First of all let me start by saying that NOTHING else on the market is CBD but CBD. I have seen a number of posts circulating by essential oil companies claiming that they have an oil that is far superior to CBD… I’m here to tell you it isn’t and let me explain why. First off New Zealand Liverwort is similar to THC, it works on your CB1 receptors which is very similar to what THC does, however what we are looking at is strictly CBD, more importantly the terpenoids.

Let’s talk about receptors first. We have CB1 and CB2 receptors, these are our cannabinoid receptors. Essentially they work on our endocannabinoid system.

CB1 receptors are inside the brain and are responsible for:

• The high we get from THC
• Treatment of pain
• Nausea or vomiting control
• Regulation of seizures
• Works in the gut to help propel food and manage secretions. Essentially every (almost) bodily function has a role for CB1.

CB2 receptors are found outside of the brain and are responsible for:

• Reduction of inflammation and pain without the psychoactive side effects
• No psychoactive receptors
• THC stimulates this as well as CB1

CBD (cannabidiol) does not induce intoxication, it compliments what THC does when combined together but is also fantastic on it’s own. CBD is able to counteract some of the side effects of THC, yes it has side effects. For some they are more sensitive to THC giving them anxiety when not enough CBD has been combined, CBD counteracts this. What people need to realize is that you don’t need a high dose of THC but you do need to ensure you get adequate CBD.  For those suffering schizophrenia it has been used as a treatment due to it’s antipsychotic properties.

CBD provides an analgesic, pain killer effect along with anti-inflammatory properties so those who say you can’t use CBD for pain relief are mistaken. The only difference is you wont get that “high” that you will from THC, which is preferable to some (myself included).

Lets talk terpenoids:

Mercine: Has some anti-inflammatory effects as well as some muscle relaxing effects. It is the most prevalent terpenoid however it has a very sedative effect especially when combined with THC “couch lock”

Limonene: (not as common but fantastic nonetheless). This is the main essential oil found in lemon rinds. To our brains we associate this with cleanliness and happiness. This means to our brain it is an antidepressant. It helps improve mood as well as having antibiotic properties.

Alphapionine: this is that pine needle scent, same idea as the limonene above. It has anti-inflammatory effects, boosts brain power, is antibiotic and helps us to feel rejuvenated or “grounded” From an herbal standpoint this is one of the most beautiful mother earth types of terpenoids. It is especially good for clearing the head. It is considered an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, this emns it stops the enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine in the brain (this is our main memory molecule) making it protective for the brain and preventative for alzheimer’s.

beta-caryophyllene: (also found in black pepper) is fantastic for pain relief as well as lowering inflammation. This one is fun since it is classified as both a terpenoid AND a cannabinoid. It works directly on the CB2 receptor and is very helpful with regards to pain relief. It has amazing anti inflammatory properties without the psychoactive effects. Currently it is also being used to treat addiction to heroin, cocaine, cigarettes and other harsh drugs that are part of a growing opioid epidemic. It has a similar profile to these drugs allowing it to aid in opioid addiction (this is a whole other post of course).

So back to this essential oil crap… ok it isn’t crap (I’ve used this for wound healing before) but it isn’t meant to be ingested. Having some company rep tell you what you should be doing without any specific training is a danger to our health, but I digress as that is a whole other post topic. When you look at the numbers it appears to be higher in content of beta caryophyllene, the main active pain relief component of CBD, however it is missing the other constituents which are required to give the full bang for your buck, so to speak. This is what makes CBD far superior. CBD is whole plant extract (unless you get an isolate). We work closely with companies who use C02 for the extraction process, which helps to keep intact the beneficial cannabinoids that work in synergy for a therapeutic effect.

The other cannabinoids are:

• CBC.

Effects: reduce inflammation, improve mood, reduce pain, stimulate the brainbrain

• CBN

Effects: promote Sleep, reduce inflammation, reduce Pain, stimulate bone health. 

You need to keep it all together in order to ensure you are getting the most benefits and not just attacking pain itself. Most of those who are utilizing CBD for pain have other underlying issues which CBD will help alleviate better than anything else on the market provided it is of high quality.

On another note I hear so many people refer to strains and this makes me chuckle. From a herbal/botany point of view there is no such thing as a strain and also no regulations as to all these names we throw around when discussing indica and sativa. They aren’t bacteria or viruses so why do we refer to them as strains when what they are is chemavars (chemical varieties of cannabis). When it comes to cannabinoid therapy there really is an abundance of good and bad information, make sure you are getting yours from a qualified source.