What is CBD Oil and how can CBD help my wellness?
Learn how our CBD helps to naturally regulate our bodies response to pain, stress, sleep and mood.
Learn how our CBD helps to naturally regulate our bodies response to pain, stress, sleep and mood.
If you knew taking a daily supplement would help prevent mood swings, irritation, brain fog, pain, inflammation and loss of sleep, would you ignore it, or want to learn more? Just like we take vitamin supplements, adding CBD to your daily routine can help balance your body’s endocannabinoid system and regulate things like mood, sleep, pain and inflammation. CBD and other cannabinoids don’t relieve conditions but rather help your own body deal with its own issues.
What is CBD?
Most people have come across a CBD product or driven by a CBD store and wondered at some point… what is CBD?
CBD oil is a natural botanical oil extracted from the cannabis plant much like Jojoba Oil, Olive Oil or Sunflower Oil. CBD is one many compounds found in CBD Oil along with other minor cannabinoids, flavonoids, terpenes, waxes and lipids. And just like other botanical oils, Hemp Oil rich in CBD and other cannabinoids, has many benefits for our bodies.
Unlike OTC medications which simply mask symptoms, hemp infused products interact with our body’s Endocannabinoid System which helps to regulate everything from pain, inflammation, sleep, appetite, mood, stress and temperature. This means that when we use CBD, we are actually telling our own bodies to do their jobs better… and they will.
CBD, or cannabidiol, is just one of many phytocannabinoids, or plant based cannabinoids, that can benefit our bodies mentally and physically. CBD is non-psychoactive and doesn’t produce euphoria or a high that other cannabinoids like THC do. CBD is widely used for benefits ranging from stress relief to easing pain, but it can do much more than just relieve, it can help balance and prevent.
In order to use CBD topically or orally, it must be extracted from the hemp plant. Through various refinements, you can turn the extracted oil into many different variations from oils to distillates to isolates. The dark, thick oil that is commonly seen in pictured is hemp extract oil and it contains the whole plant extraction including fibers, chlorophyll, cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, proteins and lipids. Refined a bit more, you get something more like a distillate which has been processed to remove the lipids and waxes, making the color a lighter yellow. From there, you can begin to extract certain beneficial cannabinoids called isolates. Isolates are just as they sound, isolated compounds of the cannabis plant such as CBD, CBG or CBN, all highly beneficial cannabinoids with their own specific benefits and uses. Learn more about the differences of hemp extracts. So how does CBD interact and benefit our bodies? Well, as we mentioned above, through our own Endocannabinoid Systems, a system of receptors throughout our bodies that cannabinoids are naturally able to interact with.
What are the benefits of CBD Oil?
Some of the benefits of CBD include:
- Reduce Frequency Of Seizures
- Relieve Stress/Anxiety
- Promote Sleep
- Neuroprotective
- Inflammation Relief
- Pain Relief
- Mood Regulation
These are just some of the benefits of CBD. Anecdotal evidence is vast, and research is still lacking to provide a full breakdown of what benefits CBD has and which are just stories. Since we prefer a science backed answer, we will explore the benefits of CBD with real research to back them up.
Seizures
CBD largely came into the mainstream from its use by children to treat epileptic conditions such as Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastraut syndrome, two rare conditions that don't respond well to other anti-seizure medications. The use of CBD oil drastically reduced the number of seizures and was documented in a CNN special by Dr. Sanjay Gupta called Weed which highlighted the benefits. Epidilox, the first cannabidiol based drug by GW Pharmaceuticals, was approved for use on rare epileptic conditions bt the FDA, paving the way for future cannabinoid therapies.
Case studies on the effects of CBD on seizures
Are there side effects of using CBD for seizures?
Yes. There is a chance that CBD can cause side effects. In some studies, a few subjects actually experienced an increase in seizures after using CBD.
Stress/PTSD/Anxiety
Aside from seizures, CBD is widely used to manage anxiety and stress. Several studies have been conducted regarding CBD's anti-anxiety properties including one that focused on its benefits for PTSD, GAD, PD, OCD, and SAD. In a 2019 study, researchers found that 300–600 mg of CBD significantly reduced anxiety symptoms in 57 adult males.
Case studies on the effects CBD on stress and anxiety
Are there side effects of using CBD for stress or anxiety?
Yes. There is a chance that CBD can cause drowsiness, decreased appetite, diarrhea and changes in weight.
FIND CBD PRODUCTS TO HELP RELIEVE STRESS/PTSD/ANXIETY
Promote Sleep/Relieve Insomnia
Cannabidiol may also help insomnia. Other studies have shown that CBD may help decrease the time it takes to fall asleep as well increase the time you actually stay asleep, allowing for a more restful sleep. Much of the research on CBD, anxiety, and sleep has noted that many patients don’t notice an immediate difference. A 2019 study noted that it took about a month for the subjects to notice a difference. Be patient, and remember that you’re unlikely to get immediate results. Unfortunately, until the recent passage of the Farm Bill, research and studies were highly limited so more research is needed to determine the overall efficacy and safety regarding these findings.
Case studies on the effects of CBD on sleep
Are there side effects of using CBD for sleep?
Yes. There is a chance that CBD can actually increase wakefulness, although the reasoning has not been determined.
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Pain/Inflammation Relief
CBD may also play an active role in relieving pain. A study from the European Journal of Pain showed how CBD was able to reduce inflammation and lower pain levels specifically for those suffering from arthritis. Other studies were able to demonstrate how CBD inhibits inflammation and neuropathic pain. Again, due to the previous restrictions on research, more studies are needed to substantiate the claims.
Case studies on the pain and inflammation relief properties of CBD
Are there side effects of using CBD for pain and inflammation relief?
Yes. Like using CBD for other conditions, there is a chance that CBD can cause drowsiness, decreased appetite, diarrhea and changes in weight.
FIND CBD PRODUCTS TO HELP RELIEVE PAIN AND INFLAMMATION
Neuroprotective
Clinical studies of CBD have shown that CBD has neuroprotective properties that may benefit certain degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and dementia or help prevent them from occurring in the first place. Although more studies are needed, people with these conditions, especially the elderly, have begun to use CBD as a way to treat and prevent the cognitive decline, and many with favorable results.
Case Studies on the neuroprotective properties of CBD
Depression/Mood Regulation
CBD does appear to have some benefits for depression, especially for dealing with:
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- anxiety
- cognitive impairment
- discomfort before public speaking
What is the Endocannabinoid System (ECS)?
The Endocannabinoid System, or ECS, is a group of cell-signaling receptors throughout our bodies that has has three main components - endocannabinoids, receptors, and enzymes. The ECS is responsible for regulating physiological and cognitive processes, including fertility, pregnancy, pre- and postnatal development, various activity of immune system, appetite, pain-sensation, mood, and memory. The ECS plays an important role in multiple aspects of neural functions, including the control of movement and motor coordination, learning and memory, emotion and motivation, addictive-like behavior and pain modulation, among others. As you can see, the role of ECS is detrimental to our daily lives in nearly every aspect and ensuring it is running at leak efficiency should be a goal of everyone.
What are Endocannabinoids?
Endocannabinoids, also known as endogenous cannabinoids, are molecules made within our bodies. They are similar to phyto-cannabinoids, or plant-based cannabinoids like CBD, but they are produced within our own bodies.
There are two key endocannabinoids our bodies produce:
- anandamide (AEA)
- 2-arachidonoylglyerol (2-AG)
These cannabinoids are help to keep key internal functions running smoothly such as :
- appetite and digestion
- bone remodeling and growth
- cardiovascular system function
- chronic pain
- inflammation and other immune system responses
- learning and memory
- liver function
- metabolism
- mood
- motor control
- muscle formation
- reproductive system function
- skin and nerve function
- sleep
- stress
. Your body is designed to produce endocannabinoids as your body needs them, but much like many other things our bodies are supposed to produce, sometimes it just is not enough, especially as we age.
What are Endocannabinoid receptors?
These receptors are numerous and are found throughout your entire body, from your nasal passage to your skin. Endocannabinoids bind to them in order to signal that the ECS needs to take action.
There are two main endocannabinoid receptors:
- CB1 receptors, which are mainly present in the central nervous system
- CB2 receptors, which are mainly present in your peripheral nervous system, especially immune cells
Endocannabinoids can bind to either receptor. The effects that result depend on where the receptor is located and which endocannabinoid it binds to.
For example, endocannabinoids might target CB1 receptors in a spinal nerve to relieve pain. Others might bind to a CB2 receptor in your immune cells to signal that your body’s experiencing inflammation, a common sign of autoimmune disorders.
Enzymes
Enzymes are responsible for breaking down endocannabinoids once they’ve carried out their function.
There are two main enzymes responsible for this:
- fatty acid amide hydrolase, which breaks down AEA
- monoacylglycerol acid lipase, which typically breaks down 2-AG
Once broken down, the endocannabinoid's job is done and your body waits for further need to produce more.
CBD is not considered to be marijuana. Legally, it must be extracted from a hemp plant which is defined as a plant that contains less than 0.3% THC. Marijuana, or cannabis plants on the other hand, typically have higher levels of THC. And while THC use may be more controversial, Cannabidiol, according to the World Health Organization, does not carry any risk of abuse or dependence potential and to date shows no risk of any related health problems due to its use. In other words, it is considered much safer.
Is CBD legal in the US?
CBD is completely legal in the US. Following the passage of the Farm Bill which removed CBD and other non-psychoactive derivatives of cannabis from the Controlled Substance Act (CSA), CBD was legalized for interstate commerce. Some states have opted to limit or ban the use and sale of certain CBD products, such as New York, which does not allow CBD infused edibles or Idaho which requires the THC level to be 0% or it is considered illegal under state law. You should check your state laws to ensure you are compliant with federal AND state laws regarding use of CBD and cbd oil.
Federally, the FDA is currently reviewing the status of CBD use in foods and dietary supplements and is expected to make major decisions regarding hemp soon. Prior to the Farm Bill, CBD had to be imported from other countries as it was not legal to grow hemp in the US. In the US, CBD must come from the hemp plant and contain less than 0.3% THC to be considered legal under the Farm Bill. Federally, CBD is still considered part of the marijuana plant and is subject to restrictions when it comes to banking and advertising making it difficult for CBD businesses.
CBD oil side effects
Side effects of CBD include nausea, fatigue and irritability. CBD can increase the level in your blood of the blood thinner coumadin, and it can raise levels of certain other medications in your blood by the exact same mechanism that grapefruit juice does. A significant safety concern with CBD is that it is primarily marketed and sold as a supplement, not a medication. Currently, the FDA does not regulate the safety and purity of dietary supplements. So you cannot know for sure that the product you buy has active ingredients at the dose listed on the label. In addition, the product may contain other (unknown) elements. We also don’t know the most effective therapeutic dose of CBD for any particular medical condition.
Is all CBD the same?
CBD, when isolated is the same CBD no matter where it comes from. 3rd party lab testing is an industry standard these days and helps consumers to understand the makeup. There are several different types of tests that can be conducted such as Potency, Microbiology, Residual Solvents, Heavy Metals and Terpene. Potency simply shows you how much active ingredient there is in the sample. Microbiology testing focuses on how safe a product or sample is to consume. A microbiology test will focus on more dangerous contaminants such as E.Coli and Coliforms. Residual solvent tests show if there is any solvents left over from the extraction process. When CBD and other cannabinoids are extracted, often volatile chemical solvents such as butane are used which should not enter our bodies in high quantities for health reasons. Heavy metal testing tests for the amount of dangerous metals the plant has absorbed from the ground during vegetation and flowering. Hemp plants are used to help 'scrub' or clean land since they are able to absorb large amounts of what is in the soil leaving the soil clean and ready for a different crop. This can lead to hemp that contains high amounts of heavy metals and toxins and is unsafe to consume as is. Lastly, terpene testing shows the amount of terpenes present and is only conducted when terpenes are actually present in the product or sample. Isolates, a pure for of cannabinoids such as CBD or CBG, will not have any accompanying terpenes.
Does CBD work for everyone?
The benefits of CBD affect every person a little differently. While some get exceptional relief, others may experience only minor results. If you or someone yo know has not experienced the full benefits of CBD, this article on why doesn't CBD work for everyone the first time will help explain why. Here at Broad Essentials, we offer a full 60-day money back guarantee and are always here to help you get the most from our CBD infused products. You can contact us using the chatbox on the bottom right of your screen, by email or phone.
Key takeaways
While you may have seen or read about the wide variety of benefits of CBD, there is not enough research to back some of the heavier claims such as curing cancer. Indeed these claims are putting many companies on the hot seat with the FDA who will from time to time send out warning letters to companies making unfounded claims. Most recently, claims about the ability of CBD to treat or prevent the Coronavirus have made rounds online. There has been no verified studies to back this idea and it should be disregarded. CBD may benefit some of the symptoms associated with stress from the pandemic, such as anxiety and insomnia, but as a treatment for Covid-19, CBD lacks any factual research. Without sufficient high-quality evidence in human studies we can’t pinpoint effective doses, and because CBD is currently is mostly available as an unregulated supplement, it’s difficult to know exactly what you are getting. If you decide to try CBD, talk with your doctor — if for no other reason than to make sure it won’t affect other medications you are taking.
