CBD was Googled more times than Kayne West last year. Hard to believe, I know. Not surprising when you consider the demand for natural alternatives to prescription medicines is fueling curiosity. All that demand has also created a lot of confusion. Confusion about whether it is legal, safe, and, most importantly, what is it?1,4
We will get to those questions and walk through who you can trust. For us to understand why everyone is talking about CBD…let’s talk about what it does.
CBD is one of the 100+ cannabinoids that can be found in the hemp plant (yes, the one that also makes rope, paper, and clothing). Some of us (no judgment here) are familiar with tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. It is the most recognizable cannabinoid, and the one that gets people high, in marijuana. CBD is not marijuana and will not get you high.
CBD is derived from the hemp plant and has very low THC (<0.3%) with no psychoactive effect. CBD works with your body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) to help regulate balance or homeostasis throughout your body. This system is made up of two primary receptors, CB1 and CB2, and can be found throughout the body, including the brain, muscles, bones, and immune system. CBD is being studied for the potential to treat anxiety, pain, inflammation, insomnia and much more.
Now that you know CBD is not marijuana and cannot get you high, why all the buzz? (Sorry, I could not resist the pun.) Over the past few decades, as a community, people have turned to pharmaceuticals to help themselves feel better and live longer. It’s an exciting time as some diseases, like hepatitis C, are now being cured, but it is not all good news. Opioids promise a more pain-free existence, and who would not want to have their wisdom teeth removed with zero pain? Sounds great, except, as we all know now, opioids can be incredibly addictive and have destroyed countless lives. Are all pharmaceuticals bad? Absolutely not (full disclosure: I spent 18 years working for a pharmaceutical manufacturer), but they are not all good either and often come with unfavorable side effects. This explains why so many people are demanding more natural alternatives.
Back to CBD and why the demand here has been so great. It comes down to three things:
Alleviating stress and anxiety
Living an active life with less pain and inflammation
Sleeping better
Why are we so stressed out?
Many of us, myself included (I am 49), grew up in a world without the internet, email and social media. When you left the office at the end of the day, the work didn’t follow you home. Today, nothing shuts down. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and email are always on and keeping our minds constantly going. Customers that use CBD report that it calms the mind and helps with mild or temporary anxiety3.
Can you have less pain without pharmaceuticals?
We all want more out of life and to be able to enjoy an active lifestyle. Exercise and a healthy diet have proven to decrease diseases like heart disease, certain cancers, and diabetes, to name a few. Nothing, however, can slow down the aging process and that means that exercise and activity can eventually result in pain. CBD works with the ECS to relieve pain and inflammation from the inside out when taken orally or sublingually, and from the outside in with a topical pain reliever. Customers report CBD helps relieve pain and inflammation and allows them to live a more active life3.
Why are Americans spending $52 billion annually trying to get a better night’s sleep?
In last month’s article, “Taking the Stress out of the Election and Holidays,” I wrote about the benefit of one extra hour of sleep per night. Hopefully, it made a difference for you. But I know that many of you might think, “Easier said than done.” Why? Because 1 in 4 of us suffers from insomnia and that makes any amount of sleep a challenge4. When you consider how vital sleep is to recovery, mood and vitality, insomnia is a big deal. Because the ECS helps regulate sleep cycles, CBD can be used before bed to help you get to sleep and stay asleep. In conjunction with the CDC’s recommendations to exercise and limit caffeine and alcohol consumption4, 89% of CBD users report a better night’s sleep3.
Now you know the three reasons why people are talking about CBD and how it can help people stress less, move more, and sleep better. Please keep in mind that these statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and as I write this the evidence will continue to evolve. This evolution will bring regulation but, in the meantime, where you buy your CBD matters.
To ensure purity, potency and safety5:
Ensure the product is covered by a third-party laboratory analysis confirming it is free of molds, mycotoxins, pesticides, and heavy metals and has the promised potency, (mg/dose).
Select manufacturers that both cultivate the crop and manufacture the products. This end-to-end process can provide higher quality as they control the complete process from soil to oil.
Hopefully, I have piqued your curiosity about CBD or at least answered a few questions and shed a few myths. The exciting part is that natural alternatives are here. I believe that we can and should be more present for our friends and families and live a life that exceeds that of previous generations through natural wellness.
- CBD declared safe and non-addictive, World Health Organization 2018
2. Agricultural Act of 2018 – US Legalization of Hemp
3. 2019 customer survey with 1,900 respondents conducted by
CBDistillery™ showed:
4. 88% of CBD users say CBD helps with mild or temporary anxiety
5. 89% of CBD users day CBD helps calm their mind
6. 89% of CBD users say CBD helps you get better sleep
7. 84% of CBD users say CBD helps with pain after physical activity
8. CDC recommendations for sleep and sleep disorders
9. 70% of CBD products are mislabeled, University of Pennsylvania 2017
Nick Pione is a local business owner, blog writer and natural wellness expert. He co-founded Trek CBD and contributes to medium.com and trekcbd.com.
For more information, please contact him at:
nickpione@trekvitality.com
