These are the fundamental facts you need to know about CBD oil and its origin. These facts will help you understand the history of CBD oil, what part of the plant it is extracted from, and how this contributes to your body’s working.
CBD oil is one of at least 113 unique cannabinoid chemical compounds found in Cannabis and Hemp Plants.
This list is not considered debilitated as scientists regularly discover new cannabinoid chemical compounds. Many of these compounds are either insignificant or still being researched to be applied in modern and alternative medicine. Although CBD is found in Cannabis plants, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol THC) is the most common and amply found cannabinoid present in Cannabis.
In reverse, THC is found only in trace amounts in Hemp plants, whereas CBD is the prevailing compound, a naturally occurring component. Cannabidiol accounts for up to 40% of the extracts derived from the Hemp plant. Other extracts include Hemp Oil and Hemp Seed Oil. These extracts are used for different purposes.
Hemp Seed CBD Oil
Hemp Seed Oil is well known for having a healthy fatty acid profile that advocates healing. Hemp Seed Oil is often used for treating inflammation and is suitable for various skin conditions. At the same time, Hemp Oil is still typically used for CBD Oil. Despite being a relative of THC, a compound found in Marijuana that gets you high, CBD is not an addictive compound.
Unlike THC, CBD interacts naturally with our internal systems without being psychoactive, meaning it doesn’t get you high. This important biochemical feature of CBD makes it a safer treatment option than medical Marijuana. CBD is classified as a “food supplement” in many countries. This means that when taking it, you are not ingesting a form of what is considered a drug, but rather, taking a natural supplement. CBD has many incredible benefits, which I will discuss in another blog post, “Why Should I Use CBD Oil?”
Where Does it Come From?
In recent years CBD has gained popularity due to its many benefits, such as relief from chronic pain and seizure disorders. Despite not being able to get you high, CBD Oil will cause significant changes in your body. These changes are caused by the cannabinoids attaching themselves to your endocannabinoid system, allowing them to regulate functions that support relief from pain and other complex or debilitating symptoms.
Hemp is the least processed form of a Cannabis plant. It also is the plant with the highest volume of CBD that can be extracted and used for health and well-being benefits.
Despite both coming from the Cannabis Sativa plant, Hemp and Marijuana are very different. They both have different genetics based on being different strains of the same plant. Also, they are cultivated for other uses.
Hemp and Marijuana Farmers
Historically, and due to historical laws, Hemp was a legal crop that could be grown to create fibres such as cloth and paper. Marijuana, however, has been outlawed in most countries for quite some time and is not typically used for anything beyond its psychoactive effects to get you ‘high’. Marijuana plant farmers have spent a long time selectively breeding Marijuana strains to increase THC levels in their plants.
Hemp farmers, on the other hand, have barely altered the plant at all. This means that these plants are still incredibly high in Cannabidiol Cbd Oil, hence why most CBD Oil comes from hemp farmers. CBD Oil is present in Hemp Oil but not in Hemp Seed Oil. However, the CBD Oil that is generally consumed is an entirely separate extract all on its own.
CBD Oil to be used as a health supplement is extracted to allow it to stay pure and free of THC and other radicals that may take away from the quality of the oil itself.
How CBD oil is extracted from the plant is crucial in ensuring the oil’s quality is kept intact. When not removed efficiently, CBD Oil will be inferior and will not have as great of an impact on supporting individuals experiencing the health benefits.
The correct way to extract CBD Oil is carbon dioxide (CO2) to maintain its integrity.
What is a Cannabinoid?
Cannabinoid is the primary chemical compound discovered in the Hemp and Cannabis plants, found in the 1940s, with scientists initially learning CBD and CBN in the trichomes of the Hemp plant.
THC was not discovered until much later, in 1964. Scientists have continued to research the plant for the past seventy-plus years, finding approximately 111 more cannabinoids since.