What is CBD and how much should you use? Many people are trying to understand what cannabinoids are and how they interact with the body. Unlike some of our competitors, we feel the need to educate our customers with truths and experience.
There is so much mis information out there on CBD. Not to mention all of the misleading and rip off companies looking to make a fast buck. Many companies are even using hemp seed oil, which contains no cannabinoids, and deceiving consumers. We have been in the medical cannabis industry for over 10 years, we know cannabinoids including CBD.
CBD is a chemical compound found in hemp and cannabis. Unlike its cousin tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD is not psychoactive. Cannabis Sativa has two primary species, hemp and cannabis (popularly known as “marijuana”, but we don’t like that word for moral reasons, thats another blog post). Both contain CBD, but there’s a much higher percentage in hemp, which also has very low (less than 0.3%) levels of THC compared to cannabis. Hemp is essentially the same plant other than the almost non existence of THC. Because CBD-rich hemp is non-psychoactive it’s an appealing option for people looking for relief from inflammation, pain, anxiety, psychosis, seizures, spasms, and other conditions without disconcerting feelings of lethargy or dysphoria. CBD is capable of effecting nearly every biological process in our bodies.
There are hundreds of cannabinoid variations in hemp and cannabis, the most prevalent being CBD and THC. It is an established scientific fact that cannabinoids (CBD, THC, CBN, CBG) and other components of cannabis (terpenes, flavinoids, fats, lipids) can modulate physiological systems in the brain and body. Because of its ability to maintain homeostasis within the body, our endocannabinoid system is perhaps our most crucial system for establishing and maintaining health.
Those of us in the hemp CBD business tend to forget that only about 10% of the population knows what CBD is. What is CBD is typically the first question folks ask when we try explaining what we do. CBD (Cannabidiol) is in our internal makeup as part of our endocannabinoid system (scientifically discovered in 1992). The ECS plays a crucial role in regulating our physiology, mood, and overall homeostasis. The discovery of receptors in our brains that respond pharmacologically to cannabis & hemp—and the subsequent identification of endogenous (self-made) cannabinoid compounds in our own bodies that bind to these receptors—has significantly advanced our understanding of human biology, health, and disease.
The most popular way to ingest CBD is through a tincture, or CBD Oil. Typically the crude oil, which is extracted hemp flower, is titrated down with MCT oil. Crude is a concentrated extract from the hemp flower which is very rich in CBD (anywhere from 50-80% cannabinoids). Cutting this crude with organic MCT, grape seed, hemp seed oils creates the CBD tincture. You can take crude without a cutting agent, but its very strong.
Choosing the right CBD dosage for you
This is not a simple answer and truth is our dosages will increase or decrease over time. Understanding cannabidiol and how it interacts with our bodies is crucial in monitoring your wellness and CBDs effectiveness thereon. CBD products are usually available in varying dosages. Examples of a low/moderate cannabidiol level would be 250mg and a very high strength of 3000mg. A lot of brands don’t do a good job of clearly instructing their consumer on the dosing. Choosing the right dosage depends on your individual needs, age, health, ailments expectations and most importantly your existing endocannabinoid system. Regardless of the dosage, CBD poses no risk of overdosing. Additionally, CBD oil produces no harmful side effects like many pharmaceutical medications.
How long will CBD stay in our bodies?
On average, the effects of CBD oil will last 4-8 hours.. Most users report they stop feeling the effects of CBD after 7 hours. Everyone is different, and everyone’s endocannabinoid system has varying levels of CBD naturally. Remember, we are introducing cannabidiol externally. It’s already in our bodies, we are just feeding or improving an existing compound. Some have more than others.
CBD can be manufactured into endless products including capsules, oils, edibles, salves, creams, tinctures and beauty products. Even though all these products are formulated differently, they produce the same benefits thanks to their CBD content. However, due to each product having different delivery methods, they are absorbed by our systems at different rates. There are cannabinoid receptors found in so many places in our body that the ECS is crucial to our optimal health. Our bodies produce endocannabinoids, but we can get most of them from food, especially omega 3 fatty acids. *Side note, A diet rich in Omega 3s gives your metabolism a boost and prevents obesity related diseases like diabetes. Its unequivocal. Cannabinoids play a significant role in regulating:
- Sleep
- Appetite, digestion, hunger
- Mood
- Motor control
- Immune function
- Reproduction and fertility
- Pleasure and reward
- Pain
- Memory
- Temperature regulation
CBD offers many healing qualities including treatment of chronic pain, mood stabilizer, seizure control and sleep deprivation. Cannabinoids, terpenes, fats, proteins lipids, nutrients and compounds found in the hemp plant work together within the human body to maintain balance (homeostasis).
Here are just six of the key health benefits of CBD:
- Pain relief
- Anti-Seizure Properties
- Combat Anxiety
- Fight Cancer
- Reduce the Risk of Diabetes
- Treats Sleep Issues
Check out some more information on our About Us page
