several unique types of phytocannabinoids; while there are not different types of CBD, there are a variety of cannabinoids. Phytocannabinoids are typically separated into subclasses that include their cannabinoid form and their 2-carboxylic acid form, while others are standalone compounds, and each one has a unique effect. The most common types include:
When a cannabis plant grows and matures, it goes through a process of decarboxylation from all the sunlight and oxidation. And through this procedure, the acidic cannabinoids convert into the highly recognizable and researched cannabinoids that we all hear and read about along with CBD.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HEMP OIL AND CBD OIL?
CBD oil is a product with just CBD – no additional cannabinoids, terpenes, etc. Hemp oil, on the other hand, is a variable term that is often used to describe products without consistency. Hemp oil is a very broad term that may result in broad spectrum, full spectrum, or isolate products, or could just be the extracted oils from the hemp seeds, with no cannabinoids at all. This lack of consistency is what led us to develop our own unique formula.
Our Superior Broad Spectrum formula is a direct result of pure CBD oil combined with additional hemp extracts – such as the cannabinoids mentioned above (CBG and CBN), and terpenes. In doing so,
WE’RE SETTING THE INDUSTRY STANDARD BY HAVING THE ONLY CONSISTENTLY QUANTIFIABLE BROAD SPECTRUM CBD FORMULA.
This means that we can accurately detect the levels of additional cannabinoids, terpenes, and CBD on a consistent batch basis.
The easiest way to imagine it is through the analogy of orange juice and vitamin C. Orange juice contains vitamin C, along with additional properties that complement each other. Vitamin C is simply that, vitamin C without any of the additional ingredients found in orange juice.
HOW DOES CBD WORK?
CBD works to help maintain our bodies’ homeostasis. Homeostasis is a healthy state of balance and internal stability against outside or unknown factors that would otherwise disrupt how the human body would typically perform.
And contrary to THC, CBD works as a non-intoxicating compound with none of the psychoactive effects commonly associated with THC.
YOU CANNOT EXPERIENCE A “HIGH” OR ANY OTHER ASSOCIATED PSYCHOACTIVE FEELING WITH HEMP-BASED CBD.
HOW IS CBD ABSORBED?
CBD works optimally when absorbed into the bloodstream, where it can interact with the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Our ECS is a network of cannabinoid receptors that stretch throughout the entire body. There are two types of cannabinoid receptors – CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors help regulate many functions related to our central nervous system, while CB2 receptors manage the abilities associated with our peripheral nervous system.
CBD molecules usually bind to CB2 receptors, while THC binds to CB1 receptors. When these cannabinoids attach to these connectors, they transmit signals that travel through the cells – ultimately affecting the cells that surround tissue, the tissues inside an organ, and the many organs of the body. And though CBD usually attaches to CB2 connectors, it can also grasp CB1 receptors – acting as a blockade against other molecules.
Your body’s absorption of CBD from the application area into the bloodstream is known as its “bioavailability” – maximizing bioavailability means allowing more CBD to be readily available for bodily use.
TAKING CBD THROUGH VARIOUS MEANS CHANGES ITS BIOAVAILABILITY; HOWEVER, CHOOSING THE BEST METHOD OF USE FOR YOUR NEEDS WILL HELP ENSURE THAT YOU’LL RECEIVE THE MOST SUPPORT FROM PROPERLY SOURCED CBD.
CBD can be absorbed into the body through many methods. When determining how to take CBD oil, the most common ways include:
WHAT IS CBD OIL MADE FROM?
Many consumers are curious about how CBD oil is made, what CBD oil is made from, and how they can benefit from regular usage. Whether it’s to maintain general well-being or becoming more proactive with a daily wellness routine, there are various ways in which CBD oil is useful. The CBD process can be extensive and laborious; but when done right, the results can be superior.
CBD OIL CONSISTS OF CBD ISOLATES, WHICH BECOME INFUSED INTO A CARRIER OIL. THE ISOLATES ARE EXTRACTED FROM RAW HEMP MATERIALS THROUGH A HIGHLY SOPHISTICATED, YET SAFE AND STABLE, PROCESS THAT ALSO ALLOWS THE RETENTION OF OTHER BENEFICIAL CANNABINOIDS AND TERPENES.
The carrier oil is a coconut-based substance called MCT oil. MCT stands for medium-chain triglycerides, which is a particular type of fatty acid. The advantage of using MCT over other viable carriers is how quickly MCT is metabolized, absorbed, and used for energy. The calories inside of MCT are also burned more efficiently rather than becoming stored as fat.
Based on your needs and preferences, you can apply CBD oil and other cannabinoids through different methods. Your choice of administration can affect how CBD works with your body; common ways of administering CBD are through ingestion, sublingually, by inhalation, and topically.
IS CBD USE COMMON?
Ancient civilizations have used various strains of cannabis throughout the centuries for their wealth of wellness properties. But due to dramatic shifts in legislation and other influences such as determining what is the difference between CBD and THC, cannabinoids became widely unaccepted as an alternative application.
However, as the health and science communities continue to further recognize and accept the properties of different cannabinoids, the prohibitions that once restricted and limited the use of CBD have evolved into protections and freedoms of what is CBD for anyone looking for safe and effective alternatives.
THANKS TO THE 2018 FARM BILL, THE OPPORTUNITY FOR HEMP-DERIVED PRODUCTS, SUCH AS CBD, TO BECOME MORE WIDELY ACCEPTED HAS GREATLY INCREASED.
How to Use CBD Oil
Using CBD oil will vary depending on your purpose for taking it. CBD for pain and soreness will require applying a topical cream to the problem area and rubbing it into the skin. In contrast, CBD for sleep requires taking a tincture or softgel 30 minutes before going to bed. The most common and easy way to use CBD oil is with tinctures, which is the optimal application for how to use CBD oil for anxiety and stress:
- Squeeze dropper to fill with oil; a dropper will fill halfway, which is considered one full serving.
- Squeeze oil under your tongue and hold it for 30 to 60 seconds for absorption and then swallow.
- Increase your amount or concentration gradually as needed.
- Store at room temperature out of direct sunlight.
It is essential to remember that consistency is vital to receive the most benefits from CBD oil.
It’s best to continue taking CBD for at least 30 days to achieve optimum results; but this is just the beginning – find a regimen, product, and concentration that works best for your everyday routine. When determining how to take CBD oil, there are several factors that need to be considered.
RELATED READING: HOW TO TAKE CBD OIL
DO I HAVE TO SMOKE CBD?
Simple answer: no! Many consumers are skeptical about using CBD because they often think they have to smoke it to enjoy its usefulness. But there are many other ways that CBD can be enjoyed and absorbed into the body.
WHAT ARE THE FORMS OF CBD?
CBD oil can take several different forms – each has its advantages depending on your reason for using CBD. There are tinctures available, which is the most common way of absorbing CBD, along with capsules, softgels, bath bombs, CBD topicals, and even CBD for pets.
There is only one form of cannabidiol that is considered an actual drug – Epidiolex. It is the only CBD drug in the United States that is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Epidiolex is strictly used in conjunction with two types of epilepsy disorders and was approved for use in 2018.
Is CBD Oil Legal?
Short answer: yes! The 2014 federal Farm Bill granted state governments the legal right to grow and research industrial hemp through state-regulated agriculture and pilot programs. It also classified hemp and hemp-derived products with less than 0.3 percent THC separate from marijuana cannabis. With the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, the growth, production, and manufacturing of hemp became federally legalized – allowing hemp-derived products, such as CBD oil, to become more readily available.
Both marijuana and hemp come from the same Cannabis sativa plant; the main distinguishing trait between the two is their levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Hemp is grown to have low THC (industrial hemp has 0.3 percent and is therefore federally legal). Conversely, marijuana is bred to have higher THC concentrations and is still federally illegal.
CONGRESS’ DECISION IN 2014 LEGALLY ALLOWED THE CULTIVATION OF INDUSTRIAL HEMP THROUGH STATE-REGULATED AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENTS FOR HEMP MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH.
Their most recent ruling in 2018 removes industrial hemp from the federal Controlled Substance List as a Schedule I drug, and it allows for a hemp market and sales through state borders.
WHAT ARE CBD OIL LAWS?
The approved legality of industrial hemp implemented by Congress also guarantees that products created from hemp plants – including CBD oil – are more readily available because of their nonintoxicating levels of THC. That being said, individual states can still decide if they want to allow hemp-based products to be sold within state borders.
Regarding federal law, CBD oil products from hemp containing less than 0.3 percent are legal to purchase, sell, and consume throughout the United States. After determining what is CBD, states can still decide if they want to support this measure based on their own laws.
These laws may or may not refer to CBD as “hemp-based CBD:”
