CBD 101: Getting Started with CBD

There is a wealth of information on our website and on the Internet with regard to CBD. But what information do you need to properly begin to explore whether CBD is the right fit for your personal wellness? To assist you on your quest for knowledge, we have compiled some of the basics for you. Let’s call it CBD 101.

Maybe you’re looking for a CBD oil guide. Maybe you want to understand the difference between hemp and marijuana. Or perhaps you’re interested in exploring whether a topical CBD would be a good fit for you. Whatever your unique interest in CBD, consider CBD 101 to be your introductory guide to CBD oil and more.

The Essential Information

No CBD 101 or CBD oil guide would be complete or accurate without an explanation of CBD, how it works, and where the research is taking us. The more you learn, the more confidence you can feel exploring CBD balms, oils, and more.

What is CBD

But what exactly is CBD? CBD stands for cannabidiol, a compound, or cannabinoid that occurs in abundance in the flowers of hemp plants.

Technically, cannabidiol is a “phytocannabinoid,” which means it is plant-derived. Alternately, the human body does create its very own cannabinoids, called “endocannabinoids,” as well. In its natural state, CBD is actually CBDA, which becomes CBD when activated by a heating/extraction process. CBDA, similar to its “activated” version CBD, is showing its own potential to have unique medicinal properties.

How CBD Works

As this is CBD 101, we aren’t going to go too deep into the details of how CBD works here. We will explore this further in other entries. However, we will give you an overview.

CBD was once popularly believed to interact with the endocannabinoid system. But as research continues to grow, we have learned that CBD actually works with the body’s other systems. Systems that may influence the endocannabinoid system.

The Endocannabinoid System

The endocannabinoid system’s role is to maintain homeostasis within the body. We have learned that the body makes its own cannabinoids, called “endocannabinoids,” which bind to this system’s receptors. While CBD is proving not to interact directly with the CB1 and CB2 receptors of the system, it does interact with it more directly in the presence of another, perhaps more famous cannabinoid, THC. As THC does bind to the endocannabinoid system’s receptors.

While CBD may not interact with the body as once thought, research is beginning to show that it does bind to receptors of other systems in the body. For example, CBD oil can be found in a variety of topical products, which, when applied to the skin, have been found to bind to receptors that maintain the skin’s homeostasis. As you may recall, the endocannabinoid system maintains internal homeostasis.

There’s More To CBD

You may already know that CBD isn’t the only cannabinoid contained in hemp. There are actually more than 100 known cannabinoids in hemp, and there are likely more which will be discovered. This is where the term full-spectrum comes into our CBD 101 classroom.

When companies state that their products are “Full-Spectrum” it means that they have extracted, from the hemp, a variety of cannabinoids. Some cannabinoids may be “activated” in this extraction process. This means that CBDA is turned into CBD through a heating process called “decarboxylation.” However, there are companies, like Sound CBD, that extract their cannabinoids in a manner that preserves the cannabinoids in their more natural state.

This means that CBDA and CBD may be contained in Full-Spectrum, hemp-derived CBD oil. It should be noted that CBDA is also showing promise in a variety of applications, including inflammation and nausea.

The topic of “Full-Spectrum” is important to our CBD 101 information because you need to know that the cannabinoids derived from hemp do work together in their own unique way. They influence one another’s composition, which could affect how they interact with our body’s systems. And as with all things CBD, there is still more research being done to learn the ever-growing scope of Full-Spectrum hemp-derived CBD oil.

What’s the Deal with “Hemp-Derived”?

One of the most important details, especially based on the legality of hemp’s cousin, marijuana, is the use of the phrase “hemp-derived.” This means that the CBD is extracted from hemp – not marijuana. It’s important to note that hemp, which is a plant of the genus cannabis, is abundant in CBD. Actually, the volume of CBD in hemp is greater than any other cannabinoid the plant produces.

That said, hemp does contain THC, only in much smaller quantities than marijuana. For hemp to be considered legal, and used to produce the CBD oils we are coming to know and love, it must contain less than .3% THC. This is rarely, if ever, a problem. However, hemp’s cousin marijuana also contains cannabinoids. The two most predominant in marijuana are THC and CBD. But oftentimes there simply isn’t much, if any, CBD in strains of marijuana. This is why using the term “hemp-derived” brings with it an air of confidence. Keep in mind, like hemp, marijuana also contains other cannabinoids.

Why Is CBD So Popular

There is no doubt that there is a lot of hype around CBD. CBD is an exciting newcomer because it has been found to have a lot of potential with its anti-inflammatory properties. And inflammation is the cause of many painful conditions and diseases. This is by no means saying that CBD is a cure, that is certainly not what we want to convey in our CBD 101 curriculum.

In this guide to CBD, we want you to understand that CBD is showing the potential to become a good addition to individual wellness. It may provide the relief for which so many people have been searching, and it may do so with fewer side effects than other treatments. But keep in mind that research on CBD oils guides product creation and efficacy, and the field itself is still in its infancy. In short, when it comes to CBD, change is a constant.

Where to Get Started with CBD

In this brief CBD 101, we have explored the items you will need to begin your research into whether or not CBD oils extracted from hemp will be a good fit for your needs. However, we want to briefly touch on how you can begin to explore CBD for yourself.

If you find yourself curious about using CBD after reading our CBD oil guide, keep in mind a few things:

  1. Full-spectrum products contain more than just CBD. Review the labels so you know what you are putting into your body and research the implications of each, especially if they are “Full-Spectrum”.
  2. Everyone’s body has a unique physiology. CBD is a compound that will interact with your body and potentially any medications you may be taking. Consider consulting with your healthcare provider to ensure that CBD is right for you.
  3. If you are still interested in trying CBD but do not want to try ingesting hemp-derived CBD oils, you may want to start by applying a CBD topical. Topicals, unlike transdermals, do not enter the bloodstream. But if irritation occurs, you should seek the guidance of a dermatologist.

As more states break down the barriers to cannabis use, the conversation and research surrounding cannabis is opening up as well. We encourage you to have a conversation about CBD with your family, friends, and your healthcare provider. You are also welcome to contact us to learn more than what was covered in this CBD 101 overview. Also keep an eye on our website, as we will continue to update our information as new research findings become available. We want you to confidently embrace the power of plants in your wellness routine.

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