A Comprehensive Breakdown of CBD Oil and Hemp Flower
There is a global surge in demand for cannabis products. According to a report by Gallup Poll, one out of every seven American adults uses CBD oil and hemp flowers, a whopping 14%. The largest consumers of the products range between 18 and 29 years. So, what has fuelled the demand for CBD oil and hemp flowers? To understand this scenario, we need to define basic concepts.
What is CBD?
CBD is an acronym for cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive chemical compound extracted from the cannabis plant. The cannabis plant is divided into two major categories, marijuana and hemp plants. The marijuana plant contains over 100 chemical compounds known as cannabinoids; CBD is one of them. On the other hand, the hemp plant contains few cannabinoids, especially the psychoactive cannabinoid (THC), which is responsible for head-high effects.
The non-psycho active properties of CBD make it inhibit THC from binding with the CB1 receptors in the brain. The CB1 receptors, which are found in the nervous system and brain, play a crucial role in controlling body functions such as emotions and movements. Since the THC is inhibited from binding with the CB1 cells, the person develops a calming effect.
What is CBD oil?
The CBD oil refers to oil that is extracted from the leaves and flowers of the cannabis plant. The cannabis oil can be extracted from both hemp and marijuana plants.
The CBD oil can either be full spectrum, broad-spectrum, or isolate depending on the chemical composition.
· Full-spectrum
Full-spectrum CBD oil contains cannabinoids, terpenes, fatty acids, and flavonoids. Research shows that the compositions of these properties make the full spectrum give high entourage effects than isolate CBD oil.
· Isolate CBD
Isolate hemp oil contains 99% CBD, meaning that the other cannabinoids, fatty acids, and flavonoids consist of levels that are less than 1%. A research carried out by an Israeli firm show that isolate CBD is less effective than the full spectrum because it lacks fatty acids, which gives the users healthy benefits.
· Broad spectrum
Broad spectrum refers to CBD that contains high terpenes, flavonoids, fatty acids, and other cannabinoids except for THC. The exclusion of THC in the oil is to mitigate the effects of head-high. Broad spectrum is, therefore, a combination of both full spectrum and isolate CBD.
What are the benefits of CBD oil?
Since the research on CBD oil is still at the infant stage, it is hard to verify most of the medical claims on the internet. Let us look at some of the scientifically proven benefits of CBD oil.
· Nourishment of the skin
Dry or oily skin is common due to medical or lifestyle conditions. Dry skin can be caused by low production of sebum, while oily skin is caused by overproduction of the same. Broad spectrum CBD oil is rich in fatty acids (omega-3 and omega-6) and vitamins that keep the skin hydrated. Unlike the ordinary oils which close the skin pores, the CBD oil unclogs them due to the properties. The CBD oil is used to treat acne, which occurs due to accumulation of sebum in the pores. These properties are some of the factors making CBD oil very common in shampoos and lotions.
· Keeps pets calm
CBD oil also acts as an inhibitor to the CBRs in pets, which makes them calm down. The CBD acts on their nerves hence suppressing their aggressiveness. If you administer a few drops of CBD to an aggressive dog, it calms down and becomes friendly. CBD oil is, therefore, infused in pets food due to the non-psychoactive properties.
· Induces sound sleep
Sleep is one of the activities c by the ECS. However, the ECS can be overwhelmed by other factors such as stress and chronic pain. Taking the CBD oil inhibits the CB1 from binding with the THC and therefore causes them to sleep soundly.
How does the hemp flower work?
The hemp flower is extracted from the hemp plant, the cannabis, which contains low amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Since the flower is plucked from the cannabis family, it contains a similar smell to marijuana. However, the flower contains negligible amounts of THC.
The hemp flower acts the same way as the CBD oil since they contain similar chemical components. However, since the hemp flower contains low THC levels, it does not give the user a head-high effect. The hemp flower can be dried then smoked or processed and infused into edibles or creams.
The ignorance about the hemp flower chemical components in the mid-20th century forced the federal government of the U.S. to ban the flower completely. It was not until 2018 during the Farm Bill that it was legalized. However, different states view has their own rules which de(criminalize) the use of hemp flowers.
Does hemp flower cause failure in drug tests?
For a person to test positive during drug tests, the THC levels must be more than 0.3%. The hemp flower contains amounts of less than 0.3% of the THC. Therefore, it is hard for a person to fail a drug test due to the consumption of hemp flower. However, continuous smoking or oral use of the hemp flower leads to the accumulation of the THC levels in the body, which increases the chances of testing positive during the tests. It is therefore advisable to reduce the rate of hemp flower use, especially if you are about to undergo a drug test.
Other applications of hemp flower
· Baking
Hemp flower is now a common ingredient in kitchen cabinets. The flower is crushed then infused in butter to form a cannabutter that can be used in cooking.
· Vaping
Instead of smoking the hemp flower, you can use it in vaping. The chemical components of the hemp flower are activated by the high temperature, causing them to give the user a calming effect.
Health experts recommend using a dry herb vaporizer since it reduces the risk of ingesting harmful carcinogens into the body. Besides, the vapor can be flavored to make it more appealing.
What are the benefits of Hemp Flower?
The internet is awash with “quick-fixes” that hemp flowers can offer to users. Since most of the claims are not scientifically proven, we settled for benefits that we can vouch for. They include the following:
· Stress reliever
Research shows that CBD is crucial in inducing sleep in patients. The CBD acts as an inhibitor to THC, which is responsible for causing a head high and restlessness. The CBD, therefore, keeps the endocannabinoid system (ECS) under control and, consequently, the stress levels. The hemp flower, therefore, slows down the stress levels in the body.
· Lowers blood pressure
The CBD properties in the hemp flower are crucial in reducing the blood pressure. When the person smokes or infuses the ground flower in edibles, the CBD reacts with the ECS to calm the neurological properties, including blood pressure. Low blood pressure protects a person from common health diseases such as heart failure.
· Pain reliever
Smoking hemp flower releases the CBD to the ECS and therefore inhibits the psychoactive properties in the CB1 receptors. When the CBD suppresses the impact of CB1 receptors, chronic pain is inhibited. The CBD is infused in edibles for faster absorption into the body.
Side Effects of Using CBD Oil and Hemp Flower
Although CBD can bring some side effects because people are different. Some of the side effects of CBD oil include:
Might cause fatigue
Although CBD causes the brain and body to feel relaxed, it might cause the person to feel tired. The CBD might interfere with the normal functioning of the ECS and, therefore, make the person feel tired after a short time.
Causes allergic reactions
Some people experience different forms of allergy after taking CBD. The common allergic reactions include nausea, irritability, and vomiting. Therefore, before taking the full dose of the CBD oil, you should first experiment with a small dose to see if the body reacts against the oil.
Can cause lung infection
Vaping breaks down the CBD oil components into harmful carcinogens, which can cause lung failure. On the other hand, smoking the hemp plant increases the risk of lung cancer.
Causes tooth decay
Heavy smoking of the hemp flower causes the teeth to turn yellow. If the smoker does not stop the habit, the teeth start to form cavities and consequently cause decay.
Bottom line
Whether you CBD oil or hemp flower, it is prudent to ensure that you regulate their use. Both the CBD oil and hemp flower contain traces of THC, which might cause a drug test failure. Besides, the CBD industry is not highly regulated. This allows unscrupulous sellers to swindle gullible buyers by selling them adulterated products. Therefore, when buying the products, ensure that the seller is licensed and has reviews from independent third parties. More research is underway to find out more benefits of using CBD oil and hemp flower. We are optimistic that the clinical reports will solve health issues.