The rising popularity of delta-8 THC has led to developing exciting products designed to deliver delta-9’s cannabinoid cousin in unique and innovative ways. Delta-8 moon rocks are one of those unique delivery methods to bring the traditional experience of smoking flower to delta-8 while also upping the ante as far as potency goes. These hemp flower buds smell and taste just like cannabis, only they are soaked in delta-8 distillate with terpenes and rolled in CBD and CBG kief, giving them the asteroid-like appearance that inspired their name.
If you’re not living in a state where recreational cannabis is legal and you’d like to try a legal alternative to delta-9 THC, delta-8 moon rocks may be just the thing you’re looking for. They offer much of the same euphoria, relaxation, and mental stimulation as delta-9 only without the anxiety, the paranoia, or the potential legal trouble that can come with it.
To understand what delta-8 moon rocks are, you’re going to need to know what delta-8 THC is first. Delta-8 is a cannabinoid found in cannabis and hemp plants highly similar to delta-9 THC, the primary psychoactive ingredient in cannabis. Delta-9 gives you that relaxed and happy feeling but can bring about paranoia and anxiety when smoking pot. Delta-8 offers a similar but more mellow high that generally does not cause the same paranoia and anxiety.
The most significant difference between delta-8 and delta-9 THC, aside from delta-8 offering a less intense high, is that delta-8 can derive from hemp plants, and therefore it is not illegal thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill. That means that even if you live in a state in which recreational marijuana is still illegal, you may very well be able to enjoy a similar experience through delta-8 legally.
Yes, delta-8 will get you high, but it’s not going to be quite as potent an experience as with delta-9. For some, that’s actually an excellent thing, as certain people don’t pair too well with cannabis and find themselves uncomfortable whenever they try to enjoy it. If you’re that sort of person, you may discover delta-8 to be a far more enjoyable experience. Its effects include euphoria, relaxation, uplifted mood, and even mild pain relief.
Because delta-8 is only present in trace amounts in both the cannabis and hemp plants, the only way to produce a usable amount is to create a concentrated distillate that manufacturers most often package in vape cartridges. While this method is an effective one and has become quite popular recently, vaping is not for everyone. Some who try vaping find that they miss the experience of smoking traditional flower. Delta-8 moon rocks are a means of getting that traditional flower experience back while also increasing potency.
Delta-8 moon rocks are hemp flower buds soaked in delta-8 distillate to produce a flower product that has only trace amounts of delta-9 but is rich in delta-8. The buds are then rolled in a CBD and CBG kief to give it an even greater cannabinoid kick and an extraterrestrial appearance.
Delta-8 moon rocks are a far more potent means of enjoying delta-8 THC, and because the distillate is infused with terpenes, the taste is also even more powerful and enjoyable. They take the traditional flower experience and bring them to an entirely different place unique from any other means of enjoying hemp flower, delta-8, CBD, or CBG.
Creating delta-8 moon rocks is something like forming a supergroup, only instead of Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, you’ve got delta-8, CBD, CBG, and hemp. This combination draws from all the corners of the legal cannabinoid universe to create something that looks, smells, tastes, and feels otherworldly.
To use another pop culture analogy, making delta-8 moon rocks requires you to be a bit like George Clooney in Ocean’s 11, assembling a team of cannabinoid experts to do a job that none of them could pull off alone. It begins with a foundation of premium hemp flower, the base to which all the other ingredients will be added. You then dip the flower in a delta-8 distillate that has been infused with terpenes to provide it with a next-level flavor profile.
The resulting sticky buds are then rolled around in CBD and CBG kief, making them appear as if they were psychoactive fragments of the moon itself, plucked up by an astronaut, and brought back down to earth for anyone seeking a safe and legal cannabis alternative.
Perhaps you’re wondering whether the process of smoking delta-8 moon rocks is any different than smoking traditional flower (it is). Or maybe you’re entirely new to smoking any form of flower at all, and you need some guidance before you start burning and inhaling things. Either way, this quick and easy guide to smoking delta-8 moon rocks should prove helpful to you.
Moon rocks set themselves apart from traditional flower right off the bat. While you may feel inclined to break out the grinder or pick the bud apart with your fingers, you should avoid doing either as you’re going to lose quite a bit of the kief and even some distillate if you do so. Instead, use a knife or razor to slice the bud up into small pieces.
The sticky nature of delta-8 moon rocks makes them slightly tricky to smoke without getting a clogged-up pipe, which is why it’s best to pack your pipe or bong lightly. Also, note that a medium-sized bowl may be the best way to enjoy your moon rocks as it will help you conserve them by giving you greater control of how much you smoke at a time. Larger bowls can become a bonfire quickly.
Delta-8 moon rocks are potent, so you don’t have to go for broke on your first hit. Start low and go slow is the motto. If you think you’re not feeling anything, be sure to give yourself a window of at least 20 minutes before you go ahead and try more.
Whenever you’re ready, flick that lighter on, hold it up to your moon rocks, and pull gently through until you feel your lungs filling up with smoke. Inhale, release, repeat. Oh, and expect a large cloud upon exhalation because the distillate can create quite a bit of smoke.
The trickiness of getting dense and sticky delta-8 moon rocks to burn can be offset by laying them on a bed of freshly ground CBD flower. When you do this, you make for a smoother and easier smoking experience.
As you can see, creating delta-8 moon rocks is a rather complicated process, even for experienced tokers. Since you’re most likely not the George Clooney of legal cannabinoids (but, hey, who knows), you’re probably better off purchasing your delta-8 moon rocks from a company with the expertise and equipment to produce the high-quality flower product you’re looking for.
The Hemp Haus offers high-quality delta-8 moon rocks from Stardust Hemp that offer a higher percentage of delta-8 than you’ll find anywhere else. Over 50% of their moon rocks consist of active ingredients, so you know you’re getting a potent product.
]]>
There are so many ways to take cannabidiol (CBD). You literally get to choose how you want to get CBD and the myriad other hemp actives and their benefits into you. We call these “delivery formats” or “forms”.
Having a range of form options is great. It makes it so that CBD and cannabinoids are a choice you can tailor to both your needs and your lifestyle. This has become more pronounced now that hemp flower is being cultivated in a variety of strains, so that you can find the winning combination of hemp actives (cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, phytonutrients) that fit you.
In this article, we’ll go over the three main methods for consuming CBD and the forms available within these methods. Additionally, we’ll discuss the characteristics, the advantages, and if there are any downsides to specific CBD delivery forms, so you can make an informed decision about CBD.
These are generally pills that contain botanical hemp extract. Extracts can be liquid concentrates or ground up flower. We recommend Ananda Hemp Full Spectrum CBD Softgels.
While CBD oil is available in capsules, it is also available to purchase as an extract in oil or can be made into an oil using home recipes.
Tinctures are liquids that are infused with CBD extract, and are taken sublingually (under the tongue). This form differs from other oral forms, because it is not absorbed through digestion, but rather enters the bloodstream through glands in the mouth. We recommend Ananda Hemp Full Spectrum CBD Extracts.
Liposomes are an exception to the above descriptions. While they are taken orally, they have a much higher bioavailability and a much quicker time to onset. They are one of the most powerful ways to delivery CBD to the bloodstream. They too bypass digestion and drastically increase absorption. We encourage anyone considering taking full spectrum CBD to read more about the only Liposomal CBD we trust.
Any food that has been infused with cannabis is considered an edible. One of the more popular types that you may have heard of are gummies—basically gummy bears that have been infused with CBD extract. It’s important to keep in mind that the potency of edibles varies from product to product and will vary even when you cook up something with homemade hemp butter. Remember, start low and go slow, because effects take longer when you are ingesting cannabis.
Inhalation, as you probably already know, includes either smoking or vaporizing raw hemp flower to get it into the bloodstream via the lungs. There are many different ways to smoke and vape fresh hemp bud.
With the health risks associated with smoking, vaping is becoming a medically preferred method. See how the two break down and compare, so you can decide if one might be right for you.
For the purist. Joints are cheap, discreet, disposable—only requiring raw flower and rolling paper. A wide variety of rolling papers can impact your experience, including different sizes and paper made from hemp, bamboo, rice, and even flavored paper. Filters can be used, and to make things even easier, prerolls are now widely available. This is a good and easy way to get to know different strains of cannabis.
Bowls are small hand pipes that are another way to get smaller, controlled doses of hemp flower without the rolling paper. They are convenient—small, portable, and easy to use. They can be made from glass, ceramic, wood, steel, brass, or plastic (avoid wood or plastic that may produce harmful fumes). Hand pipes have become an art form, and you could have fun shopping for one that suits your personal style.
Water pipes range in styles and designs and include bongs and bubblers, which are a kind of hybrid that marries the water filter feature of the bong and the portability of a hand pipe. Some believe these are a step up in sophistication because they incorporate the water feature. However, there is debate: While the water does cool the smoke, it is not certain that it filters out any harmful elements. In fact, water vapor could be inhaled into your lungs. Some believe that the water might absorb cannabinoids, decreasing your absorption. Avoid bongs or bubblers made of plastic, rubber or aluminum that could produce harmful fumes.
There are MANY different kinds of vaporizers, portable and fixed, and the market keeps growing and changing. You can check out our friend, the Vape Critic, who is an excellent resource for learning about all things vape. He also has a Vape Critic YouTube channel where you can see it all in action.
These include salves, lotions, creams, and serums. It should be noted that Transdermals are distinctly different from topicals. Transdermals are patches that emit a steady and controlled flow of hemp actives that do penetrate the skin and doenter the bloodstream. They last a long time (6-8 hours—so great for sleep), have an 80-100% bioavailability, and come on generally within an hour.
The Nature’s Breakthrough educational resource is just one of the ways The Hemp Haus practices its sincere commitment to and passion for educating people about CBD and helping them find the right, high-quality product based on their needs.
For pain, insomnia, anxiety, and more …
Puffin Hemp Liposomal CBD (350, 700, 1000)
Ananda Hemp Softgels and Tinctures (200, 300, 600, 2000)
Ananda Hemp Spectrum 125 Salve
Ananda Touch Bliss Intimate Oil
Ananda Hemp Full Spectrum Roll On (150mg) for Pain
Ananda Pets Full Spectrum CBD Extract
]]>
If 2018 was the year of CBD, 2020 is gearing up to be the year of cannabigerol (CBG)—more specifically CBG hemp flower. Ever since 2009, when a few cannabis industry experts got together and decided to introduce cannabidiol (CBD)to the world, we’ve been discovering that there’s more to cannabis than THC. A lot more.
Some of the well-known cannabinoids are thought to have a wide range of therapeutic benefits. Preliminary evidence suggesting that CBD, THC, CBG, and other cannabinoids have the potential to treat anything from anxiety to inflammation to insomnia is mounting. Human clinical trials are finally being initiated to test cannabinoids for their safety and effects in a variety of instances. CBD, even, has made it all the way through the FDA gauntlet as a treatment for untreatable forms of epilepsy.
It’s not just consumers that are demanding CBG. Farmers and manufacturers are scrambling to figure out how squeeze more of this coveted cannabinoid out of the cannabis plant and into the market. Breeders are desperately trying to get out in front of the problem to find a solution. And it looks like there are …
But what is it that makes this CBG cannabinoid—and CBG hemp flower specifically—so desirable?
In this article, we’re going to answer that question by looking at three characteristics of cannabigerol (CBG):
So, without further ado, let’s discuss the potential health benefits of CBG.
Reason number one for the demand of a cannabinoid, of course, is the most obvious: in this case it’s CBG’s potential therapeutic and health benefits. If consumers demand it, manufacturers will want to make it, farmers will want to grow it, breeders will want to make it rain CBG, and scientists will want to continue researching it. This is a whole ecosystem of demand that is already happening.
So, what are the potential benefits of CBG?
So far, science has shown us that cannabinoids work through activating receptors in the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Although studies show that cannabinoids can interact with many kinds of receptors in the body, CBG seems to be partial to the two main cannabinoid receptors–CB1 and CB2. I say “seems to be partial” because studies are ongoing, and more and more is being discovered about cannabinoids and their effects on the ECS as time goes on.
CBG interacts with cannabinoid receptors similarly to THC—but has very different effects. Because CBG cannot get you high like THC, researchers are eager to discover if CBG can produce the benefits of THC without the intoxication. Many people already using high-CBG strains say that it can.
Like CBD, CBG can also increase anandamide levels. Anandamide is your “well-being” endocannabinoid. It weighs in on things like mood, appetite, sleep, and memory.
In the brain, CBG is believed to keep gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) around longer. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter responsible for reducing excitability (anxiety and fear responses).
CBG is also thought to antagonize serotonin receptors, meaning that CBG could help treat depression.
It’s important to keep in mind that in the field of research, cannabinoid science is still in its infancy. While scientists have been exploring the world of cannabinoids for over a century now, human trials have been limited because restrictions, until recently, have made them pretty much impossible to conduct, in the U.S. especially.
However, a substantial amount of preclinical studies on cannabinoids have been carried out. “Preclinical”, as you probably know, means not in humans, but instead studies carried out in animal models or human tissue in a laboratory. Some promising results from preclinical studies on CBG include:
Imagine there’s a field of hemp growing along your favorite walking path. You walk by it nearly day. What you don’t know is that one day, after the hemp plants reach a tall, slender height, almost mature but still too young for harvest—on that day each plant in the field will contain only cannabigerolic acid or CBGA, and virtually no other cannabinoids.
But on one of your next walks, you’ll be passing by mature, flowering plants that are loaded with a variety of cannabinoids, including CBD, THC and CBC … but very little CBG.
CBGA, and the potential for CBG, comes and goes just like that! This short window for CBG that doesn’t yield nearly as much extract as the cannabinoid, cannabidiol (CBD), has posed challenges for cultivators who want CBG. For example, if one farms to produce CBG, they forego all other cannabinoids … because in natural cannabis plants, without CBG, there aren’t substantial amounts of other cannabinoids. When you take CBG, during the window of its abundance, none of the other cannabinoids have come on yet.
During the evolution of the cannabis plant, it appears that CBGA was chosen to be the mighty morphing cannabinoid that parents all other cannabinoids. It’s been called the “Mother” or the “Granddaddy” cannabinoid, but probably its most fitting nickname is the “Stem Cell” cannabinoid. As you probably already know, stem cells are the shape-shifting building blocks of the human body that can amazingly change into other cells.
From CBGA, it only takes a little decarboxylation to make CBG. Decarboxylation is a chemical reaction that causes raw, inactive cannabinoids to drop something called a carboxyl group, release a little CO2, and—voila! Active cannabinoids like CBG, THC, etc. are born. However …
CBGA, in “normal” cannabis plants, does not make much CBG at all. Instead, after some mingling with cannabis enzymes, it redirects into three lineages from which other cannabinoids cascade into the cannabinoid pool. Those three lines are:
These are the precursors or inactive forms of THC, CBD, and CBC, respectively. Cannabis expert Dr. Ethan Russo calls CBG “a way station on the path to these other cannabinoids.”
So, if CBG is so rare, how do we even have CBG hemp flower?
Where Does CBG Hemp Flower Come from?
In the race to raise CBD, it’s been discovered that, although rare, some cannabis plants lack sufficient enzymes needed to put CBGA on the path to cannabinoid parenthood. The result of this mutation or happy accident is high CBGA hemp flower, which, when harvested, can be decarbed into CBG.
But don’t think that breeders are waiting around for nature to deliver into their hands this rarely occurring plant. Cannabis breeders have been working in recent years to develop CBG-rich strains. And that could mean that CBG might just be the alpha of all cannabinoids …
I know. CBG is a minor cannabinoid … so how can it be an alpha cannabinoid? Given what you’ve just learned about CBGA, think of it like this: CBG is alpha similar to how Bill Gates is alpha. Gates is directly responsible for the creation of things that allow a whole lot of other major things to happen.
There are benefits to the selective breeding of CBG varietals, one of the greatest and most immediate being that it can guarantee a hemp product that falls below the legal .3% limit of THC. Some breeders believe CBG will surpass the demand for CBD. But even more impressively, because CBG holds the secrets to making CBD, THC, and CBC, it could be tweaked to be farmed either way. Which means that not only is CBG the alpha—or first expression of cannabinoids in nature—but that it can be bred to be the operating system (going back to the Gates metaphor) in large-scale farming of all cannabinoids. Essentially, taking what nature already gifted CBGA and expanding it.
In a stage when farmers are having a hard enough time getting feminized hemp seeds acclimated for American soil that won’t bust the legal THC limit, genetic options are looking good.
It takes a lot of biomass to make a small amount of CBG extract. Like thousands of pounds of biomass. Biomass, by the way, is the leftover organic matter (stalks and leaves) after flowers or seeds have been harvested from the hemp plant.
In traditional farming, biomass is waste. But in hemp farming, biomass has value. While cannabinoids like CBD are most abundant in the flowering tops of hemp plants, they are also in the stalks and leaves. Instead of throwing it away, biomass can be used to extract CBD for CBD oil.
According to a recent Forbes article, modern hemp plants are often around 20% CBD, which makes it a worthwhile, even profitable, endeavor to extract it from biomass. The percentage of CBG in most hemp plants, however, is much lower. A plant that has only 1% CBG requires 20 times more biomass to extract the same amount as you could of the CBD.
In addition, expensive equipment is needed to extract the CBG, making it even less appealing for extractors to produce.
Selectively bred CBG hemp flower could eliminate these challenges.
Smoking and vaping hemp flower has become popular. People that use CBG hemp flower say that it amplifies the positives of the other parts of the cannabis plant. It elevates mood and creates a confident calm without getting you high. These effects are powerful and immediate when raw CBG flower is inhaled.
In the hemp and cannabinoid world, consumer demand seems to be outpacing production.
Developing CBG genetics appears to be the key to meeting that demand, both within the industry and the market. Production costs are a problem because CBG is inefficient and expensive to extract, and because demand is high.
Large-scale farming of CBG-based hemp crops, in which CBG is the dominant cannabinoid, is on the horizon. Not only will hemp strains with a high-CBG yield help set the stage, but so too will other genetic developments, like removing most of the terpenes in CBG hemp. That may put a sacrilege ring in your ear, but sticky terpenes gum up the machinery and hinder the production needed for large-scale cultivation. Experts suggest that terpenes and even additional cannabinoids can be added back into the CBG once it has been extracted, in order to restore full spectrum goodness to the final product.
Keep in mind, though, that will not work for the raw CBG hemp flower market. Raw hemp flower enthusiasts will likely want the full spectrum of cannabis compounds available, including those sticky terpenes. Such a demand ought to encourage artisanal growers to continue cultivating the full hemp flower experience for connoisseurs who want that powerful, full body, all-natural “farm-to-table” hemp pilgrimage.
We’re excited to announce that The Hemp Haus now features its own brand of hemp flower—Stardust—available in several unique and outstanding varietals. Shopping hemp flower can be a fun personal adventure, and The Hemp Haus team is always available to guide you through our line of exceptional hemp bud.
After collaborating with farmers in Oregon, Washington, Nevada, and California to offer a carefully curated line of raw hemp flower, The Hemp Haus is pleased to introduce some of the first CBG hemp flower available.
First up is Jack Frost CBG. As the name suggests, this hemp flower is frosted with silvery trichomes. Its aroma is fresh, sweet, and earthy and it finishes with smooth flavors of pine and citrus.
Jack Frost CBG can shift your perspective into a calm confidence, uplifting and settling you into a cruising altitude of focus and clarity that brilliantly manages the daily grind. Anxiety, aches and pains, and work stress have no say on this hemp flower’s watch.
People are enjoying hemp flower because they can harness all the whole plant nutrients of cannabis without the intoxicating effect. And CBG hemp flower is no exception. Our clientele describes it as uplifting and giving an open feeling that helps them relax. Think of how fresh mountain air can both invigorate and calm. But there is almost zero THC, so you won’t get high. Relieve anxiety without having to sacrifice your focus … Tell your inflammation to take a hike so you can take a hike. Leave the negative behind so you can move forward in your day.
Smoking and vaping hemp flower is a way to get a significant amount and range of cannabinoids into your system fairly quickly. With this form of consuming hemp CBG, there is an appreciable absorption rate through the lungs, and you can simply inhale more right away if you need it.
And with hemp flower, you can be certain you’re getting the full spectrum of cannabinoids and whole plant nutrients because it hasn’t been processed to remove anything. However, that doesn’t mean you don’t have to watch out for quality.
Hemp is a bioaccumulator, which means it leeches impurities from the nearby soil. If your hemp was grown around heavy metals, pesticides, or other contaminants, they will certainly be in your hemp and in you if you ingest it. Always vet your hemp product and make sure that it comes with a certificate of analysis (COA) which is an analysis of what is in your hemp (from cannabinoid amounts to impurities) that is performed by a third-party lab. It is important to know that your hemp flower is safe.
The hemp industry is still making its way toward unified regulation. Because of how hemp legislation was enacted, states have varying practices for monitoring hemp cultivation and production. And, honestly, poor quality hemp is slipping through the cracks from a lack of education and oversight. The safest and highest quality products will come from growers and producers that put forth the time, energy, and expense to self-regulate.
At The Hemp Haus, education about high-quality cannabinoids is our first priority. Access to these products and understanding their effects is second, because they don’t exist without a safe, high-quality product.
Even if you do not use our products, we want you to have the knowledge to make an informed decision about purchasing safe, high-quality cannabinoid products that will positively affect your life. We are always available to discuss hemp and cannabinoids and answer any questions you may have.
You can learn some quick, simple tips on our website that will ensure you are getting only high-quality cannabinoid products.
People also find the sensory effects of hemp flower alluring. It often looks, smells, and taste like good old-fashioned bud, but without the psychoactive effects. And CBG goes one step further, by putting a pretty perk in your step. Some say it alters their perspective and helps them focus, but again without any trippy or couch-seeking effects.
We’ve found that people think of CBG flower to get through the grind of the day. Stress, anxiety, aches and pains, and general work tedium can fade to the background, allowing an uplifted, clear, and chill self to stand and be counted.
Some people who use cannabis like to mix in hemp flower to moderate the effects of a high-THC product. We’ve also heard reports that CBG hemp flower can extend the effects and duration of other strains of hemp flower. That makes sense, considering that cannabis compounds are thought to work synergistically and CBG is the parent of most other cannabinoids.
The Nature’s Breakthrough educational resource is just one of the ways The Hemp Haus practices its sincere commitment to and passion for educating people about CBD and helping them find the right, high-quality product based on their needs.
]]>There’s a whole new kind of jargon springing up in the health and wellness world. It’s CBD speak, and it practically deserves its own dictionary. Words like “phytocannabinoid”, “flavonoid”, “terpene”, and “full spectrum” are becoming so pervasive online and in social media, you might just need some CBD oil to relieve a bad case of FONK. And, in case it’s eating at you, FONK stands for “fear of not knowing”. Cue the deep breaths.
You may have noticed that here at Nature’s Breakthrough we promote and discuss full spectrum CBD or that we post about specific cannabinoids on a regular basis. There is an important reason for this and why The Hemp Haus features only high-quality, full spectrum CBD oil:
It’s not the CBD and the THC cannabinoids alone that make medicinal marijuana and hemp-derived CBD so effective.
A recently study published by chemists at the University of British Columbia (UBC) revealed that it is not the CBD and THC in cannabis that gives it its distinct effects.
“A high abundance compound in a plant, such as THC or CBD, isn’t necessarily responsible for the unique medicinal effects of certain strains,” lead study author and chemistry professor Elizabeth Mudge told Science Magazine.
“Understanding the presence of the low abundance cannabinoids could provide valuable information to the medical cannabis community.”
In this article, we’ll explore the different types of CBD Oil and what makes CBD full spectrum the best type. Our topics will include:
Cannabidiol (CBD) oil is an extract from the cannabis plant. The hemp plant (a type of cannabis plant) is crawling with little hair-like glands called trichomes. They are found most abundantly in the flowering tops of the hemp plant. These trichomes mass produce essential oils that the plant uses both for protection and attracting pollinating insects. These little essential oil factories produce compounds like cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids.
In the hemp plant, CBD is usually the most abundant compound produced. That’s why the oil is called CBD oil. When it is extracted, it is full of mostly CBD, but also a wide range of other possible compounds, depending on the plant.
After extraction, manufacturers decide what type of CBD oil to make: isolate, distillate, broad spectrum, and full spectrum.
As finished CBD oil products, all of these types contain a minimum of two things: extracted cannabidiol (CBD) and an oil carrier. The oil carrier is generally some kind of healthy fat like coconut oil, olive oil, grape seed oil, and, most commonly, cold-pressed hemp seed oil.
Medium-chain triglycerides (MCT oil) are often added to the mix because MCTs have a bumped-up bioavailability—that is, they get greater access to your gut with less guff from digestive enzymes and have some clout with the liver, where oral forms of CBD are metabolized.
Beyond these two essential ingredients, CBD oil can vary greatly.
This hemp CBD oil will have only the two ingredients: Pure cannabidiol and the oil carrier. The kind of oil and amount of CBD can vary, but otherwise, it’s the purest kind of CBD oil—around 99% CBD crystal suspended in oil.
It’s important to understand that pure doesn’t always mean the most potent. It depends on a variety of other factors. Read more about CBD potency in our article on what makes CBD effective.
Distillation is an extraction process that separates and refines cannabinoids at a molecular level. It starts with crude extraction, and then refines from there to remove more and more plant compounds until the product is roughly 80% CBD. The remaining amount of the extraction leaves behind traces of terpenes, minor cannabinoids, and other plant compounds.
Full spectrum hemp oil is extracted to preserve the greatest range of beneficial cannabinoids (including THC), terpenes, flavonoids, and other phytonutrients. In the U.S., full spectrum CBD oil is legal as long as it contains .3% or less THC.
We recommend only high-quality full spectrum CBD. The Hemp Haus is highly selective and features products from only two brands: Ananda Hemp and Puffin Hemp Liposomal CBD.
The Hemp Haus guarantees the quality of these two top CBD manufacturers. In fact, both have been involved in scientific studies that are published in peer-reviewed journals.
Ananda Hemp’s study showed how their CBD reduced opioid use and improved sleep and pain. And Puffin Hemp’s studyproved how their liposomal CBD was safe and could lower blood glucose levels.
The Hemp Haus does not fool around when it comes to CBD quality, therefore we recommend these products:
Ananda Hemp Full Spectrum Tincture Puffin Hemp Liposomal Hemp Actives Ananda Hemp Full Spectrum CBD Gels Ananda Hemp Spectrum 125 CBD Salve
A lot of people want to know, “Can full spectrum CBD be THC free?” Um, nope. But the ever-evolving hemp industry came up with something called broad spectrum CBD. This full spectrum CBD oil that has had the THC removed. You may also see it expressed as THC Free on a label.
Some people simply want nothing to do with THC. If it’s their first venture into the cannabis world, they may feel better starting out with CBD isolate. But for those who want to experience the whole plant benefits of CBD without the THC, broad spectrum CBD products are available. We recommend Ananda Hemp’s THC Free Spectrum Gels.
When you’re talking about isolate or even distillate, it’s pretty straightforward what you are getting. And high-quality versions of these are believed to have the therapeutic effects that CBD is known for. But the benefits of full spectrum oil go beyond these basics.
To really understand what full spectrum oil means, we like to say you get the whole plant. This refers to the pure extracted oil of the hemp plant that contains unmodified cannabinoids and compounds. This means it contains a range of cannabinoids, vitamins and minerals, fatty acids, flavonoids, and terpenes.
Other cannabinoids that may be present in your full spectrum CBD oil include: THC, CBG, THCV, CBC, CBN, and much more. For more information on the major cannabinoids and their effects, check out our article on the cannabinoid all-stars.
Flavonoids are a diverse family of phytonutrients that, along with carotenoids, give fruits, flowers, and vegetables their rich and vibrant colors. These phytonutrients are known antioxidants with anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, and immune system benefits. While flavonoids exist widely throughout nature, there are some that can only be found in cannabis, and these are called cannaflavins. Studies suggest that cannaflavins are more powerful anti-inflammatories than those found in aspirin.
Terpenes are aromatic oils that give cannabis strains their characteristic odors and flavors. Different terpenes are thought to have various effects. The most abundant terpene in cannabis, Myrcene, is known to have inflammation-blocking, pain-relieving, sedating, muscle-relaxing, and antibiotic effects. This well-known terp is believed to work well in the entourage effect (see below) with CBD, THC, and CBG. Read our post on cannabis terpenes to learn more about their effects.
The assortment of plant nutrients existing in the hemp plant are thought to contribute to the overall therapeutic effects of hemp-derived CBD—if they are allowed to stay in there. If you are looking for stress relief from CBD, wouldn’t you want the added benefit of relaxation-promoting terpenes? And if it’s anti-inflammatory effects you’re after, wouldn’t you want some cannaflavin love left in there?
But what’s even more stupendous is that all these phytonutrients found in hemp are thought to work synergistically in something called the “entourage effect.” Which brings us to a quick discussion of …
Scientists aren’t quite sure how the entourage effect works yet, but preliminary research suggests that cannabinoids and other cannabis plant compounds interact synergistically with the receptors in the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Unfortunately, not enough research has been done because of the prohibition of cannabis until only recently.
Still, there is clinical evidence that strongly points toward the entourage effect. A 2017 study demonstrated that low doses of THC:CBD have the potential to treat neuropathic pain in mice.
Dr. Ethan Russo has conducted studies that suggest both cannabinoid-cannabinoid synergistic interactions and cannabinoid-terpenoid interactions exist. And some of this research has come from human trials, which is uncommon.
Over the years, scientists have discovered, and continue to discover, that different cannabinoids react with different receptors in the body—not just the cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2).
CBD, for example, is believed to have more interaction with opioid, dopamine, and serotonin receptors than with cannabinoid receptors.
If you consider that there are over 100 known cannabinoids, and up to 300 more chemical compounds in the cannabis plants, and couple that with the untold amount of receptors in the human body—it might take a while for scientists to sort out all the possible combinations and effects.
As the UBC study implies, CBD has been getting a lot of attention. But there are 113 known cannabinoids in hemp, and it is important to understand that there are many cannabinoids that offer a variety of contributions to the homeostasis of the ECS.
CBC and CBL are cannabinoids that may be able to contribute, along with other cannabinoids, to an entourage effect of wellness. Pairing the unique qualities of different cannabinoids can offer a more holistic approach to wellness and treatment.
Tetrahydrocannabivarin THCV and cannabidiolic acid CBDA are cannabinoids that also have revealed unique therapeutic profiles, which suggests great benefit in the further study of their effects, especially working synergistically alongside CBD, THC and other cannabinoids.
Full spectrum CBD is considered to be safe. In early 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that “CBD is generally well tolerated with a good safety profile.”
No. Let’s be clear: hemp-derived CBD is non-intoxicating and will not get you high.
In order for hemp to be legal, it must contain .3% or less THC, which is not an amount that can cause intoxicating effects. CBD that is extracted from responsibly grown hemp will not bust the legal amount. Therefore, you can enjoy full spectrum hemp oil benefits without getting high.
CBD that comes from hemp, whether it’s full spectrum or not, is legal.
For nearly a century, during prohibition, the terms cannabis, marijuana, and hemp were used interchangeably. It began with the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 and continued through the overkill of the Controlled Substances Act of the 1970s that made marijuana (and subsequently, hemp) a Schedule I drug because it has “a high potential for abuse” and “no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.” This placed marijuana (and it’s can’t-get-you-high cousin, hemp) on the same level as heroin and LSD. However, …
The 2014 Farm Bill defined hemp as containing .3 % or less THC and made it legal to cultivate, produce, and sell within state-defined programs that were considerably restrictive. The 2018 Farm Bill loosened those restrictions, and as long as hemp and hemp-derived CBD products follow the guidelines of the bill, they are legal. The defining factor is the THC amount of .3% or less. To reiterate, hemp is no longer a controlled substance as long as it meets the government’s definition.
Full spectrum CBD that you buy for yourself could upset your pet’s stomach. A made-for-pets CBD product like Ananda Pets Full Spectrum CBD Extract removes the chlorophyll that causes stomach upset in dogs and cats. Otherwise, it is the same full spectrum CBD product that you would purchase for yourself.
Yes! CBD hemp flower has become very popular. One reason people are smoking it is because it yields a full spectrum of cannabinoids and plant nutrients all at once.
You can smoke hemp flower in all the traditional ways that marijuana is combusted and inhaled—through joints, pipes, etc. And you can even purchase it in pre-rolls, so the work is done for you. Smoking allows the full spectrum of hemp cannabinoids to get into you fairly quickly through the lungs. The disadvantage of smoking hemp flower is the same as it is for weed and tobacco—smoke inhalation is damaging. But you already knew that.
Vaping is also highly effective, and has an even higher absorption rate than smoking. And it’s not damaging to your respiratory system like smoking is. With vaping, though, you’ll just need to buy and maintain a dry herb atomizer.
We recommend Stardust Hemp CBD and CBG Flower.
The consensus seems to be that full spectrum CBD is better. The only real way for you to find out is to try it for yourself. But please remember, whether you believe in the entourage effect or not, always choose a high-quality CBD product.
While industrial hemp-derived cannabinoids are legal, they are not currently regulated by the FDA. This means that the quality assurance of the product is left up to the manufacturers. Transparency of a cannabinoid product is very important for several reasons. Here’s just one very important reason: Industrial hemp is a bioaccumulator, which means that it will absorb heavy metals and chemicals from the soil. In some countries, like China, farmers will plant a crop of hemp to clean out their soil, and then sell the tainted hemp to be used for CBD.
You can learn some quick, simple tips here that will ensure you are getting only high-quality cannabinoid products.
Our bodies are complex systems, and they require the maintenance and attention proportional to that complexity. Whenever possible, we should promote the overall wellness of our bodies, even when treating a specific condition, because optimal health is balanced health.
Humans have been using the benefits of cannabis for centuries, and we are only now taking a scientific approach to understanding what has been practiced naturally for so long. Research has enabled us to discover how particular cannabinoids can treat some of the most devastating diseases and disorders, such as debilitating epilepsy in children. But we should not ignore investigating the preventative health benefits of the wealth of cannabinoids now available to us. After all, isn’t that the ultimate goal? To prevent diseases like Alzheimer’s and cancer, before they need treatment?
The Nature’s Breakthrough educational resource is just one of the ways The Hemp Haus practices its sincere commitment to and passion for educating people about CBD and helping them find the right, high-quality product based on their needs.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28885457/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16209908/
https://www.sfu.ca/content/sfu/dean-gradstudies/events/dreamcolloquium/DreamColloquium-Marijuana/EthanRusso/_jcr_content/main_content/download/file.res/Russo%20Simon%20Fraser%20January%202017%20Cannabis%20Pharmacology%20.pdf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3736954/
For pain, insomnia, anxiety, and more …
Puffin Hemp Liposomal CBD (350, 700, 1000)
Ananda Hemp Softgels and Tinctures (200, 300, 600, 2000)
Ananda Hemp Spectrum 125 Salve
Ananda Touch Bliss Intimate Oil
]]>
After you learn about liposomes, you’ll know you are.
Vitamins, healthy herbs, melatonin, even some CBD have poor bioavailability—or crappy absorption, as I like to call it.
But as we (and our guts) age, we need supplements. With our active and hectic lifestyles, we need supplements. And if we want to use everything at our disposal to fight off aging and declining health … we are going to need supplements.
So take a minute to watch this quick video about how liposomes increase the bioavailability of nutrients. And if you want to stick around after that, we’ll go further down the rabbit hole to discuss what your supplements are—but mostly aren’t—doing, and why liposomes are the solution (spoiler alert: we’ve got science to back it up).
Most of your vitamin, melatonin or CBD may be getting rejected by your body. Studies show that typically only a small percentage of oral supplements get absorbed into the bloodstream. If they’re not obliterated by gastric juices in your stomach, then they’ll likely be ushered out by liver enzymes to become waste (on several levels, e.g. waste of time, waste of money, waste of your body’s energy).
We’d all like to get our vitamins from a healthy diet. But lifestyle factors and aging, especially, can limit our ability to get proper nutrients from food. And not everybody has access to an all-natural, organic diet. As we age, poor appetite and an unhealthy gut can affect the quality of our nutrition. Supplements become the go-to in these situations. But if we can’t efficiently digest nutrients from food, why do we expect to get them from supplements that are processed in the same way?
Along with an inefficient absorbency, many supplements have additional downsides that are purposely added. Vitamins often contain binders, fillers, and flow agents, used to make the ingredients stick together or to make the vitamins easier to manufacture. And sometimes companies will coat pills with wax or other substances to give them a longer shelf life. Unfortunately, all of these things can prevent vitamins from disintegrating, being absorbed, and ultimately being effective.
It’s believed that some people react differently to oral supplements because of their genes. Preliminary studies have found that genetics could prevent some people from absorbing vitamins like Vitamin E. More studies are needed to determine if this might apply to other vitamin supplements. This is important because when you take a lot of vitamins that are not being absorbed, this could cause harmful effects.
As you saw in the video, liposomes are nano-sized bubbles with an external shell made of healthy phospholipids (fats) and a hollow liquid center.
These fat bubbles can be loaded with supplemental nutrients. Now here’s where things get really interesting …
The phospholipids (healthy fats) used for liposomes are the major building blocks of cell membranes. This means that the liposome that is delivering your nutrient package speaks the language of your body. It has access to your bloodstream … it’s like having an inside guy.
This isn’t weird, unnatural science. It’s how babies take nutrition from breast milk. Infants can’t absorb all the nutrients they need through the digestive system. Naturally occurring lipids in breast milk form around nutrients and protect them throughout the digestive process.
Natural phospholipids can come from milk, eggs, and vegetable oils. Dr. Emek Blair, from Puffin Hemp and Puffin Health, uses phospholipids from healthy sunflower oil to customize his lab-grade liposomes for a variety of nutrients.
We can’t speak for other products on the market, but we personally know and trust Dr. Emek Blair. He is an award-winning chemist who has over a decade of experience in food manufacturing and the hemp industry, and nearly two decades of experience studying, developing, and customizing liposomes.
And, most importantly, he has taught us that mimicking nature is the best way. Letting your body absorb nutrients in a natural, preferred way is better than loading it with oral supplements that don’t get used and that your liver has to work overtime to expel from your body. In fact, liposomes are safer. You may have heard that large doses of CBD could lead to liver toxicity … Doesn’t happen with liposomal CBD, and Puffin Hemp has the studies to prove it.
At The Hemp Haus, we use Puffin Hemp every day, so we can personally attest to its effectiveness. But you don’t have to believe us; Puffin Hemp has the scientific data to prove that these liposomes have the highest CBD absorption rate on the market—up to 85%!
Additionally, Puffin Hemp also has the first human clinical safety study on liposomal CBD published in the peer-reviewed American Journal of Endocannabinoid Medicine.
Several more studies that have already been carried-out will are forthcoming, while still more studies are being conducted using Dr. Blair’s Puffin Cellg8 liposomal formula.
Puffin Cellg8 formula liposomes are safe, fast-acting, powerful, efficient, and deliver nutrients in a natural way that is familiar to your body. So why isn’t everybody using them yet? Sometimes you just don’t know what you don’t know. But now that you do know, The Hemp Haus is always here to answer anyone’s questions. We are an education first establishment. We are not high-pressure salespeople. We’re confident that once people know about the products we believe in, we won’t have to try to sell them.
Our mission is to empower people with knowledge so they can make comfortable, informed decisions about their health.
]]>From arthritic pain to skin conditions like rosacea and psoriasis, a little TLC from a CBD muscle rub or topical could be just the thing you need to feel better. Why, you ask? Because cannabis or CBD topicals and muscle rubs can treat localized conditions without entering the bloodstream. You can apply CBD muscle rubs liberally without psychoactive effects. You can even use them along with other CBD forms like tinctures, CBD oil softgels, edibles, or hemp flower that you can vape or smoke.
Today we’re going to discuss the best CBD salve for pain, CBD face cream, CBD muscle rub, and more. If you’ve been looking for the best hemp lotion or full spectrum CBD roll on for your knee pain, arthritis, or back pain, we’re going to give you some of the best CBD options you can use topically.
So let’s dive in and quickly define topicals and their uses.
CBD Topicals and muscle rubs are cannabis-infused products applied to and absorbed directly into your skin to relieve pain, soreness, inflammation, irritation, or to promote anti-aging and skin health.
Because CBD topicals and muscle rubs are non-intoxicating and do not absorb into the bloodstream, they can be used as much as you need.
Cannabis-infused products work through binding to cannabinoid receptors in the skin. These receptors are found throughout our bodies in the endocannabinoid system (ECS). They can be activated to cause certain effects, either by our natural endocannabinoids, such as anandamide, or phytocannabinoids like THC and CBD from the cannabis plant.
To be clear, a CBD topicals and muscle rubs will not make you high—even a full spectrum CBD cream. The cannabinoids in most topicals and muscle rubs can’t breach the bloodstream. Their effects are localized. Transdermal patches, however, will deliver cannabinoids to the bloodstream and could have intoxicating effects if the THC content is high enough.
Just as with other forms of CBD, you can buy CBD topicals and muscle rubs that use different types of hemp extract:
And just like with other forms of CBD oil, we always prefer and recommend high-quality full spectrum CBD rich products. This type of CBD extract retains the whole plant benefits of a range of cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and more. When all of these natural compounds are present in your hemp extract, you have the benefit of the entourage effect, which is all of these compounds working together to enhance their therapeutic effects. Read more about it in our article about why full spectrum matters.
Highly concentrated full spectrum CBD topicals and muscle rubs for soothing localized pain in joints and muscles. Roller balls have the added benefit of massaging during application.
We have three stellar products from Ananda Hemp to recommend. Ananda Hemp has over 20 years in the hemp business, and their products are backed by science and experience, as you can read for yourself in this study.
First, we’re excited to tell you about a new product that people are going nuts over. The Ananda Hemp Full Spectrum Roll On massages your sore spots as you apply it. Not only does it have the pain-relieving power of full spectrum CBD extract in it, it also contains soothing essential oils and other natural ingredients like coconut oil, wintergreen, lavender, eucalyptus, and beeswax to name a few. If you’re looking for a muscle rub that relaxes muscles spasms, soothes back pain, or to rub into some burning foot neuropathy, you might just fall in love with this CBD muscle rub roll on stick.
For the top of the line in muscle rubs, a CBD topical salve that is a pain reliever, an anti-inflammatory, and a master at soothing soreness in muscles and joints, look no further than Ananda Hemp Spectrum Salve 125. With many of the same natural, soothing ingredients as the Roll On, a little dab of this full spectrum CBD distillate will do you. But you can use as much as you want, as many times a day as you need, to relieve your knee and back pain, arthritis joint pain, tendinitis, and more.
If you want to kick it up a notch, try Ananda Hemp Full Spectrum Lotion 250. We’re talking 250mg of pain-killing muscle rub cream for your joints, muscle aches, inflammation in your back, neuropathic pain, and more! Getting regular neck tension at work? Get some CBD lotion relief on the spot. Like their other CBD topicals, this lotion can go with you anywhere, so you can have an on-demand anti-inflammatory or CBD pain-reliever available for your localized conditions.
Cannabis has long been considered an aphrodisiac. As a lubricant, CBD can help with pain, dryness, and discomfort and can also heighten pleasure.
Ananda Touch Bliss Intimate Oil is formulated by a female scientist, Dr. Alex Capano, who also has years of experience treating families in reproductive health. She created this CBD intimate oil to enhance and equalize the pleasure for all sexual partners. With 250mg of active cannabinoids and all-natural ingredients like Cacao Seed Butter, Peppermint, and Black Pepper this product is intended to help stimulate and soothe.
Just like regular bath soaks, but with the healing-power of CBD as the star of the product.
We recommend Vertly Bath Salts. The husband and wife team behind Vertly bring expertise in health and beauty, herbalism and wellness, and the cannabis industry. Their finely crafted CBD bath salts combine natural healing salts, minerals, botanical infusions and cannabinoids formulated to calm the mind and body. Great for soothing soreness and stress after a long day of work, travel, or exercise. Active botanicals will stimulate circulation as well as offer the benefits of aromatherapy. A perfect, easy way to self-care.
This includes cannabis-infused serums, face creams, face masks, makeup, body lotions and lip balms.
We love to recommend Kana Skincare products. If you have not seen our article on visionary CBD skincare formulator Janice Buu’s CBD sleeping masks, we urge you to catch up on the 9 benefits of using Kana CBD face masks.
The other extraordinary Kana Skincare products we advise lovers of healthy, glowing skin to try are the Kana CBD + EGF Infused Active Botanical Essence and LIT CBD Premium Facial Oil Blend. The Botanical Essence contains active botanicals, full spectrum CBD, and EGF (epidermal growth factor) which stimulates fierce skin renewal. The LIT face oil soothes and brightens all skin types with the power of hemp phytocannabinoids and the secrets of Korean beauty. Make your skin glow again!
Got pain in a specific part of the body? Cannabis topicals are a great remedy for localized back and knee pain or joint pain from arthritis.
Your skin is your largest organ and it’s loaded with CB1 and CB2 receptors. Both THC and CBD act on these receptors in the skin to provide relief from pain.
Highly concentrated CBD salves, muscle rubs, lotions, and roller balls are fast-acting on area-specific pain and can offer immediate relief.
For all-over aches and soreness, consider using a CBD-infused bath soak.
CBD interacts with endocannabinoid receptors in the skin to help minimize inflammation, itching, and pain in people with eczema and psoriasis.
Both conditions can be embarrassing and, more importantly, uncomfortable. For many psoriasis and eczema patients, the options are limited. Especially because there is no cure for either.
The key to treating eczema and psoriasis is managing them, and full spectrum CBD extract is showing real potential for managing symptoms of eczema.
A study in 2007 revealed that cannabinoids inhibited the buildup of dead skin cells, which is the direct cause of psoriasis.
According to a 2017 review from the University of Colorado, the cannabinoids cannabidiol (CBD), cannabinol (CBN), and cannabigerol (CBG), have potent effects on eczema and psoriasis treatment.
For skin conditions on the body, lotions and bath soaks may offer relief. For eczema on the face, a high-quality CBD skincare product is a good option.
Cannabinoids’ relationship with the ECS and all the receptors in the skin help them modulate immune response.
Anti-inflammatory is one of the big responses in the skin as a result of CBD.
A study in the journal Rheumatology showed how cannabis can reduce inflammation. Researchers found that patients who suffered from arthritis had an abnormal amount of CB2 receptors in their joint tissue. Cannabis can help fight inflammation by activating these receptors.
In addition, people have been using CBD for skin inflammation ever since studies have been revealing its natural anti-inflammatory effects.
If you suffer from joint inflammation, CBD rubs may offer relief. A high-quality hemp extract skincare product may help reduce skin inflammation on the face.
A major CBD benefit is that it is a natural antioxidant. Studies show that CBD reduces free radicals. Using CBD for your skin means eliminating toxins and chemicals that can flood your bloodstream and pores.
Antioxidants accelerate the healing process and inhibit tissue damage caused by the environment. One study found that Cannabidiol (CBD) is a more potent antioxidant than Vitamins C or E.
Another reason cannabis keeps skin youthful is because as we age, our skin loses moisture. Our bodies aren’t as efficient at stimulating and balancing oil production. The result is fine lines and wrinkles. CBD oil works to bring back that balance to your skin.
Research has also found that CBD works in two ways on acne. It inhibits too much production of sebum, keeping acne from developing, or combats inflammation in existing acne.
CBD-infused skincare can help keep your skin youthful, healthy, and clear.
Cannabis-infused oils and lubes are now being created to increase sexual pleasure, while relieving pain and discomfort experienced by some during intercourse.
THC is a vasodilator, which means that a THC-based lube has the potential to increase blood flow to the genital area, heightening sensations.
Umm, we just have one question: What can’t cannabinoids do?
The greatest harm associated with a CBD topical is a low-quality product. If a topical doesn’t have the cannabinoid content it claims, or if its secondary ingredients are lackluster, or worse, irritating, you could be wasting your time and money on a product that isn’t beneficial to your skin, and may even do harm.
A good formula to use when you’re are shopping for a product is:
Science + Experience (usually) = Quality
If you can see that there is some science associated (scientists, COAs, studies, etc.) with the brand and it has some respectable experience in the topical manufacturing and/or cannabis industry behind it, it’s way more likely you’re onto a better product. The more transparent the company, the higher the quality. Usually.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17157480
https://www.jaad.org/article/s0190-9622(17)30308-0/fulltext
https://academic.oup.com/rheumatology/article/53/5/802/1798167/Expression-of-cannabinoid-receptor-2-and-its
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30993303/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC20965/
The Nature’s Breakthrough educational resource is just one of the ways The Hemp Haus practices its sincere commitment to and passion for educating people about CBD and helping them find the right, high-quality product based on their needs.
The Arthritis Foundation represents the voice and needs of 54 million people with arthritis. After a national survey conducted in July 2019, they found that approximately 80% of sufferers use cannabidiol (CBD) or cannabis for arthritis.
The study also revealed that cannabinoids will continue to be sought more and more by patients to treat their arthritis pain and inflammation.
With this discovery, the Arthritis Foundation determined that waiting for more research was not the best way to serve arthritis patients.
“Listening to people with arthritis—using data (surveys and Live Yes! INSIGHTS), patient listening sessions and testimonies—drives our work, from science to programming to setting our advocacy agenda,” said the Arthritis Foundation’s senior vice president of consumer health and impact, Cindy McDaniel.
The survey results prompted the organization to create CBD guidelines and to send a public letter to the FDA recommending they focus their efforts on creating standardized quality and safety measures with regard to CBD products.
CBD is a cannabinoid (organic compound) derived from the cannabis plant.
CBD is one of the most abundant cannabinoids, second only to THC.
Unlike THC, however, CBD is non-intoxicating and will NOT get you high.
CBD oil is extracted from the cannabis plant, specifically the hemp plant. It can be extracted as:
It’s important to understand that even when CBD is full spectrum, it only contains .3% THC, which is the legal amount allowed. Again, it’s not enough THC to produce intoxicating effects.
CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system (ECS)—a master regulatory system we all have. It’s involved in regulating things like sleep, mood, appetite, production of hormones, and regulation of immune and nervous system responses. By regulating these functions, the ECS helps balance the body’s well-being.
More and more CBD research is being carried out concerning its therapeutic effects. So far, the evidence suggests that it can potentially treat a variety of conditions, including:
CBD oil is also being used to treat symptoms of cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, fibromyalgia, epilepsy, diabetes, plantar fasciitis, and more.
CBD is a potent therapeutic agent that interacts with not only cannabinoid receptors in the ECS, but also with serotonin and other receptors and increases anandamide. Anandamide is a natural occurring endocannabinoid known as the “bliss hormone”.
Arthritis is one of the major causes of disability in the United States. Over 50 million Americans are affected by this disorder. There are two major types of arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes a patient’s immune system to attack their joints and other parts of the body. The feet and hands are usually most severely affected. Symptoms include inflammation of the joint, swelling, and pain. Rampant inflammation causes decreased mobility, deformity, and severe discomfort.
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that affects bones and joint cartilage, resulting in stiffness and pain. It often progresses to the knee, hip, and joints of the thumb.
CBD oil benefits include relief from pain along with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. CBD from hemp can also reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. In addition to the many CBD health benefits, CBD oil is not addictive.
Chronic systemic inflammation is how rheumatoid arthritis works to damage joints. It’s this long-lasting inflammations that causes the symptoms of pain, stiffness, swelling, decreased mobility, etc.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are most often used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. But long-term use of these drugs can have side effects, most commonly:
CBD oil is a safer, natural alternative to NSAIDs and is also a powerful anti-inflammatory. Cannabidiol as been shown to reduce both acute and chronic inflammation in arthritis CBD studies.
Studies have also shown that CBD helps reduce inflammation by amplifying adenosine signaling and increasing anandamide.
A study using arthritic animal models suggests that CBD’s anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects protected the animals’ joints from severe arthritic damage.
Studies show that oxidative stress contributes to the development of rheumatoid arthritis. Preclinical animal studies have shown that more oxidative damage is associated with increased joint destruction and injury to cartilage.
Additionally, oxidative stress is known to contribute to inflammation, further enhancing damage to the joints.
CBD exhibits antioxidant properties in studies on animals with movement abnormalities for neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease.
CBD has also been linked to decreased reactive oxygen species. These free radicals are unstable, and if allowed to build up, they can do damage to DNA, RNA, and proteins, and can lead to cell death.
It’s thought that CBD is able to inhibit free radicals on a mitochondrial level.
Oxidative stress contributes to arthritis, and hemp CBD can reduce oxidative stress. This is another potential way to use CBD oil effects to fight rheumatoid arthritis.
Inflammation, swelling, stiffness, and more can make pain a regular symptom for people with arthritis. Because of its analgesic properties, CBD is being used to address joint pain.
CBD can be used to treat both neuropathic and inflammatory pain. A study in 2016 showed that transdermal CBD reduced pain-related behavior in rat models.
This 2008 review takes a look at several scientific studies, which together reveal that CBD shows “great promise” in the management of pain.
CBD also inhibits the breakdown of anandamide, a naturally occurring endocannabinoid responsible for your bodies balance and well-being. It is believed that the presence of anandamide in your system acts as an analgesic.
CBD is a safer, natural alternative that can provide relief from pain. A recent Human Clinical Trial was published in a peer-reviewed medical journal and revealed that CBD oil reduced opioid use and improved pain.
CBD oil for joint pain is believed to be a safer and effective option for people who suffer from the pain and discomfort of rheumatoid arthritis.
CBD comes in many forms. For instance, if you’re seeking relief from arthritis or lower back pain, we recommend Ananda Hemp gels over tinctures, because they’re longer lasting. This full spectrum product is loaded with additional beneficial cannabinoids and plant nutrients.
The Puffin Hemp Liposomal Carrier and Ananda Hemp tincture are powerful and fast-acting options. We recommend them for immediate relief from acute or breakthrough pain.
Ananda Hemp’s tincture comes in several strengths: 200 mg, 300 mg, 600 mg, and a whopping 2000 mg, and is also full spectrum.
Puffin Hemp Liposomal Carrier comes in two strengths—350 mg and 1000 mg—so you can really tailor it to your needs.
For muscle pain, Ananda Hemp salve is also a great option on its own or in addition to the Ananda Hemp softgels, tincture, or Puffin Hemp.
For keeping pain at bay during sleep, the Ananda Hemp gels are perfect, while Puffin Hemp is better for taking the edge off pain in order to fall asleep.
When suffering from and trying to manage the daily symptoms of arthritis, it’s not uncommon for patients to experience secondary symptoms such as anxiety and stress.
CBD oil is well-known and widely used for addressing stress and anxiety.
With regard to anxiety, cannabinoids directly target the amygdala and thus work to minimize the fight or flight reflex. CBD binds to cannabinoid receptors in the amygdala, which are responsible for flooding the body with anxious feelings, and the stressful feelings are alleviated.
CBD used in animal studies has shown that over a 3-week period, stress and anxiety were reduced.
CBD’s anti-anxiety effects involve the cannabinoid targeting the 5-HT1A receptor. It also attenuates stress and anxiety by increasing adenosine receptor activity.
For chronic anxiety, we recommend slow releasing Ananda Hemp CBD softgels. They can be taken first thing in the morning and again at night for constant coverage. Along with these we also suggest keeping a Puffin Hemp or Ananda tincture on hand as a spot treatment for breakthrough anxiety.
Puffin Hemp Liposomal Carrier and Ananda Hemp tincture are powerful and fast-acting options that offer immediate relief from anxiety. Puffin Hemp Liposomal Carrier comes in two strengths—350 mg and 1000 mg—allowing the patient to tailor it to their needs. Not only is it water soluble and broad spectrum (meaning it contains a range of cannabinoid and cannabis plant nutrients), but Puffin Hemp is also the fastest acting, highest absorbing CBD product available.
Ananda Hemp’s tincture is also fast-acting and comes in several strengths: 200 mg, 300 mg, 600 mg, and a whopping 2000 mg. This full spectrum product is loaded with additional beneficial cannabinoids and plant nutrients. It goes under your tongue for rapid relief.
Insomnia and poor sleep can also be a problem for people who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. In addition to symptoms from arthritis, insomnia can cause: fatigue, low energy, difficulty concentrating, mood disturbances, and decreased performance in work or at school.
In a Consumer Reports survey of Americans who said they use cannabidiol, 10% said they use CBD as a sleep aid, and the majority reported that it worked.
It is believed that CBD and other cannabinoids work in three main ways to treat insomnia: through ECS receptors for anxiety, through pain receptors, and with receptors for sleep/wake cycles.
A large study published at the end of 2018, concluded that natural medical cannabis flower was associated with “significant improvements” in insomnia.
In 2014 a case series determined that CBD is able to control the symptoms of REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD), a condition
often associated with Parkinson’s patients. It found that “patients treated with CBD had prompt and substantial reduction in the frequency of RBD-related events without side effects.”
A review of the literature in 2017, supports claims that CBD can treat sleep/wake cycle disorders such as REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) and excessive daytime sleepiness.
The immunes systems of people with rheumatoid arthritis are already compromised. Relieving the symptoms of poor sleep is another way that CBD oil benefits can improve the lives of people suffering from arthritis.
Many studies show that people with rheumatoid arthritis are at greater risk of developing acute cardiovascular diseases. Ischemic hearth diseases, such as congestive heart failure and coronary death are leading causes of death in RA patients.
CBD oil has cardio protective properties, and therefore can help manage the cardiovascular health of arthritis patients.
Preclinical studies show that CBD can decrease of ischemia-induced ventricular arrhythmias and to reduce tissue death (infarct size) from lack of oxygen.
It is believed that CBD has an inhibitory effect on platelet activation; it reduces inflammation and inflammatory mediators such as interleukin-6.
As previously discussed, CBD has an affect on adenosine signaling. Adenosine receptors are associated with ischemia/reperfusion-induced ventricular arrhythmias.
Because managing cardiovascular health is important for RA patients, the cardio protective benefits of hemp-derived CBD may be an effective option.
In October 2017, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced that it was removing non-intoxicating CBD from its list of 2018 banned substances. Shortly after that, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a report acknowledging the medical benefits of CBD and that the compound doesn’t have potential for abuse or adverse health effects.
There is no one-size-fits-all for CBD. As with most drugs, supplements, and even food, it can have varying effects on individuals.
Compared to many prescription and OTC drugs, CBD has a short and harmless list of side effects:
CBD may interact with some medications, so it is important to talk to your doctor about potential harmful interactions. Like grapefruit, CBD interferes with cytochromes P450 (CYPs), a group of enzymes that are involved in drug metabolism. Therefore, if you take any drugs with the “grapefruit warning”, know that CBD may also interfere with that medication.
There have been a few articles in the news lately about CBD and liver toxicity. The two studies that suggests this use very high amounts of CBD—much more than would be therapeutically used by most people—and involve only oral CBD. If you’re interested, get the full story in our article, “Can CBD Cause Liver Toxicity?”
Having a range of CBD form options is great. CBD and cannabinoids are a choice you can tailor to both your needs and your lifestyle. This has become more pronounced now that hemp flower is being cultivated in a variety of strains, so that you can find the winning combination of hemp actives (cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, phytonutrients) that fit you.
We’re all different. Depending on certain criteria, like age, weight, diet, metabolism, and the tone of our endocannabinoid system (ECS), we all process CBD differently. Therefore, target CBD doses vary from person to person.
Poor quality CBD can not help anyone. With CBD, quality matters most. There are several things to keep in mind when shopping for CBD oil.
First, know where the hemp was sourced. This is important because hemp is a bioaccumulator, which means it leaches impurities from the soil. The hemp plant can literally be used to purify soil. This is why it’s important to know that your product has been tested. A certificate of analysis (COA) should be available to you. This will show that there are no harmful levels of contaminants in your CBD product.
The other reason you’ll want a COA is because mislabeling has been a problem.
In a 2018 study on the effects of artisanal CBD for the treatment of epilepsy, researchers stated that a key concern and challenge to their results was the variability that mislabeled CBD products introduced. They cited one study, conducted in 2015, in which all labeled CBD content was mislabeled 100 percent of the time.
Another 2017 study discovered that out of 84 CBD products (from 31 companies) purchased online, only 31 percent were accurately labeled.
The hemp industry is new and growing rapidly, and in the process, regulation has been unable to keep pace. It has fallen to the farmers, manufacturers, and sellers to self-regulate, and to the consumer to do their due diligence.
A good brand will make all of this information and their practices, processes and the source of their ingredients available. Their team will have backgrounds in science, hemp experience, and food-manufacturing know-how.
The Nature’s Breakthrough educational resource is just one of the ways The Hemp Haus practices its sincere commitment to and passion for educating people about CBD and helping them find the right, high-quality product based on their needs.
]]>Anxiety is a human problem that is here to stay. Of course, some anxiety is natural. But unfortunately, when it becomes more than a passing worry or fear, anxiety can become a disorder that interferes with a person’s ability to function in their daily lives.
About one in five adults, according to the U.S.’s Office on Women’s Health, is destined for an anxiety disorder. For women, the likelihood is doubled.
Fortunately, anxiety is treatable. And people are choosing high-quality CBD as an effective, all-natural option for managing anxiety without the harmful side effects associated with traditional medicines.
We don’t all experience anxiety the same. At The Hemp Haus, our mission is to recommend the CBD products that best address an individual’s personal anxiety.
While some people suffer from a general anxiety disorder, characterized by chronic anxiety, others suffer from situational anxiety, which primarily shows up as panic attacks.
Furthermore, chronic and situational anxiety break down into five different types, which further differentiate the experiences that people have with anxiety. They include:
People with anxiety disorders know how their anxiety paralyzes them. Managing it becomes a part of their life and can become unbearable if not managed in a healthy way. High-quality CBD products are becoming a popular way to manage different types of anxiety—and with good reason. Here’s why ...
Cannabinoids are chemical compounds derived from cannabis that work with the endocannabinoid system (ECS). It is through this system that they exert their effects on the human body. The ECS is present in all mammals and is involved in the regulation of a number of body functions, including the nervous system responses. By regulating these functions, it helps to maintain the body’s homeostasis.
With regard to anxiety, cannabinoids directly target the amygdala and thus work to minimize the fight or flight reflex. Cannabidiol (CBD) binds to cannabinoid receptors in the amygdala, which are responsible for flooding the body with anxious feelings, and the stressful feelings are alleviated.
For chronic anxiety, The Hemp Haus recommends slow releasing Ananda Hemp CBD softgels. They can be taken first thing in the morning and again at night for constant coverage. Along with these we also suggest keeping a Puffin Hemp or Ananda tincture on hand as a spot treatment for breakthrough anxiety.
Puffin Hemp and Ananda Hemp on Nature's Breakthrough[/caption]The Puffin Hemp Liposomal Carrier and Ananda Hemp tincture are powerful and fast-acting options, which is why The Hemp Haus recommends them for immediate relief from situational anxiety. Puffin Hemp Liposomal Carrier comes in three strengths—350 mg, 700 mg, or 1000 mg—so you can really tailor it to your needs. Not only is it water soluble and broad spectrum (meaning it contains a range of cannabinoid and cannabis plant nutrients), but Puffin Hemp is also the fastest acting, highest absorbing CBD product available.
Ananda Hemp’s tincture is also fast-acting and comes in several strengths: 200 mg, 300 mg, 600 mg, and a whopping 2000 mg. This full spectrum product is loaded with additional beneficial cannabinoids and plant nutrients. It goes under your tongue for rapid relief.
Both of these products are stellar at relieving panic attacks. And because they are made from high-quality hemp, they are safe and non-intoxicating.
The Hemp Haus recommends Ananda Hemp and Puffin Hemp because they are third-party tested, transparent brands with good manufacturing practices that Eric, Zach, Caitlin, and Megan have seen with their own eyes.
References
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “What are the five major types of anxiety disorders?” Accessed on 7/25/19. https://www.hhs.gov/answers/mental-health-and-substance-abuse/what-are-the-five-major-types-of-anxiety-disorders/index.html
National Institute of Mental Health. “Anxiety Disorders.” Accessed on 7/25/19. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders/index.shtml
The Nature’s Breakthrough educational resource is just one of the ways The Hemp Haus practices its sincere commitment to and passion for educating people about CBD and helping them find the right, high-quality product based on their needs.
For pain, insomnia, anxiety, and more …
Puffin Hemp Liposomal CBD (350, 700, 1000)
Ananda Hemp Softgels and Tinctures (200, 300, 600, 2000)
Ananda Hemp Spectrum 125 Salve
Ananda Touch Bliss Intimate Oil
]]>According to the CDC, adults need seven or more hours of sleep a night for optimal health and well-being. If you scoffed at that with a resounding “Pshaw!”, you’re likely one of 50-70 million adults that has some kind of sleep disorder.
Insomnia is difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, even when you have the chance to do so. People with insomnia are often frustrated with their sleep experience and usually have at least one of these symptoms: fatigue, low energy, difficulty concentrating, mood disturbances, and decreased performance in work or at school.
If you’re not getting enough of that sweet, sweet shuteye, or if you’re sick of purchasing 4-6 hours a night with a sleep aid for the price of grogginess and side effects the next day … read on! Cannabinoids may be the safe, all-natural alternative you’ve been dreaming of.
In order to treat insomnia, it’s important to understand the cause. Moreover, sometimes insomnia is the primary problem, and other times it’s the result of another condition. According to the Mayo Clinic, if the underlying problem is not treated, chronic insomnia can persist for years.
Stress is often the culprit. Other common causes include:
Other causes contributing to chronic insomnia could be:
CBD for Sleep Disorders in the Elderly on Nature's Breakthrough[/caption]
Aging is a factor, as well, that can cause insomnia because of changes in sleep patterns, activity, health, and medications.
One of the reasons people have sleep issues is because of their sleep quality. According to SleepFoundation.org, poor sleep quality could be linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Here are some of the signs that you have poor sleep quality:
Reasons why you might have poor sleep quality:
A recent national Consumer Reports survey revealed that almost 80 percent of Americans have trouble sleeping at least one night a week. In another CR survey, about 10 percent of Americans who have tried CBD said it was for sleep, and most of them found that it worked.
Even though more, larger human trials are needed to support the use of cannabinoids for insomnia, many doctors are already convinced. Our friend and medical director at Ananda Hemp, Dr. Capano, has personally observed that CBD with higher levels of CBN has improved insomnia and restless leg syndrome in patients.
Additionally, Sleep Doctor (and sleep guru to Dr. Oz) Michael J Breus, Ph.D. shares his endorsement of CBN as an “up and comer as a natural sleep therapy” in his recent article in Phycology Today.
Dr. Dustin Sulak, DO—founder of Healer.com and Integr8 Health, a Maine medical practice that uses medical cannabis as a treatment for a variety of ailments—describes CBD as “extraordinarily safe”, even at high doses. He said in an article on the Leafly website that he ensures all his patients of its safety.
According to a HuffPost journalist who tried CBD for her insomnia, “My racing thoughts seemed to come to a screeching halt within an hour of taking it, and when I got into bed I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. Even better, I woke up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day.”
You may have heard of the endocannabinoid system or ECS. We all have one, in fact all vertebrates and some invertebrates have them. The ECS is made up of receptors in the brain and all over the body.
Cannabinoids are chemical compounds that bind to ECS receptors. The two main receptors are CB1 and CB2, which are found in the central nervous system, immune system, and gastrointestinal tract, among other places.
The ECS plays a vital role in regulating several activities that keep your body in a balanced state, or homeostasis, including:
CBD and other cannabinoids seem to work in three main ways to treat insomnia: through ECS receptors for anxiety, for pain receptors, and with receptors for sleep/wake cycles.
In this 2015 NIH study on generalized anxiety, CBD reduced stress in animals.
In a very recent published case study from 2019, a majority of patients with anxiety-related insomnia experienced improved sleep with CBD. Out of 72 patients, anxiety scores decreased in 57 patients within the first month, and sleep scores improved in 48 patients in the first month. Additionally, the study showed that CBD was well tolerated in 98 percent of the patients.
Also, another case report outlines how CBD successfully treated the pediatric anxiety and insomnia of a ten-year-old girl with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The child had been severely abused and neglected. As a result, she suffered from symptoms of PTSD, including anxiety and insomnia. Pharmaceuticals meds had provided some relief, but they were not lasting and came with major side effects.
CBD was able to provide sustained relief to the 10-year-old, for both sleep and anxiety, and proved, with clinical data, to be a safe form of treatment.
For chronic anxiety, slow-releasing softgels like Ananda Hemp CBD work well. They can be taken first thing in the morning and again at night for constant coverage. Along with these we also suggest keeping a Puffin Hemp or Ananda Hemp tincture on hand as a spot treatment for breakthrough anxiety.
Liposomal CBD for Sleep Health on Nature's Breakthrough[/caption]The Puffin Hemp Liposomal Carrier and Ananda Hemp tincture are powerful and fast-acting options that offer immediate relief from situational anxiety. Puffin Hemp Liposomal Carrier comes in three strengths—350 mg, 700 mg, or 1000 mg—so you can really tailor it to your needs. Not only is it water soluble and broad spectrum (meaning it contains a range of cannabinoid and cannabis plant nutrients), but Puffin Hemp is also the fastest acting, highest absorbing CBD product available.
Ananda Hemp’s tincture is also fast-acting and comes in several strengths: 200 mg, 300 mg, 600 mg, and a whopping 2000 mg. This full spectrum product is loaded with additional beneficial cannabinoids and plant nutrients. Take it sublingually (under your tongue) for rapid relief.
Both of these products are stellar at relieving panic attacks. And because they are made from high-quality hemp, they are safe and non-intoxicating.
Sometimes pain can be the cause of insomnia. Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, and other inflammatory disorders can keep you from resting at night, causing worse days and keeping you in a vicious cycle that can severely impact your quality of life. For a personal account about how CBD from The Hemp Haus changed Ginny’s quality of life, read her story in HERLIFE Magazine.
In this 2018 scientific review, authors shed a light on the already fair amount of evidence that CBD can be used to treat pain. They also mention that reducing pain can help with insomnia.
If you’re seeking relief from arthritis or lower back pain, we recommend Ananda Hemp softgels over tinctures, because they’re longer lasting. This full spectrum product is loaded with additional beneficial cannabinoids and plant nutrients.
The Puffin Hemp Liposomal Carrier and Ananda Hemp tincture are powerful and fast-acting options for immediate relief from acute or breakthrough pain.
Ananda Hemp for Sleep Health on Nature's Breakthrough[/caption]Ananda Hemp’s tincture comes in several strengths: 200 mg, 300 mg, 600 mg, and a massive 2000 mg, and is also full spectrum.
Puffin Hemp Liposomal Carrier comes in three strengths—350 mg, 700 mg, or 1000 mg—so you can really tailor it to your needs. Again, it’s water soluble and contains a range of cannabinoid and cannabis plant nutrients. Most significantly, it is the fastest acting, highest absorbing CBD product available.
For muscle pain, Ananda Hemp spectrum salve is also a great option on its own or in addition to the Ananda Hemp softgels, tincture, or Puffin Hemp.
For keeping pain at bay during sleep, the Ananda Hemp softgels are perfect, while Puffin Hemp is better for taking the edge off pain in order to fall asleep.
A large study published at the end of 2018, concluded that natural medical cannabis flower was associated with “significant improvements” in insomnia.
In 2014 a case series determined that CBD is able to control the symptoms of REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD), a condition often associated with Parkinson’s patients. It found that “patients treated with CBD had prompt and substantial reduction in the frequency of RBD-related events without side effects.”
A review of the literature in 2017, supports claims that CBD can treat sleep/wake cycle disorders such as REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) and excessive daytime sleepiness.
RBD is when a person acts out their dreams and is common in Parkinson’s patients. It’s associated with nightmares and is a cause of poor sleep. Symptoms include kicking, punching, arm flailing or jumping from bed, in response to action-filled or violent dreams. In the dream, the patient may be defending themselves from or trying to escape an attack. They may also make noises through talking, laughing, shouting, emotional outcries or even cursing.
The risk factors, according to the Mayo Clinic, for RBD are:
A night terror is a sleep disorder that occurs in N3 sleep, which is the deepest stage of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and the same stage in which sleepwalking happens. While night terrors occur in adults, they are more common in children 3-12, which means they can potentially disrupt entire households.
Night terrors are a vicious cycle. The homeostasis-promoting properties of CBD may be able to help re-regulate a person’s nervous system and break the vicious cycle that can affect the sleep quality of whole families.
Having a range of CBD form options is great. It makes it so that CBD and cannabinoids are a choice you can tailor to both your needs and your lifestyle. This has become more pronounced now that hemp flower is being cultivated in a variety of strains, so that you can find the winning combination of hemp actives (cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, phytonutrients) that fit you.
We’re all different. Depending on certain criteria, like age, weight, diet, metabolism, and the tone of our endocannabinoid system (ECS), we all process CBD differently. (Learn more about the ECS, the master regulatory system that oversees our central nervous system, immune system, and various organs.) Therefore, target CBD doses vary from person to person.
There is no one-size-fits-all for CBD. As with most drugs, supplements, and even food, it can have varying effects on individuals.
All things considered, CBD has a fairly short and harmless list of side effects, compared to many traditional drugs, which includes:
CBD may interact with some medications, so it is important to talk to your doctor about potential harmful interactions. Like grapefruit, CBD interferes with cytochromes P450 (CYPs), a group of enzymes that are involved in drug metabolism. Therefore, if you take any drugs with the “grapefruit warning”, know that CBD may also interfere with that medication.
There have been a few articles in the news lately about CBD and liver toxicity. The two studies that suggests this use very high amounts of CBD—much more than would be therapeutically used by most people—and involve only oral CBD. If you're interested, please read our article on thehemphaus.com, "Can CBD Cause Liver Toxicity?"
For the sake of perspective, let’s take a look at a very commonly prescribed drug for anxiety and sleep, Xanax (a benzodiazepine). This drug, along with many others that have longer, more harmful lists of side effects, have been FDA-approved.
Common side effects of Xanax include:
Side effects of Xanax at higher doses may include:
Combined with other substances (alcohol, opioids, etc.), Xanax could cause:
Xanax can have serious withdrawal effects, including seizures. This may cause a physical dependence. People can also develop a tolerance for Xanax, which can lead to a risk of overdose. Because of these factors, it may become addictivefor some users.
In a recent Forbes article on “CBD Safety for Seniors”, cannabis journalist Abbie Rosner interviewed an Ontario-based family physician who works with cannabis-based clinics, Dr. Danial Schecter. In the article, Dr. Schecter said this about transitioning from a prescribed sleep med to CBD:
“If you’ve been on a sleep aid for many years, and you want to stop taking it and use CBD, I would not recommend that you all of a sudden stop taking the sleep aid and start taking CBD, because your insomnia will get worse. Under the guidance of your physician, you would want to taper in the CBD until you reach a stable dose.”
With CBD, quality that matters most. There are several things to keep in mind when shopping for CBD oil. First, know where the hemp was sourced. This is important because hemp is a bioaccumulator, which means it leaches impurities from the soil. The hemp plant can literally be used to purify soil. This is why it’s important to know that your product has been tested. A certificate of analysis (COA) should be available either with the product or on the manufacturer’s or seller’s website through a batch number. This will show that there are no harmful levels of contaminants in your CBD product.
The other reason you’ll want a COA is because mislabeling has been a problem. In a 2018 study on the effects of artisanal CBD for the treatment of epilepsy, researchers stated that a key concern and challenge to their results was the variability that mislabeled CBD products introduced. They cited one study, conducted in 2015, in which all labeled CBD content was mislabeled 100 percent of the time.
Another 2017 study discovered that out of 84 CBD products (from 31 companies) purchased online, only 31 percent were accurately labeled.
The hemp industry is new and growing rapidly, and in the process, regulation has been unable to keep pace. It has fallen to the farmers, manufacturers, and sellers to self-regulate, and to the consumer to do their due diligence. A good brand will make all of this information and their practices, processes and the source of their ingredients available. Their team will have backgrounds in science, hemp experience, and food-manufacturing know-how.
The Nature’s Breakthrough educational resource is just one of the ways The Hemp Haus practices its sincere commitment to and passion for educating people about CBD and helping them find the right, high-quality product based on their needs.
]]>If you feel some form of pain on a regular basis you’re not alone. According to a 2018 report from the CDC, 50 millionU.S. adults in 2016 suffered from chronic pain. It is at the top of the list of reasons why most adults go to the doctor. Furthermore, chronic pain affects people 65 or older more pervasively.
Chronic pain can lead to restriction of daily life, dependence on opioids, depression and anxiety, poor health, reduced quality of life, and secondary diseases, such as chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.
The NIH suggests that understanding what causes your chronic pain and applying a variety of self-care steps can help undo chronic pain. High-quality CBD is an all-natural way that could help manage your chronic pain and bring back your quality of life.
Chronic pain occurs when pain signals keep firing on the nervous system for a long period of time. It could be because of an initial injury (back, knee, neck, etc.) or an infection that became severe. Some people’s pain persists because of an ongoing cause, like arthritis, cancer, or MS. For some, pain continues to plague them with no evidence of damage to their bodies.
Chronic pain shows up in many ways, including:
People may also, especially as they get older, have recurring and more severe pain during and after they work out, after a physical task, or after being on their feet for long periods of time.
Managing pain becomes a part of life for people who suffer from constant pain. It can become unbearable if not managed in a healthy way. A high-quality CBD product can help treat different types of pain. Here’s how.
Cannabinoids are chemical compounds derived from cannabis that work with the endocannabinoid system (ECS). It is through this system that they exert their effects on the human body. The ECS is present in all mammals (pets included!) and is involved in the regulation of a number of body functions, including nervous system responses. By regulating these functions, it helps to maintain the body’s homeostasis.
CBD has an inhibitory effect on the COX enzyme that plays a key role in mediating inflammation and pain. COX- 2 particularly encourages inflammation in the body. It is the target for many anti-inflammatory drugs including NSAIDs. When the receptor for COX is occupied, the inflammatory cascade is blocked and inflammation does not take place.
Some drugs work by preventing inflammation in particular systems. They are selective and therefore sometimes more effective when the cause of inflammation is known. However, when the cause is difficult to pinpoint or when there are multiple causes, one needs a substance such as CBD.
CBD Effects on Pain Research on Nature's Breakthrough[/caption]
In one 2016 study, CBD reduced pain and inflammation behavior in rats with arthritis. Another report has found that short-term use of CBD improves spasticity in MS patients. This 2008 review takes a look at several scientific studies, which together reveal that CBD shows “great promise” in the management of pain.
CBD comes in many forms. For instance, if you’re seeking relief from arthritis or lower back pain, we recommend Ananda Hemp gels over tinctures, because they’re longer lasting. This full spectrum product is loaded with additional beneficial cannabinoids and plant nutrients.
The Puffin Hemp Liposomal Carrier and Ananda Hemp tincture are powerful and fast-acting options, which is why The Hemp Haus recommends them for immediate relief from acute or breakthrough pain.
Ananda Hemp’s tincture comes in several strengths: 200 mg, 300 mg, 600 mg, and a whopping 2000 mg, and is also full spectrum.
Puffin Hemp Liposomal Carrier comes in three strengths—350 mg, 700 mg, or 1000 mg—so you can really tailor it to your needs. Not only is it water soluble and broad spectrum (meaning it contains a range of cannabinoid and cannabis plant nutrients), but it is also the fastest acting, highest absorbing CBD product available.
For muscle pain, Ananda Hemp salve is also a great option on its own or in addition to the Ananda Hemp softgels, tincture, or Puffin Hemp.
For keeping pain at bay during sleep, the Ananda Hemp gels are perfect, while Puffin Hemp is better for taking the edge off pain in order to fall asleep.
Both of these brands are fantastic at relieving pain. And because they are made from high-quality hemp, they are safe and non-intoxicating.
The Hemp Haus recommends Ananda Hemp and Puffin Hemp because they are third-party tested, transparent brands with good manufacturing practices that Zach, Eric, Caitlin, and Megan have seen with their own eyes.
Check out this first ever CBD safety study of its kind using Puffin Hemp Liposomal, in which it revealed the added benefit that Puffin Hemp can normalize blood glucose levels, and also take a look at Ananda Hemp’s study that demonstrated how CBD can help reduce opioid use. Both of these studies are published in peer-reviewed science journals.
The Nature’s Breakthrough educational resource is just one of the ways The Hemp Haus practices its sincere commitment to and passion for educating people about CBD and helping them find the right, high-quality product based on their needs.
For pain, insomnia, anxiety, and more …
Puffin Hemp Liposomal CBD (350, 700, 1000)
Ananda Hemp Softgels and Tinctures (200, 300, 600, 2000)
Ananda Hemp Spectrum 125 Salve
Ananda Touch Bliss Intimate Oil
]]>The beauty of cannabidiol (CBD) is that it’s completely customizable. Which is refreshing since we’re not all exactly alike. And neither are our health needs. Currently, there is no recommended daily allowance (RDA) for CBD. But even if there were, the fact would remain that there’s no blanket dose with CBD; how much you take and what method you use will be unique to you.
We’re all different. Depending on certain criteria, like age, weight, diet, metabolism, and the tone of our endocannabinoid system (ECS), we all process CBD differently. (Learn more about the ECS, the master regulatory system that oversees our central nervous system, immune system, and various organs.) Therefore, target CBD doses vary from person to person.
So how are you supposed to figure out where to start with CBD dosing? It’s as easy as knowing the condition (and its severity) that you want to address. In this post, we’ll show you how to take that information and head down the path to your CBD sweet spot.
Compared to most prescription meds and even a lot of OTC medications, CBD is known to have a safe profile. There is no established lethal dose of CBD. While safety studies of CBD in human clinical trials are limited, those that have been performed in humans and animal models confirm the “often described favorable safety profile of CBD in humans”.
The side effects associated with CBD are pretty tame. Often people don’t experience any adverse effects. But there are some and you should know what to possibly expect. They include:
Some limited studies have shown that very high doses of CBD taken orally, like in the University of Arkansas CBD extract mouse study and in the Epidiolex clinical trials, can cause liver toxicity. Keep in mind, many drugs like acetaminophen (Tylenol), alcohol, and even Vitamins A and niacin can cause liver toxicity if too much of them are consumed. (Notice we said CBD taken orally, because there are other forms of CBD that bypass the liver … like liposomal CBD, CBD hemp flower, topicals, and, for the most part, sublinguals).
In both of these studies, large doses of CBD, beyond the normal therapeutic range (.05 mg/kg to 20 mg/kg of CBD per day—the mice got the human equivalent of 200 mg/kg per day), were the cause of high levels of liver enzymes.
While it is important and common for science to push thresholds to know what the limits of a product are, we also know that this side effect is manageable. CBD, overall, and unlike many drugs humans take on the regular—e.g., benzodiazepines, NSAIDs, and ADHD drugs—has a good safety profile.
As you will see from our charts below, most people on a CBD regimen take a much lower dose than what was used in the above instances. And again, you don’t have to route CBD through your liver.
The bioavailability (absorption into your bloodstream) of your CBD will vary, not only because of your personal biology, but also because of its formulation. As we mentioned above, not all formats are processed the same. Here we give you a quick rundown on forms from highest to lowest absorbency.
Liposomes: These are sometimes known as “nano” products, and their efficacy is somewhat controversial. However, we know of one product on the market that has up to 85% bioavailability: Puffin Hemp Liposomal CBD. How do we know this? Well, we know the award-winning chemist who created Puffin Hemp (he’s been studying liposomes for nearly two decades), and he has peer-reviewed research to prove it. These liposomes bypass digestion and the liver, protecting CBD from the harsh environment of your gut as they deliver it into your bloodstream. It works great for immediate, powerful relief from pain and anxiety, but also works wonders as a daily maintenance for things like keeping your blood sugar in check.
Vape/Smoking: Inhaling raw hemp flower that is high in CBD and CBG will get you 30-50% absorbency. This form bypasses digestion by taking the lung route to your bloodstream. This form will peak more quickly than an oral form, but it will not last as long, about 45 minutes to an hour. It works great for immediate relief from pain, anxiety, and sleeplessness.
Sublingual: This is an oral form, but instead of swallowing directly into your stomach, you hold it under your tongue or swish it in your mouth for 30-90 seconds. More of the CBD will then absorb through glands in your mouth. These have an absorbency of 12-35% and last 2-4 hours. Sublinguals can be in the form of tinctures, oils, sprays, and lozenges. Sublinguals are fast-acting and are also great for daily preventative health.
Oral: Oral forms of CBD include edibles, capsules, drinks, and oils. Because these are processed through digestion, they have the lowest bioavailability—about 5-20%. But the effects of oral CBD stay around for 4-6 hours. Keep in mind, the effects of swallowed CBD increase on a full stomach. CBD is fat-soluble and its absorption increases 3-fold when taken with healthy fats. High-quality full spectrum CBD like Ananda Hemp CBD Oil Softgels contains MCT oil, which is brilliant at escorting CBD through digestion. Despite their low bioavailability, oral forms are great for a daily regimen that aims to maintain chronic pain, chronic anxiety, sleep patterns, appetite, and overall mood. Think of it as a daily squirt of oil to help smooth your ECS funtions.
Please keep in mind that our recommended doses are for high-quality CBD and full or broad spectrum products. We believe that when you have a full spectrum CBD product, you don’t have to take as much as you would with a so-called pure isolate CBD. Full spectrum CBD retains the beneficial cannabis plant compounds like cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, fatty acids, and vitamins and minerals, that work together to heighten your CBD with what experts call the entourage effect.
But we don’t simply “believe” this. We’ve seen the evidence.
In a study done with Puffin Hemp Liposomal CBD , just a 10 mg dropper a day for 30 days normalized the blood glucose lever of all five participants who started out with high levels. That’s a pretty low dose of CBD to have such substantial results!
Below you will find charts recommending how to begin dosing CBD to find your sweet spot. Once you find it, stay with it. Taking more CBD than necessary could lessen effects. Whether you decide to microdose or standard dose, try to stick with a dose for several days before changing up.
Microdosing can clue you into how very specific doses of CBD throughout the day can make you feel, and what the resulting cumulative effect is at the end of the day. People who practice microdosing believe that the less CBD used, the more effective it is.
Microdosing on Nature's Breakthrough[/caption]
Standard dosing is a single amount of CBD once per day. This is for those who want to pop it like a vitamin and get on with their day.
Standard Dosing on Nature's Breakthrough[/caption]
You are not going to OD on CBD. However, you need to find out first how it affects you and where the sweet spot is. More is not always better with CBD. It tends to work better with regular use. In fact, if you start taking a lot more than you need, it could actually become less effective.
Consider what you need CBD for and how you want it to work for you. Then choose a form accordingly. Again, we recommend only high-quality, full or broad spectrum CBD. At The Hemp Haus, we recommend taking Ananda Hemp Softgels for a baseline of full spectrum hemp in your system. Then, we recommend fast-acting forms like Puffin Hemp Liposomes, Ananda Hemp Tinctures sublingually, or inhaling hemp flower for any breakthrough issues.
For example, if you have chronic pain, you can find your sweet spot of oral CBD by dosing with the charts above, and then using Puffin Hemp Liposomes for any breakthrough pain, say post workout. Ananda Hemp Spectrum 125 Salve can also offer relief.
If you suffer from regular anxiety, you can find your dose of CBD softgels by using the chart above. But let’s say you have an extra stressful day or feel some social anxiety coming on … you can vape some CBD hemp flower or hold some Ananda Hemp Tincture under your tongue to take the edge off immediately.
With some forms of CBD, like CBD gummies or hemp flower, it's difficult to dose. With hemp flower, CBD amounts vary. And if you cook or bake with cannabutter, which is made from raw hemp flower, the same variance exists. The good news is, when you purchase hemp flower, you will be able to see the amount of CBD it contains, and go from there. If you use these forms, whether they are your go-to or a supplement to another form, you can experiment with different strains to see what works for you. Just remember two things: 1) Start low and go slow until you know, and 2) Edibles take a lot longer to produce effects than inhalation. So give each CBD form's effects the proper time to show up before you take more.
Helping people find their CBD sweet spot is what we do at The Hemp Haus. All of our team members use our high-quality CBD brands. We only have a select few because we do not carry products that we would not put in our bodies. Also, we are not high pressure. If you have questions about what form of CBD to take for your need and how to begin dosing, we would love to talk you through it. We’re here to make CBD easy for you!
The Nature’s Breakthrough educational resource is just one of the ways The Hemp Haus practices its sincere commitment to and passion for educating people about CBD and helping them find the right, high-quality product based on their needs.
For pain, insomnia, anxiety, and more …
Puffin Hemp Liposomal CBD (350, 700, 1000)
Ananda Hemp Softgels and Tinctures (200, 300, 600, 2000)
Ananda Hemp Spectrum 125 Salve
Ananda Touch Bliss Intimate Oil
]]>Terpenes are a complex and diverse group of compounds found throughout nature: in plants, flowers, fruits, and even in insects. They’re responsible for the distinctive smells and tastes in many of the things we consume. That characteristic zing of lemon, the calming scent of lavender, the bitter taste of hops in beer, and even the powerfully familiar odor of cannabis—you can credit terpenes (and flavonoids) for your sensory experience of all of these.
However, terpenes do more than create aroma and flavor in some of our favorites things. Plants produce them to both attract pollinators and repel predators. That’s what we mean by “complex”. But wait, there’s more; not only do they give plants character and attract suitors while simultaneously defending them with unpleasant odors and tastes, they also have therapeutic benefits for humans. And there’s a substantial amount of preliminary evidence to prove it.
You may hear either term used. The difference between terpenes and terpenoids is their chemical makeup. Terpenes are hydrocarbons—simply hydrogen and carbon. Terpenoids is an all-encompassing term for modified terpenes, usually involving oxygen. It’s likely that, unless you’re reading a research study, terpenes and terpenoids will have the same general meaning.
Terpenes have a range of practical uses in our world already. They’re used in food, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology industries. They can act as natural pesticides, affect quality in craft beer, and at least 120 terpenes are known to be found in cannabis. Their presence in cannabis has made the general public more aware of them, no doubt. But terpenes are not strictly associated with cannabis. Steroids are a derivative of a terpene (squalene); Vitamin A is a terpenoid; walks in the forest are literally believed to be healthful in part because of terpenes. The therapeutic term for it is “forest bathing”.
Tens of thousands terpenes are thought to exist in nature. To give you an idea of what terpenes are, what they can do, and where they can be found, we’ll describe a few common types here. Like cannabis has been recently, conifers are pretty famous in the scientific world as a source of terpenes. Some of these include: α-pinene, β-pinene, camphor, camphene, sabinene, limonene, menthol, cymene, and myrcene. Many of these exist in cannabis and other plants. Limonene, for example, is a terpene found in cannabis, but is also the compound that gives lemon its characteristic taste—as you probably guessed by the name.
Other terpenes like β-caryophyllene found in pepper, linalool from hops, nerolidol found in orange, and phytol from green tea are all also found in cannabis. In the next section you will find some of these terpenes listed along with the therapeutic effects they are believed to have according to preliminary research studies and reviews.
A scientific review in 2017 combed through the research from the last few decades to determine why forest terpenes have anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and neuroprotective effects on humans. They found evidence from preliminary research studies that the following terpenes may “exert anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting various proinflammatory pathways in ear edema, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, skin inflammation, and osteoarthritis.”
According to the review, terpenes have exhibited anti-tumor effects in vivo and in vitro models (in lab animal models and human-derived tissue models). These terpenes include:
Numerous studies in the review show that essential oils of plants have neuroprotective effects against neurodegenerative conditions in vivo and in vitro. Therefore, terpenes (a main component of plant essential oils) may be beneficial to human neuronal health. However, not many studies have focused on the benefits of terpene components of plant essential oils on neuronal health. These terpenes, though, have been studied for their effects against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s:
Limonene can be found in citrus fruits like lemons, limes, oranges, and grapefruits.
Myrcene you will find in mangos, lemongrass, hops, and bay leaves.
Get your α-pinene in pine nuts and your linalool from lavender.
β-caryophyllene is found in broccoli and a lot of spices like basil, rosemary, cinnamon, oregano, lavender, cloves, and black pepper.
You can also get a variety of terpenes from various strains of cannabis. Full spectrum CBD extracts will include terpenes along with other cannabinoids and flavonoids. All of these whole plant compounds are thought to work together synergystically in what experts call the “entourage effect”.
Hemp flower is now available as well, if you are interested in the smoking or vaping experience. Hemp flower is high in cannabinoids like CBD or CBG, but contains only the legal limit of THC or less, which cannot get you high. So, you can enjoy the benefits of the entourage effect, without getting couch-locked.
It’s important to understand that in the studies above, animal models were often given high doses of these terpenes. It is not suggested that any of these compounds be assumed as a treatment for diseases without question. However, such findings could point to future treatments once backed by human clinical trials. In the meantime, what these studies do suggests is that more terpenes in your daily diet and in cannabis if you choose, could contribute to beneficial effects.
The Nature’s Breakthrough educational resource is just one of the ways The Hemp Haus practices its sincere commitment to and passion for educating people about CBD and helping them find the right, high-quality product based on their needs.
]]>As it turns out, a plant nutrient used by nature to attract pollinating birds and bees, is also attracting the attention of scientists and people interested in preventative health. Studies over the last decade continue to show that flavonoids, which are found in most plants, have a part to play in reducing many health risks, obesity, and even mortality.
Flavonoids are a diverse family of phytonutrients that, along with carotenoids, give fruits and vegetables their rich and vibrant colors. These phytonutrients are the most plentiful in nature, clocking in with more than 6,000 types.
According to the Linus Pauling Institute, there are six subclasses that are the most widespread in the human diet. For the lovers of all things category and list, they are: anthocyanidins, flavan-3-ols, flavonols, flavanones, flavones, and isoflavones.
Flavonoids are natural compounds that help create the vivid colors in plants in order to attract bees, butterflies and birds. According to a 2016 overview in the Journal of Nutritional Science, dietary flavonoids are abundant in foods and beverages of plant origin, such as fruits, vegetables, tea, cocoa, and wine (nice!).
Think blueberries, plums, apples, cherries, oranges, strawberries, grapes, pears, prunes, onions, spinach, parsley. … But also think, dark chocolate, green tea, nuts, red wine, soy, and even cannabis.
The subgroups listed above have unique major natural sources. For example, berries, grapes, and, subsequently, red wine are major sources of anthocyanidins. Onions and tea are major dietary sources of flavones and flavonals. Soybeans and legumes have a high concentration of isoflavones.
So what’s the payoff to having a diet rich in flavonoids? According to many animal model studies and human observational studies, in which people self-report their dietary intake, flavonoids can reduce the risk of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, and cardiovascular disease. They can also help with weight loss.
This broad spectrum of health-promoting effects is due to their antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenic, and anti-carcinogenic properties and their immune system benefits.
Read on in the list below for a peek at which flavonoids (and some of their sources) scientist associate with which disease prevention.
In August of 2019, researchers form Edith Cowan University’s School of Medical and Health Sciences published a study analyzing data from the Danish Diet, Cancer and Health cohort that assessed the diets of 53,048 Danes over 23 years.
The results show that flavonoids are associated with cardiovascular disease-related and cancer-related mortality. Moreover, researchers found that the protective effects of a high flavonoid diet were stronger for smokers and drinkers. Researchers caution, however, that flavonoid intake does not replace the health effects of quitting smoking or drinking.
According to the data, the optimum amount of flavonoids per day was 500 mg for the lowest risk of heart disease or cancer. That’s the equivalent of a cup of tea, one apple, one orange, 100 g of blueberries, and 100 g of broccoli.
According to a 2015 study in the journal BMJ, foods rich in certain flavonoids, like flavonols, flavan-3-ols, anthocyanins, and flavonoid polymers, may help maintain healthy weight in adulthood and help prevent obesity and its potential consequences.
Researchers analyzed the diet, exercise, and lifestyles of over 124,000 adults middle-aged and older over a period of 24 years. They found that people who had a flavonoid-rich diet maintained weight better than those who didn’t.
The flavonoids that seemed to work best were found in food sources such as strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, cherries, black currants, grapes, radishes, onions, peppers, and tea.
This 2012 AARP article discusses a study of more than 98,000 men and women with an average age of 70. Researchers divided them into groups according to their dietary flavonoid intake.
Results showed that those who ate the most flavonoid-rich foods were nearly 20 percent less likely to die of heart attack or stroke than those who ate the least, even taking into account factors such as weight, smoking, and exercise.
The Nature’s Breakthrough educational resource is just one of the ways The Hemp Haus practices its sincere commitment to and passion for educating people about CBD and helping them find the right, high-quality product based on their needs.
]]>
As you may already know, we all have an endocannabinoid system (ECS) that interacts with endocannabinoids (cannabinoids that are made in the body). The ECS is an extensive regulatory system that maintains our overall well-being (homeostasis) and connects our various organs and systems.
Many plant cannabinoids can act on the ECS too. The most famous (or infamous) is delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), followed by cannabidiol (CBD). These two are the most abundant cannabinoids in the cannabis plant, and right now are the most well-known. But scientists have been studying these and many other cannabis plant compounds for almost a century. In fact, we have THC to thank for the discovery of the ECS.
Human beings and the cannabis plant have a medicinal history that goes back to Ancient Middle East and Europe. We seem to be designed to use the phytocannabinoids in cannabis, and in the 1980s researchers made a discovery that suggests just that. They wondered why a receptor in the human brain existed for THC, as if made for it. This led them to guess that there was a similar chemical already existing in the human body. After a few years, they discovered anandamide, the human “well-being” cannabinoid, which acts similarly to THC on our receptors. Not long after that, they discovered the endocannabinoid system (ECS). That’s why they’re called “cannabinoids”—we discovered them in cannabis before we even knew we produced our own for a “cannabinoid system” in our bodies.
There are over 100 known phytocannabinoids, but many of them are so rare or have very little presence in the cannabis plant (remember, hemp is cannabis) that we still do not know the extent of their existence or effects.
However, there are some “main” phytocannabinoids that have been studied extensively in the lab. It’s important to remember that most of the research that has been done on cannabinoids is preclinical, meaning it has been done in labs on animal models and human tissue. Still, as we said earlier, humans have had a medicinal relationship with cannabis since ancient times. We can’t deny that cannabis has therapeutic effects on us—and even our pets. But there are a lot of knowledge gaps that still need to be filled, and with more clinical human trials, just think of how we can fine-tune these cannabinoids into weapons against diseases and debilitating conditions.
In this article, we’re going to introduce you to the Big Six, or what we like to call the Cannabinoid All-Stars. We’ll tell you about each cannabinoid by type, then we’ll group them by their associated effects. You’ll be caught up to cannabinoid speed in no time!
Imagine for a moment that your ECS is a basketball court. When you turn phytocannabinoids loose on your ECS, they’re like the players. Some of them are known for special talents and skillsets, but they always work as a team. That team aspect is called “the entourage effect”.
You could even say that you’re making plays when you decide to use certain cannabis strains that have certain amounts or combinations of cannabinoids (and terpenes and flavonoids) that you want to “put in the game.”
Okay, we’ll ease off the game metaphor, but you get the drift now, right? It’s not just about CBD and THC. We have a cannabinoid architecture in our bodies, nature’s architecture. And there’s a plant in nature that contains—what couldn’t possibly be construed as coincidence—an amazing amount of compounds (cannabinoids, terpenes, and cannaflavins, among others) that can interact with our human ECS and produce therapeutic effects.
So without further ado, these six main cannabinoid all-stars are:
These cannabinoids do not just come ready-made in cannabis plants. The plant makes cannabinoid acids, such as:
These acids do not have the usual sought-after effects of cannabinoids until they are decarboxylated, or activated, through heat. Therefore, THCA will not interact with ECS receptors until it has been heated and activated to become THC. The same for CBDA. That is why medical cannabis and hemp flower are often smoked or vaped. When you have an extract, the CBD and other phytocannabinoids are decarboxylated for you during the extraction process.
It all starts with CBGA, oddly enough. It’s odd because, when all is said and done in a mature cannabis plant, there’s almost no CBG left (breeders have found a way to make high-CBG hemp, but in nature, it doesn’t exist without mutation, which is rare). Enzymes in the cannabis plant synthesize CBGA into THCA, CBDA, and CBCA. THCA and CBDA are the most abundant lineages, which is why THC and CBD are the most abundant cannabinoids to come out the the plant. There are also “V” or “varin” acids (these have slightly shorter chemical structures) like THCVA, from which we get THCV—one of our all-stars.
Although cannabinoid acids do not produce the same effects as our all-stars, some do have antibiotic and insecticidal properties. Scientists believe these are the reason why they are made: to defend the plant.
Finally, cannabinolic acid (CBNA) is not a direct result of CBGA. CBNA is a degraded product of THCA. And CBN is a breakdown cannabinoid of THC. This happens over time, with exposure to oxygen and sunlight. As you will see, though, this all-star may have some nice benefits to offer.
Now let’s take a look at these amazing individual cannabinoids.
This most abundant cannabinoid in cannabis is known for it’s psychoactive effects. Currently, it is believed to be the only cannabinoid that is intoxicating. (THCV is thought to be at very high doses.) THC activates both CB receptors of the ECS. The psychoactive effect of THC is promoted by the CB1 receptor. The other receptor—CB2—is present in the gastrointestinal tract and the immune system. These receptors stimulate therapeutic benefits when activated.
THC has a wide range of therapeutic uses. Studies have shown that it has positive effects on symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, sleep, loss of appetite, and pain. Research also shows that THC has positive impacts on several health conditions and disorders.
THC is also found to have a variety of properties, including: neuroprotective antioxidant, anti-itch, muscle relaxant, and bronchodilatory properties.
So, CBD is what is known as a promiscuous molecule—but in a good way. It doesn’t just interact with CB receptors. CBD attaches itself to several receptors in a variety of systems in the body.
This may very well explain why CBD has such a range of therapeutic effects. It fits into many different receptors, getting a different reaction from each one.
Our brains have highly specialized cells called neurons. These neurons communicate by releasing neurotransmitters—chemical messengers like dopamine, serotonin, etc. These attach to the receptors on the neurons. The ECS has cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2. These are designed to receive the endocannabinoids anandamide and 2-AG.
In a cannabinoid receptor, CBD acts as an antagonist and blocks THC from directly binding to receptors and exerting its euphoric effects. This is why strains that have a high CBD:THC ratio will not get a person “very” high. The CBD works to moderate THC’s effects.
In other receptors, though, CBD can take direct action. Some of these include:
Additionally, CBD works to increase anandamide levels. Anandamide (AEA), an endocannabinoid made naturally in our brain, is responsible for regulating movement control, appetite, pain, and our overall sense of well-being.
CBD helps keep anandamide around longer by inhibiting the enzyme that breaks down anandamide—fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH).
The therapeutic effects of CBD are extensive and believed to include: neuroprotective, anticonvulsant, anti-tumor, anti-nausea, anti-anxiety, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, bone-healing stimulant, antipsychotic, antispasmodic, and more.
Like CBD, CBG is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid that is found in cannabis plants, including hemp. As mentioned above, CBG, or CBGA rather, is the parent cannabinoid to all others. Also like CBD, CBG exists in hemp in much higher levels than it does in THC-dominant cannabis. And as you probably know by now, hemp won’t get you high.
Research has shown that the higher levels of CBG in hemp may be caused by a recessive gene. The theory is that the plant prevents the formation of one of the cannabinoid syntheses (a chemical reaction).
CBG also affects the body by causing an increase in anandamide levels.
In the brain, CBG inhibits the uptake of gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), an inhibitory neurotransmitter responsible for reducing excitability (anxiety and fear responses). In one particular study, it was discovered that the effects of CBG on GABA were far greater than those of CBD and THC.
CBG is also known to antagonize the serotonin receptors, meaning it could help treat depression.
CBG’s therapeutic benefits may include: bone-stimulating properties, slowing of tumor growth, neuroprotective effects, treatment for depression and anxiety, possible treatment for glaucoma, anti-inflammatory, treatment for overactive bladder, and powerfully active against MRSA.
THCV works in the body and interacts with the ECS in a way that is similar to other cannabinoids, but distinct in its own unique way. At low doses, the THCV cannabinoid binds to and blocks the CB1 receptor and no intoxicating effects are produced. These blocking behaviors make it what is referred to as an antagonist in the cellular scheme of things. Interestingly, when dosage is dramatically increased, THCV becomes an agonist of the CB1 receptor. When it’s being this agreeable version of itself, a very stimulating and clear-headed euphoric state occurs. It’s thought to be similar to the “high” you get with THC, but happens more quickly and does not have its longevity.
It is the low-dose THCV, however, when it’s acting as an antagonist of the CB1 receptor, that can potentially produce some pretty impressive effects, like weight loss, reducing body fat, increasing energy, having anticonvulsant properties, and decreasing edema and hyperalgesia (pain sensitivity).
Evidence in preclinical and human studies suggests that THCV could help manage diabetes, curb panic attacks, treat and possibly help prevent Alzheimer’s, promote bone development, delay symptoms of Parkinson’s, and more.
What makes this cannabinoid special is the way it interacts with the ECS and other cannabinoids. It’s a real team player.
Because it binds poorly with CB1 receptors, it is non-intoxicating. CBC binds to other receptors in the body, enhancing your natural cannabinoids. While THC and CBD are busy binding with CB1, CB2 and other receptors, lesser known cannabinoids like CBC are off making other things happen. Very beneficial things. In fact, this 2018 article in Forbes suggests that it’s the more behind-the-scenes cannabinoids like CBC that could be doing the heavy lifting in CBD.
Either way, CBC has some pretty stellar therapeutic benefits, some of which significantly power up the entourage effect of full spectrum CBD and include:
CBN is unique because it doesn’t exist in the cannabis plant like most other cannabinoids. It’s a metabolite of THC. Put simply, CBN is what THC degrades into when exposed to air, time and heat. CBN does not, however, have the psychoactive effects of THC. As it turns out, aged cannabis is rich in CBN (due to natural breakdown of THC). That’s right, the hemp plant just keeps on giving.
CBN is best known for its natural sedative properties. CBN, especially when combined with other cannabinoids like CBD, can reduce those potential disruptors of sleep. It can decrease the inflammation around your puffy morning eyes, reduce neural and muscle spasms, fight depression and improve your overall mood.
Other potential benefits of CBN include: appetite stimulation, stimulation of bone growth and development, prevention of glaucoma, analgesic effects, anti-inflammatory effects.
Arthritis: THC, CBD, CBG, CBN, CBC
Fibromyalgia: THC, CBD, CBN
Inflammation: THC, CBD, CBG, CBC, CBN
Insomnia: THC, CBD, CBC, CBN
Migraine: THC, CBD
Pain: THC, CBD, THCV, CBC, CBN
Spinal Injury: THC, CBD
ADD/ADHD: THC, CBD
Anxiety: CBD, CBG
Bipolar: THC, CBD, CBG
Depression: THC, CBD, CBG, CBC, CBN
OCD: THC, CBD, CBG
PTSD: THC, CBD, CBG
Stress: THC, CBD
ALS: THC, CBD, CBG, CBC, CBN
Alzheimer’s: THC, CBD, CBG, CBC, CBN
Epilepsy: CBD, THCV, CBN
Multiple Sclerosis: THC, CBD, CBN
Osteoporosis: CBD, CBG, THCV, CBC, CBN
Parkinson’s: THC, CBD, CBG, CBC, CBN
Seizures: CBD, THCV, CBN
Spasticity: THC, CBD, CBG, CBN
Tourette’s: THC
Appetite Loss: THC
Anorexia: THC, CBD
Cachexia: THC, CBD
Crohn’s: THC, CBD
Diabetes: CBD, THCV
Gastrointestinal Disorders: THC, CBD
Nausea: THC, CBD
Hemp-derived CBD has less than .3 percent THC and is legal in the U.S. As for THC, at the time of this article, medical cannabis is legal in 33 states and recreationally legal for adults over 21 in 11 states. To get a high-CBG product, CBG hemp flower is now available. We recommend Jack Frost CBG from The Hemp Haus. As for the CBC, THCV, and CBN, they are available in trace amounts in full spectrum CBD (try our Ananda Hemp or Puffin Hemp Liposomal at The Hemp Haus), but are not widely available as dominant-cannabinoid products. However, as the industry continues to grow, you can expect more high-THCV, high-CBC, and high-CBN products.
Remember, these cannabinoids come from plants (cannabis, hemp) that have been illegal to grow in our country for nearly a century. It was only after the 2014 and 2018 Farm Bills that the U.S. has been able to produce cannabis products. It will take a little time for specific high-cannabinoid products to come online. However, The Hemp Haus is working with farmers and scientists that are working on just that. Sign up for our emails, so you can be among the first we spread to word to when we are able to make more of these cannabinoid all-stars available to you.
References
https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(19)30007-2/fulltext
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/229163258_The_Endocannabinoid_System_and_the_Brain
https://www.sfu.ca/content/sfu/dean-gradstudies/events/dreamcolloquium/DreamColloquium-Marijuana/EthanRusso/_jcr_content/main_content/download/file.res/Russo%20Simon%20Fraser%20January%202017%20Cannabis%20Pharmacology%20.pdf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6277878/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5818147/pdf/nihms942303.pdf
http://cannabisinternational.org/info/Non-Psychoactive-Cannabinoids.pdf
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10681-005-1164-8?utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=commission_junction&utm_campaign=3_nsn6445_brand_PID6166617&utm_content=de_textlink#page-2
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jphp.12082
http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/318/3/1375.long
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0197018613002106
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27094344
https://www.steephill.com/blogs/34/Cannabinol-(CBD):-A-Sleeping-Synergy
The Nature’s Breakthrough educational resource is just one of the ways The Hemp Haus practices its sincere commitment to and passion for educating people about CBD and helping them find the right, high-quality product based on their needs.
For pain, insomnia, anxiety, and more …
Puffin Hemp Liposomal CBD (350, 700, 1000)
Ananda Hemp Softgels and Tinctures (200, 300, 600, 2000)
Ananda Hemp Spectrum 125 Salve
Ananda Touch Bliss Intimate Oil
Ananda Hemp Full Spectrum Roll On (150mg) for Pain
Ananda Pets Full Spectrum CBD Extract
]]>
You’ve probably heard of industrial hemp. Chances are it was in relation to CBD, one of the cannabinoids that is derived from this cannabis family member, known for its copious therapeutic effects. But did you know that hemp can be used (brilliantly, some might say) as building materials? Houses are being made from hemp. In fact, there are currently dozens of houses in the U.S. that were built from hemp materials. The one featured in the photo above is a Hemp House in Maui. Source: American Lime Technology (Builder: George Rixey, Rixey Co.; Photographer: Travis Rowan, Living Maui Media)
Wood, concrete, insulation, chipboard, plaster, and deck stains are all materials that can be made from hemp.
And why is this a thing?
Hemp grows fast and easy, and it’s safe and eco-friendly—as a crop and in all it’s various product forms. And once it doesn’t have to be imported—when U.S. farmers are growing hemp for building materials on home soil—it will be cost-effective for growers, builders, and homeowners alike.
Read on to learn some fascinating facts about hemp in the world of construction and engineering. But first, a little refresher on …
Industrial hemp refers to the non-intoxicating (containing .3% THC or less) varieties of Cannabis Sativa L. And it just may be the miracle plant that addresses our emerging health and global sustainability issues. Did you know that over 25,000 products can be made from hemp for modern uses? Check out this article and chart to get an idea of just how versatile the hemp plant is and what it has to offer—that we know of, so far!
Hemp flowers are the part of the plant used the most in producing CBD and other cannabinoids. In its considerable usefulness beyond the medicinal, we turn to different parts of the hemp plant.
Industrial hemp produces two different kinds of fiber: the fine bast, which is used to make products like paper and clothing, and the woody hurds of the inner stem.
When it comes to construction, the hurds are the part of hemp stalk that is strong enough to build with. Additionally, the outer fibrous skin can be used for materials like insulation, and hemp seed oil can be used for treating wood.
According to a 2018 congressional research report, more than 30 nations grow hemp as an agricultural commodity. They can trade that commodity on the world market. Currently, there is no large-scale commercial production of hemp in the U.S., although it is under way thanks to the 2014 and 2018 Farm Bills.
The world’s population and disposable income are projected to increase dramatically, and, therefore, demand for consumer goods will follow. And yet, we currently do not have the resources to sustain such a demand.
In this article, we’ll look at some of the truly remarkable ways industrial hemp and the materials that can be made from it are changing how we build. With some stunning already-existing hemp houses, you’ll have to see to believe.
Hempcrete is one of the most amazing building products made from the industrial hemp plant. It simply consists of hemp hurds (the core of the stalks), water, and lime. This mixture produces a rigid material that is cast into thermal walls or bricks that are used between or around structural supports.
Cured and finished hempcrete walls have low toxicity and breathe well, while maintaining a high degree of air tightness and good thermal insulation. Hempcrete is also a good insulator against noise.
Using hempcrete is environmentally advantageous. Today we build with materials that are either mined from the earth or harvested from centuries-old forests. Industrial hemp can be grown over and over again, every year. One acre of hemp provides as much paper as 4.1 acres of trees.
Some other advantages of hempcrete include:
HempWood is the recent brainchild of Greg Wilson, who owns a Tasmania-based company, SmartOak, that makes “engineered wood”. Wilson, started experimenting with hemp as wood in the U.S. after the 2014 Farm Bill made it possible for him to get his hands on it.
Wilson’s process is to make a fast-growing, eco-friendly plant like hemp denser than oak. This involves adding adhesives to fill the voids of the cell structure in hemp, in order to increase its density. The result is 20% denser than oak.
But here’s what makes it ecologically and economically brilliant: a hemp crop takes 4-6 months to mature; an oak takes 60 years. Okay, mind blown!
Our era is not the first to mix hemp with lime and use it like concrete or plaster. In accent China, hemp was mixed with lime and tung oil and used as caulking on sailing vessels. Hemp’s ability to control moisture made it ideal for the sailing industry.
It’s also been discovered that hemp mortar was used for construction in 6th century France. It was used to reinforce abutments in the Merovingian bridges.
Once you start looking, it seems there’s nothing that can’t be made from the hemp plant, which, given its quick growth period and plethora of eco-friendly properties, really begs the question: Why was this non-intoxicating crop ever prohibited in the U.S?
Here are a few more ways hemp contributes to the building process:
Hemp fiber is made into sheets that can be cut into a variety of sizes, and then installed as semi-rigid “batts” between structural framing. It’s a welcome alternative to fiberglass and other conventional insulation materials. Hemp fiber insulation also exhibits higher insulation performance.
Hemp mixed with other fibers such as flax can be pressed into particleboard (also known as chipboard) to create a lighter, stronger and more moisture resistant alternative to its conventional counterpart.
Over the life of the product, the material in standard chipboard will often off-gas, due to the formaldehyde-based adhesives that hold it together.
That makes hemp-based particleboard a safer product that will also play a part in forest conservation.
Oil can be pressed from hemp seeds and processed to make an easy-to-apply coating that is both durable and attractive.
According to the product test results, hemp oil-based deck stain can outshine even the best commercial products in the weather-resistant category.
What’s the cherry on top? It contains very low levels of toxic VOCs (volatile organic compounds), making it the perfect alternative to synthetic and petroleum-based polymer coatings.
Apply your hempcrete more thinly, and you have hemp-based plaster. It can be applied as an added insulation or sound-deadening coat to existing walls and can be applied more thickly than conventional lime plasters.
Hemp plaster has an impressive resiliency. In one instance, it has preserved historical caves in India that have been exposed to the elements for 1,500 years.
Check out this video from nearly a decade ago that shows how beautifully hemp building materials can be integrated into construction.
The Nature’s Breakthrough educational resource is just one of the ways The Hemp Haus practices its sincere commitment to and passion for educating people about CBD and helping them find the right, high-quality product based on their needs.
]]>The short answer: Yes, hemp flower is legal. But hemp flower looks, smells, and taste a lot like marijuana. This along with all the talk about CBD, hemp, and marijuana in the last five years can cause a lot of confusion or uncertainty at the very least surrounding the legality of hemp-derived products.
For a while it seemed like the DEA was determined to convince everyone that hemp-derived CBD was not legal. And now the FDA is cracking down on the way CBD is marketed, which is needed for responsible marketing … but that has nothing to do with whether it is legal for someone to buy and take in the United States. Rest assured, as long as it’s hemp-derived, it is legal.
To help clear up the misconceptions surrounding the legality of CBD oil and hemp flower, we’re going to answer the following questions in this article to help consumers feel more informed:
Hemp flower comes from female hemp plants that have reached full bloom and have begun to secrete cannabinoids and resins in order to attract pollen from male plants and produce seeds. Hemp flowers are harvested once the cannabinoids have come on, but before they make seeds.
Hemp flower is also called hemp buds, CBD flower, or CBD buds. The raw hemp flower will look very similar to the buds of medical marijuana that can be purchased at dispensaries in some states. And also like marijuana, you smoke it, vape it, or bake it. The difference is that hemp flower comes from the hemp plant, which is legal.
Hemp flower, by the way, is the primary source for CBD oil. It’s the main part of the hemp plant from which hemp-derived CBD is extracted.
Marijuana and hemp are species of Cannabis that belong to the Cannabis Sativa family. Think of them as cousins that might look alike, but have different traits and personalities.
Here’s a quick list of the many ways marijuana and hemp differ:
Marijuana has broad leaves, dense buds, and a short, bushy structure.
Hemp has skinny leaves concentrated at the top of the plant, and grows taller and slenderer than the marijuana plant.
Marijuana contains more THC than CBD, and can have anywhere from 5% to 40% THC.
Hemp, on the other hand, contains less than .3% THC, which cannot get you high. Hemp has higher concentrations of CBD, which is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid.
Compared to marijuana, hemp is easier to grow. It is naturally pest and weed resistant, the plants can grow close together, and hemp can adapt to most climates.
Marijuana, however, requires a carefully controlled cultivation environment that is warm and humid, and the plants can not grow too close together.
Because of its intoxicating properties, marijuana is used primarily for recreational and medicinal purposes.
Hemp, though, has many industrial and medicinal purposes. It can produce a wide range of products, including CBD oil, paper, clothing, building materials, plastics, biofuel, food products, oils, and more.
Hemp and marijuana also differ in their legal status, which we’ll get to after we take a quick look at the history of hemp in the U.S.
In the beginning, there was hemp. The first U.S. cannabis law was enacted in 1619 in Jamestown, Virginia, and actually required farmers to grow hemp.
In 1916, USDA botanist Lyster Dewey proved that hemp produced four times the paper per acre than trees. It’s this kind of efficiency that has farmers across the U.S. eager to grow industrial hemp again. They know that, compared to wheat, it uses half the water while potentially quadrupling their income.
In 1930s America, the Reefer Madness Campaign spread fear about marijuana. Industrial hemp was lumped in with marijuana, and all the hype eventually led to the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, severely limiting cultivation of industrial hemp. By the end of the decade, the crop was no longer a commercial commodity in the U.S.
However, in 1942, the U.S. government enacted an entirely different campaign, which it called “Hemp for Victory.” For the war effort, farmers were encouraged to grow hemp, because the U.S.’s overseas industrial fibers supply, including Manila hemp, had been cut off by the Japanese.
In the 1970s, the Controlled Substances Act made marijuana (and subsequently, hemp) a Schedule I drug because it has “a high potential for abuse” and “no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.” This placed marijuana (and it’s can’t-get-you-high cousin, hemp) on the same level as heroin and LSD. Until …
Hemp was first defined apart from marijuana by the federal government in the 2014 Farm Bill. It defined hemp as containing .3% or less tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and made it legal to cultivate, produce, and sell within state-defined programs that were considerably restrictive.
The 2018 Farm Bill loosened those restrictions, and as long as hemp and hemp-derived CBD products follow the guidelines of the bill, they are legal. The defining factor is the THC amount of .3% or less.
To reiterate, hemp is no longer a controlled substance as long as it meets the government’s definition. To be sure that your hemp flower is legal (and to prove that it is hemp flower to law enforcement), be sure to keep the certificate of analysis (COA) to prove the legal amount of THC in your hemp flower.
The Nature’s Breakthrough educational resource is just one of the ways The Hemp Haus practices its sincere commitment to and passion for educating people about CBD and helping them find the right, high-quality product based on their needs.
]]>Chances are you know someone who takes melatonin to go to sleep. For some it works well, while others say they’ve had no success with it. If you’re wondering if melatonin might be right for you, read on.
We’ve gathered the facts and laid them out—even provided links to the science, so you can get to know as much or as little about melatonin as you like.
Known as the sleep “hormone,” melatonin at high levels helps you fall asleep. It is not a sleeping pill; it reminds your body when it is time to sleep, which triggers relaxation.
Melatonin is produced in the brain in the pineal gland, although it is also found in the GI tract, the eyes and bone. In the evening, the pineal gland releases melatonin to prepare for sleep and maintain sleep throughout the night. During the day, it suppresses the melatonin hormone.
A recent article in Forbes reported on a study proving that even dim light can suppress melatonin levels by half.
Apart from its sleep mojo, it's also considered “a free radical scavenger and broad-spectrum antioxidant” and melatonin has been studied for its antioxidant effects.
Additionally, melatonin might provide other benefits. See the final section of this article for these benefits and what science says about them so far. Read more about other ways to help with insomnia and sleep in this insightful article.
Primarily, medical melatonin is used for poor sleep in the following instances:
Research results show that melatonin taken before bedtime can help you fall asleep but is it possible to have melatonin overdose?
In 1994, the effects of low-dose melatonin vs. placebo were examined in 20 healthy males. In every instance of the participant receiving melatonin, sleep duration was increased and sleep on-set latency was decreased.A 2017 scientific review of sleep disorders and melatonin found that:
This review also compares the side effects of traditional medications like benzodiazepines, antidepressants, anxiolytics, etc., with the less harmful and uncommon side effects of melatonin. These traditional medications have a potential for dependence and addiction, and can gradually impair cognition—risks that are not associated with melatonin.
A 2016 safety study of melatonin in humans determined that even in extreme doses, short-term use of melatonin was safe. Only mild adverse effects, such as dizziness, headache, nausea, and sleepiness, have been reported.
Long-term melatonin treatment also reported only mild adverse effects.
No studies have indicated any serious adverse effects.
Long-term safety in children and adolescents, however, requires further investigation.
Melatonin is non-toxic and non-addictive.
Several studies have found that taking a melatonin supplement does not stop the body from making it naturally (here, here, and here).
The following possible drug interactions are from The Mayo Clinic’s melatonin page:
It could be good for your eyes. The powerful antioxidant benefits of melatonin could support eye health and help lower the risk of disease in your peepers.
A 2005 study of melatonin effects on age-related macular degeneration (AMD) showed protection of the retina and delayed macular degeneration in patients that took melatonin (3 mg) daily.
It might accelerate ulcer and heartburn recovery. In 2002, researchers found in preclinical trials that melatonin could prevent gastric ulceration and increase the efficacy of some medicines in reducing gastric damage.
A 2011 study found similar results in a clinical trial composed of people with chronic gastric ulcers.
Melatonin could quiet tinnitus. A few studies have researchers recommending melatonin for tinnitus.
This 2011 study, involving 61 adult participants, proved that 3 mg of melatonin before bed reduced the effects of tinnitus and improved sleep.
]]>
Hemp has an impressive list of beneficial phytonutrients like CBD, terpenes, flavonoids, and other cannabinoids. But did you know that hemp is rich in essential fatty acids (EFAs) as well? Moreover, hemp seeds are a superfood that contains the golden ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 recommended for a regular, healthy diet.
In this post we’ll review why we all need those essential fatty acids, and explain how hemp seed oil, fortified with a vegan source of DHA, can offer the best balanced source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
Similar to essential vitamins like Vitamin C, some fatty acids are essential because the human body does not make them and has to get them through diet and/or supplements. Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and linoleic acid (LA) are the two fatty acids essential to humans. To reiterate, “essential” means we need them to support our health, but we don’t make them in the body.
You may also know these essential fatty acids as omegas. ALA is known as omega-3 and LA is known as omega-6.
Depending on your age, you may remember a time when fat in your diet was evil. Then we slowly became aware of saturated and unsaturated dietary fats. Finally, trans fat emerged as the culprit behind fat danger. In 2003, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended people limit their calorie intake to less than 1% from trans fat a day.
That leaves us with saturated and unsaturated fats. Fatty acids are made of carbon atoms. Unsaturated fats have double bonds between some of the carbon atoms which block hydrogen atoms from attaching in those places, thus keeping them from being “saturated” with hydrogen atoms. Saturated fats do not have these double bonds, and therefore do become saturated.
In the world of unsaturated fatty acids, there are monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Omega-3 and omega-6 are PUFAs and omega-9 is a MUFA. The difference is in the placement structure of the double bonds that block the hydrogen atoms (3, 6, or 9 placements away from one end of the fatty acid chain). As we said earlier, omega-3 and -6 fatty acids are the essential ones. This translates to getting these omega 3/6 sources from food or supplements.
Omega-3 and -6 promote healthy heart, blood pressure, and circulation. They also support the health of your brain, skin, and immune system. Furthermore, essential fatty acids are a necessary component of cell membranes and support prenatal growth in pregnant women.
Before we get into supplements, we’ll explore which foods are rich in omega-3 and -6. But first, we need to have a quick conversation about the types of omega-3 fatty acids.
The three omega-3s that are recommended for our health are ALA, DHA, and EPA. DHA and EPA are actually thought to have more health benefits than ALA. These omega-3s can be made in the body using ALA, the essential fatty acid. But here's the rub: The conversion rate of synthesizing DHA and EPA from ALA is poor (about 5%). This is why fish oil in diet or supplements is recommended; it is high in DHA and EPA.
ALA is a plant-based source of omega-3 and is found in flaxseed, hemp seed, chia seed, walnuts, and canola and soybean oils.
DHA and EPA are marine-based sources of omega-3 and are found in cold-water fatty fish like salmon, herring, sardines, and mackerel. However, microalgae is rapidly becoming a vegan source for DHA. We’ll get to this soon when we discuss supplements.
Sources of LA include vegetable oils, nuts, and seeds. There is also a nonessential omega-6, arachidonic acid (AA), that is found in meat and eggs.
The oil from hemp seeds is around 75% essential fatty acids. This includes the vegan omega-3, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), and the vegan omega-6, gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). Also, the ALA and SDA fatty acids found in hemp seeds provide a greater conversion to DHA.
6^3 or 6*3 refers to the specific ratio of omega-6 and -3. According to one study on the cardiac and blood pressure effects of hemp seed in the diet, hemp seed has a 2:1 to 3:1 essential fatty acid ratio, which is aligned with a healthy diet. It’s recommended to get anywhere from a 1:1 to 4:1 ratio. Most Americans intake closer to a 10:1 ratio.
Here are some other foods and their omega 6^3:
Cashews: 125:1
Hazelnuts: 90:1
Pecans: 20:1
Pistachios: 52:1
Sunflower Seeds: 312:1
Almonds: 2010:1
Peanuts: 5320:1
Hemp Seeds/Oil: 3:1
Walnuts: 4:1
Grain-fed Beef: 10:1
Salmon (wild, raw): 1:12
Tuna (canned, water, drained): 1:31
Tuna (canned, oil, drained): 13:1
Carrots: 58:1
Spinach: 1:5
Chard: 8:1
Soybeans: 8:1
Palm Oil: 46:1
Olive Oil: 13:1
Grape Seed Oil: 696:1
Avocado Oil: 13:1
Butter: 9:1
Corn Oil: 46:1
The USDA recommends 8 ounces of seafood a week to get your DHA — an omega 3 essential fatty acid that is important for heart health and combating inflammation. But what to do if you are a vegan? Or if you are flabbergasted that it takes hundreds of fish to make one bottle of fish oil vitamins? The answer is microalgae. Traditionally, we’ve gotten DHA from fish. But where do the fish get it? From phytoplankton, and they get it from a diet of microalgae — the source of DHA.
Ananda Vegan Omega+ contains DHA-rich algal oil that anyone can benefit from, fish eater or not.
We recommend Ananda Vegan Omega+ because you get the benefits of hemps seed oil along with the algal oil — DHA that comes from the algae that fish eat. You can have the same health benefits of fish-oil sourced DHA, but from 100% vegan and environmentally friendly sources. Check out The Hemp Haus for thies amazing new product that is coming soon!
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2868018/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25720716/
]]>
Can plant-based protein rival the effects of whey protein? We know of one that does — Ananda Hemp’s Vegan Complete Protein 600g (Chocolate + Maca). To understand how Ananda Hemp — a leader in high-quality hemp-based supplements — accomplished this, we’ll take a look at a variety of protein powders and what the advantages and disadvantages of each are. Then we’ll be able to see how this expertly crafted plant-based protein powder surpasses the effects of whey.
Protein powder is one of the safest and best supplements you can take. But, first and foremost, you want to make sure you’re getting the optimum amount and quality of protein. Also, a clean ingredient list that doesn’t include additives, fillers, and thickeners is important. And bonus if those minimal ingredients have additional benefits to your dietary health.
Here’s the basic criteria for high-quality protein powder:
Proteins are the building blocks of the body, and they are made up of amino acids. Different sources of protein have different amino acid profiles which will determine how the protein is broken down, if it builds muscle, if it promotes weight loss, if it helps with recovery, or if it just adds to your calorie intake.
A complete protein has the amino acid profile you want. What makes a protein “complete”? The answer is essential amino acids — all of them.
Our bodies use 20 different amino acids in all kinds of combinations to provide countless functions like building muscles, providing energy, supporting digestion, and playing roles in enzymatic reactions, hormonal signaling, and neurotransmitter messaging.
But our body can only make 11 of those amino acids. The other nine need to come from food or supplements. These are the essential amino acids or EAAs.
Currently, there are many sources of protein powder you can buy. Collagen, for example, is a recent protein fade. It may give you healthier skin and help with inflammation, but it is not a complete protein, and therefore is not ideal for muscle gain or fat loss.
Whey protein has been the standard in protein powder for a long time. It comes from dairy and is a complete protein. If you use a whey isolate, you get more protein and less lactose. If you use a whey concentrate, there is less protein and more lactose. While whey is a perfectly healthy way to get protein, it does not serve an increasingly lactose-intolerant population or those living vegan lifestyles.
Plant-based protein is extracted from many sources including peas, brown rice, and hemp. Most vegan protein options, like beans, nuts, and grains are lacking in one or more EAA like leucine, which is an EAA but also one of three branch-chain amino acids (BCAAs) that plays a critical role in kick-starting muscle protein synthesis (MPS).
Hemp is one of many vegan protein sources, but one of the few that is a complete protein. Hemp seeds have a high digestibility, which translates to using those amino acids efficiently as building blocks for muscle. It also has more fiber than other plant-based proteins, which can promote gut health. Additionally, hemp seeds have an optimal omega 6/3 ratio of 3:1, which is rare for vegan omega sources. Sprinkle in plenty of minerals, including magnesium, iron, calcium, zinc, phosphorus, manganese and copper, and the benefits of hemp protein are all too obvious. And all these benefits can be enjoyed by people who are lactose-intolerant and who lead vegan lifestyles.
The only downside to whey vs. hemp protein is that whey has more protein per serving. Pea protein, however, performs just as well as whey protein in studies. And some pea isolates are even complete proteins.
To create a high-quality complete protein, Ananda has combined the balanced dietary benefits of hemp protein with the power of pea protein to make a superior protein supplement.
Ananda uses the best pea protein powder — fermented for optimum digestion and bioavailability.
Additionally, Ananda has added organic Peruvian maca. Maca root is an adaptogen, which is a class of herbs that helps your body adapt to stress.
Maca is both an adaptogen and a superfood. A root vegetable, it is rich in protein, fiber, calcium, magnesium, and amino acids such as glycine and arginine. As an adaptogen, it promotes balanced hormone production, increases it when your body is under-producing, and decreasing when your body is over-producing.
Along with their own hemp protein, fermented pea protein powder, and organic maca, Ananda’s complete protein only has three other ingredients, which contribute to its flavor: alkalized cocoa, Himalayan pink salt, and organic stevia.
Go to The Hemp Haus to check the availability of this new thoughtfully crafted, vegan complete protein.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4307635/
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/branched-chain-amino-acids-uses-risks
]]>
Have you been wanting to try it, but first you want to know what CBD feels like? Or maybe you’re wondering, “Does CBD really do anything?”
How CBD will make you feel and how effective it is, depends on several factors. I know, it’s not a straightforward answer, but that doesn’t mean CBD won’t work for you or have amazing effects in your life.
It just means there’s a few things you should know about CBD. In this article, we’ll explore how people say CBD makes them feel, the reasons they take it, and how it helps.
If you’re going to put something new in your body, of course you want to know things like:
Let’s get the scary questions out of the way first. No, CBD will not make you feel high. Yes, hemp is cannabis, but it is grown differently than the THC-laden marijuana associated with cannabis.
Legal, hemp-derived CBD that is responsibly grown and manufactured, contains .3% or less THC. That amount is non-intoxicating.
Next, you might be concerned with side effects. The reality is that compared to most prescription drugs and OTC medications, CBD has a good safety profile. There is no established lethal dose of CBD. While safety studies of CBD in human clinical trials are limited, those that have been performed in humans and animal models confirm the “often described favorable safety profile of CBD in humans”.
The side effects associated with CBD are pretty tame. Often people don’t experience any adverse effects. But there are some and you should know what to possibly expect. They include:
The FDA has made the blanket statement that CBD can cause liver injury, even though the organization admits that it “has only seen limited data about CBD safety.”
Some limited studies have shown that very high doses of ingested CBD—that is CBD that is taken orally, processed through the digestive system, and metabolized by the liver—can cause liver toxicity. … You know, the way drugs like acetaminophen (Tylenol), alcohol, and even Vitamins A and niacin can cause liver toxicity if too much of them are consumed.
For the full scoop on this subject, see our extensive article on CBD and liver toxicity.
The truth is, everyone is different, and therefore their experience with CBD will vary according to their personal chemistry, their ailments, the quality, form, and dose of CBD they take, and more.
In October 2017, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced that it was removing non-intoxicating CBD from its list of 2018 banned substances.
Shortly after that, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a report acknowledging the medical benefits of CBD and that the compound doesn’t have potential for abuse or adverse health effects.
And in the Fall of 2019, the Arthritis Foundation created CBD guidelines after a survey revealed that 80% of sufferers of arthritis were turning to cannabis as a treatment. They also sent a public letter to the FDA recommending they focus their efforts on creating standardized quality and safety measures with regard to CBD products.
When you use CBD, you will not get high. You can not overdose. As with anything else, if you are on other medications, seek medical advice to find out if CBD could have any adverse effects when taken with your meds.
For most people, CBD oil effects far outweigh any minor side effects. In fact, sometimes the side effects of high-quality CBD are simply more benefits—and often ones you weren’t expecting.
For example, many consumers who have taken our Puffin Hemp Liposomal CBD for pain and anxiety have discovered that it improves blood glucose levels. This actually happened to one of my regular customers and in a scientific safety study testing Puffin Hemp.
Because CBD extends the presence of anandamide in your system, many people say that CBD gives them a general sense of well-being. We like to describe this as a “calm confidence”. Other people compare it to a “runner’s high”.
Anandamide is an endocannabinoid naturally produced by our bodies, sometimes called the “bliss hormone”. It’s responsible for regulating movement control, appetite, pain, and our overall sense of well-being.
Deficiency in anandamide can lead to depression, anxiety, and mood disorders, so CBD’s anandamide-prolonging effects may help correct and maintain mental wellbeing.
CBD helps keep anandamide around longer by inhibiting the enzyme that breaks down anandamide—fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH).
Some people say CBD makes them feel a tingling in the top of their head, while others describe a calm washing over their face that starts between the eyes.
People often ask if CBD gives you a body high. The answer is no, but if you take a potent liposomal CBD, sublingual CBD tincture, or smoke or vape raw hemp flower, you can get a relaxation that is felt deep in the body without the psychoactive effects of THC.
Others say that it’s not about what CBD makes them feel, but the absence of certain feelings and symptoms.
To demonstrate this, I’m going to give you several accounts of people who use our CBD hemp oil brands (Puffin Hemp CBD Liposomes and Ananda Hemp).
But first, a quick review about what CBD is.
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a chemical compound (a phytocannabinoid) derived from cannabis.
CBD is found in the stalk, the seeds, and the flower of the cannabis plant. It is abundant in the cannabis plant, quite unlike the many other hundreds of cannabinoids that exist. Because of this, it is easy to extract it into the form of cannabis oil.
Once it is extracted, it may be processed and ultimately converted to other products such as capsules or liquids, or purified to its crystalline form.
CBD can also be ingested from raw CBD hemp flower by smoking or vaping it. If you want to know how smoking or vaping CBD will make you feel, take a look at our article about hemp flower.
Technically, how CBD works is through the endocannabinoid system (ECS). CBD interacts with this master regulatory system in your body in two main ways:
According to many anecdotal reports and a growing pool of research, CBD has a wide range of therapeutic and preventative effects.
But as for CBD effects, people use it to manage anxiety, mood disorders such as PTSD and depression, pain, inflammation, insomnia, and more.
Therefore, CBD is used to treat a range of conditions and diseases, such as fibromyalgia, diabetes, cancer, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, arthritis, and much more.
Many people ask, “Is CBD good for you?”
Because CBD is an antioxidant and has neuroprotective qualities, some people take it to prevent neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Huntington’s Diseases.
A 2018 review of clinical and preclinical studies in Frontiers of Pharmacology determined that CBD plays a protective role in treating and preventing such diseases as Parkinson’s and MS.
In addition to its antioxidant effects, people use CBD for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects in a preventative skincare regimen and to maintain their immune health.
You may have heard someone you know say CBD didn’t work for them. Not all CBD is created equal. To learn more, read our article on what makes CBD oil effective.
What people say about how CBD feels is usually directly associated with what they are using it for. However, some people find that the benefits of CBD are surprising and more than what they expected.
So, what does CBD help with? Here are some real stories that customers and friends have shared with us.
Many people use our Puffin Hemp Liposomal CBD or Ananda Hemp CBD softgels and tinctures to keep their anxiety in check. I
do. My other colleagues do. My mother does. Hundreds of customers … but some stories just stand out. Because they are life-changing.
Mary is a breast cancer survivor for over five years now. When she came into The Hemp Haus several years back, she was experiencing a cascade of horrific side effects from her post-cancer meds. She was on several drugs, each one addressing but also adding a new side effect. One of the many symptoms she had was manic episodes.
I love reporting that after taking our Ananda Hemp Full Spectrum CBD, Mary was able to get off many of her prescription meds. And her manic episodes, along with several other symptoms, completely subsided.
You can learn more about Mary’s story here.
Learn more about what CBD to take for anxiety here.
Buy the best high-quality CBD for anxiety here.
For pain and inflammation, I have two great success stories of people whose lives were vastly improved by our CBD products.
Michael Nardiello is a former Premier League footballer and takes Puffin Hemp Liposomal CBD every day. He takes this powerful and fast-acting CBD for pain and inflammation caused by the pelvic injury that ended his career. With Puffin Hemp, Nardiello says his sleep and overall quality of life have greatly improved.
You can read more about this former Manchester United player’s CBD story here.
One of our favorite CBD success stories is Ginny’s. Ginny is a grandmother who works 10-hour days on a concrete factory floor. Before she discovered Ananda Hemp CBD and Puffin Hemp Liposomal CBD, chronic pain and the stress had nearly taken over her life.
Ginny suffered from pain and discomfort caused by rheumatoid arthritis, shoulder injuries, herniated discs, and knees that need replacements. Her days ended with her coming home to bed, where she got very little rest because of the pain. She then had to get up and do it again. You can imagine the stress — the very bad place she was in.
For more about how Ananda Hemp Full Spectrum CBD Softgels, Puffin Hemp Liposomal CBD, and Ananda Hemp Spectrum Salve helped her take back her life, read Ginny’s story here.
Learn more about what CBD to take for pain and inflammation here.
In 2019, I found out that my 81-year-old grandma had been struggling with depression. After losing her husband and two youngest sons in a 5-year period, she was quietly trying to deal with the toll of these losses alone with an antidepressant that made her mind foggy.
Because of CBD, my grandma was able to get off the prescription medication that gave her brain fog.
Please check out the full story of how my grandma found relief from her depression with Ananda Hemp CBD Softgelsand Puffin Hemp Liposomal Hemp Actives 1000.
Many people, including these wonderful ones above, have experienced insomnia or poor sleep as a secondary symptom.
CBD can absolutely help with insomnia, whether it’s caused by a sleep disorder or is a result of other symptoms or lifestyle conditions.
Learn more about what CBD to take for insomnia here.
Buy the best, high-quality CBD for insomnia here.
These success stories are just the tip of the iceberg. I’ve met so many people whose lives have been changed for the better by CBD. And to be able to help them find a high-quality CBD product that will work for them has been super rewarding.
So, in one way, you could say CBD absolutely makes me feel like I’m helping people.
But CBD also makes me feel my best both mentally and physically. I use CBD daily for many reasons. I am a cancer survivor for over a decade. I take Ananda Hemp CBD Softgels and Puffin Hemp CBD Liposomes 350 as a part of my daily maintenance. This helps regulate my immune system and my sleep cycle.
But sometimes I have some anxiety or a day when I’m having an ADD-type day. For these days, I keep Puffin Hemp Liposomes 1000 or Ananda Hemp CBD 2000 tincture on hand. Within 10-15 minutes my calmness is restored and I am able to focus again. I do the same when for post-workout soreness.
CBD has changed my life for the better and has allowed me to help others take their lives back with CBD. With the right quality and support in finding a product, I believe anyone can feel better with CBD.
The Nature’s Breakthrough educational resource is just one of the ways The Hemp Haus practices its sincere commitment to and passion for educating people about CBD and helping them find the right, high-quality product based on their needs.
]]>Anxiety is how we respond to stressful situations. Calling war a stressful situation is an understatement. But for some veterans, the anxiety doesn’t go away and may even worsen over time. Nightmares, a racing pulse, and excessive worry or fear are telltale signs of chronic anxiety. For veterans, persistent chronic anxiety can also include bouts with social anxiety. When cases persist, anxiety disorders like PTSD, panic disorders, and phobias may develop.
While the association between veterans and PTSD is familiar, it is not so commonly recognized how military vets sacrifice their medical health as well to some conditions and diseases that many of us have never even heard of, including:
In this post, we’ll be sharing 5 hemp flower strains (4 CBD strains and 1 CBG) that may help with PTSD, anxiety, other mental and emotional disorders, along with symptoms of pain, inflammation, muscle spasms, and insomnia.
For a more in depth look at treating PTSD with CBD oil, see our article on cannabinoids and PTSD.
In addition, we have another article that really delves in to CBD effects for pain.
And, as a final note before the list, preclinical studies have shown that cannabinoids (CBD, THC, CBG — often in tandem) have anti-cancer effects. Also, there’s a lot of evidence to show that cancers in humans respond positively to treatment with cannabinoids.
This sativa CBD hemp flower may be an effective option for anyone experiencing difficulty controlling their anger or whose stress levels can get out of hand quickly. When smoked or vaped, Hempress 2 raw CBD flower has an immediate calming effect that is followed by an alertness in the mind. This makes it a perfect strain for anyone who needs to calm down but still be productive. And its effects of relaxed confidence are accompanied by an enjoyable earthy aroma with notes of pine and citrus.
This smokeable CBD is a cross between the original, more powerful cannabis strain and the reduced potency of E1 hemp. The result is a hemp flower that smells, smokes, and tastes like the original Bubba Kush marijuana, without the psychoactive effects of THC. Its CBD effects are best described as active relaxation. Because it wraps you in a light blanket of euphoria, you’ll feel like you can cope with whatever you need to accomplish. Bubba Kush has a strong fruit smell wafting with hints of wood, spice, and earth.
CBG hemp flower has a way of altering your perspective when you’re feeling anxious, distracted, bored, or frustrated with others. It will lift you up and realign you so that you feel like you can continue with your day. It’s kind of like a reset button. And everyone deserves to start their day over when it gets off track. John Snow knows how to make that happen. Along with mood, it can help with appetite, sleep, and memory. This raw CBG flower has a pungent, zesty diesel scent, followed by softer tones of sweet citrus and earth.
CBG is known to prolong GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter responsible for reducing excitability. It’s also known to have anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotectant properties.
Suver Haze is full of unique terpenes like β-Myrcene, farnesene, and β-Caryophyllene that contribute to its full spectrum CBD hemp flower effects. It’s a great strain for daytime relief from anxiety, depression, inflammation and stress. And because it is hemp CBD flower, it won’t make you sleepy or heavy in the body. Suver Haze has a wonderfully potent sweet and skunky aroma.
Purple Punch flower is a delicious indica strain that is as powerful as its name. This CBD herb is loaded with therapeutic benefits for those who are suffering from multiple symptoms. Its CBD hemp flower effects are great for insomnia, chronic pain, anxiety, paranoia, nausea and inflammation as well as taking the edge off a long day. And you can’t beat the flavor and aroma that will remind you of grape Kool-Aid and blueberry muffins.
We can not talk about CBD for vets without mentioning Puffin Hemp Liposomal CBD.
CBD has shown promise in treating many physical and mental disorders, including anxiety, depression, PTSD, diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, fibromyalgia, and much more.
Puffin Hemp Liposomal CBD oil has taken that to the next level. It wraps CBD in little customized bubbles made of healthy fats (liposomes) which allows for a much greater absorption of CBD into the bloodstream.
To learn more about what a liposome is and how Puffin Hemp Liposomes offer powerful relief check out our more extensive articles.
The Nature’s Breakthrough educational resource is just one of the ways The Hemp Haus practices its sincere commitment to and passion for educating people about CBD and helping them find the right, high-quality product based on their needs.
]]>Experts recommend that we get majority of our vitamins and nutrients from food. But as we age, this isn’t always possible. Poor appetite, an unhealthy gut, and limited access to healthy foods are just some of the things that can hinder good nutrition.
In an AARP article, nutrition researcher Diane McKay at Boston’s Tufts University said, “Our guts become less efficient as we age, particularly when we reach our 60s and 70s, and that limits our ability to get sufficient nutrients from food."
And, of course, this is about the time that we begin experiencing age-related issues like bone loss, complications due to heart disease, dementia, chronic pain and inflammation, and increased susceptibility to illness and infection.
It’s the worst time to be less able to absorb the vitamins and nutrients we need. A quality multivitamin can fill in the gaps in nutrition, however large, small or complicated they may be.
But the question remains: Is taking a vitamin supplement a waste?
If you’re not feeling the effects of your multivitamin, it may not be working. For quite some time, experts have been concerned with how effective vitamin supplements are. Studies have shown that regular oral supplements have poor absorption rates. Only a small percentage of the original amount of vitamin makes it through the stomach into the gut.
If you want to be sure you’re not wasting your multivitamin and that as much of it as possible is successfully making it to your bloodstream, you can’t go wrong with Puffin Health Liposomal Multivitamin.
So what is a liposome? Think of it is as nature’s delivery package. A liposome is a bubble-shaped structure made of fats (or phospholipids) that protects a supplement from the harsh environment of the digestive system.
The phospholipid shell is able to bind with other lipid cell membranes to safely deliver drugs, nutrients, or DNA material to intracellular environments and allow them to be absorbed into the bloodstream where they can be most effective in the body.
Therefore, liposomal multivitamin is a vitamin supplement wrapped in liposomes. Puffin Health liposomes are lab-grade, and the multivitamin is strategically placed into a liposome especially created for it. Because it’s protected from the stomach, a greater portion of the vitamins and minerals you take are made available to the body than with regular supplements.
Most supplements are vaporized by powerful acids in the stomach. And whatever is not absorbed simply goes right through you. This is why supplements often cause upset stomach.
Paying for supplements that do not effectively absorb into your system or that may mostly run right through you and potentially cause a stomachache is a waste of time and money.
Puffin Health Liposomal Multivitamin solves the problem of poor absorption to benefit your health and your pocketbook.
Our Puffin Health Liposomal Multivitamin is created by award-winning chemist, Dr. Emek Blair. Dr. Blair has been studying liposomes and perfecting liposome production for over a decade.
Puffin Health has third-party studies to prove the higher absorption rate of its liposomal supplements. In 2012, the Department of Health and Exercise Science at Colorado State University began comparing “normal” vitamin C to Dr. Blair’s liposomal vitamin C. Thus far, their findings prove that the liposomal vitamin C shows up in an “appreciably greater concentration” in the blood.
Additionally, they went one step further in the study to determine if a greater concentration of vitamin C in the blood had positive effects. The results showed that higher levels of vitamin C were beneficial. They demonstrated that people who had the higher levels of liposomal vitamin C experienced less oxidative stress.
Puffin Health gets their lipids (the building blocks of liposomes) from the finest natural, non-GMO sunflowers. Their liposome manufacturing process does not use heat or pressure, which can damage or alter the lipid structure.
Furthermore, Puffin Health Liposomes are manufactured in a cGMP (certified good manufacturing practices) lab.
Puffin Health Liposomal Multivitamin is the most effective supplement for getting essential vitamins and minerals into your bloodstream. Liposomes bypass the stomach to increase absorption.
And our Puffing Health is created by a highly experienced chemist, in a lab with proven manufacturing practices and effectiveness, and is made with only all natural ingredients and processes.
Puffin Health Liposomal Multivitamin is available exclusively through Puffin Health, where high-quality products and knowledge about all-natural nutrition is our passion.
]]>
It’s a common misconception that the amount of sleep you need decreases as you age. According to the CDC, adults need seven or more hours of sleep a day to maintain optimal health and wellbeing. Getting less than seven hours of sleep per 24 hours can be linked to increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, stroke, and mental distress.
So why does sleep become an issue as we age? It could be from a lack of melatonin. Melatonin is the hormone in our bodies that tells us when it’s time to sleep. Unfortunately, natural melatonin production decreases with age. On top of that, other things can effect natural melatonin levels, including beta blockers.
You or someone you know may take melatonin supplements. Even though there is a great deal of research to support the efficacy of melatonin supplements for sleep issues, not everyone experiences successful results. As with taking any supplement, this could be due to poor absorption of the supplement into the bloodstream.
If you want to be sure you’re not wasting your melatonin and that as much of it as possible is successfully making it to your bloodstream, you can’t go wrong with Puffin Health Liposomal Melatonin.
For a more thorough review, check out our Nature’s Breakthrough article on what you need to know about melatonin.
So what is a liposome? Think of it is as nature’s delivery package. A liposome is a bubble-shaped structure made of fats (or phospholipids) that protects a supplement from the harsh environment of the digestive system.
The phospholipid shell is able to bind with other lipid cell membranes to safely deliver drugs, nutrients, or DNA material to intracellular environments and allow them to be absorbed into the bloodstream and to be most effective for the body.
Therefore, liposomal melatonin is a melatonin supplement wrapped in liposomes. Puffin Health liposomes are lab-grade, and the melatonin is strategically placed into a liposome especially created for it. Because it’s protected from the stomach and intestines, a greater portion of the melatonin you take is made available to the body than if you took regular supplements.
Most supplements are vaporized by powerful acids in the stomach. And whatever is not absorbed simply goes right through you. This is why supplements often cause upset stomach.
Paying for supplements that do not effectively absorb into your system or that may mostly run right through your system and potentially cause a stomachache is a waste of time and money.
Melatonin is thought to have other possible therapeutic effects, including for eye health, ulcers, tinnitus. One study finding evidence that melatonin could serve as an anti-aging compound for skin, revealed concerns that melatonin taken orally would not absorb enough into the blood to have an effect.
Puffin Health Liposomal Melatonin solves the problem of poor absorption to benefit your health and your pocketbook.
Our Puffin Health Liposomal Melatonin is created by award-winning chemist, Dr. Emek Blair. Dr. Blair has been studying liposomes and perfecting liposome production for over a decade.
Puffin Health has third-party studies to prove the higher absorption rate of its liposomes. In 2012, the Department of Health and Exercise Science at Colorado State University began comparing “normal” Vitamin C to Dr. Blair’s liposomal Vitamin C. Thus far, their findings prove that the liposomal Vitamin C shows up in an “appreciably greater concentration” in the blood.
Puffin Health Liposomal Melatonin gets their lipids (the building blocks of liposomes) from the finest natural, non-GMO sunflowers. Their liposome manufacturing process does not use heat or pressure, which can damage or alter the lipid structure.
Furthermore, Puffin Health Liposomes are manufactured in a cGMP (certified good manufacturing practices) lab.
Puffin Health Liposomal Melatonin is the most effective supplement for getting melatonin into your bloodstream. Liposomes bypass the stomach to increase absorption.
And our Puffing Health is created by a highly experienced chemist, in a lab with proven manufacturing practices and effectiveness, and is made with only all natural ingredients and processes.
Puffin Health Liposomal Melatonin is available exclusively through Puffin Health, where high-quality products and knowledge about all-natural nutrition is our passion.
]]>
For many people, the holiday season is synonymous with stress. For those who suffer from anxiety, it can be unbearable. All the gatherings, gift-buying, planning, and preparing tend to throw our usual daily management of stress out of whack. On top of that, the holidays are a stage for family dynamics to play out. That anticipation alone can trigger anxiety.
A 2017 report by the Brightfield Group indicated that anxiety was the number one reason people used CBD. Of those surveyed, 71% reported using CBD for its anti-anxiety effects. It’s not surprising, considering that CBD is naturally predisposed to function with our endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is a complex network within the human body made up of cannabinoid receptors (CB1 & CB2). Balance within the system is maintained by cannabinoid compounds. We produce our own endocannabinoids, but if our system is out of whack, plant-based cannabinoids such as CBD can help.
During the holidays, when diet and exercise often get ignored, our ability to deal with stress is challenged and our inner wellness can be compromised. Let’s take a look at some of these kinds of stress and then consider how CBD can help when holiday demands throw our lives out of whack.
These are just some of the common stress inducers that pop up for the holidays, including:
CBD, or cannabidiol, is a phytocannabinoid (plant-derived cannabinoid) that, unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is not psychoactive. It is believed that CBD activates serotonin receptors. It also plays a role in the perception of pain and the reduction of inflammation. CBD degrades one of the brain chemicals responsible for mental function and mood.
CBD works with the endocannabinoid system (ECS). It is through this system that it exerts its effects on the human body. The ECS is present in all mammals and is involved in the regulation of a number of body functions such as sleep, mood, and appetite, production of hormones, and regulation of immune and nervous system responses. By regulating these functions, it helps to maintain the body’s homeostasis.
CBD minimizes panic behavior. So, if you find yourself wanting to fight or flight the holidays, a high-quality CBD could help. Many people who use CBD for anxiety describe its effect as a “calm confidence.” So, while you can’t escape the stress-inducing holidays (and really you probably wouldn’t want to), you may be able to enter them armed with some clear-headed calmness.
Several preclinical animal studies have been performed regarding CBD and anxiety. And now, more and more human studies are being conducted. A study done on animal models in 2014 concluded that CBD oil had not only anti-anxiety but also antidepressant effects.
A 2015 analysis of previous studies determined that CBD oil may provide relief for numerous forms of anxiety, including:
The side effects of CBD are minuscule compared to Xanax or alcohol and are generally well-tolerated. They include:
For several reasons, it is very important to select a high-quality CBD product. First of all, the establishment from which you purchase your CBD should be knowledgeable about cannabinoids in general. Secondly, they should be able to tell you exactly what ingredients are in the product and where they were cultivated and produced. They should be able to provide testing data for their products, which should be pure and contaminant free.
Nature’s Breakthrough, an educational resource for The Hemp Haus, recommends full spectrum CBD. The Hemp Haus currently carries Ananda Hemp full spectrum products. Full spectrum CBD refers to the pure hemp oil extracted from a hemp plant, containing unmodified cannabinoids and compounds. Unlike isolated or synthetic cannabinoids, full spectrum hemp oil contains an array of cannabinoids, as well as many essential vitamins and minerals, fatty acids, flavonoids, and terpenes. These compounds have been proven to work more effectively together in a specifically designed, synergistic manner known as the “entourage effect.”
The Hemp Haus team loves to talk CBD. Feel free to contact them with any questions or concerns.
References
Adderall is an amphetamine—a stimulant—that is prescribed by doctors to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). ADHD is a neurological disorder, the symptoms of which may become so severe that they negatively impact a child’s day-to-day life. Because it works to stimulate the central nervous system, Adderall is commonly prescribed for ADHD.
Generally speaking, many doctors and parents believe through their experience administering the drug to children, that overall it is an effective way to manage ADHD. Because the doses are relatively low and parents administer the medication for their children, there is little-to-no potential for addiction. However, there are side effects that must be weighed against the benefits, and sometimes the side effects are too severe for a child to continue using.
For a couple of reasons, some health care professionals and parents are concerned about the increased use of Adderall for treating ADHD. First, there are questions about the long-term effects it may have, and there are studies that prove that it alters the brain in children and young adults. Second, as with opioids and benzodiazepines, increased use (or prescribing) of Adderall has led to abuse, especially among adolescents and young adults. While it is not addictive at low, controlled doses, Adderall can be addictive when abused and may have adverse or even deadly consequences.
Evidence already exists showing that CBD can help adults with ADHD. And while there have been some studies involving children and ADHD, there have not been enough. However, there have been trials for other conditions that find that CBD has an adequate safety profile for children.
In this post, we will look at the efficacy and effects of Adderall and compare them with what is known about CBD and its efficacy and effects on children.
Sleeplessness and loss of appetite seem to be the to most common side effects of Adderall. These are two vital areas that can impact a child’s health and well-being. Sometimes the loss of appetite will go away after a couple of weeks. But if not, it could trigger loss of body mass and improper growth. If left unchecked, it would be comparable to leaving anorexia unchecked.
Insomnia is not an acceptable condition for a child. It’s well-known that children need 8-10 hours of sleep a night to thrive. A medication that keeps them awake at night does not seem to be worth the trade-off of better behavior. In fact, it seems it would contribute to difficult behavior.
Other side effects include headaches, stomachaches, tics and emotional problems. The traditional approach to these negative side effects is to weigh the side effect against the reward of the medicine and determine if it is worth it. Wouldn’t it be better if a child didn’t have to accept those kinds of tradeoffs?
Although they are increasingly prescribed in the U.S., little research has been done on the effects of stimulant drugs on developing brains. In 2016, researchers found that the stimulant Ritalin had a specific effect on developing brains that could lead to permanent neurological changes. The research explained that a young brain is a rapidly developing system that maintains high levels of plasticity. It could be vulnerable to drugs that interfere with specific transmitter systems.
Studies involving adult animals exposed long-term to stimulant medications show that adaptations by the brain are reversible. In juvenile animals, however, long-term exposure to ADHD drugs leads to lasting and sometimes permanent effects, known as neurochemical imprinting.
The Multimodal Treatment Study of Children With ADHD (Full Text), the most comprehensive trial on the long-term effects of ADHD, showed that six years into the study, medication management was associated with an increase in anxiety and depression.
In 1990, 600,000 children were on stimulants, usually Ritalin. By 2013, 3.5 million children were on stimulants, with Ritalin largely replaced by Adderall. Consequently, the prevalence of misuse leading to abuse of Adderall has increased as well, especially among adolescents and young adults. It is used in larger than prescribed doses to attain a euphoric high, to curb appetite and lose weight, or to be able to stay awake to study.
Side effects of Adderall abuse include:
Additionally, Adderall consumed with alcohol can give the false impression that one is not becoming intoxicated, which can lead to alcohol poisoning.
Some countries, such as Japan, have banned the drug from even being prescribed.
There are a number of medications and behavioral therapies for ADHD patients, Adderall being one of them. However, research has shown that the endocannabinoid system can play a vital role in the treatment of ADHD. A study using mice found that those presenting the symptoms of impulsivity were deficient in CB1 receptors. This implies that an increase in the consumption of cannabinoids is associated with a fall in the intensity of the impulsivity of ADHD patients.
Studies have been done on the effects of cannabinoids on adults with ADHD with promising results. In 2015, researchers in Germany examined the relationship between cannabis (CBD and THC) and ADD in 30 patients, all of whom said they experienced better sleep, better concentration, and reduced impulsivity while using the cannabis products. Finally, a 2017 study looking at CBD oil and ADHD in adults found that the oil improved some symptoms.
But with children, there have not been these kinds of ADHD-specific studies. Therefore, there are concerns about the safety profile and its long-term effects on the developing brain. This is why more research is always needed. However, there have been studies on the effects of cannabinoids on children for other conditions.
A one-year study enrolled 214 children from all across the United States with treatment-resistant epilepsy. They were administered CBD in large amounts – 25-50-mg/kg/day. This dose is equivalent to 500-1000-mg of CBD EVERY DAY FOR A YEAR. The result of the national study showed that CBD reduces seizures by a third while maintaining an adequate safety profile.
These were huge doses, much larger than normally needed to treat other disorders such as anxiety, inflammation, or insomnia. This could help to reassure that if a dose of 1000-mg is safe for a child to take for over year, it follows that much lower doses would be safe as well.
The United States Food & Drug Administration & the European Medicines Agency granted CBD preparations the “Orphan Drug” designation for the treatment of seizures in children with Dravet & Lennox-Gastaut syndromes. They also granted approval for CBD to be used in neonatal asphyxia. That is the medical authorities in the United States & Europe allowing the benefits of CBD to be given to the newborn and pediatric population.
Of course, the above conditions are life-threatening and may demand a different kind of regard than ADHD. However, with the negative, at times dangerous, effects of Adderall, would it not be worth it to investigate the very real potential of CBD to help children living with ADHD.
References
Silver, M.D., Larry. “ADHD Medication Side Effects That No One Should Tolerate.” ADDattude.com. Web. Accessed 3 December 2018.https://www.additudemag.com/adhd-medication-side-effects-that-no-one-should-tolerate/
Patterson, E. “The Effects of Adderall Use.” DrugAbuse.com. Web. Accessed 3 December 2018. https://drugabuse.com/library/the-effects-of-adderall-use/
Kartner, J. “Study Finds ADHD Drugs Alter Developing Brain.” 23 August 2016. Mad in America. Web. Accessed 3 December 2018. https://www.madinamerica.com/2016/08/study-finds-adhd-drugs-alter-developing-brain/
Jackson, D. “CBD Oil for ADHD? The Facts About This Popular Natural Treatment.” ADDitude.com. Web. Accessed 3 December 2018. https://www.additudemag.com/cbd-oil-adhd-symptoms-natural-treatment/
Zachar, L. “Ask a Doctor—CBD Dosing and Safety in Children.” 28 January 2018. CBDtesters.co. Web. Accessed 3 December 2018. https://www.cbdtesters.co/2018/01/28/cbd-dosing-safety-in-children/
Leonard, K. “Adderall: Still Keeping Teens Up at Night.” 16 December 2015. U.S. News. Web. Accessed 3 December 2018. https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015-12-16/adderall-still-abused-by-many-teens-survey-shows
“Cannabidiol in patients with treatment-resistant epilepsy: an open-label intervention trial.” Lancet Neurol. 2016; 15(3): 270– 278
“Cannabidiol in patients with treatment-resistant epilepsy: an open-label interventional trial.” Lancet Neurol. 2016 Mar;15(3):270-278
]]>One thing is for certain, when something has the potential to do so much good for humanity, eventually, the most adamant naysayers will come around. That “something” is industrial hemp-derived CBD. With more and more research being conducted, there's no denying its therapeutic applications. Before August of 2018, the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has famously been the last holdout on CBD. The revelation that tipped the scales in CBD’s favor this time was its potential to combat the opioid crisis in the U.S.
The misconceptions about industrial hemp and CBD stem from the passing of the Controlled Substances Act back in 1970. This Act is what has hindered the progress of hemp's usefulness, cultivation, and research and development. The DEA has been one of the last fronts of opposition against CBD. But in the past few months, it has changed its tune. A bit. And we’ll gladly take it.
The DEA, along with the U.S. Department of Justice, proposes to significantly increase the amount of cannabis that can legally grow in the U.S. for research purposes. On August 14 the Acting Administrator signed the 2019 Aggregate Production Quota for Schedule I and II Controlled Substances. It revealed that the DEA is proposing 2,450,000 grams of marijuana as the production quota for 2019. That is five times the amount authorized for 2018—443,680 grams.
Additionally, the DEA proposed in its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for 2019 a ten percent reduction in the manufacturing quotas of the six most commonly misused opioids, which are:
While stating that it was crucial to continue to produce a legitimate amount of opioids for scientific and medical research, DEA officials stated that protecting Americans and promoting safe practices among pharmaceutical companies and manufacturers was a motivating factor in the proposal.
CBD is a cannabinoid with great potential for therapeutic use in pain management. Many neurobiologists and scientists are of this opinion due to its low potential for misuse and diversion.
Industrial hemp contains only .3% or less Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is a non-psychoactive level. CBD is a non-psychoactive, non-intoxicating cannabinoid found in cannabis plants (both marijuana and industrial hemp) that is already proven to have sedative and analgesic properties.
Preclinical studies have proven that cannabinoids reduce the rewarding properties of opioid drugs and withdrawal symptoms, and also inhibit heroin-seeking behavior.
Studies have also shown that cannabinoids have a major effect on relieving chronic pain caused by inflammation. Both drugs act on different regions of the brain. The non-lethal nature of cannabinoids minimizes concerns about overdoses. With that being said, the safety profile of cannabinoids is retained even when combined with a potent opioid agonist.
“What is interesting is that the studies that looked at opioid reduction, have also had secondary outcomes where people are using less tobacco and alcohol as well,” said Dr. Alex Capano, a nurse practitioner with degrees in neuroscience and a doctoral degree (DNP) and the medical director for Ecofibre Industries and Ananda Hemp, which has been a pioneer in the U.S. hemp industry.
“CBD is not only pretty well-established as an effective pain reliever but it’s also safe to use as an adjunct with opioids,” Capano said. “It doesn’t increase respiratory depression risk and there are also studies that show that it can actually reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms. It does not work on the reward receptors of the brain the same way so there is no risk of dependence or addiction. So, it’s not substituting one substance abuse for another.”
A 2017 clinical review endorsed by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) called for an increased use of cannabis pharmacotherapy for pain management, pointing to evidence that such increase has been linked to a reduction in the use of opioids to treat pain.
Despite the evidence that cannabis can combat the opioid crisis and the DEA’s proposal to increase fivefold the production of cannabis in 2019, cannabis remains a Schedule I drug, which means it continues to share a category with heroin, methaqualone, peyote, LSD, and ecstasy.
The Schedule I classification acts as a roadblock for the immediate and rigorous research and development that is needed in cannabinoid science.
“We are really handcuffed when it comes to getting quality, well-designed studies because of the Schedule I regulation,” Capano said. “It often takes years for studies with placebo to be approved and the research is really lagging behind in the U.S.”
The hope is that the DEA’s change of heart about cultivating more cannabis for research will prompt a change in cannabis’ drug scheduling.
It is the misconceptions about cannabis that keep the progress so slow. One of those misconceptions is about full-spectrum CBD, which is different than CBD isolate. It includes many of the other natural compounds, such as Omega-3, Omega-6, and various terpenes and flavonoids that offer health benefits.
“Isolated CBD is not as effective at the same dose but also has a higher frequency of side effects. We’ve evolved with nature to get the benefits of these whole foods so isolate molecules have their purpose but are not as therapeutic,” Capano noted.
Full-spectrum CBD tends to contain THC, but not a psychoactive amount when it is derived from industrial hemp. But people, even professionals, are not always aware of these details. Education is the key that will help fill in the knowledge gaps about cannabis and CBD at all levels.
The Hemp Haus team is always open to questions, concerns, and conversations about CBD. It’s their passion, and they love informing people about CBD. Come by The Hemp Haus or contact them anytime.
Research
“Signs of Opioid Use and Addiction: Are Cannabinoids the Answer?” Nature’s Breakthrough. 4 October 2018. Web. Accessed 5 December 2018. http://naturesbreakthrough.com/category/addiction/
“DEA Plans to Quintuple Amount of Cannabis Grown for Research.” Ecofibre. 10 October 2018. Web. Accessed 5 December 2018. https://www.ecofibre.com/2018/10/10/dea-plans-to-quintuple-amount-of-cannabis-grown-for-research/
“Justice Department, DEA propose significant opioid manufacturing reduction in 2019.”
DEA.gov. 16 August 2018. Accessed 5 December 2018. https://www.dea.gov/press-releases/2018/08/16/justice-department-dea-propose-significant-opioid-manufacturing-reduction
]]>
Cannabielsoin was first discovered in 1983 by Ohio State University Researchers. Cannabidiol is formed from cannabielsoin through the metabolic process that makes it a metabolite.
Researchers at the Hokuriku University – Japan picked interest in the compound due to their interest in the biological mechanism resulting in its formation.
It has already been known that CBL is a product of degradation. Its formation is as a result of contact of the cannabis plant with light. Both compounds are classified as cannabinoids.
Currently, no pharmacological property has been identified in cannabielsoin and CBL. However, what must be known and understood is the process through which CBE is formed in the human body or in the cannabis plant.
Cannabielsoin has been discovered in suspension cultures of Saccharum officinarum and Cannabis sativa under optimum growth conditions. The compound has also been discovered in the liver of the guinea pig who received an intraperitoneal administration of cannabidiol an hour earlier. Cannabielsoin has little to no effect on the temperature of the body and pentobarbital-induced sleep.
Cannabielsoin does not have psychoactive properties though it is derived from CBD.
Cannabicyclol does not have psychomimetic properties hence it doesn’t induce euphoria or hallucinations – effects caused by tetrahydrocannabinol and other cannabinoids with psychoactive properties.
A 1983 study] used gas chromatography and mass spectrometry to analyze CBD metabolites. It was discovered that cannabidiol gave rise to cannabielsoin as a new metabolite.
The benefits of this compound and its interaction with other cannabinoids are yet to be discovered due to lack of research.
References
Yamamoto, H. Gohda, S. Narimatsu, H. Yoshimura: Identification of cannabielsoin, a novel metabolite of cannabidiol formed by guinea-pig hepatic microsomal enzymes, and its pharmacological activity in mice. In: J Pharmacobiodyn. December 1988,
Hartel et al. Biotransformation of Cannabidiol to Cannabielsoin by Suspension Cultures of Cannabis sativa and Saccharum officinarum. Planta Med (48)1: 7-9. May 1983.
]]>
Cannabis is illegal in China. In fact, the country has some of the harshest drug laws. Still, China produces half the world’s supply of legal cannabis, most of which is industrial hemp. On top of that, according the World Intellectual Property Organization, China owns more than half the cannabis patents in the world. What this points to is that China anticipates a global cannabis pharmaceutical market, and that Chinese leaders want a big piece of it.
Some doubt that China will be able to get around its own cultural issues with drugs to be able to actually put that supply chain into effect. But China produces and sells a great deal of opioids. Taboos may keep social and cultural behaviors in check, but do we really believe China’s leadership will turn down market opportunities that its already positioned itself to take advantage of?
China has centuries of experience cultivating cannabis for its fiber to be turned into rope, fabric, and paper. Hemp has been discovered in Shang Dynasty Tombs, and it is believed to be evidence of China’s first form of making paper. The Chinese also have a rich and recorded history of using the seeds and leaves of cannabis in traditional medicine.
It’s not surprising that a country with such a long hemp history is able to produce so much of it. China hosts a multitude of climates across varied regions, and the industrial hemp form of cannabis—the low-THC kind—can be grown in a variety of climates with less resources than many other crops. In other words, it appeals to Chinese farmers in some of its border regions where it is sometimes difficult to farm. The Heilongjiang province in China’s frosty north on the Russian border, is one of the country’s major cannabis producing regions.
In 1985, the People’s Republic of China joined the Convention of Psychotropic Substances and made cannabis illegal to possess. Furthermore, China has a history with drug problems. What is known as the “Century of Humiliation” has made drugs especially taboo in Chinese society. The British Empire of the late 1800s crippled China with a huge influx of Indian opium, opening the door for it to be colonized. China and its citizens have not forgotten the Opium Wars, the psychological and sociological effects of which still persist and have resulted in some of the harshest drug laws in the world.
This was apparent in China’s recent public letter to Chinese citizens in Canada, especially students, calling for them to avoid marijuana now that it has been legalized recreationally in Canada. As you would expect, Asian-Canadians weigh in with an obvious generational divide. Some young Chinese have embraced legalization, while older immigrants have posted alarmists claims that it will ruin the Chinese, a very obvious effect of a generation still emotionally attached to a history of being ruined and taken advantage of by Opium.
Some speculate that this drug taboo will stand in way of China being a real player in the international cannabis industry. But it kind of looks like they already are …
For decades now China has been turning a blind eye to farmers that grow hemp. This happens especially on a local level in more remote border areas where local leadership wants their farmers to be successful. It’s true that China has become more tolerant of industrial hemp farming, but in some areas where drug abuse has been a problem, such as Xinjiang, even industrial hemp, which is non-psychoactive, is banned.
That being said, for decades now, researchers have developed various hybrid species that not only survive but thrive in China’s contrasting environments, from the Arctic conditions in Heilongjiang, to Inner Mongolia’s Gobi Desert to the subtropics of Yunnan.
According to the New Zealand Herald, “There are no official figures for the amount of the plant China produces each year, but plantations are flourishing — both for commercial and illicit drug use. This growth was in part made possible by government-funded scientists assigned to study the plant's military uses, including medication and uniform fabric.”
So, does it really seem like China’s not planning on, not only being a part of, but, perhaps, dominating the international cannabis industry?
China already owns more than half of the worlds’ cannabis patents. What does that mean? According to Ottawa-based investor and biochemist, Dr. Luc Duchesne, is implies that “because cannabis in Western medicine is becoming accepted, the predominance of Chinese patents suggests that pharmaceutical sciences are evolving quickly in China, outpacing Western capabilities.”
America is still the biggest importer of Chinese hemp. Bryan DeHaven of Colorado-based clothing company, Chiefton Supply Co., told the Guardian “You can’t make hemp clothing in the U.S. because the country no longer has sufficient expertise in textile production.” But China, as we all know, does.
According to Ananda Hemp, a major hemp industry leader based in Kentucky, while the U.S is trying to play catch-up, China already has the advantage. “They had decades of engaging in textile need and other profit sources in regions that were undeveloped or unable to compete with nearby superpowers.”
Unfortunately, the foreign influx of hemp creates more pressure for regulation from the federal government. A sudden rise in mystery foreign crop casts doubt on what is or isn’t consumer grade quality. The greater the Chinese hemp boom becomes, the greater demand for the U.S. to regulate product safety.
References
Bourque, A. “China is Blaming Canada for Its Cannabis Problem But Is Producing 50% of the World’s Supply.” Forbes.30 July 2018. Web. Accessed 6 December 2018. https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrebourque/2018/07/30/china-is-blaming-canada-for-its-cannabis-problem-but-produces-50-percent-of-the-worlds-supply/#7ee8d8f775fb
Chen, S. “Green gold: how China quetly grew into a cannabis superpower.” South China Morning Post. 28 August 2017. Web. Accessed 7 December 2018. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2108347/green-gold-how-china-quietly-grew-cannabis-superpower
“China is secretly becoming a global cannabis leader.” 420 Intel (submitted by Marijuana News). 3 September 2018. Web. Accessed 6 December 2018. https://420intel.com/articles/2018/09/03/china-secretly-becoming-global-cannabis-leader
]]>
If you have an endocannabinoids system (ECS), you could benefit from the therapeutic effects of hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD). And guess what — your dog or cat has an ECS.
You’ve probably heard stories from friends and family about how CBD helped their pet with issues like joint pain, seizures, anxiety, and even cancer.
That’s because the ECS involves a network of cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) that regulate homeostasis (balance and well-being) by interacting with natural endocannabinoids.
When a body doesn’t make enough natural cannabinoids or can’t regulate them, we can develop health issues. Plant-based cannabinoids like CBD and THC can interact with the ECS to activate responses in the body — responses that have proven to be therapeutic for animals as well as humans.
Legal CBD is hemp-derived and has a negligent amount of THC in it (.3 percent or less) and can’t get you, or your pet, high. (Sorry, Fluffy.) CBD is safe for pets; side effects are rare and generally mild when experienced.
Our furry friends can suffer from anxiety, epilepsy, arthritis, recovery from surgery, and cancer just like we humans can. And the benefits of CBD may be able to help them too!
Ananda Pets Full Spectrum CBD Oil is the CBD product we recommend for you dog or cat for many reasons.
Ananda is a reputable hemp company that has led the way in the industry for over 20 years. All Ananda Hemp products have been tested at least three times before they come to the shelf, for potency, contaminant, and quality. There is a certificate of analysis for each product batch, so you can know what you’re putting in your pup or kitty.
Actually, Ananda’s hemp extract is one of only products to be part of a scientific study.
Ananda Hemp grows all of its hemp outdoors in the Kentucky soil and has never used pesticides or chemicals on its crops. So, again, you can have confidence in what you’re giving your furry friend.
The Ananda Pets product is made exclusively for dogs and cats and has dosing recommendations.
What’s more, it comes in tincture form for ease of dose adjustment that you can administer by dropping directly into your pet’s mouth or by putting it on their favorite food.
People think high-quality CBD is expensive — and it certainly cost more than the cheaper stuff. But Ananda Pets is top quality CBD relief for what is probably less than what you spend on your cell phone bill each month (depending on the size of your pet). You pet is worth it.
While they both come from the hemp plant, CBD oil products for dogs and hemp seed oil products for dogs are not the same. Both are known for their health benefits, but CBD oil has more powerful effects.
Hemp seed oil is extracted from hemp seeds which contain little to no CBD. It is, however, loaded with Omega-6 and Omega-3 essential fatty acids, Omega-9, GLA (gamma linolenic acid), and a range of healthy proteins and amino acids.
For your pet, it can help with skin and coat health, easing joint pain, and boosting immune system function.
CBD, however, is extracted primarily from the flowers and sometimes the leaves and stalks of hemp plants. A full spectrum CBD is an army of cannabinoids and whole plant nutrients like terpenes and flavonoids. These are thought to work synergistically in the entourage effect to promote health benefits such as relief from inflammation, chronic pain, anxiety, and seizures.
Currently, veterinarians are stuck in a gray area where they can’t prescribe or technically suggest CBD as a treatment for your pet. That doesn’t mean they can’t have a discussion with you if you bring up the subject.
While veterinarians have to be cautious about making definitive claims, it seems that reality has shown enough beneficial results from their patients that many vets are willing to talk about CBD for pets.
The AKC’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Jerry Klein, explains that even though there’s no conclusive scientific evidence for treating dogs with CBD, dog owners report that CBD can successfully treat inflammation, cardiac conditions, nausea, poor appetite, anxiety, and even cancer.
Here are few ways CBD oil is known to help:
A few clinical studies on the effects and safety of CBD for dogs have been conducted. More are underway.
Colorado veterinarian researcher Stephanie McGrath received so many phone calls in 2013 from pet owners and veterinarians about CBD that she decided she had to investigate cannabis for animals.
As assistant professor of neurology at Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, she became one of the first researchers in the field of veterinary cannabis.
Through her studies, she discovered that CBD in animals is absorbed like it is in humans, metabolized by the liver. A study she published reveals that CBD could possibly help treat seizures in dogs. Like many veterinarians, she believes that more scientific evidence is needed to authenticate the health claims that people are reporting about CBD for pets.
A 2018 Cornell study showed that 2 mg/kg of CBD twice daily can help increase comfort and activity in dogs with osteoarthritis.
Currently, The AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF) is funding a study through the Colorado State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (Stephanie McGrath’s neck of the woods again) that will evaluate the use of CBD in treatment-resistant epileptic dogs.
According to a 2017 World Health Organization report, pure CBD oil is considered safe and well-tolerated by animals. But there are few things to know when it comes to animals and cannabis.
One thing to keep in mind is that dogs are reported to have more cannabinoid receptors in their ECS than humans and will be more susceptible to a THC overdose in the short-term. This, however, will not be an issue if hemp-derived CBD is used. There’s just simply not enough THC in it to cause intoxication. To be sure, always use a product with a COA, so you can see for yourself that there’s no substantial amount of THC.
It is recommended that you start by dosing gradually with your pet. Begin with 1 mg per 10 pounds of body weight twice a day and monitor your pet’s reaction. Start low and go slow when increasing.
Weight of Pet (lb.) |
Number of Drops |
Less than 5 lbs. |
3 drops |
10 |
5 drops |
20 |
10 drops |
30 |
15 drops |
40 |
20 drops (approx. half dropper) |
50 |
25 drops |
60 |
30 drops |
70 |
35 drops (approx. full dropper) |
80 |
40 drops |
90+ lbs. |
45 drops |
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2451037/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3371734/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3169967/
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam/hp/cannabis-pdq#section/all
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22776349/
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2018.00165/full
https://www.who.int/medicines/access/controlled-substances/5.2_CBD.pdf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5109620/
The Nature’s Breakthrough educational resource is just one of the ways The Hemp Haus practices its sincere commitment to and passion for educating people about CBD and helping them find the right, high-quality product based on their needs.
]]>