What is CBD?

The cannabis plant, one of the most researched plants in the world due to its rich and growing medical history, contains over 400 natural compounds. These including cannabinoids, active chemical compounds that are responsible for its many medicinal properties. Cannabidiol (CBD) is the second most abundant cannabinoid in the cannabis plant after tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the cannabinoid responsible for producing a ‘high’ sensation.

CBD offers a diverse range of healing benefits — without the psychoactive effect of THC. It is known for the treatment numerous medical conditions, including inflammation, autism, epilepsy, chronic pain, stress and ADD/ADHD, among others.

The fact that CBD has no psychoactive effects, and carries side effects that are often milder and more tolerable than those that accompany conventional synthetic medications, makes it an increasingly desirable treatment among many patients.

How is CBD made?

Cannabidiol can be extracted from either hemp or marijuana, two different varieties of the cannabis plant. Hemp is the term for cannabis plants containing less than 0.3 percent THC, whereas marijuana refers to cannabis plants containing more than 0.3 percent THC. All CBD products, no matter which variety of the cannabis plant they are extracted from, should include less than 0.3 percent THC and will not produce a psychoactive effect. However, most CBD products are derived from hemp plants due to their naturally low levels of THC and growing legality.

After the cannabis plant is cultivated and harvested, CBD can be extracted using a number of methods, each with its unique benefits and process.

• Olive Oil Extraction: Olive oil extraction is often performed by home users, as it results in a low yield of CBD, not practical for production at scale. Hemp is finely ground, heated on its own, and then heated further in olive oil, a process by which compounds are extracted to the oil.
• Ethanol Extraction: Ethanol, a simple alcohol suitable for drinking and used as a chemical solvent to synthesise organic compounds, offers the most complete form of extraction. It is an excellent solvent that is able to extract almost all the active components from the plant. Hemp is soaked in a high percentage of Ethanol, and then heated for a long duration of time in order to evaporate all alcohol from the finished product. This process causes the loss of active terpenes, organic compounds responsible for creating the unique aroma of each individual cannabis plant.

• Carbon Dioxide Extraction: CO2 extraction is known for maintaining a high profile of terpenes, as it requires less heating. This means the finished product will be more aromatic than ethanol extractions. CO2 extraction is very precise, and is used to achieve accuracy in the amount and ratio of active components. This form of extraction uses carbon dioxide to separate the CBD oil from the plant material. A series of pressurized chambers and pumps are used to expose CO2 to high pressure and very low temperatures, resulting in an extracted oil containing high amounts of CBD.
• Ultrasonic Extraction: The ultrasonic extraction method is the least processed method, with no heat required. The finished product will have the strongest taste and smell of all extraction methods, indicating a high level of aromatic terpenes that holds a range of medicinal benefits, depending on the strain of cannabis used. Ultrasonic extraction takes place when high-power, low-frequency ultrasound waves are coupled into a mixture of cannabis and a solvent.

What is Full Spectrum CBD?

Not only can CBD be extracted using different methods, it can also be made using different compounds of the cannabis plant, resulting in products with differing uses and benefits. The three compounds within the cannabis plant are cannabinoids (among them CBD and THC), terpenes, which affect the aroma of the plant and carry therapeutic effects, and flavonoids, which also produce therapeutic effects.

• Full Spectrum Oil includes small amounts of each of these compounds, including THC (below 0.3%). The interaction of all compounds produces what is known as an ‘entourage effect’, boosting the overall therapeutic effects of the plant. Furthermore, The THC found in full-spectrum products may increase the anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving benefits of CBD, without producing a high sensation
• Broad Spectrum CBD includes all components, other than THC, and therefore still benefits from the entourage effect
• CBD Isolate is pure CBD — without any other cannabinoids, terpenes or flavonoids. It is transparent, and has almost no side effects, taste or smell. It is recommended for patients who don’t want any trace of THC or aroma of cannabis in their products, and highly beneficial for people who suffer from anxiety and headaches

What is the recommended concentration of CBD?

Cannabidiol products come with varying concentrations of CBD, with the recommended concentration depending on the person and condition being treated.

• A 20% concentration is the standard concentration, supplying 10mg of CBD per drop of oil
• A 30% concentration has greater effects and is recommended for the targeted treatment of specific conditions

The proper dose of CBD ranges from 20-200 milligrams a day and depends on the person taking it, as every body responds uniquely. It is recommended to start with one drop under the tongue twice a day, and increase the dose as needed until relief is found.

What is the effect of CBD on the body?

When Cannabidiol is used in its various forms, it affects our bodies by interacting with our endocannabinoid system (ECS).

The endocannabinoid system is a complex system that is active in our bodies, whether or not we use cannabis. While research is still being done on how the ECS works, we know that it plays a role in maintaining your body’s homeostasis, or internal balance and stability. When something throws off your body’s homeostasis — such as injury or illness — the ECS helps your body return to normal.

Experts are not yet clear on precisely how CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system, but it is proven to enhance its effects. While the exact process is yet to be understood, research shows that CBD can help with inflammation, pain, sleep, and multiple other functions regulated by the ECS. 

What are the common uses of CBD?

Numerous studies have been conducted over the past decades assessing the impact of CBD on a variety of conditions ranging from pain to anxiety. Research into CBD’s effects and ways of working is continuously growing, and leading to exciting findings related to physical, mental and emotional health.

Pain relief: The use of cannabidiol to treat chronic pain dates back thousands of years. Still today, pain relief is the most common reason for the use of medical cannabis in the US. CBD helps to regulate the activity of the nervous system, while blocking pain promoting agents in the brain, and stimulating the immune system to reduce inflammation.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6222489/

Skincare: When applied to the skin as an ointment, CBD can significantly reduce acne. One of the causes of acne is underlying inflammation, and the overproduction of an oily secretion produced by the skin, called sebum. Recent studies show CBD oil may help treat acne due to its anti-inflammatory properties and ability to reduce sebum production. In addition, CBD has been shown to relieve psoriasis and minimise the appearance of scarring.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4151231/

Focus: CBD effectively relieves many of the factors that impair our focus — pain, anxiety sleep — and can therefore naturally help boost our concentration. Research investigating additional effects of CBD on concentration is currently anecdotal, but results are promising. A 2017 study on adults with ADHD showed that a combination of CBD and THC led to the reduction of ADHD-related symptoms.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28576350/

Anxiety: CBD relieves stress and anxiety by positively invigorating neural regeneration and regulating the endocannabinoid system, which becomes deregulated during times of stress.
CBD also binds to serotonin receptors, specifically the 5-HT1A receptor which is responsible for anxiety disorders. A number of studies have shown that CBD oil is highly effective in treating anxiety, depression and stress in a variety of beneficial ways.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26341731/

Inflammation: CBD shows potential as a powerful anti-inflammatory without the side effects of synthetic medications. It reduces inflammation through several mechanisms of action, and represents an effective potential treatment for a range of conditions characterized by inflammation, including arthritis and multiple sclerosis.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2828614/

Cancer: CBD can be extremely beneficial in blocking the growth of tumors, and may also be beneficial in treating certain types of cancers triggered by chronic inflammation. In such instances, CBD can either directly inhibit tumor growth, or suppress inflammation and the growth of the blood vessels that help sustain the tumor. Furthermore, The National Cancer Institute lists CBD as a treatment for reducing common side effects of chemotherapy, including pain, vomiting, and lack of appetite.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6928757/

Sleep: Cannabidiol can help us get a better night’s sleep by alleviating some of the root causes of sleeplessness, such as pain and anxiety. However, CBD boasts additional benefits in treating sleep disorders because of its interaction with the endocannabinoid system, which is involved in the regulation of the circadian sleep–wake cycle — including the maintenance of healthy sleep. Pilot studies have shown promising results of the effects of CBD on sleep and fatigue.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5101100/

Recovery: The main role of CBD in recovery is reducing inflammation. While inflammation is integral to exercise-induced muscle damage repair, regeneration, and adaptation, excessive inflammation may contribute to prolonged muscle soreness and delayed functional recovery. Inflammation reduction is important for limiting the damage caused to the muscles, joints and nearby tissues. CBD offers to reduce inflammation and pain, lower tension, and quicken the recovery process of the body after an injury or an intense workout.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8369499/