Everything You Need To Know When Buying CBD.

How does CBD work with the body? Does CBD get you high? In this blog we will be diving into the most common questions our customers have about CBD and the products that are made from it.

Since the passing of the Farm Bill in 2019 to legalize Hemp it seems as though CBD went from a niche market to the mainstream overnight. When Hemp Berry was founded in 2019 the only products on the market were Tinctures, the occasional Roll-On, and Gummies, fast forward two years later and now companies are selling everything from CBD pillow cases to CBD infused toilet paper......yeah look it up it's real. 

With so many companies flooding your life with ads claiming their products will give you pain relief or cure your anxiety, how do you really know what is real and what is just a marketing ploy to take your money? The answer is you won't know until you are educated by a reliable source, which we happen to be so, let's get started. 

The Basics - What is CBD?

CBD is the abbreviation for Cannabidiol which is one of 113+ naturally occurring cannabinoids found within the Cannabis plant (Weed) each playing a role in the Endocannabinoid system. Unlike it's cousin Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD gives you NO psychoactive effects when taken, in other words you won't get "high" from taking or using pure CBD products. This can be verified on the CDCs website the FDA and the Mayo Clinic just to name a few.

How Does CBD Work With The Body?

CBD works together with a complex biological system located within human body called the Endocannabinoid system. This system is present in all humans and some animals regardless of whether using CBD or Cannabis previously or not.

The Endocannabinoid system has three components: receptors, enzymes, and Endocannabinoids.

Receptors exist throughout the body and are a substance to which endocannabinoids bind;

Enzymes appear in many forms, but only two types of enzymes break down endocannabinoids; and

Endocannabinoids complement the body by keeping internal functions running smoothly.

Understanding the effects of CBD involves examining the relationship between the receptors and endocannabinoids.

There are two types of receptors: CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors are primarily in the central nervous system and are responsible for governing coordination, movement, pain, appetite, memory, mood, and other functions. The CB2 receptors are in the peripheral nervous system, influencing pain, and inflammation.

After the enzymes break down the cannabinoids, the endocannabinoids look to bind with receptors. Researchers believe that CBD does not directly attach itself to the receptor but influences it in some way. Activating these receptors is what allows for many of the health benefits that people associate with the compound.

CBD can also influence non-cannabinoid receptors. According to Teaera Roland of Lotus Health, CBD modulates the 5ht serotonin receptor, which can treat psychotic disorders along with anxiety. It can also affect the TRPV1 receptor, which is responsible for pain and inflammation.

CBD Isolate vs Hemp Seed Oil.

CBD Isolate is exactly as it's name suggests, it is the process of isolating very specific cannabinoids while removing other undesired ones such as THC. All of Hemp Berry's products are made with only Pure CBD Isolate which allows us to say that all of our products contain NO 0.00% THC.

Hemp seed oil derives from the seeds of the Cannabis sativa plant. It contains omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, gamma-linolenic acid, and other nutritional antioxidants. It is also high in B vitamins and vitamin D.

Hemp seed oil, also contains no tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) but has little to NO CBD.

Wait, Go Back CBD Won't Get Me High?  

The answer is NO. The cannabis plant is made up of two main players: CBD and THC."CBD is the non-psychoactive portion of the plant, so what that means is you won't have any effects like euphoria," says Junella Chin, DO, an osteopathic physician and a medical cannabis expert for CannabisMD. "You won't feel sedated or altered in any way."

There are a few possible exceptions to this. The first is that some people, for unknown reasons, just react differently to CBD. According to Dr. Chin, about 5% of people say they feel altered after taking CBD. "Usually they're the same people who have side effects from Advil or Tylenol," she says. 

The next being the product that you are buying. Some manufactures do not adhere to strict manufacturing practices and even though their product says CBD it may also contain small or large amounts of THC. This is why you should always look at a companies COAs (Certificate of Analysis this is covered down below) for any product that you purchase. 

Finally where you are purchasing your CBD products? Federal law says that in order to be sold as a CBD product the THC content must be below 0.3%. If the product has above 0.3% THC then it is considered cannabis or a marijuana product and must be sold by a licensed cannabis dispensary. Unfortunately, many people go to their local cannabis shop and buy their CBD having no idea that they are also taking potentially high amounts of THC.

Why COAs Are Important!

COA stands for Certificate of Analysis. This analysis is usually performed by a third-party laboratory to test the various levels of all cannabinoids present in each product. This is very important so that you as the consumer can verify that you are actually getting what you are paying for.

Simply asking to see a product's COA would immediately eliminate the possibility of taking any THC and further would ensure that the total CBD content you are paying for is present in the product you are getting.

For example, many companies out there are claiming that their product contains 1000 milligrams of high-quality CBD when in fact they are using 1000 milligrams of Hemp Seed Oil which contains little to no actual CBD in it. 

Why Would I Take CBD?

Since we are not allowed by law to make any medical claims, here is a link to many clinical and non-clinical studies compiled by NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5569602/ that will give you a better insight into what people are taking these products for. 

Hopefully, this post has helped to educate you on the workings of CBD and it's products. We appreciate your support!