How Does Hemp Work ?
We all have an endocannabinoid system, which consists of receptors in our brain, spinal cord, and nervous systems, among other areas. Its regulation of different biological processes is still being studied, but the apparent overall goal is homeostasis, or bringing that area of the body to a neutral state.
There are two primary receptors involved that make up this system, called CB1 and CB2. CBD and other cannabinoids work by interacting with these receptors.
There are two types of natural cannabinoids that we know of. These cannabinoids are believed to modulate a variety of processes in our body, including motor learning, appetite, and nerve sensation.
The first, your body actually produces by itself. These are known as endo-cannabinoids and include compounds like anandamide, which is named after a Sanskrit word meaning “joy, bliss, and delight.” The second type is found in cannabis. These are more specifically called phyto-cannabinoids.
What Is Hemp-Derived CBD?
Pure CBD Oil is made from Cannabidiol (CBD), the non-psychoactive ingredient in cannabis. It is an ingredient in cannabis that has a slew of benefits. Millions of Americans are already using Pure CBD Oil on a daily basis — many say it works like magic!
The plant genus Cannabis contains two unique plant species — hemp, a tall cane-like plant resembling bamboo that originated in Central Asia and is now cultivated worldwide, and marijuana, hemp’s shorter leafier cousin.
Cannabis naturally produces more than 80 chemical compounds, called cannabinoids. The two most common, and therefore most studied, are tetrahydrocannabinol (referred to as THC) and cannabidiol (or the simpler term, CBD). THC is the compound responsible for psychoactive effects. CBD is non-psychoactive, meaning it doesn’t cause a “high.” In very general terms, cannabis plants with high THC content are considered marijuana, while plants with less than 1% THC are considered hemp.
CBD is what we’ll be discussing here today. There’s no standard amount in hemp or marijuana, so they may have high or low amounts. CBD is fully legal in the United States as long as it comes from imported industrial hemp seeds and stalks. Industrial hemp is typically grown for its fibers, seeds and other parts, which are used to make thousands of products. When hemp oil is extracted from these plants, they can have a surprising amount of CBD.
Many stores now carry products that contain CBD oil. But, these are considered food or supplements. They’re intended to support overall health and wellness.
CBD has been studied all over the world by renowned scientists and universities. These pre-clinical studies are suggesting CBD’s potential for reducing a number of different symptoms. These studies are still underway and the FDA does not allow claims to be made about the effectiveness of CBD for any particular health concern.
Based on anecdotes, a common response to CBD is an overall feeling of calmness and relaxation. Although plenty of other narratives can be seen in the news, and some states have already legalized the use of domestically grown CBD oil. However, more clinical studies are needed to influence a change in federal laws.
Whole Hemp CBD Extract
This herbal extract is handcrafted in small batches with organic, non-GMO grape alcohol to ensure quality, strength, and freshness. This process uses legal industrial hemp in a cold extraction process. This process takes about three days of continuous processing, and once it is completed, the spent plant material is processed to retrieve the mineral salts present in the plant. Once we have combined these two elements — the liquid extract containing all of the cannabinoids and the potassium-rich mineral salts — the process is finished and the extract ready for your consumption. Because we use a low-temperature process, our finished extract is still raw and living in the bottle.
We use only organic grape alcohol, ethically grown and harvested hemp, and organic fractionated coconut oil, making our product the safest, most advanced, and most sustainable hemp extract available on the market today. The hemp oil extract is suspended in the MCT coconut oil for taste and efficacy. MCT coconut oil supports a healthy liver and increases the ability of your body to absorb the hemp extract.
This entire process is called spagyric extraction, and has been used for thousands of years to create herbal remedies. Our lab analysis has determined that this process yields an especially potent and bioavailable tincture. It is more active in the gas chromatography, and it appears that the size of the molecules is reduced greatly by the process, making the tincture much more bioavailable than a tincture made without this process. We believe that this is a major development in the world of herbal extraction. We are producing a true whole-plant hemp extract with all the benefits of the whole plant.
The Endocannabinoid System (ECS)
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a collection of cell receptors and corresponding molecules. You can think of cell receptors like little locks on the surface of your cells. The keys to these locks are chemical molecules called agonists. Each time an agonist binds to a cell it relays a message, giving your cell specific direction.The endocannabinoid system is the name for a series of cell receptors that respond to certain kinds of agonists.
Two primary cell receptors make up the ECS, Cannabinoid Receptor 1 (CB1) and Cannabinoid Receptor 2 (CB2). The keys for these receptors are called endocannabinoids. Endocannabinoids are like the body’s natural THC & CBD. In fact, endocannabinoids got their name from cannabis. Plant cannabinoids were discovered first. Endo means within, and cannabinoid referring to a compound that fits into cannabinoid receptors.
There are two main endocannabinoid molecules, named anandamide and 2-Ag. Funny thing is, scientists wouldn’t have discovered anandamide without THC. Psychoactive (THC) was first discovered by Israeli scientist Raphael Mechoulam back in the 1960s. His finding quickly spurred a rush to figure out how THC worked, and whether or not our own bodies produced a similar compound. More than two decades after the search began, anandamide was found. Yet, once they isolated the chemical, they faced another challenge. What should it be called? They turned to Sanskrit. Anandamide comes from the Sanskrit word Ananda, which means bliss. So, basically, anandamide means bliss molecule.
Cannabinoid receptors are found all throughout the body, giving them a wide variety of functions. However, certain receptors are more concentrated in specific regions. CB1 receptors are abundant in the central nervous system. CB2 receptors are more often found on immune cells, in the gastrointestinal tract, and in the peripheral nervous system.
The diversity of receptor locations shows just how important endocannabinoids are for day-to-day bodily function. They help regulate your ECS. Endocannabinoids are the chemical messengers that tell your body to get these processes moving and when to stop. They help maintain optimal balance in the body, also known as homeostasis. When the ECS is disrupted, any one of these things can fall out of balance. Dysregulation in the ECS is thought to contribute to a wide variety of conditions.
The ECS theory of disease is termed “Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency.” The idea is simple: when the body does not produce enough endocannabinoids or cannot regulate them properly, you are more susceptible to illnesses that affect one or several of the functions listed above.
Our Extraction Process
We produce “raw” living products. We are able to apply our experience and holistic approach, coupled with scientific knowledge, to create the widest-spectrum cannabidiol (CBD) enriched extract on the market. This means that we use the whole hemp plant, retaining all of the hemp’s naturally occurring beneficial compounds.
We begin with organically grown hemp, grown in the Colorado soil. This ensures a rich mineral content to increase the nutritive value of our extract, as well as creating the cleanest possible product. This is especially important in creating CBD-enriched extracts because the same process that concentrates these target therapeutics can also concentrate any pesticides that may be present in the starting material.
Next, we extract a wide spectrum of the hemp therapeutics, including the many cannabinoids and valuable terpenes, using organic grape alcohol. We keep this process below 100 F° to protect the delicate constituents. This also ensures that not all of our cannabinoid acids are decarboxylated.*
In a process that adapts the ancient wisdom of alchemy and marries it to modern chemistry practices, we then run a second extraction that targets the rare earth mineral salt content that was bound up in the plant’s matrix. These rare earth mineral salts are then added back into the final extract. This completes what we term the spagyric process.
This special spagyric process makes our extracts incredibly bioavailable and nutritive, as well as ensuring that they are the widest spectrum CBD-enriched extracts on the market today. We believe that by mimicking the natural biochemistry of the plant as closely as possible and processing gently, we can preserve all of the valuable therapeutic constituents.
We base this alchemical practice on internal experimentation and peer-reviewed literature performed by repudiated scientists and institutions.
PROPRIETARY PROCESSES TERMINOLOGY
CERTIFIED FREE OF THC
0% THC means our products produce absolutely NO psychoactive effects or any of the side effects associated with THC.
What is CBD OIL and Hemp Oil?
People take or apply cannabidiol to treat a variety of symptoms, but its use is controversial. There is some confusion about what it is and the effects it has on the human body.
Cannabidiol (CBD) may have some health benefits, and it may also pose risks. Products containing the compound are now legal in many American states where marijuana is not.
This article will explain what CBD is, its purported health benefits, how to use it, potential risks, and issues surrounding its legality in the United States.
Extraction
Our proprietary hemp extraction process ensures the preservation of nearly all beneficial hemp. This process ensures that our products contain the synergistic compounds necessary to ensure the efficacy of our products.
Nano Emulsion
Nano emulsions are a finely-engineered, patent-pending formula that uses optimized composition and a unique process to manufacture. The average size of our hemp oil droplet is 25 nanometers, compared with 100-5000 nanometers that is usually obtained by using the industry-standard liposomal delivery method. Smaller is better. Your body absorbs five to seven times more of the beneficial ingredients compared to other products in the market.
NANO EMULSION ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY
Our patent-pending water-soluble hemp oil formulations are developed through our nano emulsion advanced technology (NEAT) platform. Our water-soluble technology transforms active compounds into Nano-sized emulsions making them highly bioavailable within your body and more permeable when applied to the skin.
IS CBD MARIJUANA?
Absolutely Not! Nature’s Greatest CBD Oil is 100% THC-free! Marijuana contains both THC and CBD, and these compounds have different effects. THC creates a mind-altering “high” when it is broken down by heat and introduced into the body. This results from smoking marijuana or using it in cooking, for example.
Unlike THC, CBD is not psychoactive. This means that it does not change the state of mind of the person who uses it. However, CBD does appear to produce significant changes in the body, and some research suggests that it has various benefits. The least processed form of the cannabis plant, known as hemp, contains most of the CBD. Though hemp and marijuana come from the same plant, Cannabis Sativa, the two are very different.
What is the Difference Between Isolate and Full-Spectrum CBD Oil?
In your quest to find the ideal CBD oil, you most probably have come across numerous discussions regarding the difference between isolate and full-spectrum CBD oil.
However, if you are new to the CBD world, you might be curious about certain terms like “isolate” and “full-spectrum.” To help you out, let us go over some of the basics about these two forms of extracted CBD oil, along with the main difference between them.
Hopefully, your curiosity will ultimately be satisfied, and you will be able to make a better-informed decision in the future.
Much Ado About Isolate and Full-Spectrum CBD Oil
Now more than ever, people are discovering the potential of CBD oil. On the whole, good-quality CBD oil is beneficial for you, whatever its form.
There are times when people feel the need to pit CBD isolate against full-spectrum. In truth, it just all comes down to personal preference and personal needs. We can’t deny that full-spectrum is more popular, but isolate still has its particular appeal and advantage. What we should be focusing on is which one will be more helpful to the user.
What is Full-Spectrum or Whole-Plant Extract CBD Oil?
Based on the name alone, full-spectrum CBD oil is extracted from the hemp plant with all cannabinoids still present. What’s more, we also get terpenes, flavonoids, Omega fatty acids, and essential vitamins and minerals.
Full-spectrum CBD oil is prevalent because of the much sought after entourage effect. This is the term given to the effect of all the hemp’s combined compounds and components.
In short, it is widely believed that using the whole plant is highly beneficial because all the components working together is better than one compound working alone. All the compounds interact with each other in order to boost their effect.
What Is CBD Isolate and How Is It Made?
Again, by referring to its name alone, CBD isolate contains only one compound—cannabidiol.
In order to make a CBD isolate, you must first extract the CBD oil from hemp. Nowadays, supercritical CO2 extraction is the method of choice because it gives the purest oil extract.
Next, chromatography is used in order to remove cannabinoids and other plant materials. The resulting compound is then heated to leave only CBD.
What we are left with is pure cannabidiol that is usually sold in crystal or white powder form. At times, isolate is also added to MCT oil.
Isolate dissolves in liquid, making it ideal to add to other products that are otherwise not compatible with CBD oil.
The Main Difference Between Isolate and Full-Spectrum CBD Oil
By now, you are probably starting to notice the significant difference between isolate and pure spectrum CBD oil: isolate contains only pure CBD compound, while full-spectrum contains all other cannabinoids.
How does this affect the resulting CBD product?
Full-spectrum CBD will contain trace amounts of THC. Legally, this amount should not exceed 0.3%. Reputable CBD oil companies have stringent quality control measures and have no problem adhering to this regulation.
CBD isolate is obviously devoid of other cannabinoids, and will not contain THC. This makes isolate safe for people who are worried about regular drug testing at their place of work.
Despite this, most companies tout the advantage of using full-spectrum CBD oil over isolate. It’s because many desire the entourage effect!
How Will You Know Which CBD Oil Is Suitable for You?
Over the years, various testimonies attest to the fact that full-spectrum CBD oil is more potent. Research done on this has also backed this claim.
It would appear that full-spectrum CBD oil is better at treating the majority of conditions. Isolates are observed to be effective only up until a certain dose. Meaning, even if you increase your dosage, CBD isolate will not increase in potency.
What, Then, Is the Advantage of Using Isolate CBD Over Full-Spectrum?
Well, for starters, not everyone wants the full capabilities of full-spectrum CBD. There are also some who were observed to develop a negative reaction to other cannabinoids.
CBD isolate is odorless and tasteless, making it a perfect addition to other food or drinks. You will have greater control over the amount of CBD that will be included in your finished product. In the long run, using the CBD isolate is also easier on the pocket since full-spectrum products are usually pricier.
With regards to taste, most full-spectrum CBD oil has a strong hemp plant flavor that is not agreeable with everyone. Some CBD companies have taken to adding flavorings to their CBD products to counter this. But if you are not a fan of additives, then you would most probably have to bear with the taste of the pure full-spectrum CBD oil.
If you are fond of vaping, note that you might also prefer to use isolate CBD isolate instead of the full-spectrum.
There’s another major reason why people prefer CBD isolate: they do not want any THC traces in their bodies. So, if you’re one of them, then you are certainly better off with the isolate.
Some Final Words on Full-Spectrum Oil and CBD Isolate
In the end, it doesn’t really matter which CBD form is most popular. You have to be the one to decide for yourself which one is better suited for you.
A majority will go with full-spectrum oil but don’t be too quick to dismiss CBD isolate. If you like mixing CBD with your food or drink, then isolate is a great option since you can easily measure the CBD amount. But if you want a more potent treatment for your symptoms, don’t hesitate to try out full-spectrum CBD oil.
At the end of the day, each one of us is different. The difference between isolate and full-spectrum CBD oil won’t matter much because it all comes down to which will give you better relief and overall wellness.
Entourage Effect
At Nature’s Greatest we provide the widest-spectrum CBD-enriched extracts on the market. We attribute our claim of “widest-spectrum” extract to the use of our unique spagyric method of extraction.
A CBD-enriched extract is one that, while targeting the cannabinoid CBD for extraction and concentration, also concentrates and contains many other chemical constituents from the hemp plant. Our raw extract contains a number of compounds with known therapeutic and nutritional value, including other cannabinoids, terpenes, fatty acids, chlorophyll, and plant-based rare earth minerals and salts. As scientists study the cannabis plant and different processing methods, more researchers are finding that these enriched extracts prompt a greater biological response than CBD isolates (i.e. extracts that contain ONLY CBD and none of the other constituents highly processed and refined products).
These other cannabinoids and compounds may be necessary for optimal functioning of the CBD pathway (i.e. the pathway by which cannabinoids are assimilated into the body). Sometimes these cofactors increase the efficacy of cannabinoids by decreasing the rate at which the cannabinoids are degraded. This effectively increases the concentration, or dose, that a person’s body experiences. Many initial studies demonstrated the increased efficacy of CBD extracts when they also contained the cannabinoid THC. Because of this, at Nature’s Greatest , we leave in all of the naturally occurring cannabinoids.
Terpenes are the most abundant of all natural compounds, with known terpenes numbering over 23,000. Terpenes are also the main components found in essential oils. Many of these, including the terpenes that are found in the cannabis plant, are being studied for their biological activity and therapeutic potential. Studies where the terpenes were co-administered with cannabinoids, in the form of CBD enriched and THC enriched extracts, showed that this combination prompted greater biological responses than did CBD and THC isolates.
Some of these studies also postulate that the alkaloids naturally present in the cannabis plant, which are still present in our CBD-enriched extracts, can also contribute to the biological activity of the extract. Our process keeps the plant raw and living and leaves these alkaloids intact, along with the plant’s chlorophyll. These constituents combine with the minerals we obtain from the cannabis plant to create a unique and powerful whole-food extract.