Natural Peppermint flavoring has been added to our CBD distillate and hemp seed oil tinctures to enhance its gastrointestinal calming effect, as well as stress relieving qualities. When your gut is out of whack, it can have a ripple effect throughout every system, affecting everything from your immune response to your emotional health. CBD can help get you back on track by addressing and correcting imbalances in the gut.

The CBD and Gut-Health Connection

When it comes to the mechanisms of action that causes CBD to be beneficial throughout the digestive system, there are two major processes involved:

Inflammation: Whether you’re dealing with Crohn’s disease, which affects the lining of the digestive tract, or another problem affecting the digestive system, it’s likely that your biggest problem is inflammation. When any part of this system becomes inflamed, it can lead to a range of symptoms, from malnutrition due to lack of proper nutrient absorption to severe diarrhea that has a cascading effect of fatigue and dehydration. CBD has been shown to reduce systemic inflammation.

Immune response: In addition to lowering inflammation, CBD can be beneficial for improving the type of immune process that originates in the gut. Researchers at Johns Hopkins have noted that there is significant interaction between the body’s immune system and gut bacteria, and that a huge portion of your immune system is actually in your GI tract.

With many types of GI imbalance, the immune response goes into overdrive, which is one of the reasons that inflammation is so prevalent. The body attacks what it believes to be invaders, but there are some good guys in there as well, sending the whole GI system off track.

Not only has CBD been shown to provide one more way to reduce inflammation, but it can also improve immune-related processes like handling allergens and toxins.

By making a significant difference in how these two processes are handled by the body—and particularly throughout the gut—CBD may help ease symptoms of numerous conditions that affect the digestive system.

The Emotional Component

In addition to potentially lowering inflammation and improving immune response, CBD oil may play a part in helping those with gut-health problems deal with emotional challenges as well.

Regulating anxiety, stress, and depression is a huge deal when it comes to better gut functioning, because the microbiome is constantly sending messages to the brain, and vice versa, according to Harvard Medical School.

Stress and other psychological factors affect movement and contractions of the GI tract, a recent Harvard post notes. That can make existing inflammation worse, and even make you more prone to infection or lowered immune response. Those with GI disorders also tend to perceive pain more acutely, Harvard researchers note, simply because an impaired GI tract can boost pain signals—creating even more anxiety and stress.

Although more research is needed into the effects of CBD on anxiety—and subsequent gut-health benefits—preliminary evidence is promising, and many health care practitioners who use CBD oil have a strong anecdotal basis for recommending CBD to patients.

“When you see someone with gastrointestinal symptoms, no matter what type of condition they have, it’s very common to see anxiety and stress as part of their condition,” says Weiner. “That becomes a vicious cycle. Their anxiety may be increased because their gut health is off, and then the resulting symptoms, in turn, cause them to feel even more stressed.”

Getting Synergistic

CBD can be part of a comprehensive approach to address the underlying issues of gut imbalance, and ease symptoms like cramping, fatigue, and diarrhea.

Other strategies can include chewing food more thoroughly, eating smaller meals throughout the day, not eating for a few hours before bedtime, taking probiotics, and increasing vegetable consumption.

When tactics like these are employed together, along with CBD, they can help boost homeostasis and gut health. That’s when your “second brain”—the digestive system—can get back online and working the way it should.

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In order to fully understand the interactions between terpenes and cannabinoids (i.e., the entourage effect), we first need to know just what exactly “terps” are. Technically speaking, terpenes are a large and very diverse class of organic compounds (hydrocarbons, to be exact) that are produced by a wide variety of plants, including cannabis.

What Are Terpenes?

A much simpler way to look at terpenes is that they are a plant’s “essential oils,” or the primary building blocks of any plant resin, and they are largely responsible for the scents, flavors and colors of plants. There are over 200 known terpenes in cannabis and, by comparison, just over half as many known plant cannabinoids, which are 21-carbon-atom molecules found only in cannabis and are completely odorless. And while research strongly suggests that terpenes can contribute to the overall effects of cannabis, either singularly or via the total compounded effects of all cannabinoids and terpenes, there are no known psychoactive effects from individual terpenes.

The truth is, terpenes can have a powerful impact on receptors throughout your body. This effect increases when terpenes work synergistically with CBD. Like CBD, terpenes work with the endocannabinoid system, traveling throughout your body’s systems and organs to ensure overall balance.

Additionally, cannabis-derived terpenes also cater one’s experience with CBD. Different terpenes profiles can provide users with different effects. While some terpenes promote relaxation, others may help to boost focus or inspire creativity. Currently, over 100 different terpenes have been identified in the cannabis plant, which means that the potential benefits of many terpenes are yet to be discovered.

Because terpenes have gained such big notoriety in the cannabis industry, and cannabis-derived terpenes are harder to come by, companies are turning to alternative terpene sources outside of cannabis. Since they can be derived from many different plants, there are plenty of options to choose from. But what are differences between cannabis-derived terpenes and terpenes from other plants?

Plant vs. Cannabis-Derived Terpenes

Terpenes are derived from extracting the essential oil from a plant. Depending on the way the cannabis is harvested, terpene properties can vary. But similar terpene profiles and aromatic properties extracted from cannabis can also be found in different plants, herbs and fruits. (They play a pretty essential role in protecting plants and deterring insect or environmental stress.)

Generally, we’re familiar with any plant terpene for their aromatic qualities and herbal remedies. Think essential oils: Tea tree oil, which has a very distinct aroma and features volatile terpenes like terpinolene, is used as an anti-inflammatory and antiseptic. The cannabis plant, however, produces different results and affects us a bit differently. The makeup of chemicals in cannabis and synergistic qualities work with your body’s CB2 receptors and can create health benefits if combined with the right compounds.

Why might a company favor one over the other? For one, cannabis terpenes are much pricier to extract since the process is a bit more complicated. It’s an economical benefit to reintroduce plant-based terpenes after the product goes through a high-heat distillation process (when essential oils and terpenes are removed). Plus, you can buy natural terpenes in bulk versus a smaller yield from a cannabis plant.

One benefit of using cannabis-based terpenes, though, is that a terpene extracted from a cannabis plant will provide a more natural entourage effect in most cases. Cannabis terpenes also provide the consumer with the maximum therapeutic and medicinal value of the individual terpene and plant.

Think of terpenes as a guide, nudging you along your journey with CBD and helping to enhance and supplement many of CBD’s amazing benefits.

The Purity and Safety of Terpenes

Much has been made lately over the purity, quality and safety of terpenes and terpene-extraction processes. We know that many vape-pen cartridges are adulterated with synthetic terpenes and artificial flavors. But are these terpenes safe to ingest and, more specifically, smoke? I decided to seek out the best CBD company I could find that used cannabis derived terpenes. After some research and recommendations from my CBD connoisseur friends, I fell in love with Urth CBD.

Urth CBD products have unique makeup of terpenes, and therefore elevate your overall CBD experience. Using terpenes in our products, users benefit the most due to the entourage effect. In offering products that can come in a variety of terpene profiles, we ensure that our customers can cater their CBD experience, and use a product that best fits their needs.

Terpenes are not just a what gives your CBD experience a unique flavor. Rather, they play an essential role in guiding your CBD experience. Urth CBD believes in providing you with the purest CBD that includes many terpene profiles in order to provide you with the most beneficial CBD dosage possible. I reached out to them about this post and they are happy to give new customers 20% off their first order! Hooray!

Follow this link to subscribe and receive the discount: I want 20% off my first Urth order!

Try them out now to taste and experience the difference. Once you do, you will never go back to the other brands.

There are two critical naturally-occurring cannabinoid compounds in the Cannabis genus plant - tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). Both hemp and marijuana produce the compounds; however, there are higher concentrations of THC in marijuana while there are higher concentrations of CBD in hemp. While they are closely related, they have different impacts on the body.

Here’s a closer look at the differences between CBD and THC:

THC Explained

As the main psychoactive component of the cannabis plant, THC is primarily responsible for the “high” that recreational users get from using cannabis. But apart from the high, it’s also the THC that causes a relaxed, mellow state. Some people feel hunger pangs which often refer to as the “munchies.” Various effects of THC include paranoia, anxiety, dry mouth, sleepiness, and forgetfulness.  

Chemically speaking, CBD and THC have the same molecular structure: 30 hydrogen atoms, 21 carbon atoms, and two oxygen atoms. However, what makes them different is the arrangement of those atoms which determine how they interact with your body’s endocannabinoids and how your brain releases neurotransmitters in reaction to those compounds. THC attaches to the receptors, activating them and affecting memory, movements, and even time perception.

CBD Explained

As mentioned, CBD and THC have the same chemical structure; however, because of the way CBD’s molecules arrange, it is not a psychoactive compound and therefore, has none of the psychoactive effects such as the “high” that is associated with THC. Unlike THC, CBD doesn’t bind with the brain’s cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptors and produce a euphoric effect.

Rather than a high, CBD users will tell you that they feel calmer and less anxious, and because they feel less stressed, they feel more uplifted and content. Beyond how CBD makes its users feel, experts have studied CBD extensively to determine its health benefits and uses, discovering that the compound has the potential to decrease seizures in people with severe epilepsy and help people who suffer from chronic pain.

THC vs. CBD

Both THC and CBD are known to be used by people for many of the same medical reasons. Both compounds have grown significantly in popularity for helping people with conditions such as pain, anxiety, depression, mental disorders, insomnia, and migraines.

However, unlike THC, CBD does not have a history of impairing your ability to concentrate, coordination, or judgment. And while neither THC or CBD is lethal, the concern with THC use is that because it does cause side effects such as problems with motor skills and slower reaction times, it may result in accidents that could be potentially deadly.

Because of the psychoactive properties of THC, there’s been much resistance and controversy surrounding the recommendation of it as a therapeutic application. CBD, on the other hand, has been made legal nationwide thanks to the Agriculture Improvement Act, also known as The Farm Act.

CBD rises in popularity as the cannabis-derived alternative medicine of choice because it doesn’t come with the side effects associated with THC. Not only do CBD users not feel that “high” but they also won’t experience an increase in appetite or paranoia.

Trade in Your Pain Meds for CBD

I’m sure you have heard someone, somewhere, talking about CBD and if you live under a rock and haven’t then, there’s a major chance you have read about it or heard about it since taking pop culture by storm. BUT is there actual science behind all the claims that CBD is Mother Nature’s cure all? What is CBD and why are so many people flocking to it for relief?

Cannabidiol (CBD) oil is used by some people with chronic pain. CBD oil can reduce pain, inflammation, and overall discomfort related to a variety of health conditions. CBD oil comes from cannabis. It’s a type of cannabinoid, a chemical found naturally in marijuana and hemp plants. It doesn’t cause the “high” feeling often associated with cannabis, which is caused by a different type of cannabinoid called THC. It’s basically all the healthy and none of the high. PASS IT OVER!

Studies on CBD oil and pain management have shown a great deal of promise. CBD can be an alternative for people who have chronic pain and rely on more dangerous, habit-forming medications like opioids.

The use of cannabis for pain relief dates back to ancient China, according to a report published in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research. It’s thought that CBD oil helps ease chronic pain in part by reducing inflammation. In addition, CBD oil is said to promote sounder sleep and, in turn, treat sleep disruption commonly experienced by people with chronic pain.

Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of CBD oil for pain. You can also talk with your doctor to see if it is an option for your condition! Honestly though, if your doctor isn’t on board with getting you off dangerous meds and on natural supplements- maybe you should get a second opinion? #justsayin

Why People Use CBD Oil

According to the Institute of Medicine of The National Academies, 100 million Americans live with chronic pain. Along with drastically reducing quality of life, chronic pain can increase healthcare costs and have a negative impact on productivity at work and overall quality of life.

Common types of chronic pain include:

Cancer pain
Fibromyalgia
Headaches
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Low back pain
Migraines
Multiple sclerosis pain
Neuropathic pain
Osteoarthritis
Temporomandibular disorder (often referred to as “TMJ”)

Over-the-counter and prescription pain medications are often recommended in the treatment of chronic pain, but many people seek out alternative forms of relief (such as herbs, nutritional supplements, and products like CBD oil). However, dangerous narcotics and NSAIDs are not your only option for pain relief! In addition to physical therapy and self-care, you can incorporate CBD into your treatment regimen for natural, plant-based pain relief. CBD is fundamentally different than most prescribed painkillers, as it’s not addictive, non-toxic, and has very minimal (if any) side effects.

The cannabis plant happens to be one of the most (if not the most) pharmacologically active plants on the planet, containing over 400 active chemicals. The unique active components of cannabis are called cannabinoids, which are found alongside active chemicals called terpenoids (also referred to as terpenes) and flavonoids. These chemical components work together to provide a wide variety of therapeutic benefits to the human body.

Chronic pain sufferers who want to avoid the side effects frequently associated with standard pain medication, and probably have concerns about becoming dependent on those medications can try CBD. In fact, some proponents suggest that CBD oil is a solution to opioid addiction as concerns over opioid overdoses continue to escalate. Less OD’s and more happy people? I am a fan.

Over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription anti-inflammatory medications are easily available, readily prescribed, and very commonly used.  The most common anti-inflammatory medications are called NSAIDs: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Based on consumer survey responses, more than 17 million Americans take NSAIDs on a daily basis, with more than 70 million prescriptions and more than 30 billion OTC NSAID tablets sold annually in the United States. Is that not crazy statistics? I can’t believe that many people are using hard core, addictive pain meds in their daily lives. We need to educate millions of people on why CBD oil is a solution for them. That’s why I am writing this. It starts with YOU. One person who can educate others and hopefully, save lives.

Benefits of CBD Oil

CBD was once considered a minor cannabinoid under the shadow of THC. What we know now is CBD is as beneficial and versatile a cannabinoid as THC in addressing many hard to manage conditions such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, epilepsy, antibiotic-resistant infections, alcoholism, PSTD and neurological disorders. CBD has very strong anxiolytic (reduces anxiousness), anti-convulsant, anti-emetic (reduces nausea), anti-inflammatory, antioxidant (stronger than vitamins C & E), anti-depressant and anti-psychotic properties. One of the most exciting aspects of CBD is its combined strong anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and neuro-protective properties which yields great promise for the treatment of Alzhiemer’s, Parkinson’s disease, and all neurodegenerative-related diseases. CBD also helps regulate blood pressure and is cytotoxic to breast cancer and certain other types of cancer cells while protecting healthy cells.

Scientists are still trying to determine how exactly CBD oil alleviates pain. However, there’s evidence that cannabidiol affects the body’s endocannabinoid system (a complex system of cell-to-cell communication). Along with contributing to brain functions like memory and mood, the endocannabinoid system influences how we experience pain.

Whether the chronic pain is in your back, neck, hands, feet, or elsewhere – CBD can help! In order to understand how CBD helps provide pain relief, we turn to a series of medical studies that have been conducted over the past ten years. These studies evaluated CBD’s medical efficacy in treating those who suffer from various types of pain. We will address the results below.

So far, much of the evidence for CBD’s effects on pain management comes from animal-based research (BUT that’s not to take away from all the humans who have tried and gotten results from CBD.)

This research includes a study published in the journal Pain in 2017, in which scientists observed that treatment with topical CBD helped thwart the development of joint pain in rats with osteoarthritis.

Another study, published in the European Journal of Pain in 2016, found that topical CBD gel significantly reduced joint swelling and measures of pain and inflammation in rats with arthritis.

On to some human results…In a report published in Pediatric Dermatology in 2018, scientists reported three cases of topical CBD (applied as an oil, cream, and spray) use in children with a rare, blistering skin condition known as epidermolysis bullosa. Applied by their parents, all three people reported faster wound healing, less blisters, and improvement of pain. One child was able to completely wean off oral opioid analgesic pain medication. There were no adverse effects reported.

While there haven’t been a ton of clinical trials that have explored the pain-relieving effects of CBD oil, a report published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews in 2018 examined the use of a variety of cannabis-based medicines and found they were of benefit in the treatment of chronic neuropathic pain. A type of pain triggered by damage to the somatosensory system (i.e., the system responsible for processing sensory stimuli), neuropathic pain often occurs in people with conditions like diabetes and multiple sclerosis.

In this report, researchers reviewed 16 previously published studies testing the use of various cannabis-based medicines in the treatment of chronic neuropathic pain and found some evidence that cannabis-based medicines may help with pain relief and reduce pain intensity, sleep difficulties, and psychological distress. The authors concluded that the potential harm of such medicines outweighs their benefit.

A 2007 study looked at the effects of cannabinoids on treating the debilitating pain experienced by 50-70% of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. The double-blind placebo-controlled study concluded that “cannabinoids including the cannabidiol (CBD)/THC buccal spray are effective in treating neuropathic pain in MS.”

Learn more: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17257464

Another 2007 study evaluated the long-term tolerability ad effectively of a THC/CBD pharmaceutical known as Sativex. The study concluded that, “THC/CBD was effective, with no evidence of tolerance, in these select patients with CNP and MS who completed approximately 2 years of treatment.”

Learn more: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18035205

A 2014 study stated that, “The endocannabinoid system has been elucidated over the last several years, demonstrating a significant interface with pain homeostasis. Exogenous (plant-based) cannabinoids have been demonstrated to be effective in a range of experimental neuropathic pain models, and there is mounting evidence for therapeutic use in human neuropathic pain conditions.”

Learn more: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25160710

Another 2014 study suggested that, “Analgesia is one the principal therapeutic targets of the cannabinoid system and many studies have demonstrated the efficacy of cannabinoid compounds in the treatment of neuropathic pain.”

Learn more: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25150831

A 2014 study investigated CBD’s therapeutic potential in treating chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain (CIPN). Scientists concluded that, “adjunct treatment with CBD during PAC chemotherapy may be safe and effective in the prevention or attenuation of chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain.”

Learn more: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24117398

A 2008 study found, “that a controlled cannabis extract, containing multiple cannabinoids, in a defined ratio, and other non-cannabinoid fractions (terpenes and flavonoids) provided better antinociceptive efficacy than the single cannabinoid given alone…” This is why the use of full-spectrum CBD oil is more effective in treating pain than taking CBD isolate alone – you want the beneficial terpenes and flavonoids contained in the plant.

Learn more: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18618522

A 2011 study evaluated the effects of two non-psychoactive cannabinoids, cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabichromene (CBC), on pain management. The study concluded that, “CBD and CBC stimulated descending pathways of antinociception and caused analgesia by interacting with several target proteins involved in nociceptive control. These compounds might represent useful therapeutic agents with multiple mechanisms of action.”

Learn more: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20942863

A 2012 study reported that, “systemic and intrathecal administration of cannabidiol (CBD), a major nonpsychoactive component of marijuana, and its modified derivatives significantly suppress chronic inflammatory and neuropathic pain without causing apparent analgesic tolerance…These cannabinoids may represent a novel class of therapeutic agents for the treatment of chronic pain and other diseases…”

Learn more: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22585736

A 2010 study looked at the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of THC:CBD extract in patients with intractable cancer-related pain. “This study shows that THC:CBD extract is efficacious for relief of pain in patients with advanced cancer pain not fully relieved by strong opioids.”

According to a recent survey, chronic pain is the most common reason for medicinal cannabis use. If you have a chronic pain condition and have not been able to manage it with standard treatment (or wish to avoid the adverse effects of other medications), you should consider CBD oil for pain relief.

Ultimately, because CBD interacts with receptors in the brain, it is able to improve the pain management system. This means that by reducing inflammation, CBD helps to lessen the pain itself. The great thing about CBD is that you can continuously use it for pain and not be at risk of building up a tolerance for it. In other words, CBD offers a long-term solution to a long-term problem. There isn’t need to keep increasing the dosage amount or look around for new types of medications that might work better. This makes CBD an effective treatment option for all sorts of pain, including chronic pain and conditions like arthritis.

In order to manage pain, I recommend ingesting full spectrum CBD oil daily. Those suffering from any kind of pain start with 5-10mg per day of CBD. If relief is not felt at this dosage, increase by 5-10mg until the desired effects are achieved. If you consider your pain on the more severe side, there is no harm in starting at 25mg CBD daily as you cannot overdose on CBD nor are there any serious side effects. CBD provides sustained relief for several hours – many people find they provide relief for the whole day! The one thing to keep in mind with ingestible CBD products is the delayed onset time – it can take up to 90 minutes for the full effects to be felt.

Before You Buy

Keep in mind, as more and more states across the U.S. legalize the use of marijuana, CBD oil has become more widely available. CBD oil is now sold in a range of forms, including capsules, creams, tinctures, and under-the-tongue sprays.

There’s also growing concern about the quality of the products currently for sale. The industry is underregulated by the FDA, with little third-party oversight. A 2017 study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association found that 69 percent of the CBD products tested didn’t contain the amount of cannabidiol indicated on the label. Most CBD companies don’t sell through retail outlets; they reach consumers online.

The lack of industry standards makes purchasing CBD from the right company important. If you plan on stocking up, here are some basic questions to keep in mind.

1. Is it legal where you live? Most states have passed some medical marijuana or CBD exemptions, but it’s completely illegal in four states: Idaho, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas.

1. Has it been tested by a third party? Independent labs check for potency, pesticides, and residual solvents. If the company doesn’t list these results, move on.

1. Does the company make unsubstantiated claims? CBD has not been proven to kill cancer cells, halt Alzheimer’s, or treat schizophrenia. Avoid products that promise to cure everything that ails you.

I have been using Urth CBD for pain management and I really love the results. I can always count on getting the same, high quality product every purchase. They also offer testing results with each batch, so you have the peace of mind knowing that what you are buying, you’re actually getting. No bait and switch. No sleazy sales tactics, just relief in a bottle!

I reached out to them and asked if they would be willing to give me a promo code to share with all of you and of course, they were down.

With a history that dates as far back as the third millennium BCE, cannabis-derived medicine is nothing new. For centuries, the cannabis plant has been valued for everything from its fibers for rope-making to its medicinal and psychoactive properties.

Cannabis in Ancient History

One of the earliest writings referencing cannabis dates back to 2727 BC. According to legend, Chinese Emperor Shen Nung compiled a medical encyclopedia called Pen Ts'ao which contained hundreds of lists of drugs he’d tried himself. One of these drugs was “ma” or the cannabis plant. Ma was used to treat everything from constipation to gout to menstruation to even absent-mindedness.

Cannabis has been mentioned throughout ancient history across the globe. In many cultures, it has served as a therapeutic resource. But with the rise of modern medicine, the medical community began to distance themselves from alternative medicine that had not gone through rigorous scientific testing.

The Discovery of CBD

In 1937, the Marijuana Tax Stamp Act was enacted, making marijuana illegal across the U.S. Fortunately, research on cannabis continued, and by the 1940s, CBD was successfully extracted from the Cannabis Sativa plant by the chemist, Roger Adams. In 1946, Dr. Walter S. Loewe conducted the first CBD tests on mice, proving that CBD didn’t cause altered mental states like THC.

By the mid-1970s, news of Professor Raphael Mechoulam “grandfather of marijuana research” groundbreaking discovery on the potential benefits of CBD began to spread. And in 1978, New Mexico became the first U.S. state to allow the medical use of cannabis.

In 1980, Professor Mechoulam and his team conducted a study on 16 people who have severe epilepsy. The study reveals how each of the subjects who received CBD showed improvements in their condition. Despite the breakthrough, stigma and legal challenges surrounding cannabis resulted in the publication not getting as much attention as it deserved.

It wasn’t until 23 years later in 2003 that the U.S. government patents CBD as a neuroprotectant, acknowledging the therapeutic benefits and potential uses of CBD for maintaining health and biological function. Today, users continue to use CBD oil as a form of alternative medicine for the same ailments that it was used for all those centuries ago.

In the last decade alone, CBD has risen in popularity for the same reasons it did centuries ago. Today, cannabis is still sought by users as an alternative medicine for ailments such as chronic pain, anxiety-related behaviors, irritable bowel syndrome, insomnia, seizures, and depression.

CBD Today

On December 12th, 2018, the U.S. Congress passed the 2018 Farm Bill removing hemp from the Controlled Substances Act (CSA); this consists of hemp’s “extracts, cannabinoids, and derivatives” which includes CBD. And because The Farm Bill signed into law on December 20th, 2018, CBD is now legal in all 50 states.

Cannabis and CBD have come a long way. In ancient times, it was already sought-after for its medicinal properties. But because of the lack of research, it became illegal across America for decades. Thanks to studies and breakthroughs, CBD is no longer an illegal substance under federal law, allowing more people to discover its potential and benefits as a form of alternative medicine.

At Urth CBD, we celebrate CBD’s long history. To learn more about CBD and its uses and benefits, subscribe to our newsletter.  

ABOUT DIABETES

Diabetes is a widespread disease inflicting millions of people worldwide. It is a chronic disease that affects how the body converts food into usable energy. Chances are you know someone who has been battling diabetes, or just recently diagnosed. Or, perhaps you are the one living with the disease. And of course, there is a lot of information about diabetes treatment and prevention to learn and share. But first, let’s take a closer look at the reality of the disease.

This unforgiving disease does not discriminate, because any age, gender, and race can fall victim to it. The impact of diabetes is alarming, especially with the numbers of new cases on the rise.

There are two main varieties of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2.

Type 1 diabetes results in the body reducing its natural production of insulin. This is the substance that allows cells to access blood sugar for energy.

Type 2 diabetes, which is much more prevalent than type 1, usually develops over a person’s lifetime. With type 2 diabetes, the body has trouble using insulin efficiently.

In the US, diabetes is currently the seventh leading cause of death. More than 30 million Americans have diabetes. In addition, more than 84 million Americans are pre-diabetic, meaning they are on their way to developing type 2 diabetes.

There are no known cures for Type 1 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, can be largely prevented by maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle.

In addition, the following are common complications often stemming from diabetes:

• Cardiovascular disease
• Eye disease
• Kidney disease
• Nerve damage
• Lower extremity ulcers and amputation
• Complications during pregnancy
• Oral disease
• Mental illness

If you have been living with diabetes for a while now, you are most likely familiar with traditional diabetes treatments and prevention measures, such as insulin and diet change. Both are equally important in maintaining. But, many people are learning how to use CBD oil to help cope with the disease.

HOW IS CBD GOOD FOR TREATING DIABETES?

CBD is developing a great reputation for helping with many diseases and disorders. But, for diabetes, the multiple ways it can help is impressive, such as the following favorable results stemming from possible treatments for diabetes in the form of CBD:

• Works to stabilize a person’s blood sugars
• Reduces pain often associated with diabetes caused by nerve inflammation, called neuropathy, by activating the receptors found in the brain and body
• Acts as an anti-inflammatory to help reduce some of the known arterial inflammation that is found in many diabetics
• Aids in improving circulation by keeping blood vessels open
• Helps to relieve muscle cramping and gastrointestinal disorders by acting as an anti-spasmodic agent
• Helps to gradually reduce blood pressure, which is very important for diabetic patients
• Using cannabis oil or butter in foods, rather than traditional fats, could be beneficial to the heart and arteries
• Used in a vaporizer, cannabis oil can help calm restless leg syndrome, a common ailment of diabetic patients
• Making it into a topical cream to help diminish neuropathic pain, as well as common tingling in the feet and hands, is also another way to use cannabis oil.

As with all available treatments, there is conflicting evidence on the role cannabis oil takes for prevention of Type II Diabetes. However, research does show it to be beneficial as an effective and alternative treatment for those who have already been diagnosed with either Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes.

Many researchers believe that the endocannabinoid system (ECS) promotes energy intake, impairs glucose metabolism, and affects the pancreas, which produces insulin.

Each of these mechanisms play a role in diabetes. And because CBD affects the ECS, CBD may be able to help regulate ECS activity and in turn affect diabetic activity.

The exact science of CBD’s effects on diabetes is not fully known, but it seems to involve the cannabinoid receptor CB1. This receptor has been shown to promote weight gain and increase insulin resistance when it is overactive. Because CBD can inhibit CB1 receptor activity, there is potential to mitigate diabetes development.

IN 2013, THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINE CONCLUDED THE FOLLOWING:

• Cannabis compounds could help to control a patient’s blood sugar
• Users of cannabis are less likely to become obese
• Both above benefits are important in a diabetic patient

CBD helps regulate blood sugar levels, meaning it can reduce how much extra insulin is needed. Another bonus is that CBD is generally taken in a more pleasant manner than insulin, such as holding oil in your mouth. This is DEFINITELY preferable to having extra injections or even a constant pump into your body set up. CBD also has other properties which are helpful in the fight against diabetes, such as suppressing appetite and being an anti-inflammatory. There is even hope for the future that it could be used as a very effective medication for Type 1. For now though, it definitely seems to be a worthwhile option for diabetics who want help controlling their condition and help to decrease their dependence on insulin boosts.

If you are a diabetic patient or are at elevated risk of developing the disease, consider using CBD oil as an alternative treatment. But when considering CBD oil, it is important to DO YOUR RESEARCH! Not all oils are created equally, so finding a brand with a golden reputation is a crucial first move. It is really about finding the product that works best for the individual. When I first became interested in CBD, I researched and compared a variety of brands before finding my tried and true, pot of gold, Urth CBD. These guys have a trustworthy product and are completely transparent. They provide testing results with all products, so you have the peace of mind knowing that you are getting exactly what you paid for and that the ingredients are the best possible!

If you’re new to cannabidiol oil or CBD oil, it can be overwhelming to try to make sense of all the different terms and options. From determining the right dosage to choosing between tinctures or cartridges, there’s no reason to be intimidated. Here’s the step-by-step guide on how to use tinctures and cartridges.

How to Take a CBD Tincture

Taking a CBD tincture sublingually (under the tongue) is one of the most potent applications of CBD. Tinctures are super concentrated and should be in minimal doses. Here’s how to dosage a CBD tincture sublingually:

STEP 1: Squeeze the rubber top of the dropper to collect the tincture. Most come with a built-in dropper. If the one you have doesn’t, you can use an eye dropper.

STEP 2: Tilt your head back slightly, open your mouth, and lift your tongue.

STEP 3: Drop the appropriate amount of the liquid underneath your tongue. The amount of CBD you should take will depend on factors such as your weight, type of tincture, and why you’re taking CBD. However, 3-5 drops are how much most people consume.

STEP 4: Let the liquid sit under your tongue for 30 seconds to a minute and a half. Taking CBD sublingually allows you to feel the effects of CBD the fastest because there are capillaries in your mouth and dropping the CBD tincture under your tongue will enable it to go directly into your membranes and the bloodstream.

STEP 5: Swallow the rest. Don’t worry, anything that doesn’t get absorbed under your tongue will go into your digestive tract.

There’s also the option of putting CBD tinctures in your food or drinks. However, infusing a few drops in your soup or morning coffee, the effects are not as immediate as when you take it sublingually.

How to Use CBD Oil Cartridges

If you already know how to use a vape pen or are interested in trying them, cartridges are the perfect way for you to take your CBD. Cartridges are cylindrical vape tanks that are pre-filled with CBD distillate. Most vape pens are composed of a battery, heating chamber/atomizer, mouthpiece, a charger, and use sub-ohm oils.

Here’s how to load your vape pen with CBD cartridge:

STEP 1: Remove the cartridge from the battery and unscrew the mouthpiece.

STEP 2: Screw in the pre-filled CBD oil cartridge. Screw back onto the battery.

STEP 3: Turn on the vape pen.

STEP 4: Adjust the heat.

STEP 5: Press and hold the button and inhale.   

These are directions for standard vape pens or e-cigarettes. Not all vape pens will have a button and will have an “auto draw” feature, and all you have to do is inhale.

At Urth CBD, all of our CBD tinctures are available in 30ml bottles and blended using CBD distillate in 3 strengths; active CBD levels 300mg, 500mg, and 1000mg.

We also have CBD cartridges that are carefully crafted and offer 300mg of active CBD distillate paired with naturally occurring terpenes (flavoring derived from each strand) to enhance the absorption and effect of our top shelf CBD distillate.

I Used CBD Oil to Treat My Anxiety- Here’s My Story:

Before I start, I would like to address my specific situation regarding anxiety. I wouldn’t classify myself as a chronic anxiety sufferer. My anxiety isn’t debilitating or causing me to suffer on a daily basis without any way to manage. I know there are people out there who experience this kind of anxiety, but my specific condition has never really been that drastic- thank goodness. Nevertheless, anxiety can range from mild to severe and over the past decade, I have dealt with it intermittently and wanted to figure out an all-natural solution that wouldn’t get me hooked on a pill dosing me with artificial endorphins.

That being said, those that have gone through anxiety know when a “flare up” happens, it is all consuming and you are willing to do anything to quiet your mind, relax your heart rate and find relief. However, I have always been wary of using prescription drugs to treat my condition. If any of you reading this have taken a Xanax, you know that the feeling of relief comes with definite side effects. Mine being what I deem, a “Xanax hangover”. Sure, I may feel better for a while but the next day, I feel foggy and slow moving. It’s obvious that although the immediate calming effects have worn off, the medicine is still in my system wreaking some sort of havoc. So, I went in search of an alternate means of relief. Something that would help me feel calm and peaceful without the nasty day after feeling.

Looking back on it now, I can’t believe I didn’t try cannabis as a natural therapy sooner. HELLO. What was I thinking? I have used cannabis here and there over the years but never really loved the way it made me feel. In fact on those rare occasions that I experimented with marijuana, I actually felt like it promoted my anxiety! Due to that, I guess I put it out of my head. Upon way more research and realizing that CBD specifically doesn’t get you high but gives you all the medicinal benefits (LIGHTBULB MOMENT), I decided I had to find out more!

A lot of people think that marijuana is all about getting stoned. Then, on U.S. national television, it stopped an epileptic seizure and there were people saying that CBD is a miracle chemical and can help anxiety, depression, and pain.

What is CBD Oil?

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is one of the active cannabinoids in cannabis.  It can actually account for up to 40% of the active cannabinoid content. CBD hemp oil is made from hemp that has high amounts of CBD and low amounts of THC.  THC is the cannabinoid that most people are familiar with.  It is responsible for the “high” that you get if you take or smoke marijuana. This means that CBD oil is non-psychoactive.  This has allowed CBD oil to be used for a lot of medical purposes because you don’t have to worry about it affecting your mental state. I don’t know about you, but even if something was really helpful, I wouldn’t be able to function at all if I was stoned all day and night.

CBD Effects and CBD Benefits

CBD oil effects your body by binding to cannabinoid receptors.  You have cannabinoid receptors all over your body, including your skin and digestive tract. CBD oil can also act as a 5-HT1 receptor agonist, meaning it can help with depression and anxiety by playing in a role in the serotonin pathways.

Because CBD oil affects so many aspects of your body, including the endocannabinoid system, it can help with inflammation, mood, memory, immune system, reproduction, pain perception, sleep, and appetite.

The biggest benefits, and why it has gotten so much of the spotlight lately, is that CBD oil has helped people with rare conditions such as Dravet syndrome, a rare form of epilepsy that is hard to treat.  People have gone from having multiple seizures per day to being seizure free for an entire week using CBD oil.

One strain of cannabis is called Charlotte’s Web, which has almost no THC in it, and has been used for medical purposes ever since it helped a girl named Charlotte stop having really bad seizures after trying all the other approaches.

CBD oil has clearly proven itself as a therapeutic substance to help a variety of ailments, and it can also play a role in helping anxiety and depression.

CBD Oil for Anxiety and Depression

There are two primary ways to supplement with CBD oil to help with anxiety and depression.  First, you can take pure CBD oil that has no THC.  Secondly, you can take CBD oil with THC to get the benefits of both. Cannabis oil, for example, has high amounts of THC whereas CBD hemp oil is legal and non-psychoactive.

Many people with anxiety and depression can’t use marijuana because of THC’s effects on their mental state. I could never smoke marijuana or consume high amounts of THC because it makes me more anxious and paranoid.  In fact, the only panic attack I ever had in my life was when I was younger and under a lot of stress and decided to smoke a joint when it was handed to me. WORST IDEA EVER.

When I heard about CBD oil and how it doesn’t get you high like THC does, I gave it a try.

Benefits of CBD Oil for Anxiety and Depression

In a 2011 study, they took in 10 people with social anxiety who had never received any treatments for their disorder.  They were given either a placebo or 400mg of CBD.  The participants who were given CBD oil had successfully improved their anxiety symptoms compared to the placebo.

Why did this happen?

Some research suggests that since THC and CBD affect certain receptors in the amygdala, a part of the brain that engages our fight-or-flight response, taking CBD can make that region of your brain less excitable.  This means that the CBD oil can dampen your response to stress and anxiety.

So, when I was going through an out-of-nowhere anxiety/panic attack flare up and was talking to one of my co-workers about it, he made me promise that I’d meet up with him later in the afternoon and at least give some of his CBD oil a shot. I figured, “why not?”

He was using an oil from a brand called Urth CBD, and the only thing that I had known about the stuff before I tried it was that it wasn’t supposed to get you high. When we met up, I actually didn’t try it right away. We met up at a local bar to grab a couple drinks and the anxiety wasn’t bad at all right then, so he just gave me the bottle and told me to hold onto it until I needed it.

Taste, Effectiveness, and Side-Effects: A first-time user’s thoughts on CBD oil for anxiety

I ended up trying it for the first time about three days later. I started getting that same old butterfly in the stomach type feeling that I always get when my anxiety creeps up, and I found that as the day went on at work, it was getting gradually worse (and for absolutely no reason at all, like always). So I decided as soon as I got home, I was going to try the oil.

One thing I did read about CBD oil was that, being that it came from hemp, it could have a nasty, bitter taste. The stuff that I used was Urth CBD Oil Peppermint Drops, and it actually didn’t taste bad at all.

HERE is a direct link to their product.

In fact, it tasted pretty good – like a really refreshing breath mint.

My friend had told me that all I do was use the dropper bottle and place 15 drops under my tongue, and then wait for about 90 seconds before swallowing. I actually went in front of a mirror to administer the drops, so I could count exactly how much I was putting in (you really don’t need to do this though because you can kind of feel the drops as they hit your mouth and count how many you’re putting in that way).

I will say that it was pretty awkward trying to not swallow for 90 seconds – it’s a totally unnatural feeling, and you feel like you’re going to start drooling all over yourself. You’ll have to fight the instinct to swallow just a little bit, but it’s really not that bad. I did take a nice big swig of cold water after I swallowed the oil, though, just to get the peppermint flavor out of my mouth (but again, the flavor really is not bad).

In terms of effects, I’ll go ahead and put it very bluntly – the oil did help, without a doubt. It was kind of strange in a way, though, because you notice absolutely zero bodily or cerebral effects other than the anxiety just slowly melting away over time.

And actually, the effects were so subtle that it was really hard to tell at first when exactly the oil kicked in. My anxiety wasn’t as severe when I took the oil that evening as it was during the day at work, so it was tough to gauge exactly how long it took for the effects to settle in.

All I can say is that evening, I had a great dinner and sat on the couch watching TV in a state of genuine contentment. I actually remember thinking to myself, “holy crap, that CBD must’ve really actually worked.” I experienced no side effects whatsoever, and I went to bed that night and had a genuinely good sleep.

I didn’t use the oil again until maybe about a week later, and I tried the next time around to really gauge when the effects started settling in. I was using the 300 mg bottle (30 mL), which is their lowest potency oil (they also had a 500 mg oil and a 1000 mg). It seemed to me that I noticed an obvious anxiety relief in less than an hour – maybe right around 45 minutes.

One thing that I really REALLY liked though, was that the effects seemed to last a long time. It seemed to last like 6-8 hours (or at least all evening). This makes sense too, because after doing a little reading up I found that the sublingual tinctures are much longer-lasting than CBD vape oils or e-juices.

I’m sure there are lots of other good brands out there, but my experience with the 300 mg Urth CBD was about as good as I could have hoped for, so I don’t see any reason to try anything different (I think the 500 mg and 1000 mg bottles are more suited for pain relief, i.e. arthritis, inflammation, etc). I also think that if you are looking to treat pain, you will have to take it more frequently that what I do.

Final Thoughts: CBD Oil for a First Time User

Here is where CBD oil can get tricky.  When I began my journey into researching CBD, I ran into a lot of companies where I had no idea what I was getting. The quality matters, as it would be easy to market something as CBD oil when it has very little CBD in it at all.

Some of the products I found had reviews that said that they felt nothing at all, even at high doses, others had weird ingredients. If I have any advice for you, it would be to make sure you are purchasing from a high-quality, trustworthy brand!

Bottom line, would I recommend using CBD oil for anxiety? Absolutely — there’s no question about it!

My favorite thing about it is how incredibly mild it is – like I said, the effects just kind of slowly ooze their way in without you even really noticing. Also, I love how seemingly long-lasting the effects are. I’ve read that some people prefer vaping over taking the oil drops because they say vaping is more potent, but I also understand that the effects of vaping are much shorter lived.

Whatever the case, if you suffer from anxiety, panic attacks, depression, or insomnia, I would absolutely recommend you give a quality CBD oil a shot. I was certainly not quick to buy into the whole hype machine (I know that the cannabis industry is pretty crazy right now), but I can say as a first-time user that it legitimately did work, and it caused absolutely no high or side effects whatsoever.

Cannabidiol (CBD) has emerged as a promising therapy for many illnesses. You’ve probably heard about more people using CBD for chronic pain, stress and anxiety, and even weight management. And the more you learn about the many benefits that CBD has to offer, the more interested you will become and use it for yourself.

However, because of CBD’s rising popularity, you need to be careful when shopping around. Synthetic knock-offs with deceptive labels have hit the market along with CBD products. As a smart consumer, you should understand CBD product labels and know what you’re pursuing.  Here's a quick guide:

What to Look for on CBD Product Labels

The best CBD companies disclose the production practices and provide lab reports, allowing the public to know what is in their products. Here is a guide to help you understand the terms and ingredients that you will typically find on a CBD product label or lab report:

Base Ingredients

All CBD products on the market contain a hemp-extracted base ingredient. They are:

CBD extract - a thick, oily substance containing, carbohydrates, fatty acids, amino acids, terpenes, and other compounds.

CBD isolate - a crystalline substance produced when CBD extract is processed further to remove all other compounds, resulting in 95%+ pure CBD

Spectrum and Potency

The potency of the product is presented as percent of weight or mg/mL and relates to the concentration in percentages such as 4%, 10%, or 20%. The amount of CBD that each bottle or capsule contains should display on the packaging. Expect to see amounts such as 250mg, 500mg, or 1000mg.

The label or lab report should also tell you the spectrum of the product or the presence of measures cannabinoids. The following are spectrums you will most likely encounter when shopping around for CBD:

Full spectrum - contains a wide range of cannabinoids including CBN (Cannabinol), CBG (Cannabigerol), and THCV (Tetrahydrocannabivarin). Full-spectrum oils often include terpenes such as limonene and flavonoids

Broad spectrum - contains a wide range of cannabinoids, without Delta-9 THC (a psychoactive ingredient)

Isolate-based – purified CBD, isolate from the other cannabinoids

Source and Extraction Methods

The quality of the CBD product depends on its source and extraction methods. Reputable and transparent CBD oil manufacturers aren’t afraid to share their extraction processes. They will print them on labels and publish them on their company websites. If you don’t find this on the product packaging or any of their literature, you may want to proceed with caution.

Third Party Lab Testing

The best CBD oil manufacturers have their products tested by third-party lab professionals to guarantee the public that their products are safe and contain what they claim. The results from these tests also prove the quality of their products.

At Urth CBD, all of our products undergo testing at a third-party lab. All test results are available with every batch providing full transparency. Our CBD tests range between 85-95% purity and are made using distillate, the most concentrated form of CBD.

These days, everywhere you turn, there’s a new report on cannabis and hemp being legalized around the world- and with good reason! These two plants have been important to humankind dating like WAY back. They were used as medicines, food, fuel, fiber and more for thousands of years. They’re incredibly safe, grow wildly and abundantly in most climates, and have an extraordinary list of practical uses. It’s almost as if Mother Nature created them just for us. And, really, that’s not a terribly far-fetched idea. The human body actually contains special receptors throughout the nervous system that are specifically activated by compounds found primarily in the cannabis and hemp plants. Of the 113 known cannabinoids, the two most frequently discussed are CBD and THC. If you’re curious like me, you want to know the difference. So, let’s get down to it.

The Breakdown

Scientists have known about CBD for some time, over 60 years to be exact, but have generally ignored it in favor of its much sexier and spectacular cousin, THC, which is the main active ingredient in marijuana responsible for the “high” people experience when smoking it. However, as research into the plant advanced, scientists began to study CBD’s benefits more closely and realized that it was just as important as THC, if not more so in many ways. Furthermore, CBD was non-psychoactive, meaning that it doesn’t get you high.

Nevertheless, CBD does still bind to other receptors in your cannabinoid system, affecting you in other ways. It just doesn’t make you high. Several studies have been done over the years now. For example, the first signs that CBD could be used to treat social anxiety came 8 years ago. In a 2011 study, several subjects with social anxiety disorder were asked to speak in front of a large audience. Some were given CBD; others were given a placebo. Those who were given CBD reported significantly less anxiety.

This could be because CBD has an affinity for activating serotonin receptors, which control anxiety, calmness and mood; vanilloid receptors, which control and modulate how we experience pain; adenosine receptors, which control the quality and depth of our sleep; and indirectly influences endocannabinoid receptors, which control memory, energy levels, stress levels, pain tolerance, body temperature and appetite, among many others things.

In review, a good way to think about it is THC gets you high and CBD doesn’t. The two are related but entirely different compounds existing in both the cannabis (marijuana) and hemp plants. They both work independently of each other and synergistically together to produce healing and health in the mind and body, however, CBD oil just makes you feel good without the high feeling!

More so than other herbs and plants, quality can be an issue with certain CBD products, so it’s important to seek out brands with a high degree of integrity that clearly disclose their sourcing practices and quality standards. My go-to is Urth CBD and they were kind enough to give me a code to share with you!

Use WELCOME19 for 20% off your purchase!

Nowadays there is a quick fix for anything, a miracle that’s guaranteed to be worth every penny! This isn’t another “as seen on tv” advertisement, though. Believers in cannabidiol oil, or CBD oil, believe this product can produce modern medical miracles, from treating depression to curing cancer. But are these benefits too good to be true?

Google "CBD oil" and you'll find countless pages of articles, ads and studies that claim it may help treat a long list of health problems. From acne to anxiety, chronic pain to cancer. But is it safe, and does it work? Here's a quick guide to what you need to know.

1. It will NOT get you high

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a chemical compound naturally found in cannabis, the same plant used to make marijuana. But the two are very different.

Weed also has THC, the ingredient that causes a high. CBD—which comes in a variety of forms—is extracted from the plant and used for medicinal purposes only. It isn't addictive, and it can't make you high.

2. It Shows Scientific Promise

"I think we are just beginning to understand all the uses of CBD oil," says Taz Bhatia, M.D., integrative medicine expert and author of Super Woman Rx. She recommends it in her practice to patients with certain conditions like chronic pain, epilepsy and Crohn's disease.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)'s website, CBD "may be useful in reducing pain and inflammation, controlling epileptic seizures and possibly even treating mental illnesses and addictions."

Indeed, one recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that CBD drastically reduced seizures in children with a rare form of epilepsy, compared to children who were given a placebo.

3. It's Not FDA-Approved

Shop carefully if you use CBD products—especially if you buy them online. Even though CBD has been legalized for medicinal use, it's still not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A lack of government oversight means there are no guarantees a product is safe, or its manufacturer's claims are true. Recently, for example, the FDA issued warnings to several companies who claimed that their CBD products could prevent or treat cancer without any proof.

Labels may be misleading as well. In a study recently published in JAMA, researchers found that nearly 70 percent of the 84 CBD products they tested—all sold online—were mislabeled, meaning the labels either over- or understated how much CBD the product contained.

"That's concerning, because people are getting either too much or too little," says Marcel Bonn-Miller, Ph.D., adjunct assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania and lead author of the study.

What to Look for When Buying CBD Oil

Find out where the product is sourced, and how it's been tested, advises Bhatia.

Bonn-Miller goes even further. "I wish I could say, 'Don't buy the ones with red labels!'" Unfortunately, there's no way to tell which labels are accurate. The best way is to purchase from a trusted source. My favorite, Urth CBD, provides testing results for full transparency.

4. CBD Could Play a Role in Anti-Inflammatory Treatment

CBD might help treat anxiety, epilepsy, and PTSD, but its potential doesn’t stop there. “Thanks to CBD’s anti-inflammatory effect, it can serve to manage symptoms caused by inflammation in a variety of pathological states ranging from multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis), spinal cord injury, and pain,” says Oliver Park, MD, a physician based in Brooklyn, New York. Plus,research shows that CBD in some cases stimulates T-regulatory cells (Tregs), the cells responsible for preventing autoimmune conditions.

5. CBD Oil Might Provide Relief From Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) requires extensive care and treatment, but CBD oil could be a major help for this condition. Research published in The Permanente Journal suggests that the oil can be effective for decreasing anxiety and insomnia related to PTSD. The research says CBD, which is known for its anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) and sleep-inducing benefits, might be an alternative to traditional psychiatric medicines for treating PTSD-related issues.

Clearly Cannabidiol has a lot going for it. The road ahead will need to include clinical trials to confirm or deny these early findings that certainly seem very promising. However, in the meantime, that has not stopped health-seekers worldwide from consuming CBD in hopes that they might benefit from its supposed effects—and many are reporting positive experiences in line with what the researchers are finding. If you are having sleepless nights, anxiety, pain or want to be less reliant on prescription medicine, give Urth CBD a try.

You can enter promo code PLANTSNOTPILLS for 20% off your first purchase!

CBD—the non-psychoactive derivative of the marijuana and hemp plants—has taken off among humans, marketed as a solution for everything from pain and anxiety to skin care and diet. So it should come as no surprise that pets—on whom Americans spend $72 billion annually—may reap the supposed benefits. CBD oil has made its way into pet treats and oils sprinkled carefully over the food bowl, making up nearly $7 million of the almost $6 billion in weed dispensary sales in California, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington last year. It’s marketed as a remedy for animal’s seizures, arthritis, pain, and anxiety.

Jill Douglas first heard about CBD for pets when her friend’s cat’s tumor fell off. “He was [topically] putting CBD oil on his cat that had a tumor-like thing on his tail,” she said. “And it literally just fell off. It was amazing.”

She was inspired to try out CBD for her own cat, Klinger, whom she had diagnosed with a serious case of “cattitude.” “Within literally a week or so of taking the CBD, I was able to pet her,” she said. Klinger also lost weight, which Douglas also credits to CBD treatments.

Interested in all the ways CBD can help your furry, four-legged friend? Keep reading!

1. Treats Seizures and Epilepsy

Many dog owners turn to CBD when their canine suffers from seizures and epilepsy. High levels of CBD can manage your pet’s seizures. Over time, it has been known to reduce the frequency of them, and in some cases get rid of the seizures altogether.

2. Relieves Chronic Pain/Arthritis

Even dogs can’t escape arthritis, but CBD can help with that. Arthritis is the inflammation of joints that cause aching, pain, and other degenerative illnesses. As CBD is a pain reliever, it targets these aching joints and gives your dog relief. Not only that, but it soothes the chronic inflammation that prevents your pet from healing properly.

3. Boost Appetite

When a dog loses their appetite, it can be hard to know the reason why. Majority of the time, however, they lose it due to nausea. As a human, we won’t eat when we feel like that unless we take something to alleviate the digestive issue and receive pain relief. CBD can do this for your pet.

4. Reduces Anxiety

If you have ever suffered from anxiety, then you know that it is awful, and it would be the same for your dog too. Many dogs suffer from anxiety and have been known to be depressed and extremely anxious in certain situations, such as when their owner leaves. This can result in destructive behaviors such as chewing objects, urinating, pacing, and more. CBD helps because it is a relaxing stimulant that calms your pet.

5. Prevents and Fights Cancer

Unfortunately, dogs can get cancer too, and when they do they have symptoms of nausea, loss of appetite, and chronic pain. CBD allows your pet to feel comfortable during those difficult times and helps to reduce the side effects that cancer can have on your dog.

Pet owners are also giving their dogs small doses of CBD daily can help aid in preventing and killing cancer by:

Helping the immune system to kill cancer cells

Blocks the cancer cells ability to produce energy

Contains anti-tumor properties

6. Helps All Types of Diseases

Many diseases in dogs all result in the same types of symptoms – chronic pain, nausea, loss of appetite, change in behavior, etc. CBD is an all-around stimulant that can help your dog relax and alleviate pain in troubling times.

Some diseases that CBD helps with includes:

• Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Autoimmune Disease
• Neurodegenerative Disease
• Cardiovascular Disease

No matter if your lil’ pooch has fears of car rides, nervous licking, or needs help falling asleep at night, CBD will help him chill out. Alleviate your dog’s pain and help them relax and get relief during troubling times. CBD oil products can help you do that and give your dog some quality of life back. In CBD, there is one brand that stands out from the rest, Urth CBD. It’s my favorite because it’s proven effective, all natural and I respect the brand’s authenticity.

Give Urth CBD a try and your best friend will thank you!

Being a mom is a TOUGH job. Probably one of the toughest jobs on the face of this Earth! It’s also the best job BUT some of the realities of being a Mama- like becoming a sleep deprived zombie, stress, back pain, and more are sometimes unavoidable. But, don’t go running to your doctor and rely on prescription pills that often come with harsh side effects. Instead, first, do yourself a favor and go the all-natural route!

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a compound found in the hemp plant—but it doesn’t make you high. Instead, it provides several surprising health benefits that can keep busy moms like you on top of your game. Here are 5 reasons why you should have CBD in your purse - out of reach of your children, of course.

1.      CBD Oil for Stress

If you are a mom, then you understand a whole new meaning of stress! You have a full plate of responsibilities, not to mention keeping another human alive! Stress combined with lack of sleep, running around with everyday chores and errands, on top of everything else life decides to throw your way, can turn even the most experienced of mothers into a full fledge momzilla.

Luckily, there’s a natural stress relief remedy that won’t cost you a fortune or leave you feeling groggy: CBD. CBD oil promotes alertness and mental clarity, so brain fog doesn’t stand a chance.

2.      CBD Oil for Sleep

Have a kid and the first thing anyone will tell you is, say goodbye to your sleep! A rite of passage into parenthood: waking every 15 minutes throughout the night to feed, change a diaper, soothe and console a wailing baby.  And then there’s sharing your bed with a 30-pound person who somehow takes up more room than two full-grown adults!

Sleep is a precious commodity if you’re parenting the right way. That’s why so many moms trust hemp-derived CBD products to get the restful sleep they need to take on the rigors of motherhood with grace. The endocannabinoid system is intricately involved in the homeostasis of sleep and energy expenditure. When being a mom throws it out of whack, CBD is there as a buffer to restore balance which naturally helps you to get the sleep you need.

3.      CBD Oil for Pregnancy

This may have taken you by surprise! And, of course, the obvious question that pops into your head is “Can CBD be used during pregnancy?” Although the jury is still out on this one, let’s use this opportunity to learn more about the endocannabinoid system. The endoWHAT? It’s the system that is present throughout the human body and regulates the activity levels of many different cell types, including brain cells, immune cells, cells in our digestive tract, and EVEN the cells that comprise the uterus, placenta, and umbilical cord.

A healthy endocannabinoid system is required for conception to occur. It’s also necessary for implantation of the fertilized egg in the uterine lining, and for the healthy development of the embryo into a recognizable fetus by week 12. Even breast milk contains unusually high quantities of the endocannabinoid anandamide, which is thought to help strengthen and develop the infant’s own endocannabinoid system.

CBD supports the endocannabinoid system’s natural healthy function, which in turn supports a healthy mother and infant. But CBD also helps with many of the ancillary hardships that go along with pregnancy, from mood swings to back pain to abnormal cravings and everything in between!

4.      CBD Oil and Weight Loss

It’s natural to gain about 15-20 percent of your body weight during pregnancy. This is both to satisfy the physical demands of growing a baby, as well as to build enough fat stores to nurse your baby once he/she is born.

While weight gain during pregnancy can’t—and shouldn’t—be avoided, maintaining a healthy weight after you give birth is more important than at any other time in your life. It’s also much more difficult than it was pre-baby bump. Many mothers turn to CBD oil to help curb their between-meal appetite and maintain a healthy metabolism through the chaos of raising kids.

CBD Oil can balance the feeling of hunger with the feeling of fullness. This has helped many moms to keep their figure in check, while they’re busy keeping their kids in check.

5.      CBD Oil for Back Pain

Back pain during pregnancy is one of the most common symptoms that women experience while carrying a human inside their abdomen for nine months. It only makes sense, right? Back pain is a common complaint of expecting and new mothers, as well as mothers of all ages. Again, thanks to its modulation and rejuvenation of the endocannabinoid system, CBD oil has shown promise in relieving pain of all sorts, especially back pain.

All these reasons (and more!) is why millions of working (and stay-at-home) moms have turned to non-psychoactive CBD oil to help them stay at their very best, with no serious side effects. CBD offers users a safe, effective alternative to prescription painkillers, other toxic prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs that contain harsh chemical compounds alien to nature’s perfect remedies. So, if you are ready to get a good night’s rest, wake up feeling refreshed and ready to take on whatever the day brings- poopy diapers and all- try out Urth CBD and let us know how it transforms your day to day!

Over the last few decades, many researchers have studied the effects of CBD on the body and the mind. Numerous medical studies and surveys reveal fascinating things about the use of CBD. People suffering from chronic pain choose to use CBD for relief. They also use it to receive better sleep. But one of the most exciting revelations resulting from all this research is how chemicals in CBD may have a positive and protective impact on the brain.

Our brains release neurotransmitters whenever it’s injured; these chemicals cause imbalances, cell deterioration, blood vessel damage, and inflammation. The way our brain responds are ultimately responsible for the neurological problems associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI).

TBI occurs when your head suffers from a violent blow or jolt or if an object such as a bullet or a shattered piece of your skull penetrates brain tissue. You probably know that mild TBI is a concussion. The scary thing about concussions is that symptoms can last for days or even weeks.

The Brain Injury – CBD Connection

Unlike how the body forms a fibrous scar when other parts of the body are injured, the brain constructs a glial scar which is composed of reactive astrocytes. This process is called astrogliosis, and you will see this in brain infections, brain cancer, neurodegenerative disease, and TBI.

However, the way astrocytes react during TBI depends on the microenvironment and the signals they receive from the brain; therefore, astrocytes can either regulate inflammation or promote it. The preferable response would be for the astrocytes to suppress the swelling.

Studies show how the cannabinoid system interact with astrocytes, affecting their activities. In a 2017 study, CBD was shown to suppress the swelling caused by astrocytes. Furthermore, according to the study by researchers from the Dr Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson Center for the Biology of Addictive Diseases, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University and Neurobiology Department, Weizmann Institute of Science, “increased astrocyte activity is suppressed in the presence of CBD in models of ischemia, Alzheimer-like and Multiple-Sclerosis-like neurodegenerative, sciatic nerve injury, epilepsy, and schizophrenia.”

In other studies, researchers discover CBD’s ability to mimic endogenous cannabinoid activity which the body naturally produces. With CBD use, the endocannabinoid system (ECS) is amplified, allowing your body to regulate physiological processes such as controlling blood flow to the brain and inflammation that typically occur in brain injuries. Because CBD can influence ECS activity, those suffering from TBI or concussions may be able to heal quicker.

Left untreated, TBI can lead to further trauma and neurological damage. Because CBD has been found by studies to have a neuroprotectant effect on the brain after head injury, CBD is increasingly becoming popular in sports, an industry that is no stranger to TBI. Many athletes find that it is the safer and more natural alternative to potentially addictive prescription pain medication.

Want to learn about all the other benefits of CBD? Tune into the URTH CBD blog.

Ask different people who practice yoga why they do it, and you will quickly realize there is rarely one answer. You discover that yoga offers many benefits that range from physical health to emotional wellbeing. Let’s explore the many benefits of yoga and how it compares to CBD.

For some, yoga is the solution for people who are interested in engaging in exercise that is low impact. They may suffer from chronic pain that keeps them from playing sports and executing particular activities that are too arduous and demanding.

Though perceived as less strenuous activity, yoga can help increase flexibility and improve your balance. It’s a great way to strengthen your body and promote blood circulation, helping you feel more focused, energized, and alert. There are also many levels of yoga, with the more advanced ones proving to be challenging for even the most experienced athletes.

For others, an improvement in physical health is just one of the many perks of yoga and the main reason they practice yoga is for its spiritual aspect. Through focused breathing, yoga helps them feel centered and relaxes their spirit. And because they feel connected to both body and mind, they feel relieved of tension, stress, and even headaches.  

The Benefits of Yoga and Conscious Breathing

Because yoga requires you to focus your energy on each pose and movement, you learn to understand the connection between the body and mind. Beyond, executing all the moves and poses precisely, breathing also plays a crucial role in yoga. Through conscious breathing, we feel more present and focused. We’re able to declutter our minds, gaining better clarity and ability to make sound decisions. For many, unlocking this state of mindfulness leads to a surge in creativity.

The heightened awareness resulting from focused breathing allows us to connect our mental, emotional, and physical states. By breathing consciously and with focus, we activate the evolved areas of our brain, stimulating and sending impulses from the cerebral cortex to the area that relax and balance our emotions. People who practice yoga find that because they feel more connected to their body and mind, they get through their days with more ease and sleep better.

Enhance Your Body and Mind with the Powerful Combination of Yoga and CBD  

CBD offers many of the same benefits you get from yoga’s focused breathing techniques. Similar to yoga and conscious breathing, CBD is popular with its users for its ability to help them reduce anxiety and depression. Both are believed to offer a natural approach to relieving stress, battle anxiety, and depression. Many people use CBD to improve the quality of their sleep.

Because yoga breathing techniques and CBD use have been identified by many as offering similar benefits, it makes sense to combine the two. As mentioned, many people who suffer from chronic pain turn to yoga because it is low impact. CBD is gaining popularity for its ability to help users manage chronic pain; therefore, combining CBD with yoga practice offers a multi-layered solution.

CBD use is especially helpful for any beginning yogi who may still be struggling to focus on breathing while ensuring they’re executing their poses correctly. Because CBD is used by many for its calming effects, it may help you concentrate better on connecting your breathing with your movements. By combining CBD and yoga, you create a symbiotic relationship that enhances the mental clarity you need to strengthen your yoga practice.