Introduction to CBD
CBD, or Cannabidiol in full, is a naturally occurring compound in the cannabis Sativa plant. It belongs to a group of chemicals known as phytocannabinoids, and it is one of the 100+ cannabinoids identified in cannabis species alongside THC, CBN, and CBC.
Cannabidiol is one of the most abundant cannabinoids, accounting for up to 40% of the plant’s extract. CBD’s popularity has gone up since industrial hemp, a variety of the cannabis Sativa, was legalized at the federal level in the United States by the 2018 Farm Bill.
This made it legal to cultivate and trade in hemp and its extracts, including CBD products.
CBD can be obtained from the cannabis plant or hemp. Since marijuana is illegal federally and in most states, is typically extracted from industrial hemp. Hemp plants typically have higher concentrations of Cannabidiol and lower concentrations of THC.
Although CBD and THC are closely related, CBD is not psychoactive and will not make you feel stoned or high. However, both have significant therapeutic properties and have been used to manage various conditions throughout history.
How CBD is Made
To conveniently enjoy hemp benefits, you have to separate and concentrate cannabinoids and terpenes to increase potency. To do this, you have to extract CBD from the plant matter using one of the different extractions methods.
These methods produce extracts of different qualities and concentrations. But what matters most is retaining the cannabinoids and terpenes. The most popular extraction methods are supercritical CO2 and ethanol; these produce the safest and best quality CBD/hemp extract for human use.
Trium Botanicals obtains high-quality hemp extract using a patented super chilled (-50c) ethanol extraction system in an ultra-modern state-licensed and inspected processing facility. Super chilled ethanol extraction ensures that the full spectrum extract is gently removed from the plant matter, leaving behind unwanted lipids and chlorophyll.
Always be on the lookout for products made using cheap extraction methods. They may be the cheapest, but they may also contain harmful solvent residues such as butane, or they may not be of the best quality.
Does CBD Work?
This has been the most asked question in CBD’s short legal history. Does it work? Is it another health and wellness fad that will soon lose traction and go out of fashion? While it’s always helpful to stay cautious of new trends, CBD is not a fad and will not be going away any time soon.
To start with, CBD has been around for more than 80 years now, having been discovered in 1940. So it’s not a new trend; it’s just that its benefits have only been recently discovered by the public.
Research studies, including human trials, have also been conducted around CBD for several years. Most proposing its use as a treatment for various conditions, including chronic pain, anxiety, and stress. So does CBD work?
Recent research and anecdotal reports suggest that it does. In 2018, Epidiolex became the first drug made from Cannabidiol to be approved by the FDA to treat two epilepsy disorders in the United States.
While this doesn’t mean that CBD automatically becomes medicine, it shows the potential of this non-psychoactive cannabinoid.
Positive results from research studies investigating CBD’s use in managing pain, anxiety, and sleep aid have also been conducted. According to a 2019 survey by Gallup, up to 40% of CBD users in the USA use it to manage chronic pain and 20% for anxiety, and 11% to improve sleep. A large number of users report that CBD is effective in treating their condition.
CBD, therefore, does work. However, more research, especially studies on humans, is still required before it can be viewed and approved as a treatment.
But CBD is not only meant to be used when managing a condition. High-quality hemp extract also relaxes the body and promotes a general sense of wellness throughout the body. This works towards better sleep, less pain and can help you focus.
Benefits without the "high"
While marijuana delivers some health and wellness benefits as hemp-derived CBD, it has something that the latter doesn’t — the infamous psychoactive effects or the “high” caused by tetrahydrocannabinol or THC.
THC and CBD are siblings, similar but different at the same time. They have the same molecular formula, molar weight, share some benefits, and have the same number of carbon and hydrogen atoms.
However, a slight structural difference between the two molecules is what makes all the difference.
Unlike THC, CBD will not make you high. This makes it the perfect compound to use during the day when you have your daily activities or work to focus on or for conditions such as anxiety that can be worsened by THC.
CBD delivers the same health and wellness benefits as THC without the overbearing side effects that include confusion, paranoia, and intoxication.
That said, it’s always a good idea to test your reaction to the compound first. When using it for the first time, ensure you have cleared all activities that require intense concentration, such as driving and operating heavy machinery.
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