CBD Education

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of many compounds found in the cannabis plant and is also known as hemp. The cannabis plant is made up of two main parts, including CBD and THC.  CBD is often referred to as the “non-psychoactive” / non-impairing cannabinoid while its cousin, THC, gets you high.  CBD is known to possibly impart a feeling of relaxation and calm.  Although its history dates back some 12,000 years, in recent years CBD has become the focus of medical research, media, and legislation related to cannabis due to the potential health benefits. A CBD product (Epidolex) has been FDA approved to treat epilepsy. We strongly recommend discussing your situation with your doctor before using. 

CBD Dosage

There is no single dosage that’s optimal for everyone. As little as 2.5 mg of CBD can have a therapeutic effect. If necessary, much higher doses of good quality CBD-rich formulations are safe and well tolerated.  When first starting, less is more until an optimal dose is determined. Creating a baseline record may help you judge the effectiveness. When thinking about dosing, also consider whether your CBD is full-spectrum, broad-spectrum or isolate.  Some people might only need 10 milligrams of full-spectrum CBD, but with isolate, taking 80 or 100 milligrams may not have the same effect. Dosing greatly depends on the individual, their receptors and their particular circumstances. 

Ways to take CBD

CBD may be taken several ways, including sublingual (under the tongue), capsules, edibles, topicals and inhalation. Some people prefer not to ingest it, so they apply it topically using a CBD cream or ointment. In this case, it’s applied to muscles, joints, and ligaments which provides localized relief.   The biggest differences between tinctures, capsules, edibles, and vape pens are speed of delivery and how long the effects last. Tinctures and edibles take longer to work but may last four or six hours.

Full Spectrum – Broad Spectrum – Isolates

Full spectrum, broad spectrum and Isolate, are the three most common types of CBD – they are each created using a different extraction method.  Full-spectrum CBD extracts a full profile of beneficial cannabinoids and terpenes from the cannabis plant and will have low levels of THC.  Broad spectrum CBD is the middle ground option.  It begins as a full spectrum oil, with the full range of beneficial cannabinoids and terpenes, but it then goes through a refinement process to remove the THC compounds. Isolate refers to an extraction process that isolates CBD from the rest of the compounds in the cannabis plant. Isolates are 99 pure CBD.

The Endocannabanoid System (ECS)

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a complex arrangement of cannabinoid receptors within the brain and nervous system of humans and other mammals that naturally occur inside us. These receptors regulate various functions of the body and are responsive to cannabinoids from hemp plants.   The ECS affects many different body systems including but not limited to sleep, appetite, mood, pain, and memory. Not only is the ECS a natural part of our bodies, but it’s also a crucial one. The ECS is crucial for homeostasis which is your body’s efforts to maintain balance.

What are Terpenes?

Terpenes and terpenoids are plant chemicals found diversely in plants, including cannabis. These compounds give cannabis its aroma and provide many of the differences in therapeutic effects. 

How to match a strain’s terpene profile to a person’s therapeutic goals:

Limonene is common to citrus fruit and gives some strains of cannabis its citrus-like aroma. It has been shown to have anti-depressant, anti-anxiety, anti-acne, and anti-gastroesophageal reflux properties.

Myrcene is a botanical relative of cannabis, and lemongrass, conveys an earthy, fruity, and clove-like aroma. It has sedating, pain-relieving, muscle-relaxant, anti-inflammatory, and liver-protective properties.

Pinene is found in pine trees and is the most abundant terpene found in nature and gives a pine-like aroma to some strains of cannabis. It has anti-inflammatory, broncho-dilating, antibiotic, and memory-boosting properties.

Linalool is found in lavender and conveys a lavender-like aroma to cannabis. It has anti-anxiety, pain-relieving, sedative, anti-spasm, and anti-convulsant properties.

Caryophellene is found in cloves, black pepper, copaiba essential oil, and many other herbs. It delivers a spicy, peppery aroma to cannabis. It has the interesting property of selective and strongly stimulating the CB2 receptor without stimulating CB1. It is effective at regulating inflammation, nerve pain, fibrosis, and many other processes via CB2. It also has protective effects on the stomach and anti-malarial properties.

Nerolidol is an aroma similar to fresh bark that has sedating and anti-parasitic properties.

We naturally produce cannabinoids

We naturally produce cannabinoids in our endocannabinoid system – one affecting multiple bodily processes such as mood, appetite, pain, and varying cognitive functions. One of the most beneficial endocannabinoids is anandamide (the bliss molecule).

Anandamide is important because it activates our CB1 receptors. These receptors help to:

Relieving depression
Known to stop the proliferation of breast cancer cells
Lower intestinal inflammation
Decrease the occurrence of Leaky Gut Syndrome
Lower blood pressure
Decrease anxiety, fear, and paranoia
Benefits for people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Choosing the Right CBD for You

CBD is a personal experience.  When choosing the right option, you may want to:

  • Determine the reason you want to use CBD
  • Decide what form of CBD you want to try (tinctures, capsules, edibles, topicals, etc)
  • Choose strength – isolate, broad-spectrum or full-spectrum
  • Decide on the right dosage

Based on some clinical experiences, for some users full-spectrum products are likely best as it may provide the maximum benefits.  In these clinical experiences, many people reported that they noticed an effect of CBD at doses as low as 5-10mg, and some even lower.

CBD for Pets

Dogs and cats also have endocannabinoid systems.  CBD pet care products come in many of the same forms as the products for humans, including edibles (chewable treats and capsules), oils that can be added to food or placed under the tongue and topical creams or balms that are rubbed directly on the skin.