Hemp CBD Oil
What is CBD Oil (Cannabidiol)?
Cannabidiol, more commonly known as CBD, is a compound extracted from hemp containing significant beneficial properties. It does not possess any psychoactive properties, therefore; it cannot make you high (products are supposed to contain less than 0.3% THC).
Is hemp seed oil the same as a CBD hemp extract?
No. Standard hemp seed oil, which can be found very cheaply at a grocery store, is a much different product than full-spectrum hemp extracts (not from seed). Standard hemp seed oil is produced by cold pressing the seeds, whereas hemp extract is a full plant extraction with many components not typically found in the seeds. Hemp seed oil is considered to be a great nutritive food, but it doesn’t have the naturally occurring terpenes, cannabinoids and other components that are in CBD hemp extract.
Hemp seed oil is not the same as CBD-rich oil extracted from the flowers and leaves of the plant. Oil pressed from hemp seed contains no CBD, no THC and no plant cannabinoids, but it’s excellent for making varnish, paint, soap, protein-enriched food supplements, and much more.
Hemp vs. Marijuana Derived Cannabinoids: Are they the same thing?
The short answer is yes. CBD is CBD, whether from marijuana or hemp. Marijuana contains a significant amount of the chemical compound tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, which causes the “high” feeling. However, marijuana is usually very low in other non-psychoactive cannabinoids, such as CBD and CBG, making hemp the preferable option.
Hemp plants are a far better source of CBD than marijuana plants.
What are the Health Benefits?
There are over 15,000 medical studies and publications looking at the relationship between cannabinoids and the human body. Over the past decade, an increase in public demand has subsequently triggered a surge in Cannabidiol (CBD) research.
In hemp, CBD is one of the most essential cannabinoids that come together to form the plant’s complex molecular structure. In the human body, CBD works synergistically with unique receptors called endocannabinoids to maintain your body’s homeostasis.
Through numerous experiments and clinical trials, CBD has displayed the ability to interact with certain cells in the body that contribute to various health related benefits. Their cells mimic the look and function of other naturally produced cells in your body; this is done in an attempt to promote recovery and/or provide other positive effects. Unlike many traditional medications, CBD is extracted naturally from plants and not produced synthetically in a lab.
The Science Behind CBD
In order to explain exactly what CBD does, we need to first explain the specific system in which it interacts with: the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The endocannabinoid system is a group of endogenous cannabinoid receptors located in the mammalian brain and throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems, consisting of neuromodulatory lipids and their receptors.
There are two main types of receptors in the ECS: CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors are primarily located in the central nervous system and brains of mammals, and CB2 are generally found in the peripheral nervous system. There are two main cannabinoids mammals produce - 2AG and Anandamide (named after the Sanskrit term “Ananda,” which translates to “peace”).
For hundreds of millions of years every vertebrate on Earth has been equipped with this ECS, a crucial system in the body, and it has been known about in the scientific and medical communities since the 1980s. However, it’s still not taught about in most medical schools.
Each type of receptor cell has a unique shape that allows it to interact specifically with certain cells. Think of these cells like a toddler’s shape toy: only the square peg can fit through the square hole, the round peg through the round hole, etc.
CBD has a similar shape to certain cells in your body that allows it to interact with, or activate, receptor cells like vanilloid receptors, serotonin receptors, and adenosine receptors.
Another unique ability of CBD is that it can actually inhibit the function of CB1 cells. Think back to the toddler toy for a minute. Imagine a very determined toddler who, for whatever reason, has decided that the square peg can fit through the round hole. No matter how hard the toddler tries, the peg won’t fit through the hole without getting stuck. CBD interacts with CB1 receptors in the same way. It won’t activate them, but it can block them. This means that other cells can’t interact with the CB1 receptor cells while CBD is in there. This allows CBD to produce a wide range of beneficial effects without harsh adverse effects or dependency.