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Although synthesized way back in 1940, CBD (cannabidiol) has only recently become one of the most sensible dietary supplements. This natural nootropic is famous as one of the modern-age panacea and has seen a surge in popularity in Western society. It seems like everyone wants to be on the bandwagon and reap the CBD nootropics benefits. You can find it everywhere, from hemp-infused beverages, muscle pain ointments, intranasal cannabinoid sprays, CBD gummies, vaping CBD oils, as well as lotions and health and wellness products with CBD or hemp oils in their solutions.
Hundreds of thousands of people are using CBD – just like your panic co-worker – to feel the relief of anxiety but without feeling funky in the brain. And you inevitably heard your family ask if CBD is also for arthritis treatment? People frequently think CBD means “cannabinoids”, which is a covering term for psychoactive molecules found in marijuana, consisting of THC and others. But, CBD is cannabidiol, an individual cannabinoid.
Why is CBD such a big deal? Well, CBD is caught between two 
opposite worlds. One of the trendy cure-all images it presents, unlike THC, its cousin in the cannabis plant, isolated CBD won’t get you ‘high’ while still reaping health benefits.
As well as the 2nd is the medical reality of its effectiveness in large doses to treat pain, anxiety, depression, cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Parkinson’s disease, drug, and tobacco addiction, childhood epilepsy, etc. But there are still early days in the CBD research.
Table of Contents
Taboos you should break about CBD
What is CBD?
Cannabidiol was isolated from cannabis extracts by American chemist Roger Adams. However, no further investigation was carried out for almost 25 years, except for a few studies about its isolation. The exact chemical structure of CBD was elucidated only in 1963 by the group of Professor Raphael Mechoulam, from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel. Throughout the 1960s, the same group was responsible for the determination of the precise structure and stereochemistry of Δ9-THC and other major cannabinoids. These findings opened a new research field on the pharmacological activity of cannabis constituents. Before the 1970s, only a few pharmacological studies on CBD had been made, which concluded that CBD had no cannabis-like activity, as opposed to Δ9-THC (link).
brief history of cannabidiol
Cannabidiol can be drawn out from three sources:
marijuana
hemp
synthesized in the lab
CBD is one of the 120 phytocannabinoids discovered in the cannabis species (Sativa and Indica). The cannabis plant has two key types, hemp (sativa) and marijuana (indica). Both have CBD, yet there’s a much higher percentage in hemp, which additionally has very reduced (less than 0.3%) degrees of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) compared to marijuana. That’s why CBD from hemp won’t get you ‘high’.
Cannabis Sativa L. plant, a breed of hemp, is designed to minimize THC and maximize CBD so that it consists of around 40% of the plant’s active substances.
For less complicated tracking of this article, have a look at this graphic and discover exactly how CBD oil is gotten.
CBD Oil vs. Hemp seed Oil difference
CBD oil makes use of the whole plant, while hemp oil originates from its seeds. Cannabis CBD extracts primarily come from the flowers and leaves of the marijuana plant. And from the flowers, leaves, and stalks of the hemp plant.
Hemp seed oil is not CBD oil
When individuals speak about hemp oil, they’re referring to oil removed from the seeds of the hemp plant. There are no cannabinoids, CBD, or THC, in hemp seed oil. Yet CBD oil is sometimes used to describe hemp seed oil, which consists of no active CBD. This component is loaded only with healthy fats and usually appears in beauty products for its hydrating benefits.
The hemp plant’s leaves and flowers are one resource of CBD oil
The term “hemp oil” frequently is made use of to refer to the CBD-rich product removed from the flowers and leaves of the hemp plant. Some full-spectrum CBD oral drops use hemp seed oil as a carrier oil, as it is considered to be one of the most beneficial oils available.
Endocannabinoid System relationship with CBD
Although cannabinoids were first found in the cannabis plant, they in fact exist in a whole host of various other biological systems, including our own.
When the endocannabinoid system is first discovered in 1992, it is found to be important to human health and well-being through maintaining homeostasis (balance) in various aspects of physiology. In essence, homeostasis regulates all major body systems, ensuring they all work alongside one another.
ECS affects everything from learning and memory, mood and anxiety, drug addiction, appetite, inflammation, perception, modulation of pain, and cardiovascular functions. ECS thus maintains balance in the nervous system and cannabinoids are an integral part of it.
It consists of:
Cannabinoid receptors
Endogenous cannabinoids (endocannabinoids)
Transport proteins
Enzymes (synthesize or degrade the endocannabinoids)
Research study on endocannabinoids (the cannabinoids our body produces inside) will be an essential part of the future development of CBD.
Mechanism of action
There are primarily two endocannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) and CBD is active at both. While CB1 is found mostly in the brain and central nervous system, CB2 receptors are mainly expressed in immune cells in your body.
Although it cannot bind directly to the CB1 receptor…
CBD increases the activity of the native endocannabinoid system by increasing cannabinoid receptor density.
It also inhibits FAAH (fatty acid amide hydrolase), which increases levels of endocannabinoids like the anandamide molecule.
CBD is also an agonist of the 5-HT1a serotonin receptor.
CBD acts on CB2 receptors to produce anti-inflammatory responses in brain immune cells.
It is very likely these CBD activities provide well-known anti-anxiety and antidepressive effects.
Systemic effects that CBD exerts
Does CBD work on GABA?
How does CBD oil affect serotonin levels?
Does CBD affect dopamine?
CBD nootropics Benefits
“The brain is about a symphony, and CBD can bring the entire symphony into harmony.”
Yasmin Hurd, PhD, director of the Addiction Instit
CBD possesses a large range of wellness benefits. A lot of these benefits are related to cognitive efficiency. So, CBD is one of the superb natural nootropic compounds as well.
Brain fog affects overall mental performance, but it’s not a disease. It’s an outcome of various other conditions within the body. CBD nootropic activity has been revealed to aid numerous medical conditions like insomnia, depression, inflammation, and stress, all of which may cause brain fog.
CBD works for all those symptoms due to its relationship with the endocannabinoid system.
- CBD is an antioxidant
That reduces the problems associated with oxygen stress influenced by our environment, toxins, food, stress, and more. Memory loss and other brain deterioration indirectly lead to increased oxygen in the brain. CBD has the ability to reduce the toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) formed during ischemic metabolism (link).
- CBD can reduce inflammation
CBD may help reduce chronic inflammation and pain. Research has shown that it can reduce inflammation in the brain, as well as increase pain threshold, reduce pain intensity, and alter the perception of pain in adult participants (link1, link2).
- CBD can serve as a brain neuroprotective
The neuroprotective potential of CBD is based on the combination of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. CBD may be able to positively affect the ECS and various brain signaling systems, hence it may help neurological disorders, such as epilepsy and multiple sclerosis (with oral spray Sativex®). In clinical trials, CBD has shown the ability to reverse and even prevent the development of Alzheimer’s negative impact on memory (link1, link2).
- CBD helps blood flow
CBD has long been used as a natural alternative to aid blood circulation thanks to its relaxing benefits. It aids to keep the brain healthy by bringing in nutrients and removing wastes (link).
- CBD helps support the brain-immune system
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is so important because it keeps our bodies in balance. ECS responds to CBD compounds in therapeutic ways: CB2 receptors interact with the CBD and normalize functions of other systems. CBD oil may help your body’s ability to reduce inflammation and fight infections (link). It may also have antibiotic benefits to aid recovery from bacterial infections (link). CBD also strengthens the microglial cells. Their job is to search and destroy various toxins like bacteria, viruses, fungus, and parasites from the brain (link).
- CBD strengthens brain cells
CBD works on the brain cells by stimulating them and maintaining their energy levels. Since the mitochondria are the power store for cells, CBD oil keeps them active throughout the day. CBD appears to stimulate synaptic plasticity and facilitates hippocampus neurogenesis. That may explain its positive effects on attenuating psychotic, anxiety, and depressive behaviors (link). The mechanisms underlying these effects involve multiple cellular targets to elevate brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels, reduce microglia activation, and decrease levels of pro-inflammatory mediators.
CBD aids your focus by enabling extra serotonin to move in your brain similar to a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). This enhanced serotonin triggers less anxiety and resulted in more focus.
CBD has even been shown to help improve the symptoms relating to attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD). Those symptoms often include extreme lack of focus and concentration amongst other negative symptoms.
Different forms of CBD
Whole spectrum
Full-spectrum
Broad-spectrum
CBD isolate
Whole spectrum
Full-spectrum
Like the whole plant, full-spectrum CBD covers the full range of cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids, but without the waxes, oils, and additional fibrous substances. This makes full-spectrum CBD smoother and easier to vape. Full-spectrum CBD usually causes more sedation in my experience than CBD isolate oil. This is due to additional cannabinoids, including very low levels of THC, CBN, and various terpenes that are present in the full-spectrum formulations other than CBD alone.
Broad-spectrum
Broad-spectrum CBD means that it retains the additional cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids in full-spectrum, whilst removing all traces of THC. That makes it the safest choice. Some people even react to the trace amount of THC, so this kind of product is for them. Also, broad-spectrum CBD doesn’t interfere with drug tests.
CBD isolate
Ways to take CBD
When it comes to CBD, the oral bioavailability is much lower than its sublingual and vaporized forms. Vaping CBD seems to be the least effective form of CBD. CBD sprays are usually the weakest concentration compared to other forms of CBD.
Oral products such as our soft gels, tinctures, and gems have a systemic effect, meaning they work on your whole body. Many customers start with 25 mg soft gel capsules and slowly increase in 25 mg increments until finding their ideal dosage. Capsules are ideal for keeping track of your daily dosage. Also, you can just add the CBD capsules to your custom nootropic stack.
Tinctures are the most common form of CBD on the market. And likely the purest form of CBD. Dosages range from 100 to 1000 mg. By the sublingual tinctures method, you consume CBD oil by placing it under your tongue and holding it there for up to a minute before ingesting it. This approach has been proven to be very discreet and efficient in calming some chronic pain quickly. It is a convenient method that requires no extra accessories and has long-lasting effects. If you want to avoid oil tinctures that contain alcohol, look for ones that are made of vegetable glycerin.
CBD concentrate is a high-potency extract of the hemp plant that contains an incredibly high percentage of CBD. Concentrates are similar to herbal extracts in that they can contain up to 10 times the concentration of CBD compared to a tincture. Similar to tinctures, concentrates of CBD work well sublingual or can be used to make edibles containing high doses of cannabidiol.
CBD oil Concentration and Nootropic dosage
To find out how much CBD remains in your oil product, discover the complete CBD, or cannabinoid content as well as the volume of the bottle. For instance, your 25 ml tincture may have 500 mg CBD total amount. Next off, you will want to divide this total by the bottle quantity (500/25), which in our example results in 20 mg.
This means 1 ml of your CBD oil includes 20 mg of CBD. A lot of droppers have a volume of 1 ml when they are full and have an overall of 20 drops. This means we can divide our 20 mg by 20 – the number of drops. In our instance, one drop of oil has 1 mg of CBD.
It is difficult to give a precise CBD nootropic dosage because of several variables such as:
What you’re taking CBD for?
Your body weight
The form of CBD
How your body reacts to cannabidiol
As a general guideline, you ought, to begin with very low doses such as 5 mg and increase until you experience the wanted impacts.
For nootropic uses, the majority of people make use of 15-50 mg dosages of CBD in oil form.
Legality of CBD
The legality of CBD is not clear. Like the issues surrounding the legality of cannabis in general, CBD presents the clinician with a confusing state vs. federal legal quandary, and this keeps the issue in question (link).
As a result of the significant interest in CBD products originated from marijuana and hemp, companies typically create huge incomes, however, go against the safety and wellness of customers. In the US, the FDA does not control CBD, so it’s too easy to get a product that is more or less potent than advertised.
While CBD originated from marijuana is a Schedule 1 controlled substance under federal law in the US, hemp-derived CBD is much more extensively available, though its legality in terms of public law is still murky at best.
Given that both are derived from the cannabis plant as well as being difficult to differentiate visually, marijuana and hemp were considered dangerous drugs till recently.
In 2018 hemp has actually been reclassified as an agriculture product in the US and is legal under certain restrictions. The government defines hemp as cannabis with less than 0.3% THC content, and any product exceeding that threshold is illegal.
Be wary of any bold claims about the sourcing of “100 percent legal CBD.”
Technically, it’s not 100% legal yet.
On other markets, the situation is even more blurry due to the illegal status of cannabinoids in most world countries. As of recently, German authorities consider CBD products either a prescription medicine or novel food. The novel foods distinction is given to products if they have not been significantly consumed before 1997 (link).
As a result, CBD has remained widely unregulated in the EU and cannot be marketed in EU countries without authorization, which requires research.
Misunderstandings about CBD oils
“The people who are talking the loudest about CBD don’t have a scientific background. They are marketers and advertisers, and they have done a hell of a job.”
Paul Armentano, deputy director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML)
In addition, unregulated and driven by ticklish marketing, CBD oils, and products can have several problems that consumers are often unfortunately facing.
To name just a few problems:
Different batches may contain greater or reduced CBD doses than what the label claim
Wildly marketed ‘hemp oil’ from seeds that contain no CBD
Health products that contain too little CBD as an active ingredient
Contaminated THC concentration that is above typical for the CBD product pureness (0,3%)
Therefore, even though everyone read about it, people still find CBD complicated. Especially to navigate via its forms, dosages, or concerning the legality of these products.
So, we will answer these questions, as well as recommend the best uses and a few excellent CBD products.
Nootropic blend Recommends CBD
With all the supplements that have antioxidant and neuroprotective properties and improve learning or focus, choosing CBD would be a legitimate option. For those with anxiety, it’s a much better choice than choosing a racetam stack or other herbals. And, also, many people in pursuit of a good sleep aid are thrilled with CBD.
Pick up nootropics that best reflect your goal
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