What is CBD? A Simple Guide to Cannabidiol

Like many people, you may be wondering what CBD is and why it's suddenly everywhere. With so many products and claims being made, it can be hard to know what to believe and where to start.

We have created a concise guide to CBD and its various benefits. We will cover a some of the most popular ways to ingest CBD and the different CBD products on the market, so you can discover a method that works best for you.

What Is CBD? 

CBD is an acronym for Cannabidiol, it is one of over 113 active compounds called cannabinoids found in the Cannabis Sativa L Plant (aka Hemp). Each of these compounds interacts with the body's endocannabinoid system, which helps regulate various functions, including sleep, mood, pain, appetite, pain, and immunity. 

CBD can come from hemp and marijuana plants, but most CBD products today are primarily from hemp. This makes them federally legal in the United States, as long as they have less than 0.3% THC.

Hemp plants belong to the cannabis family but have higher levels of CBD and lower levels of THC. These low levels of THC make hemp-derived CBD products non-intoxicating, so you can enjoy the relief without the high associated to marijuana products. 

How does CBD work? 

CBD interacts with the human body through the endocannabinoid system which is considered the primary regulatory system of the body and plays a major role in regulating key body functions such as pain, sleep, appetite and mood.

Our bodies naturally produce their own endocannabinoids to support the ECS but just like any nutrient, our bodies may need additional support especially when experiencing mental and physical stress. Sol Care CBD naturally supports your endocannabinoid system to help you restore calm and get relief. 

Simply put, CBD works with the human body by preventing the breakdown of the endocannabinoids our body naturally produces. 

What Are the Benefits of CBD?

CBD offers a wide variety of potential health benefits including neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties. Of course, more research is needed to understand all it can do. But so far, the results are promising.

Recent testing has shown that CBD may help with a range of disorders, including anxiety, insomnia, and chronic pain. It's also being studied as a possible therapeutic treatment for several other conditions, including cancer and Alzheimer's.

CBD is also well known to help reduce seizure activity in those with certain forms of epilepsy.

CBD vs. High THC Products

The main difference between CBD and high THC products is that CBD will not make you feel "high."

Many CBD products include trace amounts of THC; however, they are not intoxicating. This means you can incorporate CBD into your rituals without fear of experiencing the mind-altering side effects of marijuana use.

What Does Full-spectrum CBD Mean?

When shopping for CBD products, you may have noticed that some products are labeled "full-spectrum" while others are not. For Sol Care's initial launch, all of our products will be Full-Spectrum. So what does this mean? 

Full-spectrum CBD products contain all the cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids found in the cannabis plant, including trace amounts of THC. When all these cannabinoids work together, this is known as the "entourage effect." This theory suggests that the interaction between different cannabis compounds offers greater therapeutic benefits than the use of CBD alone. 

There are also broad-spectrum CBD products, which contain all compounds found in cannabis except for THC and CBD isolate, which is pure CBD without any other compounds or cannabinoids. 

CBD Bioavailability

When taking CBD, there are a few things to consider in terms of bioavailability. Bioavailability is the amount of a product that the body can absorb.

For example, when you take CBD sublingually (under the tongue), it is absorbed directly into the bloodstream and works much faster than if you were to eat it or put it in a drink. 

The liver metabolizes CBD ingested in food or drinks, reducing the bioavailability. However, this method is still effective, and many prefer it because it is easy to do and doesn't have the strong taste that some tinctures can have. 

You can also smoke or vape CBD, which will give you the fastest absorption, but it doesn't last as long as other methods.

At Sol Care, we offer a wide range of CBD products to choose from, so you can find what works best for you. If you have any questions or want to learn more about CBD, please don't hesitate to contact us. We're always happy to help!