What is CBD and how does it work?
CBD comes from Hemp plants, hemp and marijuana are close relatives but they are not the same, be definition hemp must contain no more than 0.01% THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) the psychoactive compound found in higher concentrations of marijuana. Hemp naturally has higher levels of CBD, a non-psychoactive compound known for helping human bodies maintain health and overall wellness without any psychoactive effect.
CBD is short for cannabidiol and it is a critical phytocannabinoid found in hemp known for supporting the body and mind in many ways. There has been a huge growth in the number of companies now producing CBD products available in the marketplace today, purely as a result of people seeing the positive effects in their health and wellbeing after using this health supplement in their daily routine.
The best CBD oil products are derived from proprietary whole hemp plant extract, which contains mainly CBD, CBDA and a full spectrum of beneficial Terpines. It is believed that using the whole plants maximises benefits derived throughout the body and supplies additional wellness components.
What are Terpenes & Flavonoids?
While terpenes and flavonoids are not cannabinoids they are compounds found in hemp and other plants, Terpenes are fragrant oils that bind to receptors in the human body and carry a variety of health benefits. Flavanoids are groups of phytonutrients that serve as cell messengers with their own health promoting benefits.
All the components working together produce what scientists have named the ‘Entourage Effect’.
What is the Entourage Effect and why is it important?
The Entourage effect is the result/effect produced from the synergistic interaction of the cannabinoids, flavonoids, terpenes and fatty acids naturally found in hemp. The entourage effect refers to the beneficial effect of all these compounds working together, as opposed to just one or two of these compounds working in isolation.
What is The Endocannabinoid System ECS?
First discovered in the 1990’s it is though to be the most vital and vast receptor systems for sustaining good health and has been recognised as an important modulatory system in the function of the brain, endocrine and the immune tissues.
Recent science has found that the ECS does not only respond to Endogenous cannabinoids but also resounds to external phytocannabinoids (produced by plants) or CBD as a way of enhancing the bodies ECS function.
Decades of research have shown that phytocannabinoids (CBD) to be a potent aid in supporting overall wellbeing in human bodies, achieved when CBD enhances the Endocannabinoid System (ECS)
CBD Enhances the ECS
Within the ECS are receptors, CB1 and CB2, located throughout the body, these neurons are a sort of lock, with cannabinoids acting as the key. CB1 receptors exist in high numbers in the brain, especially the Hypothalamus, Hippocampus and Amygdala. CB2 receptors occur mostly in the Thymus, Tonsils and the immune cells. The endocannabinoid system plays an important role in homeostasis. Homeostasis is the ability to maintain a relatively stable internal state that persists despite changes in the world outside. All living organisms, from plants to puppies to people, must regulate their internal environment to process energy and ultimately survive.
What to Consider when buying CBD Hemp Products?
There are many things to consider, starting with traceability. The hemp plants is renowned for cleaning the soil, it was used during the process of cleaning the contaminated soil around Chernobyl. This is important for the same reason that hemp is good for cleaning the soil and pulling out heavy metals, you have to remember that the consumer must ensure the products that they are consuming are quality hemp products that are responsibly grown with great agricultural care and expertise, preferable with a good manufacturing process (GMP) accreditation.
Before you buy a CBD product, consider using the following checklist:
1. Make sure the manufacturer controls the process from farm to shelf and uses quality raw materials to start with.
2. Ask if they do their own extraction.
3. Request batch testing certificates (COA) carried out by independent third party analysis, to make sure there are no traces of contaminants, toxins or heavy metals.
4. Compare the price per active ingredients, be sure to compare like for like.
Quality Hemp CBD Products from Ellevance & HempEthics
Ellevance control their products entire cycle, from the farm to the end user. After harvesting, the hemp plant material is rapidly dried and goes through the optimised extraction process to collect all the natural goodness into a pure concentrated extract. They then add organic sesame oil to reach a final blend that has the target concentration and profile that we are seeking. Throughout the process, the products are handled, stored and shipped in tightly controlled environments and under stringent quality assurance procedures.
Testing procedures, at ElleVance, ‘we believe in comprehensive testing of our product on the farm, during production and before releasing each batch of finished product. We test to ensure every product has the required profile, with the potency that works. We test the purity of all our products to confirm there are no contaminants, so you can feel confident in their safety. Our products are all tested at accredited 3rd party laboratories
'We have conducted extensive studies to confirm our products remain effective for their entire shelf life – you can be confident your ElleVance product will remain effective even if left in your cupboard for a long time. We have even checked our products to confirm they will not be affected by shipping in the height of summer’.
