CBD stands for cannabidiol. It’s a Phyto cannabinoid extracted from hemp along with various other compounds. It is widely known for its many benefits, both mental and physical. Keep in mind that the oil derived from hemp seeds is different as it are does not contain any cannabinoids.
One of the most common misconceptions about CBD is that it is derived from marijuana but that’s not true. It is extracted from hemp plants. While marijuana and hemp are closely related but they are completely different as hemp contains less than 0.3% of THC which is the psychoactive compound responsible for the high associated with marijuana. Hemp is rich in CBD which is a psychoactive compound without any psychoactive effect and is known for helping people enhance and maintain their wellness.
Over the years, a huge number of hemp extract products and cannabidiol s have been launched in the market primarily due to many people experiencing positive effects on their overall well-being after including CBD in their daily dietary routine. As far as the best quality cannabidiol products are concerned, these are always derived from whole hemp plant extract and these have full spectrum cannabinoid content that also contain various other beneficial compounds such as flavonoids and terpenes. The full spectrum CBD is widely believed to be much more beneficial as it contains a lot of others wellness components in addition to the CBD.
How Does CBD Work?
A lot of research has been conducted to study the effects of CBD and many research studies have shown that phytocannabinoids help in enhancing overall wellness by enhancing the endocannabinoid system in the human body.
About Endocannabinoid System
Researchers discovered ECS in the 1990s. Professionals recognize it as one of the most important and biggest receptor systems when it comes to sustaining good wellbeing. It is also thought to have an important modulatory function when it comes to endocrine, immune and brain tissues.
In the recent years, scientists have discovered that ECS responds to the endogenous cannabinoids that are produced naturally in the body as well as external phytocannabinoids or CBD and this response helps in enhancing the natural ECS function of the body. This system contains different types of receptors such as CB1 and CB2 and these receptors are found throughout the body. Think of these neurons as a lock where the cannabinoids are the key.
CB1 receptors are found in high numbers in the brain. These are especially concentrated in the hippocampus, amygdala and hypothalamus region of the brain. On the other hand, the CB2 receptors are spread throughout the body but are mainly found in the immune cells, thymus, tonsils and the spleen. It is believed that the endocannabinoid system has an important role to play in homeostasis.
Buying CBD Products – Important Things You Should Consider
One of the most important factors you should consider is the traceability of the product. You should know that hemp plant is widely renowned for cleaning soil. Its effectiveness in cleaning should be clear from the fact that it was used for cleaning contaminated soil around the Chernobyl location (also known as the worst nuclear disaster in the world). The use of hemp plant has been so successful that even Japan considered using it for cleaning up the area near the Fukushima disaster. However, they were unable to obtain the required hemp licenses and that is why, they couldn’t use this plant there.
Traceability is important as consumers need to ensure that the product they are buying is derived from high quality hemp plants that have been responsibility grown in good land and are extracted in facilities with good manufacturing practice (GMP) accreditation. Since hemp is excellent at pulling out heavy metals from the soil, hemp plants that are grown in contaminated soil might also contain compounds that are not good for your health.
Here’s a quick checklist to help you buy the right CBD product:
1. Buy products from manufacturers who control the complete process from the farm to the shelf and only use highest quality raw materials.
2. If it is not clear, ask the manufacturer whether they extract products on their own.
3. In case the manufacturers don’t extract the product from the hemp plant, they need to tell who does it for them and the solvent/method used for extraction.
4. Ask for Certificate of Analysis by independent third-party laboratories. The results will ensure that the product does not contain any traces of heavy metals, toxins or other contaminants.
Terpenes and Flavonoids – Things You Need to Know
Flavonoids and terpenes are not cannabinoids but these compounds are found in hemp plants as well as some other plants. Flavonoids belong to a group of vital nutrients and they function as cell messengers with many other benefits. Terpenes are fragrant oils which are known to bind to various receptors in the body and provide a number of benefits.
All of these components in full spectrum CBD products work together to produce something known as Entourage effect.
Entourage Effect and Its Importance
If you have been researching the advantages of CBD, cannabinoids and whole plant extracts, you might have come across the term entourage effect. Here is what it means and its importance.
It is the effect/results produced through the interaction of terpenes, flavonoids, fatty acids and cannabinoids that are naturally found in hemp plant. The beneficial effects derived from all these compounds working together in the body is known as entourage effect. If you want to buy some, here’s what to look for
