CBD – The Myths, Marketing & Marvel

by Jennifer Peters | Jun 13, 2019 | Nutrition Notes

It seems like everywhere you look items are marked with CBD.  You can get CBD cookies, body lotion, chocolate and spray bottles lined up in natural grocery stores. There are claims that CBD helps to prevent and fight cancer, inhibit cardiovascular disease, reduce inflammation and help with many psychological disorders in some way.  It appears as though many people may have found the golden ticket hidden in the weeds…literally.

However, there is a lot of literature about CBD and it can be confusing to decipher what CBD is and where it comes from – we’ll try to unravel this in this article.

What is CBD?

CBD is a phytocannibinoid (in simple terms a chemical compound naturally found in plant). It can be found in one of two places: the hemp plant or marijuana plant.

Will I get “high” from CBD?

CBD is non-psychoactive – it will not get you high. TCH is another phytocannibinoid found in marijuana.  It is the portion of the plant that provides the psychoactive experience.  Some CBD oils may have a small percentage of THC usually no more than .05%. Not enough to get you high – but, if you have a cannabis allergy, it may give some small affects (this is highly rare). Also, it is possible to isolate CBD so you can get the effects of CBD without any trace of THC in it.   While still present, the levels of THC in hemp are much smaller than marijuana.

Why does some CBD smell like marijuana?

Because in short, CBD is extracted from the hemp or marijuana plants – which smells like “weed.” Although the smell and taste may be like marijuana, CBD doesn’t have the psychoactive ingredients like the THC that also comes from the plant.

Is CBD Legal?

Yes. In late 2018 the Farm Bill was passed that makes CBD legal in all States of the US.

What are the benefits of CBD?

CBD has a variety of benefits.  It can help with mood and overall wellbeing.  CBD also has been suggested to help with pain, inflammation, improve sleep, cardiovascular disease, autism, anxiety, cancer, infections, irritable bowl disorder, PTSD, acne and seizures.

Is CBD an Essential Oil?

No. Essential oils are aromatic compounds derived from plants and are extracted by distilling or cold press. CBD needs to be extracted by “solvent” and so, strictly speaking since you need to use a chemical to extract it, and thus, since it isn’t “pure” it is not an essential oil. Usually a chemical like methane is used to extract the oil from the plant, so CBD is an extract vs an essential oil.

How does CBD work?

As humans we all have an endocannabinoid system (ECS).  This system helps to modulate many processes in the body, including the central nervous system, inflammation, mood, energy, digestive and immune activity, metabolism and much more.  The ECS is a complex molecular signaling system located in the brain and throughout the central and peripheral nervous system.   The ECS monitors your body looking for signs of trouble and imbalance.  If it detects imbalance, a cascade of events takes place to rush neurotransmitters to the site of imbalance to bring the body back to balance.

Essentially, CBD inhibits the reabsorption of the body’s natural cannabinoids, leaving more fuel to the ECS.   This improves the general function of ECS and enhances cell signaling.  This is how CBD can be helpful in a variety of ways. There is still very little credible research around CBD and the mechanisms of action aren’t completely clear.  The research, while promising, is indeed limited. Studies are growing every day, however. There are an incredible amount of anecdotal testimonies and experiences.  Often, medicine catches up to what people already know and are experiencing.

How can CBD be taken?

CBD can be taken orally, topically or internally via products. Often it is taken orally under the tongue or added to a morning or evening drink of choice. It can also be used as a cream on the surface of the skin topically and is often made into creams, balms and lipsticks.   Quality and dosing are of key importance.

Organic sources are best as often the pesticides used to grow cannabis can be detrimental.  You should avoid CBD if you are pregnant or breastfeeding and consult your physician if you are taking medication as there are some key counter indications to many common drugs.

Is it a cure all?

While this article is not written by medical experts nor designed to provide medical related information and anyone experiencing issues should consult with a physician, in our experience, CBD may indeed provide relief from many symptoms you are experiencing.  However, as with any supplement, we still want search for the root cause of what may be happening in the body to cause the symptoms. In many ways CBD can be a band-aid (a potentially very safe and extremely helpful one) for an underlying issue.  We do need band-aids to help our bodies heal from time to time.  However CBD, like anything, should never be a substitute for a healthy diet and lifestyle.

About the Co-Author

Kellen Kurtz is a wife, mama, budding athlete, lover of good food & wine and a passionate seeker of health, wholeness and all the good things of life. Kellen works with everyday athletes, families, moms, women and life enthusiasts.

Her journey in nutrition was rocked when, at the age of 3, her son was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes. Since then she has relentlessly searched for holistic solutions to help her son, and entire family, thrive through this life altering diagnosis.

Kellen is a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (NTP), Restorative Wellness Solutions Certified and the founder of Rise Nutrition & Wellness.