Natural Remedies

How To Find The Right CBD Product

CBD or cannabidiol has become a popular health and wellness product over the past few years for various health concerns, ranging from chronic pain to seizures to anxiety and depression.

As consumers have embraced CBD products, the market has grown to include a wide variety of products that vary in quality, type, effectiveness, and clinical use. Additionally, many things can be done to allow CBD to work better for your specific health concern. Below you will find ways to enhance your experience with cannabinol.  

How to Choose the Right CBD for your needs.

One of the first and most obvious things to consider when selecting a CBD product is using the correct kind of CBD product to suit your needs. This is important because different hemp-derived products will have additional features and benefits.

There are five general categories of CBD products: hemp seed oil, hemp flower extract, CBD isolate, CBD broad spectrum oil, and CBD full-spectrum oil. CBD is derived from strains of the cannabis sativa plant used in various industries such as food, textiles, and medicine. 

Hemp seed oil is derived from the cannabis sativa plant’s seeds and is rich in protein, B complex vitamins, E complex vitamins, fiber, and omega fatty acids. However, the cannabis Sativa plant[1] seeds do not have a significant concentration of cannabinoids, so hemp seed oil does not contain a therapeutic amount of cannabidiol.

Hemp seed oil is useful as a nutrition supplement or cooking agent but would not provide meaningful endocannabinoid support. 

Hemp flower extract, like hemp seed oil, is derived from the cannabis Sativa plant, but the cannabinoid-rich leaves are used for the extraction process. Hemp flower extract is rich in cannabinoids, terpenes, and fatty acids, which provide a therapeutic effect for conditions that benefit from CBD.  

CBD full spectrum oil extracts CBD that contains parts of the full cannabis sativa plant, including trace amounts of THC. The benefit of a full spectrum product is that there is a synergistic effect from the different plant chemicals that work synergistically to provide a better effect when consumed.

This effect is called the entourage effect, and research has shown that various parts of the whole cannabis plant work better together rather than in isolated fractions. Minute amounts of THC have been found to enhance the entourage effect, making a full-spectrum oil typically more effective than a CBD isolate product.

A full spectrum product’s negative aspects are the legal risk of consuming a THC containing product, the risk of positive drug tests, and a strong taste and smell from the plant-derived product.

CBD broad-spectrum oil is similar to a full-spectrum oil, except there is no THC content in the product. The entourage effect still exists with the other chemicals in the plant. Still, the product’s effect is lessened when consumed because there is no THC interacting with the endocannabinoid or nervous system.

CBD isolate is an extract of the cannabis plant that contains only cannabidiol and other cannabinoids, terpenes, fatty acids, etc. are removed during the extraction process.

CBD isolate can then be infused or incorporated into other carriers such as MCT oil, olive oil, or hemp seed oil, which give an added benefit to the user, depending on the carrier incorporated into the product.

CBD isolate is colorless and flavorless, which allows it to easily be incorporated into a variety of products. Still, CBD isolate does not provide the same results as a full or broad-spectrum product. 

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Investing in a quality product is key because you want a beneficial product that provides the intended effect. It is also important to avoid potential chemicals that remain on the product during the extraction process (which is done with either solvents or CO2) or during growth and harvesting (which can harbor pesticides, mold, or fungus).

Synergistic Herbs can provide complementary support to your CBD products. Here is a shortlist of additional herbs that you may find in your CBD product. 

1. Sleep

  • Valerian
  • Kava Kava
  • California Poppy

2. Pain and Inflammation 

  • California Poppy
  • Boswellia 
  • Turmeric
  • Echinacea

[Read: CBD Oil for Inflammation]

3. Anxiety and Depression

  • St. John’s Wort
  • Withania
  • Eleuthero

[Read: CBD Oil for Anxiety]

Synergistic Nutrients

  • Essential Fatty Acids found in fish oil, hemp seed oil, olive oil
  • Broccoli, kale, Brussel sprouts, chickpeas, chocolate, and peanuts have been found to act on the endocannabinoid system and provide a synergetic effect
  • B Vitamin complex
  • Trace Minerals
  • Melatonin

Other Tips and Tricks:

Use a tincture: If using a tincture, be sure to hold the extract under your tongue for at least 30 seconds to one minute to ensure sublingual absorption. You should feel an effect from taking the product within thirty minutes. 

Avoiding tolerance: there are three main ways to decrease the chance of developing a tolerance to a CBD product: 

1) Cycle the Dose: Vary the product’s dose ranging from a small dose to the full dose to no dose.  

2) Take Breaks: Take periodic breaks from using a CBD product. It may take several weeks or months to sensitize endocannabinoid receptors 

3) Change Your Products: there are many products on the market today, and you may benefit from using a variety of products such as tinctures, edible products, or topicals.  

Lastly, supporting your overall health through stress management, a sound, nutritious diet, and adequate exercise will also affect the endocannabinoid system. Diet and exercise can enhance your response to a CBD product or lessen the need for a CBD product in the first place.

Your body will naturally support the endocannabinoid system through its endogenous chemicals that are made and released during activities such as laughter, singing, exercise, meaningful work, and happiness.


About The Author:

Dr. Jen Taylor is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor from Rochester, New York. Her interest in health and wellness stemmed from her experiences as a youth and college athlete.