CBD has had its moment. There has definitely been a buzz about it over the last 2 years. And the good news is that there has been a good reason for the buzz.
The bad news is that I think a lot of people have been turned off because the products they purchased didn’t work. That’s why you have to be careful about where you buy CBD. Here’s a recap of what you need to know about CBD.
What is CBD?
CBD is present in a lot of plants but is really concentrated in the Cannabis family.
There are two major plants in the Cannabis family - Hemp and Marijuana. These are two different plants.
Hemp is naturally low in THC - the part of the plant that makes you high.
Marijuana is high in THC, which accounts for one of its main uses - it will make you feel high. Unlike CBD, THC can interfere with a good night’s sleep.
What does CBD do?
Our body produces a CBD-like substance called Endocannabinoid and we have receptors for these substances in our bodies.
Because it is so similar, CBD binds with these Endocannabinoid receptors. The receptors can be found on our Nervous System, Immune System, and Skin.
When CBD binds with these receptors, it calms that system. and has been found to work well for Pain, Anxiety, and Depression. It’s also great for sleep. It is not a sedative but it stops your brain from “running” at night and allows you to stop overthinking, switch off and settle in.
Because it’s not a sedative CBD is great for day time hours. You can drive a car, go to work.
And you’ll pass a urine test because urine tests are screening for THC.
People have been using CBD to treat Seizures, Alzheimers, and Parkinsons.
CBD is an antioxidant, meaning it interferes with free-radicals, those properties that cause cells to break down and age.
CBD binds with the immune system and works as a powerful anti-inflammatory. So many have found relief from inflammatory problems like arthritis, IBS, MS, Fibromyalgia, etc.
There is some evidence that it helps regulate blood sugar in diabetics and also has anti-microbial properties in it.
What should I look for when buying CBD? What makes one CBD better than another.
Be sure your CBD has been independently tested by a laboratory Spiral Herbal Remedies sends every batch to Proverde in MA. It is the first thing you’ll see when you go to the product online and when you come to my shop.
There are three things we test for. 1. HOW MUCH CBD is in the extract. Hemp has many properties, CBD is the part of the plant that helps with pain, anxiety, depression, etc. 2. Concentrated CBD means you can take much smaller doses. Since it administered under the tongue, this also means most of it stays under your tongue where it can be absorbed directly into your blood. If you end up swallowing the CBD (because it is dilute), your stomach acid can destroy up to 90% of it and you have to take much higher doses. Spiral Herbal Remedies is almost 100% CBD. What about Full Spectrum CBD? I was told CBD won’t work without the other parts of the plant.
That’s not true. It only applies when the dose is very high. If you need to take doses of 300mg or more, having other parts of the plant in the tincture helps with its absorption. Most people take 6-8mg.
3. We test for pesticides. 80% of the CBD tested in a California laboratory had pesticide in it. Spiral Herbal Remedies has never had any pesticides. 4. We test for solvents. These are the chemicals used to extract the CBD from the plant. Since so many people have jumped into the industry, there are many toxic chemicals being used to extract the CBD. Spiral Herbal Remedies CBD has no residual solvents.
Is CBD safe?
The World Health Organization considers it safe and non-addictive.
There have been articles from Doctors saying I should be careful, it could cause liver damage, etc. What about that?
If you look at the research they’re quoting you’ll find that the studies they cite used doses over 100 times what is normally taken. Anything at such high levels can be problematic for the body.
Spiral Herbal Remedies is one of the top 10 CBD vendors in NYC. That’s because of the quality of our product but also because you are able to ask me any questions about the products. I worked as a Registered Nurse for 13 years, trained as an Herbalist for 3 years and Spiral Herbal Remedies has been open for 21/2 years. Included with every bottle is a detailed Dosing Recommendation card. This will explain how to find your perfect dose. CBD is not a one-size-fits-all oil. Most people get away with very small doses. Some people need higher doses. The recommendations tell you how to find out what you need. It’s always better to only take what you need. If you ever find you’ve built up your resistance, you just need to go off of the CBD for a day or two to reset your tolerance.
