What is CBD?
Cannabidiol, or CBD is a naturally occurring compound found in the cannabis plant*. In the past several
years, it has become most recognized for its numerous health benefits due to it being involved in many
biological processes in the body – both humans and animals!
What does CBD do?
Back in 1992, researchers were trying to understand CBD and the other cannabinoids found naturally
occurring in cannabis. What they discovered was an entire system of neural receptors in the human
body that responded to these various plant parts. They called it the “endocannabinoid system” or ECS.
In the years since this discovery, the ECS has been linked to many of the important natural functions in
our bodies for establishing and maintaining human health.
DID YOU KNOW? Cannabinoids are only found in the cannabis plant and do not appear anywhere
else in nature!
How does CBD work?
Let’s try for a simplified answer that doesn’t take us down a medical rabbit hole that would have most of
us lost worse than Alice in Wonderland; starting with how the ECS works:
The endocannabinoid (ECS) in the brain primarily influences neuronal synaptic communication,
and affects biological functions — including eating, anxiety, learning and memory, reproduction,
metabolism, growth and development via an array of actions throughout the nervous system. 1
OK… maybe a bit of a rabbit hole.
Basically, we have receptors that can be found on nerve cells located in our brain and other parts of our
body. These receptors normally bind to substances that are either, a) produced by our body internally
(endocannabinoids like anandamide – the first one to be discovered); or b) externally consumed
(cannabinoids that come from outside our body – like CBD). Both affect the way nerve cells
communicate.
Cannabinoids can perform different tasks, depending on the system they interact with. And increasing
cannabinoid levels in the body through the ingestion of CBD and other cannabinoids allows the ECS to
do its job well.
Whether it is sleep, mood, memory, learning, inflammation, immunity, energy, coordination, hunger or
temperature regulation, the end goal of the ECS is the same – maintaining a stable internal environment
(homeostasis), despite external environmental changes.
DID YOU KNOW? We have millions of neurons in our gastrointestinal system; more than can be
found in our spinal cord! Knowing this can help us to understand the concept of “butterflies in your stomach” or “going with our gut”, but it also helps to explain how CBD aids in digestion and
immune response!
*But if it comes from cannabis, won’t it get me “high”?
This is a very common misconception – NO! CBD does not produce the intoxicating effects of its more
well-known, fellow-cannabinoid, THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol).
Note: Our CBD Tinctures are produced with what is called a CBD Isolate – meaning that specific
cannabinoid (CBD) is extracted from the rest of the cannabinoids to eliminate all the others, including
THC.
So, the CBD Isolate is better?
Not necessarily! There are people who do not want or cannot have any THC and using an isolate
accomplishes that. However, all the cannabinoids (along with the terpenes) found in the whole cannabis
plant work best together (in what’s commonly called the entourage effect) in a way that will be most
beneficial.
Our CBD full spectrum oil (FSO) contains CBD, but also all the other helpful cannabinoids like CBN and
CBG AND a very small amount of THC. The amount of THC contained in our FSO is less than 0.3%, the
amount that is defined by law and an amount that will NOT produce intoxicating effects.
(Well, unless you are drinking multiple, entire bottles. In which case the large consumption of MCT oil – a
known laxative – will be your bigger concern!)
Will CBD show up on a drug test?
Drug tests identify THC and the metabolites (byproducts of breaking down THC in the body) and NOT
CBD. However, it is important to remember that full spectrum CBD oils contain trace amounts of THC
that may show up on a drug test. For those people who need to be 100% THC free to gain or maintain
employment, our CBD Isolate is the best option. And in all cases, it is important to source your CBD from
a reputable company like Marena Wellness that produces high quality, rigorously tested products in
quality-controlled environments.
For more information on this and other commonly asked questions, stay tuned to our site!