You have probably seen CBD products in many stores. It is an industry that has exploded over the past five years or more. We need to be aware of where we buy these products and how to determine how they work. Some don’t work at all. In part this has a lot to do with manufacturing of these various products.
WHAT IS CBD?
CBD is a compound found in the cannabis sativa plant. More commonly known as marijuana. Remember that unlike its relative, THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol which is also found in the plant it is not in the CBD over the counter products. CBD does not change your mental state. This is because most CBD products contain less than 0.3% of THC to comply with legislation. Best of all CBD has all the benefits of cannabis without its side effect. You will not get high from using CBD products.
THE FATHER OF INVENTION
The name usually most associated with cannabis science is Israeli chemist Raphael Mechoulam, who is credited with first isolating and identifying THC. But given the current CBD craze, there is another figure who should receive recognition. His name is Roger Adams, an American chemist. He was the first to isolate cannabidiol. By some accounts, he even has a claim to being the person who initially identified its psychoactive cousin THC.
Having studied at Kaiser Wilhelm Institute in Berlin, Germany. Eventually Adams returned to the U.S. to take a post at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign just before World War l was starting.
In 1939 just two years after marijuana was banned by Congress, Adams received a Treasury Department license to work with cannabis oil at his lab at the University of Illinois, and presented a paper to the National Academy of Science called “The Chemistry of Marihuana.”
From a scientific viewpoint, Adams’ most important work was his cannabis research in the early 1940s, when he isolated and synthesized cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabinol (CBN) and the Noyes Laboratory at the University of Illinois. In 1942, he won a patent for his method of isolating CBD. Adams was also the first researcher to identify tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). He eventually published 27 studies on cannabis in the American Journal of Chemistry.
HOW DO CBD TOPICALS WORK?
One of the CBD’s numerous benefits is alleviating both skin conditions and muscle soreness. This is because CBD penetrates the dermal and subdermal skin layers, reaching further than just the surface of the skin. So how do CBD topicals really work?
CBD works by activating the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is responsible for the sensations of pleasure and pain. It does this by binding to cell receptors in muscle tissue, skin and nerves. This, in turn, can alleviate both pain and inflammation.
“There is research to support that phytocannabinoids, like CBD, interact with receptors and other enzymatic factors within our skin that modulate pain and inflammation,” said Emma Chasen, the co-founder of Eminent Consulting, a cannabis consultancy firm. “Because the skin is actually quite thick, when you apply CBD cream, the CBD soaks into the skin but does not make it to the bloodstream. It interacts with CB1 receptors — if THC is also present — and other receptors families such as the TRPV receptors and factors such as PPAR-gamma and COX-1/2 and TNF-alpha. With these interactions, CBD can modulate the pain and inflammatory response.”
According to the “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology,” CBD can help in the treatment of skin conditions such as contact dermatitis and psoriasis.
CBD vs. THC
CBD (cannabidiol) is a naturally occurring compound found in the resinous flower of the cannabis plant. It is non-intoxicating and one of the many cannabinoids that creates the plant’s therapeutic profile. The other well-known cannabinoid, THC (tetrahydrocannabinoil), is the compound that produces the high.
While both CBD and THC have healing properties, they act on different receptors in the brain and body and in different ways. Most of cannabinoids effects are mediated by two receptors. CB1, located in the brain and throughout the body. CB2, found mostly in the immune and gastrointestinal systems. Cannabinoids can bind to either of these receptors. By activating the serotonin receptor, CBD regulates anxiety, sleep, pain perception and nausea. It also binds to transient receptors (TRPV1) that respond to inflammation and body temperature.
THC binds mostly to the CB1 receptor and is activated by the neurotransmitter anandaminde, a natural cannabinoid produced by the body. THC mimics anandamide and activates neurons in the brain, affecting the mind and body and creating a psychoactive experience.
HOW TO USE CBD PRODUCTS
Doctors and health practitioners who focus on cannabis therapeutics have long touted the phrase “start low and go slow” when it comes to CBD dosing. “more isn’t necessarily better,” says martin Lee, co-founder and director of Project CBD. “Cannabis doesn’t work that way. Find your sweet spot, and that means experimenting.”
Both anecdotal and scientific evidence have shown that CBD can help with anxiety, inflammation and sleep. It’s about continuously measuring and adjusting the balance of dosage, and titrating according to the response.
Emma Chasen, a cannabis educator and consultant based in Portland, Oregon, recommends choosing broad-and full-spectrum products “to achieve the most therapeutic value possible.” These options include multiple cannabinoids that work together to provide the entourage effects.
A tincture sprayed or dropped under the tongue allows for absorption through the mucous membrane and a quicker onset of effects, as compared to edibles that need to go through the digestive system. “A good starting does ranges between 10 mg to 20 mg of CBD with guidance to re-dose every two to four hours if consuming sublingually or inhaling.” said Chasen. “If ingesting, re-dose every four to six hours.”
CBD has a reputation for healing pain. There are two different types of inflammation: acute and chronic. Acute is typically the result of something like a bump on the shin, which causes your immune system to dispatch white blood cells to the area, creating swelling and redness. In the case of respiratory conditions like pneumonia or seasonal viruses like the flu, the same thing happens on a larger scale, white blood cells rush to fight off infections.
OPTIONAL SUGGESTIONS FOR DOSING
Clarify your goals. Before you purchase CBD products, understand why you want to use CBD and your timing expectations. This will determine whether you want a fast-acting experience with a vaporizer or tincture, or a slower pace with an edible.
Read the label. For example, Bloom Farms’ CBD tincture contains 600 mg of CBD. the company recommends starting with one 0.25 ml serving, which has 5 mg of CBD. that means there are 120 servings in the bottle. A 1-ounce bottle with 1,200 mg. of CBD, for example will be twice as potent as a 1-ounce bottle with 600 mg of CBD, you’d have to take twice as much of the 600 mg bottle for the same dose as the 1,200 mg. bottle.
Using a tincture. First shake the bottle. With the dropper, squirt the liquid under your tongue and let it sit for 30 to 60 seconds. It takes about 45 minutes to activate in your body.
Go low and slow. Take a low dose and wait until after the CBD peaks – at least one hour for vaporized CBD and six hours for oral formulas, before trying a slightly higher does. Keep track of when and how you take it, and the experience, so you can find your optimal dose.
Brand awareness. Dosing will differ for different people; it’s based on need, weight, tolerance, gender, age and other factors. Dosing also can differ from brand to brand. No two brands are alike.
CAN CBD BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER ANTI-INFLAMMATORIES?
CBD works through the CB receptors in the naturally occurring endocannabinoids system. In contrast, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like Motrin, Aleve or Naprosyn work by inhibiting-arachidonic acid production to painful prostaglandins. Tylenol appears to work through nitric oxide pathways.
If working with a medical practitioner or a medical doctor who is educated in the use of CBD products, discuss what method of consumption is most appropriate for you. In terms of dosing 20 mg is a good starting point, according to most practitioners.
