Blair Lauren Brown - CBD For Dummies

Dr. Bradley Alger, one of the most recognized researchers in the endocannabinoid brain sciences, notes that “the endocannabinoids are literally a bridge between body and mind. By understanding the endocannabinoid system, we begin to see a mechanism that could connect brain activity and states of physical health and disease.”

The true nature of CBD and how it can work with the human body is still somewhat unknown (thanks, lack of research), but some of the most affected conditions are seeing some relief with CBD.

How you feel after ingesting CBD may be wildly different from how someone else feels. This difference is even more likely if the CBD is balancing your ECS, because an imbalanced ESC will likely make other parts of your body feel a bit askew. Because of the degree of variability, I outline the typical effects on CBD in various conditions here; I dive into these conditions and CBD’s effects on them in greater detail in Part 3of this book.

CBD is a jack of all trades. Researchers hail it as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, neuroprotective (a fancy word meaning it protects your brain’s neurons), antipsychotic, antimicrobial, and pain reliever.

For reasons ranging from diet to genetics, inflammation is a common human complaint. CBD acts as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant — ramping up the body’s defense system. Oxidation and deterioration are a natural part of the slowing of cell regeneration. CBD has been linked to hampering those effects. It also treats irritation, redness, and bruising.

CBD is hailed as an antipsychotic, regulating mood, thinking, and perception as it interacts with the receptors in the brain. As a neuroprotective, it reduces toxicity from external factors.

In research around neurodegenerative disorders such as Huntington’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease, the way CBD blocks and disrupts the binding of the molecules that contribute to negative effects may have positive impacts.

In topical circumstances, CBD can fight against bacteria.

Pain management may be one of the most exciting discoveries to date because more than one-third of the U.S. population deals with pain. The limitless applications of CBD as a pain reliever dominate the current research trend.

CBD contributes to increased relaxation by decreasing tension and muscle stress. Better sleep, deeper rest, and diminished anxiety are being reported across a variety of CBD users.

Overall, CBD seems to balance bodily systems, including mood and digestion.

In the skincare realm, increased moisture retention is a lovely effect many users enjoy.

Chapter 4

IN THIS CHAPTER

Getting to know methods of CBD extraction

Examining different extraction types

Introducing popular forms of extraction

Taking the confusion out of CBD infusion

Going to the next level with CBD extract products

The hemp cannabis plant in and of itself is valuable for many purposes. It has been providing powerful and positive experiences for humans for centuries. But its rock-star component, CBD, can be tough to isolate. CBD has many versatile uses, but to get a usable concentration of it, you have to extract, isolate, distill, or infuse it. (Well, not you personally, necessarily, but someone does.)

Extraction is the process of separating the plant matter from the other chemical parts. You can essentially consume the plant in its whole form and get good results for many conditions, and in some scenarios, that’s the ideal method of consumption. However, many Americans’ interactions with cannabis center on byproducts. I want to familiarize you with different forms of CBD you may encounter more readily, so in this chapter, I explore the different methods of extracting CBD.

Extraction likely existed long before humans had a way to record how they did it and why. Over time, the processes have evolved. CBD extraction methods have become more advanced and refined in the same way that human devices for light shifted from campfires to candles to lightbulbs. Some of the methods for home use pale in comparison to the complexities used in commercial settings. On the other hand, some commercial applications still utilize traditional methods because of the outcome.

Different methods have different effects on the end product. Some methods are better known for leaving residue, scent, or taste. Some have a negative environmental impact, and all have wildly different cost implications.

Knowing a bit about the extraction process is imperative in understanding the value of a particular product for your particular needs. CBD is part of a fairly new commercial industry. The formulators, extractors, growers, and so forth that create commercial products rely on their personal judgment. They work with the method that’s best for them, now, in the developmental stages of their businesses and the industry. Those methods may not be the best method for that product or your body. Make sure you know the what, why, and how of what you’re consuming.

Solvent extraction is the most common method in current use. Here’s a quick list of solvents used in extractions:

Alcohol

Ethanol

Ether

Butane

Propane

Carbon dioxide (CO2)

Double CO2

Oil

These solvents essentially dissolve the plant matter, and then the remaining matter gets removed through a mesh sieve or something similar. The solvent is then heated to the point of evaporation, leaving behind only the plant extracts. Some of these forms of extraction involve heat, time and pressure, as there are variations to the process of extraction with each solvent.

The challenges associated with the solvents are directly related to the fact that the extraction methods often leave byproducts. For example, butane is itself a byproduct extracted in the production of crude oil. Even if all the butane is removed in the CBD extraction process, some residuals from the production of the butane may still be left over. As the industry evolves, safer methods will follow. A favorite of the higher volume extraction facilities is Double C02 Extraction. That term will appear on multitudes of labels. It is also favored for being one of the cleaner forms of large-volume extraction. Alcohol and oil solvent extractions remain among the favorites for ease and efficacy for many extractors, and for now, I tend to be partial to these two all-natural food-safe extraction forms.

Familiarizing yourself with the different types of extractions, and the products they yield, is important. This section sets you on the journey of becoming an informed and scientifically savvy CBD consumer.