Cannabidiol (CBD), a compound produced by the cannabis plant, is quickly growing in popularity and headed toward mainstream acceptance. CBD oil is finding its way into a variety of products, from tinctures and drops to CBD-infused edibles and CBD balms, as well as a wide range of cosmetics. CBD oil is even becoming popular among pet owners who wish to help their pets live healthier lives.
With that clarified, let’s delve into The Beginner’s Guide to CBD Oil.
This guide is broken up into 5 sections:
CBD Oil Basic Information
CBD Oil and Your Health
Research Studies on CBD Oil
Administering CBD Oil
Getting Started with CBD Oil
The History of CBD Oil in Ancient Times
The earliest written record of the use of cannabis appears in ancient China around 6000 B.C., shortly after human civilization arose, but the most direct evidence of the use of cannabis for wellness began to appear around 2700 B.C.
In 2737 B.C., as recorded in the first editions of the Pen Ts’ao Ching, Chinese emperor Shen-Nung was using cannabis in topical ointments and teas.
As time went on and human civilization progressed, writings espousing the benefits of h**p began to appear in pharmacopeias across Asia.
The use of cannabis extracts appeared in the second century B.C. in the writing of Hua Tuo.
Around A.D. 77, the Romans began using h**p extensively in the healing arts. In his writings, a scholar by the name of Pliny the Elder claimed that cannabis extract was helpful for relieving discomfort.
In India, cannabis was considered a sacred plant gifted by the gods. The Atharvaveda was considered a storehouse of knowledge that was useful for everyday life. This manuscript details the use of cannabis flowers and seeds in a variety of balms and tinctures.
Cannabis has even been found buried in the tombs of Ancient Greeks and Egyptians who also notated formulations for cannabis remedies.
The Differences Between H**p and Ma*****na
Ma*****na is high in the psychoactive compound THC, or delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, the compound in ma*****na that causes a high.
Ma*****na is rightly considered to be a “drug.” It is cultivated mainly for medicinal and “recreational” purposes. Both indica and sativa strains, as well as hybrids of the two, are used to produce ma*****na.
The United States federal government considers ma*****na to be a Class I controlled substance. However, many U.S. states have instituted legislation to regulate its cultivation and allow its use as medicine. Some states have also legalized ma*****na for recreational use.
H**p is not ma*****na. Although h**p does contain some cannabinoids, it has negligible amounts of THC. In fact, in order to be legally cultivated, h**p must contain less than 0.3% THC. H**p is also grown as an industrial crop for the use of fibers in textiles and even building materials. Most industrial h**p is grown for its fiber and contains relatively small concentrations of cannabinoids and terpenes, so it is not the most desirable source of CBD oil.
While many of the CBD products on the market are produced from this kind of industrial h**p, the CBD oil in Joy Organics products is made from a CBD-rich strain known as PCR h**p. PCR is short for phytocannabinoid rich — it contains as much as ten times the concentration of CBD as generic industrial h**p and only negligible amounts of THC. It does not cause a high.
Types of CBD Oil
Let’s now take a look at some of the types of CBD oil products and compare their qualities. It’s important to remember that, as the industry grows, some of these terms have evolved.
CBD From PCR H**p vs. CBD From Ma*****na
Oils can also be extracted from ma*****na the same way they can be extracted from h**p. The oils made from ma*****na are referred to as cannabis oil. Extracts made from ma*****na may contain some CBD but are intended to contain enough THC to cause a high. Such extracts made from ma*****na remain as illegal Schedule 1 drugs under the Controlled Substances Act.
For the purposes of this document, we are only concerned with CBD oil produced from PCR h**p. We are not concerned with THC-containing cannabis oils made from ma*****na, nor are we concerned with extracts of industrial h**p which have low levels of cannabinoids and terpenes.
Raw CBD Oil vs. CBD Concentrate
When the essential oils of the h**p plant are first extracted, the resulting product is considered raw h**p extract. This raw extract can be put through a series of filtration and distillation processes to remove unwanted compounds, such as waxes and chlorophyll, and produce various classes of oils differing in purity and CBD content. These refined oils are referred to as CBD concentrate or CBD distillate.
Full Spectrum CBD Oil
Earlier we mentioned another class of compounds called terpenes. Raw PCR h**p extract contains terpenes as well as other cannabinoid compounds similar to CBD. Because it retains the natural balance of cannabinoids and terpenes found in the original plant, we refer to these products as full spectrum oils.
Broad Spectrum CBD Oil
Broad spectrum CBD oil is very similar to a full spectrum oil. Full spectrum CBD oil, as we mentioned, retains the original concentrations of cannabinoids and terpenes found in raw PCR h**p extract. Broad spectrum CBD oil also contains these concentrations of beneficial cannabinoids and terpenes but has all trace amounts of THC extracted. This is ideal for those who want absolutely no THC in their CBD products.
CBD Isolate
CBD can also be isolated and purified. Pure CBD is known in the industry as CBD isolate. In their pure form, and at room temperature, cannabinoids are solid crystals. Purified cannabinoids are colorless and odorless. CBD isolate can be consumed directly or used as an additive in other preparations such as edibles and beverages; however, it is devoid of the beneficial terpenes and other cannabinoids found naturally in the plant.
CBD-Rich Oil/Phytocannabinoid-Rich (PCR)
Another term you may hear is CBD-rich oil. This term is generally used to label a CBD oil which has gone through some initial filtration and distillation steps to remove unwanted compounds such as chlorophyll and waxes. The resulting product has a higher concentration of CBD than the raw extract, hence the term CBD-rich oil.
CBD-Infused Oil
The term CBD-infused can be used to describe either a product which has been infused with purified CBD isolate or a product which has been infused with a CBD-rich, full spectrum or broad spectrum concentrate. A properly labeled product will specify which ingredients were used. If the ingredients include “CBD isolate,” then the product is not full spectrum. If the ingredients include “CBD-rich h**p oil (or extract)” or “full/broad spectrum CBD oil,” then obviously you’re getting a full/broad spectrum product. It’s important to know which is in a product because they produce different effects.
