Don’t Be Disappointed Just Yet!
As CBD continues to grow in popularity, you’ve probably heard from a friend or friend of a friend about how CBD has helped them with better sleep, less pain & inflammation or reduced anxiety. So you did a little research, bought a bottle, tried it, annnnd nothing happened. Or, it kind of felt like something was happening, but then went away. We hear the latter a lot and will touch on it here. Briefly…
Three Types of CBD
- Full-Spectrum – Has a complete plant profile of naturally occurring phytocannabinoids & terpenes including trace amounts of THC (<.3%).
- Broad-Spectrum – Has most of the plant profile, but the trace amounts of THC have been removed.
- Isolate – >99.5% pure CBD.
CBD is…CBD is not…
CBD (cannabidiol) is derived from hemp, is non-intoxicating and has the potential to provide symptom relief for a variety of health issues. It is not marijuana. CBD activates receptors in your endocannabinoid system which are located throughout your body. CB1 receptors are concentrated in the central nervous system and brain. CB2 receptors are found in the peripheral organs and immune system. Your endocannabinoid system is responsible for regulating vital body processes, such as:
- Inflammation and Pain Awareness
- Stress Response and Mood
- Sleep
- Memory & Focus
- Digestive Processes
- Cardiovascular
CBD is not a standard medical treatment or cure for medical disorders. Yet. Though it has been approved by the FDA for treating a certain form of Epilepsy with very high doses..
Why Isn't It Working?
Everybody’s experience will differ and not everyone’s first CBD experience lives up to the hype. Factors to consider if CBD is not working for you:
- Are you taking it regularly?
- How strong is it?
- How many milligrams do you take?
- Where did you buy it?
- How long have you been taking it?
- Are you drinking alcohol with it?
- Is it full spectrum?
The last question is often the most surprising and one most people can’t answer without looking at their bottle. This is something you need to know as it could make all the difference!
Of the 3 types, CBD Isolate is commonly CBD sold at traditional stores and the people selling it generally don’t know there are other types available. Or for that matter, what CBD does aside from reading a brochure. When you’re talking to a person selling CBD, they should be able to adequately explain the basic differences and guide you to the one that best fits your goals. I’m not going to go into great detail in this article, but Isolate may be the culprit for your lackluster CBD experiences.
Many of our clients had previously tried Isolate and either had no result or felt something for a week or two, then nothing except disappointment. Evolving research is showing CBD Isolate to have limitations known as ‘threshold’. Meaning, you have to take a certain amount to have an effect and taking more than a certain amount will have no additional effects. This pure form of CBD has it’s uses, but it’s not for everyone as it’s missing everything else the hemp plant has to offer.
Full-Spectrum CBD includes terpenes, flavonoids and other cannabinoids such as CBG, CBN and even trace amounts of THC (legally it can have up to .3%). These all work together in order to create something that is greater than the sum of their individual efforts (entourage effect). Full-Spectrum also provides your body with vitamins, minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids.
With Full-Spectrum, start small and adjust how much you take daily until you find your zone. Be consistent. Give it time. Our clients say they take between 20-40 mg/day on average.
Is Your CBD Strong Enough?
When CBD began to catch on, there were strengths as low as 100-250 milligrams in one ounce bottles. This meant you had to drink a lot of carrier oil to achieve anything. It didn’t take long for companies to realize these were not very effective and customers were not returning. You will still find low strengths, but they are typically sold for pets.
Our entry level suggestion is a one ounce bottle of Full-Spectrum 750mg strength. Each dropper has about ~25 milligrams which is considered a low-moderate dose. Half a dropper has about ~12mg. Knowing this, you can control how much you take and learn how many milligrams may work for you. If you find the 750mg strength isn’t getting there, try a 1500mg bottle which has ~50 milligrams of CBD per dropper. Be patient.
If you find you’re taking 2-3 droppers a day to feel something, you’re making progress! Maintain a regular routine and consider getting a stronger bottle next time. The stronger the bottle the less you have to take. Prices also tend to go down with higher strengths.
Ultimately, you have to experiment a little in the beginning because the research has a lot of catching up to do.
Give It Time
It’s important to remember that CBD is not medicine. In some people it can take time before effects are noticed. Every body is different. Many potential long-term benefits, including reduction of inflammation or pain need daily dosing. If you don’t notice the benefits you’re looking for after a few weeks, you may want to increase your dosage or try a stronger bottle. Give it time and you may be surprised at your results.
* True Full Spectrum Cannot Be THC Free *
Low Grade, Mislabeled, Snake Oil
Everywhere you turn you see CBD being sold. Bigger than life claims, super high strengths at incredibly low prices (Amazon), catchy marketing. At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if someone tries selling it door to door. Two old sayings always come to mind – ‘It’s cheap for a reason’ and ‘If it sounds too good to be true…’ Truth is, there’s a lot of junk out there (Amazon) and we need to know what we’re putting in our body is what it says it is.
Many products are not as potent as they claim. Some contain no CBD. And claim they are Full-Spectrum with ‘Zero THC’. This statement is all to common and can even be found on big name brands. Fact is you can’t have Full-Spectrum without trace amounts of THC. It’s like calling a rainbow full spectrum, but there’s no red. Additionally, learn a few terms to look for on the label. Hemp extract and PCR (phytocannabinoid rich) hemp oil are common terms that mean CBD. Hemp seed oil has no CBD. If the label doesn’t use one of these terms at all, best case is it’s Isolate. Worst case, it’s not what it claims to be.
When considering a brand of CBD to try, do your research. There is no shortage and there are a wide range of prices. Expensive doesn’t mean better. Presently, most of the CBD made in the US is coming from the same farms which means the source costs are about the same for everyone. Our supply costs have actually gone down a fair amount in 2019 and our prices adjusted accordingly. In many cases, high priced CBD is no different than buying the same pair of jeans with a nicer logo.
Asking friends that have already tried CBD is one of the best ways to learn. Research can be overwhelming and sometimes misleading, but friends that should give you an honest opinion. Our company is built on word-of-mouth advertising and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Things to look for:
- Available 3rd Party Lab Tests – Reputable companies are transparent with these.
- Knowledgeable Help – Not a sales pitch.
- Good Reviews – Taken with a grain of salt.
At Sea Cliff Hemp Co., you’re getting premium quality, farm sourced CBD that’s grown and processed in FDA approved facilities, is non-gmo, pesticide free and third-party tested.
