CBD For Beginners: A Complete Guide

History of CBD

The cannabis plant has been recognized for thousands and thousands of years for its anecdotal medicinal wonders and life changing benefits. However, it was only discovered and fully identified in 1940 by Roger Adams, an organic chemist from the United States.

Hemp dates to China in 2737BC where Emperor Cheng Neng brewed his first cup of CBD tea. From what we know, this is the first recorded event of using CBD for therapeutic purposes.

Since then, there were others that tried to prove the worth of hemp and its therapeutic purposes. However, it wasn’t until the last century that it was discovered and only until this one that is has been socially accepted (for the most part).

The Types of CBD

There are many types of CBD including isolate, broad spectrum, and full spectrum CBD. Each is different and comes with varying purposes. When CBD is extracted from the hemp plant, that extract can be filtered to remove all other trace cannabinoids, terpenes, and other compounds leaving only CBD. This type of CBD ensures that if your line of work or lifestyle requires routine drug testing, you won’t be flagged for THC.

Here at ReThink we compare isolate CBD to orange juice without the vitamins because when you deplete the extract from other components you may be leaving the main one, but removing other potentially benefitting ones like terpenes, flavonoids, and more. While pure CBD ensures you receive enough CBD and no THC, it removes the other beneficial components of the hemp plant.

Full spectrum and broad spectrum are very similar except for one key difference. Full spectrum has small traces of THC (within legal limits), and broad spectrum is THC free. Full- and broad-spectrum CBD contains the whole extract of the hemp cannabis plant allowing the beneficial plant components to remain.

Types of CBD Products

To target many individuals with different wants and needs the industry has done an outstanding job at offering a wide array of CBD products with different target functions and forms of consumption. The most effective and popular form of cannabidiol is the CBD tincture.

Tinctures are oils in dropper bottles that are taken sublingually (under the tongue), are absorbed into the bloodstream quickly, and take effect in minutes.

There are many other products as well such as CBD infused gummies, topical creams/lotions, skincare, capsules, sprays, shots, and more.

Benefits of CBD

The CBD benefits vary from person to person. However, CBD is mostly used for its anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. Its other main targets are that of managing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and chronic conditions. Some studies even demonstrate that CBD can have positive effects on those who suffer from addiction and schizophrenia.

Everyone has a different experience with CBD, but what we know so far is that it isn’t just placebo. The whole reason that CBD biologically works for us is because it works with us through the endocannabinoid system (ECS).

All animals including humans have an ECS which produces endogenous cannabinoids and modulates essential human functions like metabolism, sleep, appetite, immune function, and more.

The body’s ECS is found throughout the entire body. Our brains produce endocannabinoids which interact with CB1 & 2 receptors throughout. Sometimes, our bodies may have a hard time producing the endocannabinoids which means that some vital functions can lag.

This is the whole premise of CBD. Some studies suggest that CBD helps the receptors become more sensitive helping them interact more effectively with our endocannabinoids while taking CBD from hemp can help mimic the function of our own.

Side Effects of CBD

While CBD comes with many wonderful effects, some may experience some unwanted side effects. However, the list is short and almost all are reversible by stopping your regimen or decreasing the dose.

The most common and mild side effects are sleepiness, dry mouth, changes in digestion, and changes in appetite. The more rare and serious side effect is that of liver toxicity, but if you’re taking small to average doses, this decreases the risk.

While the side effects aren’t too common, it is more common for people to have drug interactions with prescription medications. There are about 60 medications that can negatively interact with CBD. These include drugs for depression, blood pressure, anti-coagulation, and more.

It is always best to feel comfortable and educated when trying something new. Be sure to always speak to your doctor before starting a CBD regimen.

We hope that this guide is useful and provides some clarity and education on the world of CBD and hemp. Always feel free to reach out to us should you have any questions.