CBD FAQs

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid found in cannabis. CBD has been shown to have powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-anxiety properties, without exerting a psychotropic effect. Unlike many of the other 85+ cannabinoids, CBD hemp strains have been bred so that CBD occurs in significant quantities; therefore, it is relatively easily extracted from these strains.

Additionally, CBD has been shown in a patent by the U.S. National Institutes of Health to have significant antioxidant and neuro-protective properties, suggesting that it could be a potential treatment for neurological disorders.

Pharmaceutical drugs work at the level of the symptoms, not treating the imbalances in the systems that lead to the diseases and associated symptoms. CBD, on the other hand, works at the level of the system of balance, helping regulate our bodies to enable homeostasis.

While CBD is not yet FDA approved for any condition, many studies have shown promising results for a variety of conditions. Indications are that CBD:

• Combats anxiety and depression
• Combats inflammatory disorders
• Reduces nausea and vomiting
• Suppresses seizure activity
• Combats psychiatric disorders
• Combats neuro-generative discovers
• Combats tumor or cancer cell growth

According to a recent World Health Organization (WHO) report, published in November 2017, CBD is safe and well tolerated in humans and animals, and is not associated with any negative public health effects. Experts further stated that CBD does not induce physical dependence and is “not associated with abuse potential.”

https://www.forbes.com/sites/janetwburns/2018/03/18/whoreport-finds-no-public-health-risks-abuse-potential-for-cbd/

Inflammation is a natural protective reaction the immune system has in response to infection or physical damage. It’s important that inflammation be limited to the location of damage and doesn’t persist longer than needed, which can cause harm. Chronic inflammation and autoimmune diseases are examples of the immune system getting activated inappropriately. When that happens, the inflammatory response lasts too long resulting in in chronic inflammation, or may get directed toward healthy cells leading to auto-immune diseases. In general, cannabinoids seem to suppress or limit the immune system’s inflammatory signals.

“Most of our research demonstrates that endocannabinoids are produced upon activation of immune cells and may help regulate the immune response by acting as anti-inflammatory agents. Thus, interventions that manipulate the metabolism or production of endocannabinoids may serve as a novel treatment modality against a wide range of inflammatory disease.” — Professor Prakash Nagarkatti, Vice President for Research at the University of South Carolina

(Cannabidiol as an emergent therapeutic strategy for lessening the impact of inflammation on oxidative stress. Booz GW.)

(Cannabinoids suppress inflammatory and neuropathic pain
by targeting a3 glycine receptors. Xiong W et al.)

Animal and human studies indicate that CBD has anxiolytic (i.e. anxiety-reducing) properties. Recent clinical research suggests CBD reduces anxiety through its effects on activity in limbic and paralimbic brain areas. (Neural basis of anxiolytic effects of cannabidiol (CBD) in generalized social anxiety disorder: a preliminary report. Crippa et al.) Preliminary research into cannabis and insomnia also suggests that CBD may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of insomnia, REM sleep behavior abnormalities as well as excessive daytime sleepiness, at least in part due to its interactions with serotonin receptors in the brain. (Cannabis, Cannabinoids, and Sleep: a Review of the Literature. Babson et al.

Following consumption, CBD works near instantaneously by binding to the CB1 and CB2 receptors on the surface of cells in your brain and cells of your immune system throughout your body. However, the speed at which any individuals will feel the effects of CBD will depend on their unique physiology, as well as their specific ailments. The neuro-protective effects of cannabinoids are cumulative and may take time to demonstrate results.

There are several different methods of administration for CBD oil. Receptra is an oil-based tincture that is best taken sublingually, which means under the tongue. Holding the oil underneath the tongue for 30-45 seconds increases the bio availability of the product.

We cannot give medical advice, but we do recommend you consult your physician before adding anything new into your specific medication protocol or changing your medication dosage. There have been reports of people being able to reduce medication (depending on the medication) with the addition of CBD oil in their daily routine.

The Endocannabinoid System is a mouthful to say. Let’s just call it the ECS for short. The ECS is a system in the body which contains receptors made to interact with cannabinoids. This system is present in all animals with vertebrae. After much study of the ECS, researchers found that the system helps regulate appetite, pain-sensation, mood and memory among other things. These effects are generated once cannabinoids combine or interact with receptors in the ECS.

Confusion often arises because these terms are so similar. Pure hemp extract typically refers to CBD oil. Hemp seed oil is a food and beauty product additive that can be purchased in many grocery stores. Hemp seed oil can be compared to oils such as avocado, almond and walnut. It is created by pressing hemp seeds together until the oil inside is excreted. Hemp seed oil has a lot of great uses in foods and beauty products but does not contain the cannabinoid profile nor properties found in CBD oil.

Unfortunately, the United States Department of Agriculture does not currently certify any hemp as USDA Organic. However, Receptra uses 100% organic farming practices with no herbicide or fungicide use ever. All of our raw ingredients are sourced organic whenever possible.

Both Hemp and Marijuana are in the cannabis family. Human intervention has produced variation within the species in terms of THC and CBD levels. Simply put, hemp is designated by a man-made definition of THC levels at or below 0.3%. Marijuana is always harvested from female plants and typically has high THC levels with little to no CBD, although some strains can contain verifying levels of CBD/THC ratios. Hemp has over 10,000 known uses, which can be made from both the female or male plant depending on the desired product. Mana Artisan Botanics uses only female hemp plants in our products, with lab testing guaranteeing below 0.3% THC levels.

Hemp extract is the phytocannabinoid concentrate, created through some form of extraction process, most commonly either with supercritical carbon dioxide or ethanol. The extract’s potency will depend on the levels of cannabinoids in the plant, so each batch of extract will have different levels of cannabinoids.

The demand for hemp extracts is rapidly increasing in the U.S. However, there is still limited supply of U.S.-grown hemp, resulting in high prices that cannot compete against imported hemp extract from places like China or Eastern Europe. Consumers seeking quality products may find a lack of transparency when it comes to the origin of the hemp extract in their products. And unfortunately, there is limited data behind the volume and quality control behind these imported hemp extracts.

In the cannabis industry much of what is grown, unless it is organic, is sprayed with varying levels of pesticides and fungicides. Most consumers don’t realize this is a common practice. Given the increasing demand for hemp and cannabis, many conventional farmers are transitioning their fields to these high value crops. Yet, hemp’s cultivation environment is critical as it can act as a bio-remediation crop, absorbing contaminants from the soil while it grows. If the hemp was grown in poor or misused soil, that plant might contain toxins you won’t want to ingest.

The “entourage effect” or “plant synergy” is the idea that cannabinoids, terpenoids and flavonoids in cannabis interact synergistically to magnify the therapeutic benefits of the plant’s individual components—so that the medicinal impact of the whole plant is greater than the sum of its parts.