CBD is a natural, safe, non-addictive substance that can help alleviate everything from anxiety to aches and pains. But to many, CBD is still a mystery! Read on to learn more about what CBD oil is and how it works in the body.
Where Does CBD Come From?
CBD, or cannabidiol, is extracted from the hemp plant - cannabis that is bred to contain less than a 0.3% concentration of THC, meaning it is non-psychoactive and will not get you high. At Alive Market, the CBD is extracted from the hemp plant using organic ethanol as a solvent.
The crude oil is then distilled by heating it the boiling points of its various compounds, which creates a full spectrum CBD distillate. That distillate is mixed with organic MCT coconut oil, which is full of fatty acids for the cannabinoids to bind to. Cannabinoids are most effective when consumed along with fat, especially medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), as is increases their bioavailability.
What Should I Look For in a CBD Oil?
1. Full Spectrum
Full spectrum means that the CBD oil includes all parts of the hemp plant, like cannabinoids, phytocannibinoids, terpenes, and keytones. Using all parts of the plant creates a synergistic effect known as the “entourage effect,” in which the different components of the plant work together to magnify their benefits!
2. Organic
An important factor in the quality of a CBD oil is the way that the hemp plants it is extracted from are grown. It is important that the hemp used is not treated with pesticides or GMOs. Alive Market CBD oil is derived from hemp grown without these substances in Southern Colorado.
3. Living Soil Cultivation Practices
Alive Market uses no-till or living soil practice, which is a sustainable and regenerative way of growing hemp. Tilling is a common practice in agriculture, meant to prepare soil for a new crop. The practice is comprised of digging, stirring, and overturning soil in order to loosen it up and remove weeds and roots. However, it also disrupts the complex ecosystem of the soil!
Instead of tilling the soil after each harvest, Alive Market leaves the soil undisturbed, which leaves the structure of the soil intact. This allows leftover plant material to decompose into the soil and provide nutrients for future crops, reduces soil erosion, and increases water retention, which reduces water consumption. By not tilling the soil, fuel is also conserved, and any heavy metal that may have contaminated the soil from tilling machinery is eliminated.
4.Third Party Lab Results
Alive Market’s tested each batch by a third party lab for potency, microbiology, pesticides, and solvent residuals. Lab Results
What Does CBD Oil Do?
CBD is one of the 113 cannabinoids, which are lipid-based neurotransmitters, that exist within the cannabis plant. They act upon the cannabinoid receptors that exist throughout the body in the endocannabinoid system. The ECS is a system that exists in everyone’s body, just like the endocrine system or the digestive system. CBD acts upon cannabinoid receptors like CB1 and CB2, which are mostly in the nervous and immune systems, to work to maintain homeostasis in the body.
The body naturally produces endogenous cannibinoids (or endocannibinoids), but many people are endocannabinoid deficient. Luckily, just like you can supplement your body with vitamin supplements, you can supplement it with the cannabinoids in CBD oil!
How Do I Use CBD Oil?
CBD oil is taken sublingually, meaning under the tongue. You just lift your tongue to the roof of your mouth, drop the oil from the dropper, and hold it there for 15-60 seconds, then swallow! The active compounds in the oil will absorb into the mucous membranes of the mouth and quickly enter the bloodstream. It usually takes about 15 minutes for you to start the feel the effects of CBD oil.