Hemp-derived CBD may provide numerous potential health benefits. By engaging with the endocannabinoid system and decreasing symptoms associated with many conditions – from chronic pain and depression, to rare forms of epilepsy like Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome – hemp CBD could potentially reduce these effects significantly.
Hemp comes from the cannabis sativa plant and its products are legal in most states with three exceptions. Hemp plants produce less than 0.3% THC content so any CBD extracted from hemp plants should be safe.
Legality
Hemp-derived CBD can be used in a wide variety of food products, from juices and smoothies to beverages like juice. Before purchasing hemp-derived CBD from another state, however, be aware of any state regulations as some prohibit even trace amounts of THC in food items.
United States federal law defines industrial hemp as cannabis plants containing less than 0.3% delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Marijuana, on the other hand, contains more THC than industrial hemp does.
No matter the source, FDA regulation applies regardless. Under both the Food and Drug Administration and Public Health Services Acts, products derived from cannabis and hemp plants must comply with certain requirements before being sold as dietary supplements or conventional foods – regardless of THC content. If being offered as such for sale as dietetic or conventional food consumption. If so, any manufacturer must go through an approval process with FDA prior to marketing them as such products as this applies both ways.
Benefits
Cannabidiol (CBD), is an increasingly popular ingredient used in products claiming to treat everything from chronic pain and insomnia, to skin conditions. You may have come across it before: in juices, creams, tinctures or vape pens containing CBD. But what exactly is CBD and does it really work?
CBD can be extracted from either marijuana or hemp plants, both cousins of the cannabis family. Hemp plants contain less than 0.3% THC and thus legal across most of the US; on the other hand, marijuana plants may have higher THC concentrations.
Studies on CBD continue, yet studies suggest it can assist with relieving pain and anxiety. Furthermore, CBD has been found to effectively treat Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome seizures that don’t respond well to traditional antiseizure medication; improve sleep; decrease inflammation; as well as be used to enrich animal feed more nutritiously while being easily dissolvable in edible oils and fats.
Side effects
CBD generally has an excellent safety record and is generally well tolerated; however, side effects may occur including sedation, changes to appetite or weight, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Furthermore, some medications, particularly stimulants and antidepressants may interact with CBD in unpredictable ways.
CBD may offer neuroprotective properties, possibly helping with conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Furthermore, it may prevent seizures in individuals suffering from epilepsy.
Before taking any new supplement, including CBD, it’s advisable to consult a healthcare practitioner first. This is particularly true if you suffer from liver or kidney disease, heart issues or an impaired immune system. Also important: be sure to disclose all drugs or supplements you’re currently taking (e.g. clobazam, valproate, lamotrigine and levetiracetam can interact with CBD); in addition phenolic compounds like luteolin kaempferol quercetin canflavin A – these unique to cannabis plants!).
Dosage
CBD is non-psychoactive and interacts with the endocannabinoid system to produce results. Studies have demonstrated its beneficial properties for treating various conditions, including pain, nausea, anxiety and depression – as well as supporting those living with PTSD and other psychiatric illnesses. Furthermore, its antioxidant properties make it effective at lowering cholesterol levels and relieving inflammation.
To produce CBD, the plant must be grown organically and free from pesticides. There are various methods available for extracting cannabinoids from these plants – supercritical CO2 extraction or solvent extraction being the two most widely-used processes – while after each extraction stage they should be purified using either chromatography or distillation techniques until finally producing an ideal, high-grade CBD product that is safe for human consumption.
Studies on CBD tend to focus on double-blind, placebo-controlled studies; however, open-label trials are also included for analysis. Patrician et al. 70 conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled pharmacokinetic study involving two oral CBD formulations dosed with 90 mg doses: TurboCBD and CBD encapsulated in organic hemp oil capsules. Both formulations were found to be well tolerated; neither affected cognitive function, gastrointestinal function, blood pressure or whole blood cell count counts.
