Just as CBD oil can help some humans with epilepsy, it can also help dogs with seizures too. CBD oil can also help dogs recover from the aches and pains of aging, and relieve anxiety.
Just as CBD oil can help some humans with epilepsy, it can also help dogs with seizures too.
Have you heard the saying, “you can see the soul of a dog through their eyes?” We have an undying love for our canine friends which inherently causes an immense amount of sadness when we see them suffer. CBD oil can have a profound impact on helping to minimize our canine’s pain and discomfort.
This amazing oil extract derived from the hemp plant can reduce inflammation, joint pain, and relieve an array of other physical ailments, such as seizures for our beloved furry friends. CBD is also life-changing for dogs who suffer from owner separation anxiety, as well as loud, triggering noises that cause undue stress on so many dogs, like Fourth of July fireworks. CBD oil may come to your loved one’s rescue, calming and soothing your canine when they need it most.
5 PERCENT OF DOGS SUFFER FROM SEIZURES
Five percent of dogs suffer from seizures with the two most prominent types being epileptic and idiopathic seizures. If your dog experiences seizures, it’s essential to visit or consult a veterinarian. Commonly prescribed drugs, such as phenobarbital and potassium, can be of help but also be harmful to your dog’s organs. In some cases, CBD oil may be a safer, natural solution to minimize and reduce the severity of canine seizures.
Even though CBD oil is a very safe choice for dogs with seizures, it’s always important to consult with a veterinarian before beginning any treatment plan.
Safety is undoubtedly a primary focus when considering how and what to utilize to relieve your canine’s symptoms. CBD impacts the dog’s endocannabinoid system, a network of receptors throughout the brain, nervous system, and immune system. Dogs are extremely sensitive to THC, the active ingredient in psychoactive cannabis (“marijuana”). For canines, it’s important to avoid using any tinctures or CBD products which have even trace amounts of THC. Dogs can have strong reactions to amounts far smaller than humans would even notice.
HOW TO GIVE CBD OIL TO DOGS WITH SEIZURES
CBD oil for dogs is administered orally by tincture form, capsules or dog treats. You can give CBD to dogs between one to two times daily. The same “finding your sweet spot” dosing regimen used for humans is the same used for animals as well. After giving the same dosage for a 5-7 day period without desired relief of symptoms, you will want to consider adjusting the dosage with your veterinarian’s guidance. Usually, start very small and adjust upwards with your veterinarians’ guidance.
There is often a stereotypical misconception that our dogs will obtain a euphoric high from CBD oil. CBD itself is a non-psychoactive compound and does not produce the intoxicating effect like the psychoactive compound, THC. Again, it is important not to give your dog any amounts of THC as even the trace amounts found in most CBD oils can accumulate in the body over time with consistent usage.
GETTING STARTED WITH CBD OIL FOR YOUR DOG
What should you do before starting CBD oil for a dog with seizures? Just as you would with a human, it’s vital to your dog’s health to establish care with a reputable veterinarian. If possible, find a vet that understands the value in the holistic and natural approach and supports using CBD oil. Schedule a consultation to discuss the core benefits of CBD oil, dosaging and why it may be a safer alternative.
Using CBD oil for dogs helps them feel better and more active despite the everyday aches and pains of aging.
You may be wondering if the CBD oil used for humans is any different than CBD oil for dogs. The answer should really be no. Both humans and pets require the same quality of pure hemp extract. Low quality CBD oil can be riddled in heavy metals, solvents, pesticides, or evewn molds. Bad quality CBD oil isn’t good for humans or pets. It is important to use a high quality, full spectrum, zero-THC CBD Oil derived from organically grown hemp for yourself and your pet. The only differences of the CBD oil between humans and dogs are the potency amounts and sometimes the carrier oils. In tinctures, organic coconut oil is the best for dogs as they digest, though some humans may develop flatulence or more frequent bowel movements from coconut oil.
CBD OIL CAN HELP DOGS LIVE BETTER LIVES
Dogs leave paw prints on our hearts. As loving owners, we can further help them in times of need. The same natural remedies that benefit us can sometimes help our dogs too. As long as you take the time to consult with your veterinarian and do the research, CBD oil can be of great assistance when it comes to helping your dog get back its fun loving, energetic self.
Hemp seeds are produced from the hemp plant, also called Cannabis Sativa L. They have been highlighted and growing in popularity due to their nutritious value and health benefits. No…
Hemp seeds are produced from the hemp plant, also called Cannabis Sativa L. They have been highlighted and growing in popularity due to their nutritious value and health benefits. No other single plant source can compare with the nutritional value of hemp seeds. In its small seed, it packs a good source of amino acids, protein, fiber, and essential fatty acids. Hemp seeds are also considered to be more allergy-free than other seeds.
Benefits of Hemp Seed
“One of the most complete sources of vegetable nutrition known to man”
Click infographic to enlarge
Hemp seeds have several benefits that make it a superior source of your daily nutrients:
Hemp is nutritionally superior to Flax, Chia, or Fish Oil:
Contains both GLA (gamma linolenic acid) and CLA (conjugated linoleic acid). GLA is a fatty acid that has anti-inflammatory properties. CLA is a building block of cell membranes. It also offers more protein than Flax & Chia.
A naturally balanced ratio of Essential Fatty Acids:
Offers a naturally balanced 1:3 ratio of Omega-3 and Omega-6 Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs). EFAs are responsible for strengthening your immune system.
Offers all 10 Essential Amino Acids:
There are 8 amino acids the human body cannot make and 2 more the body cannot make in sufficient quantity. Hemp offers all these essential amino acids in its seed.
Great source of both Soluble & Insoluble Dietary Fiber:
Hemp seeds offer 17g of fiber per serving, while a serving of hemp protein also contains 8-11g of fiber. Hemp seeds are a great way to add fiber to your daily diet.
Source of vitamins and minerals:
Hemp seeds are a great source of vitamin E and minerals such as phosphorus, potassium, sodium, magnesium, sulfur, calcium, iron and zinc.
25% of the total calories are High Quality Protein:
65% of the protein is edestin, a protein that helps your immune system to properly function. 35% of the protein is albumin, which helps the protein get easily assimilated into the body. Hemp offers a great alternative for protein if you are allergic to dairy.
Fights bad cholesterol levels & blood clots:
Studies have suggested that hempseed and hempseed oil can help break down cholesterol as well as fight blood clots, which are typically caused by high cholesterol levels.
Helps improve various skin conditions:
Clinical trials have shown that Omega-3 and Omega-6 in hemp oil helps dry skin defects and are beneficial for the treatment of conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
Ways to Eat Hemp Seeds
Hemp seeds can be eaten in so many different ways. It just really depends on your creativity. Here are just a few common ways to eat hemp seeds:
Eat raw as a snack.
Mix into your smoothie.
Sprinkle on top of cereal, salads, yogurt, or even oatmeal.
Substitute hemp for breadcrumbs to coat chicken or fish.
Hulled hemp, often called hemp hearts, is the entire hemp seed with the crunchy outer shell removed. Hulling the seeds, rather than eating as a whole, makes it easier to eat since the shell is quite crunchy. Removing the shell also makes the hemp hearts more nutritious, as it increases the overall percentage of protein and essential fatty acids. Hemp hearts can be eaten in numerous ways, such as mixing in shakes, cereal, or sprinkling some on your salad.Toasted hemp seeds are whole hemp seeds that are roasted in high temperatures for a varied length of time. This results in a popcorn like snack that makes it easy to snack on. Toasted hemp seeds are popular snacks in many countries around the world, especially in the Middle East.In addition to hulled & toasted hemp seeds, producers add hemp seeds as an ingredient to their products, as hemp is such a healthy supplement. Be on the lookout to see if you run into any energy bars or spreads that have hemp seed in them!
Where is it grown?
Hemp is grown in most industrialized countries, except the United States. The US is actually the only industrialized nation that does not allow the farming of hemp (but this might change soon!). Many countries typically grow hemp for industrial use (construction, textiles, etc.) rather than for food. For good edible hemp seed, Canada is known to be the best quality. This is not only because of the taste of the hemp strain that the Canadian farmers use, but also because of the strict restrictions that the Canadian government enforces. Canadian farmers are only allowed to use hemp seed varieties that are listed under Health Canada’s List of Approved Cultivars. All hemp seeds from Canada are non-GMO verified, which means the seeds are not genetically modified. Canadian farmers also don’t use pesticides when farming hemp. You can also look for the “Pro-Cert Organic” certifications on the brands that you buy. This ensures that the seeds are free of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides. Lot of hemp manufacturers are now warning consumers to watch out for Chinese hemp that is flooding the market. Chinese hemp producers aren’t regulated as strictly as Canadian farmers. An easy way to tell the difference between Canadian hemp and others is by taste. Canadian hemp has much more of a nutty flavor whereas other seeds (especially China) have a very bland taste. Since you won’t be able to taste the hemp until you buy a packet, make sure to check their labels to ensure the hemp is certified from Canada!
Flavor?
Hemp seeds have a pleasant nutty taste that could be compared to unflavored sunflower seeds, but with a much softer texture.
Brand?
It’s relatively easy to find hemp seeds at your local grocery stores. However, there’s also a lot of boutique US brands that offer great hemp seed products through honest ingredients and fair prices. Check out our full unbiased review of hemp seed products below to find which brand offers the best quality hemp seeds and where you can buy them.
How much do you know about hemp products? An article published in Popular Mechanics in 1938 claimed hemp as the New Billion-Dollar Crop. Claiming to have thousands of potential applications,…
How much do you know about hemp products?
An article published in Popular Mechanics in 1938 claimed hemp as the New Billion-Dollar Crop. Claiming to have thousands of potential applications, there seemed to be no limit on how and where hemp could be used.
Yet, not even a year after this publication, the government passed restrictions on hemp that essentially killed the entire industry. For the next 80 years, hemp and its history has largely been forgotten and misunderstood.
“American farmers are promised a new cash crop… and it will provide thousands of jobs for American workers throughout the land”
– Popular Mechanics in 1938
Sadly, today most of us don’t even know about hemp. We grew up never learning about it or even using it. The modern society never got the chance to experience the amazing quality and benefits that hemp brings. Many people mistakenly assume hemp as the same thing as marijuana (close, yet distinct, cousin). Others aren’t even aware of its existence.
So what is hemp and what can it do? To show the true potential of hemp, we’ve created an extensive, all-encompassing list of hemp products that exists today. Although some of these applications may not yet be fully commercialized, most of these items can be purchased online through various boutique brands. Many hemp advocates are fighting to offer customers high quality, eco-friendly hemp products that are superior to its conventional counterparts.
Check out our full list below and see what hemp has to offer. One thing that’s clear is that as more people start using hemp, its misconstrued stigma will more quickly disappear in the modern world. We hope you’ll try some. You’ll be surprised how awesome they are.
Hemp seeds are probably the most popular application of hemp because it’s so nutritious. Popular among vegetarians and athletes, hemp seeds are often compared to flax and chia seeds as superfoods. Here’s just a short list of some of its amazing health benefits:
One of the most nutritious foods available in nature.
Easily digested by the body.
Can sustain our dietary needs, even without consuming any other healthy food.
Contains essential fatty acids (Omega-3 and Omega-6) – helps with immune system and cholesterol levels.
Helps heal those suffering from immune deficiency diseases.
While hemp offers different types of oil, hemp seed oilis the most common dietary application you will find. Hemp seed oil comes from the seeds of the plant itself. When the oil is unrefined, it is commonly considered “Nature’s most perfectly balanced oil”. Here’s why:
It contains a perfectly balanced 3:1 ratio of Omega 6 and Omega 3 essential fatty acids.
Great source for Vitamin A & E.
Includes number of minerals such as calcium, magnesium, sulfur, potassium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc.
Has amazing skin care properties.
Promotes healthy hair and nails, while reducing inflammation.
Hemp protein is one of the most popular vegetarian protein powders among active athletes. Derived from hemp seeds, hemp protein promises an average of 15 grams of protein per serving – that is the highest vegan source of simple protein available!
Hemp protein is a great way to increase your daily protein intake, especially for those who are lactose intolerant or have difficulty digesting whey protein.
Blending your teas with hemp seeds allows you to enjoy your favorite teas while adding hemp seeds’ amazing nutrition to your drink. Brands like Hemp Kettle Tea offer a variety of choices for its customers, as they offer mixtures such as Jasmine, Cardamom, and Holy Basil teas.
5. Energy Bars
Do you need an energy bar that’ll keep you stomach satisfied until your next meal? Hemp energy bars are know to use the highest quality ingredients that allows you to snack healthy. Brands like Ever Bar only use organic ingredients like hemp seeds, hemp protein powder, cranberry, blueberries to keep you going for hours!
6. Coffee
Hemp coffee beans are made from ground coffee beans + lightly roasted hemp seeds. The blend of toasted hemp seeds with roasted coffee beans offers a nutty tasting coffee while adding “a vibrational frequency not found in other worldwide coffees with considerably less caffeine and countless vitamins and minerals.”
7. Burgers
Ever tried vegetarian burger patties and thought they were tasteless and bland?
Hemp seed based veggie burgers are now offering a better solution.
Good Seed Burger developed protein-packed veggie burgers based off hemp seeds as the main ingredient. It also contains superfoods like chia seeds, wild-crafted seaweeds and sprouted beans & grains. Enjoy the savory, nutty flavor, the warm earthy complexity and the hit of mild spice.
8. Healthy Flavored Water
Hemp’s version of Vitamin Water – Hemp2O. This herbal water is packed with vitamins B3, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C and Omega 3. It contains all of the essential amino-acids which help support muscle growth and is low in saturated fats. Using only organic ingredients, Hemp2O has antioxidant properties, fatty acids, and is completely gluten-free!
Just like there’s peanut butter, almond butter – try hemp seed butter! Made from finely ground and pressed form of hemp seeds, hemp seed butter offers amazing nutritional benefits.
10. Hemp Milk
Similar to almond milk, hemp milk is made from grinding hemp seeds with water. Having a strong nutty taste, this milk won’t be everyone’s favorite. But it does offer a healthy alternative for those looking for alternative milks other than dairy.
11. Hemp Vodka
Colorado Gold Distillery developed a the first US vodka that is fermented and distilled with hemp. With a 40% alcohol content, critics claim it to be a smooth and mellow drink. One reviewer says “A smooth, character rich vodka with appealing fruitiness.”
12. Hemp Beer
A California brewery offers a brown ale brewed with toasted hemp seeds – the Humboldt Hemp Ale. Not sure if it’ll be good? In the Great International Beer & Cider Competition, the Hemp Ale won Silver in the American Brown Ale category in 2014.
If you’re interested in trying it out, check out where you can find it near you: Find Store/Brewery
13. Hemp Hot Dogs
In the Kentucky State Fair in 2016, Victory Hemp Foods partnered with local vendors and authorities to develop and sell Hemp Dawgs. David Neville, a cattle farmer who worked on this project, says that there’s three main hemp ingredients to the hot dog:
Hemp protein acts as an adhesive of making all the parts stay together.
Ground up hemp seeds add texture to the bite.
Hemp oil melds flavor and adds smoothness.
Overall, this version of a hot dog offers health benefits like Omega 3 and Omega 6 heart-healthy fats.
14. Hemp Flour
Hemp Seed Flour is gluten free, nutritious, and an excellent source of energy. The Seed Flour contains 33% protein and is second only to soy in protein content. An added benefit is that Hemp Seed Flour protein is more easily digested. Hemp flour is perfect for those who have nut, dairy, gluten or wheat allergies.
15. Hemp Granola
Is there a healthier treat than granola? You can easily make this at home or buy some online. It’s probably the healthiest granola you’ll ever try!
Clothing & Accessories
Why use hemp clothing? Hemp fabric has proved to be superior to its counterparts in almost every way. Hemp fiber is more…
Porous and breathable – Hemp fibers allow your skin to breathe.
Durable – Hemp fiber is the most durable fiber of any plant.
Eco-friendly & Sustainable – Cotton is a water-intensive crop and uses 25% of the world’s pesticides. Hemp requires 50% less water to grow than cotton and requires no use of pesticides.
16. Shirts
Most hemp shirts available on the market are mixed with a little bit of organic cotton. It’s typically a 60% Hemp / 40% Cotton mix. They’re some of the most durable shirts you’ll ever try:
Imagine using hemp fiber for jeans. It’s durable, breathable, absorbent, and has amazing anti-microbial properties.
18. Hemp Shoes
Every year, on April 20th (4/20), leading national brands come out with limited hemp shoes. There’s actually various brands that now offer hemp shoes, ranging from boarder shoes to Converse.
Here’s an edition from Adidas:
19. Hemp Jacket / Coat
Hoodlamb offers a wide array of jackets and coats made from hemp. They’re obviously not made with 100% hemp fiber, but using hemp allows them to make a more durable product while also being more sustainable than other brands.
20. Backpacks
Have you ever had backpacks that just broke or tore after a couple years? Try hemp backpacks and they’ll last you 10+ years. Using one of the strongest fabrics, hemp backpacks offer you a durable, sustainable product you can carry around anywhere.
21. Yoga Pants
Mixing hemp fabric with some organic cotton offers elasticity. Hemp yoga pants can be used for your stretching, meditation, or even pajama wear!
22. Sunglasses
This is probably one of the coolest applications developed with hemp hurds. Developed by designers in Scotlad, Hemp Eyewear uses 100% completely sustainable ingredients to make their products. Not only are the glasses fashionable, they ship their products in a case made from hemp as well.
23. Hats
Whether its a wide brim hat or your sports cap, they can all be made from hemp. Botique brands like Tinlid Hats offers hemp hats, along with a variety of other types made from sustainable ingredients.
24. Hemp Beanie
Need to keep your head warm over the winter months? Know that you can rely on hemp beanies!
25. Wallets
The Hemp Denim wallet developed by Hemp Co-Op is one of the coolest looking hemp wallets on the market. Considering how strong hemp fiber is, we’re sure these will last you for a while.
26. Socks
Ever get sick of socks getting holes in them? Try your luck with hemp socks. Much more durable than cotton, we’re sure they’ll last you much longer.
27. Totes
There’s a big push to use totes and other reusable bags when you go grocery shopping. Why not use bags that are sustainable themselves? Hemp totes are made of 100% hemp, and hemp as a plant is one of the most sustainable plants in the world.
28. Sandals (Flip Flops)
With the top soles and straps made from hemp, these sandals are the most naturally durable flip flops you’ll find on the market.
29. Belts
Might not be the best option for professional attire, but hemp belts go great for casual wear. Pick one up for your jeans.
30. Scarf
Hemp scarfs are lightweight, yet warm and cozy. They’re not as thick as wool scarfs, but a good option for those living in milder weather.
31. Ties / Bow Ties
Yup, you can even make ties with hemp. Seriously, it can do anything.
32. Handkerchief/Pocket Squares
Nobody really uses handkerchiefs anymore, but they sure look fashionable as pocket squares for your suit. Check out these 100% organic hemp pocket squares: Haute Hemp Co
33. Bracelets
Making hemp bracelets used to be super popular for kids. The ropes (for the bracelets) were essentially indestructible and you could do so many things with them. When you mention hemp to somebody who doesn’t know much about it, you’ll find many of them first think of hemp bracelets that they made when they were young.
34. Robes
In Japan, the incoming emperor wears a hemp robe during the Shinto coronation ceremony. Not to prove a political point, but to symbolize the plant’s values of abundance, comfort, and health.
35. Overalls
If you’re into overalls, yes, you can find hemp made overalls.
Hemp oil based beauty products offer superior ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6 fatty acids compared to other oils (Omega 3 is great for smoothing and firming our skin.)
Hemp oil is packed with vitamins – Vitamin B, C, E to state just a few
Key amino acids in hemp oil prevent wrinkles and allow the skin to retain more moisture. They also help conditions like dry skin, eczema, or psoriasis by moistening your skin.
Here’s a full list of hemp body care products you can try:
36. Body Lotion
One of our favorite and most trusted brands. Free of any harmful chemicals, the Fay Farm’s healing body lotion feels gentle on the skin and soaks in quickly. It feels like mousse! Specifically, hemp lotions are great for conditions such as:
Eczema, psoriasis, contact dermatitis, and other auto-immune skin disorders.
Burns, bug bites, athlete’s foot, ringworm, and dry, damaged skin.
37. Balms / Lip Balms
Hemp balms offer an even stronger solution that lotions. Get Hemp Butter’s hemp balms easily penetrates the top layer of skin for the absorption of nutrients.
38. Shampoo & Conditioner
Have you ever looked at the ingredients list of your shampoo bottle? You probably couldn’t recognize more than half of the ingredients on that list! Hemp boutique brands, like The Wonder Seed, are using only natural formula to offer your hair only honest materials.
39. Body Wash
Hemp is used in soaps because of its unsurpassed essential fatty acid (EFA) content, which also makes the soaps smoother and less drying. Dr. Bronner’s is the leading soap brand that uses hemp. They’ve been around for over 100 years and are a popular choice as they use all organic and sustainable ingredients.
Guess what’s in their soap? Less than 10 ingredients. Awesome.
40. Facial Cream & Cleanser
If your skin is sensitive and prone to acne, hemp oil might be your savior. Some people just buy hemp seed oil and apply it on their face daily. But it might not be that pleasant applying nutty hemp seed oil directly on your skin. If that’s the case, check out some top hemp body care brands for your face:
Sunscreen that uses only natural ingredients. Check out Raw Elements – Non-GMO and uses hemp oil.
42. Hemp Serum
Hemp serums can be great to help with more serious conditions, such as psoriasis on the scalp, eczema on the face, or sebborheic dematitis on the face. The serum is specially effective as the oil quickly soaks into your skin and scalp, allowing you to experience complete absorption relieving itchy and flaky scalp. The nature of hemp oil also prevents the oil from getting your skin or hair greasy.
Health
The first documented use of hemp as “medicine” appears about 2300 B.C.E. in China, when an emperor prescriped hemp for the treatment of constipation, gout, and menstrual problems. Since then, records of using hemp (and overall cannabis) as medicine has appeared across variety of different civilizations, including India, Egypt, Persia, Europe, and even during the early days of the United States.
Here’s just a few examples of different hemp products that you could use today:
43. Hemp Extract (CBD)
Hemp extracts are naturally found compounds in the leaves of hemp. CBD (Cannabidiol) is one of the better known compounds, but there’s more than 80 different compounds that can be found in hemp.
Dr. Raphael Mechoulam from Israel is the leading scientist who pioneered the research behind these extracts. You can learn more about him through his documentary: The Scientist.
According to a patent held by the US Health and Human Services:
“Cannabinoids have been found to have antioxidant properties, unrelated to NMDA receptor antagonism. This new found property makes cannabinoids useful in the treatment and prophylaxis of wide variety of oxidation associated diseases, such as ischemic, age-related, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The cannabinoids are found to have particular application as neuroprotectants, for example in limiting neurological damage following ischemic insults, such as stroke and trauma, or in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and HIV dementia.
With the passage of the Industrial Hemp Farming Act in 2014, CBD is now legal to be sold in all 50 states in the US.
Even more rare than hemp extracts, hemp essential oil is made by steam distilling the upper leaves and flowers of the hemp plant. This captures the pure essence of the plant. Pale yellow to light green in color with a a highly concentrated therapeutic aroma. It takes over fifty pounds to make 1 ounce of hemp essential oil.
It is also one of the most expensive oils in the world – and contains no THC or CBD. Hemp essential oil is well known for its essential oil aroma and therapeutic abilities on the central nervous system. There are so many different ways to use hemp essential oil to help relieve anxiety and sleep issues. The oil may be used in diffusers – added to hot steamy bathwater, mixed with carrier oils for massages. Kushed, a boutique brand based out of California, uses hemp essential oil by blending it with other pure essential oils to create natural remedies for those caught up in the busy modern day lives.
45. Soothing Aromatherapy Candles
Kushed, a boutique brand based in California, has developed aromatherapy hemp candles made from hemp essential oil. They’re perfect to use in the evenings to relax your body.
46. Massage Oil
We’ve already discussed how great hemp oil is as a body wash or even as lotion. That’s because hemp oil has properties that help make your skin smoother and less dry. Now using that type of oil as a massage oil can definitely make your massages even better. Try it out.
47. Hemp Heat Muscle Rub
Early research and testimonials have shown that Cannabidiol (CBD) can help with joint pains and arthritis. So making a heat muscle rub that has CBD in it only makes sense! These heat muscle rubs just might be the joint pain reliever you were looking for.
48. Vape Juice
Fan of smoking? If you already own your own vape pen, go ahead and try out vaping hemp extracts. Some say vaping might be the most effective way to experience the benefits of CBD.
Pets
49. Dog Toys
If your dog chew up and destroy his toy in a matter of days, hemp toys might just be what you were looking for. Hemp ropes are one of the most durable material out there. We’d be surprised if your dog can breat it.
50. Dog Collar & Leash
Owning a puppy (especially a big puppy) can be a pain. She’ll chew on the leash and pull like crazy. It’s not uncommon for your leash to start getting torn. Hemp leashes and collars can solve that problem. Hemp ropes are so durable that the US government actively tried to buy as much as they can during World War II.
51. Animal Bedding
Using hemp hurds for animal bedding can have many benefits. Hemp is extremely absorbent as it can hold 4X its own weight, and lasts much longer than pine or straw bedding. Hemp bedding is very low dust, which is great for horses with respiratory issues. It also reduces odor better than straw or wood shavings. This is great for chicken owners, who often incur ammonia from the chicken scat.
Hemp bedding is very economical for the farmers, as it lasts longer and reduces the products loss to waste. This, in turn, saves the consumer money. Lastly, hemp bedding is completely biodegradable. It naturally decomposes into the earth.
52. CBD Oil For Dogs (Pet Tinctures)
Early research has shown that CBD could help with conditions such as anxiety, addiction, depression, chronic pain, arthritis, seizures, and more for humans. Due to the similar anatomy of mammals, we can infer CBD could also help our dogs. Early research and anecdotal testimonials show that CBD has helped pets in many different ways, including anxiety, appetite, arthritis, cancer, and variety of phobias.
In 1941, Henry Ford built a car out of hemp. It was not only built out of hemp plastic, but it also ran on hemp fuel. Hemp plastic was tested to be much stronger than steel. They tried denting the hemp car with a hammer, but the car didn’t even budge. Learn how we’re using hemp in cars today:
53. Sports Cars
An entrepreneur in Florida built a sports car out of hemp. Called the Renew Sports Cars, this hemp car comes out to be 4.7X greener than even an electric car. Similar to Henry Ford’s car, this car’s exterior is all made from hemp plastic and it runs on hemp biofuel.
54. Biofuel
The greatest thing about hemp biofuel is that it can be used in cars that currently used regular oil. Unlike electric cars, nobody needs to buy new cars. We can use our existing infrastructure!
According to Thomas B. Reed, a chemical engineer at Colorado School of Mines, an acre of hemp can produce power equivalent to a thousand gallons of gasoline. Imagine the sustainability benefits that would bring. No wonder oil companies hate hemp.
55. Thermoset Compression Molding
Thermoset compression molding is currently producing car panels and other parts for several global auto manufacturers. A Mercedes car panel is made using this technology. The process involves taking a sheet of the hemp fiber matting, injecting it with thermoset resin, placing into a mold, heating it to high temps for a set amount of time, then popping the panel out of the mold for cleanup and final drilling/cutting. Currently, Mercedes, BMW, and Audi are few of the auto companies that are using this in their vehicles.
Home & Office
56. Pens
Green Spring Technologies makes these customized pens made from hemp molds. You can engrave anything on it!
57. Hemp Sheets
Hemp fiber is typically more porous and breathable than cotton. So hemp sheets might be the perfect material for summer sheets. They might not be as smooth as cotton, but they’ll surely last you longer than cotton sheets.
58. Hemp Towel
What’s so great about hemp fiber is that the fiber softens with age while being mildew resistant. This makes hemp an excellent source for materials such as a towel.
59. Paper
Why is hemp paper better than tree paper? Here’s just a few reasons
1 acre of Hemp can produce as much paper as 4-10 acres of trees over a 20 year cycle.
Hemp stalks grow in 4 months, whereas trees take 20-80 years.
Trees are made up of only 30% cellulose, requiring the use of toxic chemicals to remove the other 70%. Hemp, on the other hand, can have have up to 85% cellulose content.
Hemp paper is more durable than trees. Unlike regular paper, hemp paper does not yellow, crack, or deteriorate over time.
Wider use of hemp paper can help sustainability efforts to reduce deforestation.
60. Hemp Curtains
If you can make towels and sheets with hemp, why not curtains?
61. Laundry Detergent
Dr. Bronner’s 18-in-1 Hemp Pure-Castille Soap has been proven to be as effective in cleaning your clothes as other conventional brands. The added benefit of Dr. Bronner’s is that it is non-toxic and hypoallergenic.
62. Hemp Crafts
You can get hemp cords, spools, twines, and braided ropes. Your basics for craft day.
63. Hemp Chair
From our research, we don’t think there’s actually a brand that sells hemp chairs today, but a natural fiber hemp chair was developed for a design show in 2012. It can be done!
64. Tablecloths
Mildew resistant, durable, and high quality material – hemp fiber is perfect for your next table cloth.
65. Hemp Blankets
Looking for a breathable summer blanket? Hemp fiber could be the perfect material you were looking for! Hemp blankets can help alleviate the intensity of night sweating (aka “hot flashes”) and also help with skin disorders like rashes/eczema.
Farming & Gardening
66. Hemp Growing Mats
Typical growing mats are made from plastics or treated materials. This can be a bit concerning when you consider the hungry, tender roots soak up whatever they are grown in.
Try hemp mats from Grass Roots Grow Mats that are petroleum, plastic, and chemical free! Grow your roots in a healthy environment for a healthier you.
67. Soil Cleanup
Conventional crops (soy, corn, wheat, etc) deplete the nutrition of our soil, causing it to dry out and erode. Hemp can be a natural solution for our farmers, as its deep roots help stabilize the soil structure. Since hemp plants grow 6-16 ft tall in 110 days, hemp also naturally shades out weeds. This eliminates the need of costly and toxic herbicides.
In any contaminated soil, hemp also actively absorbs heavy-metal contaminants from soil, gradually purifying the earth.
Industrial & Others
68. Ropes
During World War II, the government needed more raw material to make strong, durable ropes. Their oversea supply had been cut off during their engagement with Japan. This is when the government created a campaign called “Hemp For Victory”, encouraging US farmers to start growing hemp to help with the war. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) even created a promotional video to highlight the benefits of hemp fiber! Check it out below:
69. Plastics
Hemp plastic could do anything that conventional plastic can do. The biggest problem using hemp plastic commercially is that it’s cost prohibitive. Since farming is still largely regulated, hemp is still in short supply.
Yet, it’s important to know that hemp plastic is much more durable and sustainable. As we’ve discussed earlier, hemp plastic could be used to make cars (more durable than steel), sunglasses, pens, and more!
You could even use hemp filaments in a 3D printer to print out whatever you design.
70. Building Homes – Hempcrete
Building homes with hemp is one of the most promising applications of hemp. There’s several benefits that hempcrete offers. First, it acts an amazing thermodynamic insulator, so it helps to reduce the energy costs by 50–70% annually for families (especially those in extremely cold or hot climates).
Hempcrete is also great for those who are sensitive to allergies. Regular insulators and paint can be the prime source of allergies for many people, as these conventional materials can be toxic. Made with all natural material, can eliminate many different health problems.
Hempcrete also continuously absorbs CO2 as it ages, so it reduces your carbon footprint. As it absorbs CO2, the material actually becomes stronger. Essentially, a building made with hempcrete will become stronger over time.
When it comes to construction, hempcrete homes have zero construction waste. When you consider that 55% of the world’s energy consumption is construction-waste related, there are huge implications on reducing our carbon footprint.
Other applications of hemp for homes are soundproof hemp walls and bash-proof hemp roofing.
71. Oil Spill Cleanup
Hemp’s core has been found to be carrier of microorganisms for bioremediation. Bioremediation describes the microorganisms living in the hemp breaking down the oil by actually feeding off of it, metabolizing it, and releasing it back into the water or soil without the toxins.
Did you know the first American flag made by Betsy Ross was made from industrial hemp? Hemp fiber can make durable, rustic flags. Patagonia actually developed a short documentary featuring a military veteran working with hemp to make a US flag:
73. Hemp Batteries
Hemp fibers have been found to be more conductive than graphene, making it a superior source for supercapacitors and batteries. Dr. David Mitlin found that hemp “works just as well [as graphene]. And it costs a fraction of the price [at] $500 to $1,000 a tonne.” Read More
FINAL THOUGHTS
Hemp was once praised to have thousands of different potential applications. Considering that, we are still at the infancy of realizing what all hemp can do. With the passing of the Industrial Hemp Act in 2014, our farmers have started to grow hemp again in the US after 77 years of prohibition. As the supply and awareness of hemp continue to grow, innovation will only accelerate. With the world focused on sustainability and curbing our carbon footprint, hemp can be at the forefront of many eco-friendly practices.
We look forward to seeing the difference hemp can make in our world.
“The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.” – William James Life is more stressful than ever. According to one research, our stress…
“The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.” – William James
Life is more stressful than ever. According to one research, our stress levels have increased by almost 30% in the last three decades.
WHY SO MUCH STRESS?
We all have different sources of stress, yet it seems like the advent of new technologies (i.e. smartphones, social media), ever increasing global competition, and this “success at all cost” oriented culture are just a few root causes. We live in a world where we’re connected with everyone 24/7. Quite literally, we are sending tweets, snaps, texts, emails in every waking moment. This hyper-connectivity brings about a level of communal stress and pressure that’s unprecedented.
Our addiction to social media and work has made us evermore prone to stress and anxiety. We constantly compare our lives and achievements with those of friends and family. After reading through everyones’ updates on their engagements, promotions, vacations, and weddings, it’s easy to wonder…”Why is my life so shitty?”
To keep up with this never-ending race, we try to send the best snapchats, write the perfect caption for Instragram posts, or figure out a way to perfectly express our thoughts in 140 characters. Once you post a picture, you find yourself constantly refreshing your screen, waiting for those “likes” that’ll validate your awesome post and popularity.
WHAT DOES DAILY ANXIETY & STRESS MEAN?
Hyper-connectivity and increased social pressure are making us suffer increased daily anxiety and stress. We are becoming increasingly impatient, always worried about the next thing on our to-do list, and comparing ourselves to our colleagues who seem to be moving up in life and have everything figured out. Being ambitious is great. Having a big life goal is commendable. But when is everything just too much?
WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES?
The short term and long term consequences of chronic stress can be severe. In the short term, you’ll notice that you’re more antsy, agitated, and worried. You’ll lose sleep, feel demotivated, and always worried about things you can’t control. This’ll affect your relationships, your health, and overall well-being. Long term, this could lead to poor health, depression, anxiety disorder, and much more.
So what are some ways you can reduce your daily anxiety? How can you make yourself forget about your worries and focus on what matters? Here’s the top recommendations based off research, proven evidence, and testimonials. To make it easier for you to navigate, we have grouped them into 7 different categories. Tip: Don’t try to follow all of these tips, since that’ll be impossible and you’ll quickly find yourself more frustrated. We recommend trying one or two at a time from different categories and figuring our what works best for you.
Establishing a set routine for your diet can help reduce anxiety. Eating simple foods can help with your daily routine in that it avoids any upset stomachs, which only makes your daily stress worse. Eating a simple dish of oatmeal or eggs in the morning and packing your lunch could be easy ways to make your day (and body) more stress-free.
Tip: Avoid processed food! Processed food not only ruins your appetite, but it also makes you crave more junk food – ultimately leading to more frequent upset stomachs.
Take Hemp CBD Oil
Various peer-reviewed studies and multiple anecdotal evidence show that the cannabinoids found in cannabis can help in treating conditions such as anxiety and depression. Among the different cannabinoids, Cannabidiol (CBD) is quickly becoming the most popular compound, as it is the second most abundant chemical found in the plant. Plus, it has no psychoactive properties, so anyone can take it without having to worry about getting “high”. Learn More
Carry Around A Snack
Most of lose our patience much quicker when we get hungry. We get more easily frustrated and even angry when something (or somebody) is holding things up when you’re hungry. Avoid all this by simply carrying a snack in your bag. Pack an energy bar, or even a small chocolate, that could tide your hunger until your next meal.
Tip: Try having a bag of hemp seeds near your desk or work area. They’re a great source of protein, vitamins, and your essential fatty acids. A handful of hemp seeds could keep your hunger at bay for hours! Read Hemp Seed Reviews
Drink Tea (Or any hot beverage)
One of the easiest ways to calm down your mood and anxiety is by drinking a hot beverage. However, drinking too much caffeine could actually backfire on you, so make sure to mix it up with some green or black tea. Give lavender tea a try, as it is known to help with calmness and anxiety.
If you don’t like tea, you could even just drink hot water.
Drink More Water
Dehydration could easily become a source of agitation and anxiety. A lot of times, you won’t even know you’re dehydrated until it’s too late. If you drink coffee or take caffeine pills, caffeine makes things much worse when you’re dehydrated. You’ll get lightheaded, dizzy, and even nauseous by not drinking enough water. Chug a glass a water every morning when you wake up, and you’ll notice a positive difference throughout your day.
Eat Superfoods (like hemp seeds)
Not sure what to eat for snacks? Give superfoods a try. Hemp seeds, flax seeds, and chia seeds are all great options to have at the side of your desk. If you don’t want to munch on chips, just grab a handful of hemp seeds and eat them. You’ll be surprising how quickly filling they are. Plus, they offer you all sorts of vitamins and minerals, which will help with your general health.
Studies have shown that there is a link between anxiety and Omega 3 fats. Low levels of Omega 3s have shown to lead to higher probability of anxiety and depression. Other empirical facts show that we see much lower rates of depression and anxiety in countries where fish consumption is high.
Drinking a lot of caffeine can cause anxiety. Losing a good night sleep due to too much caffeine can cause matters to get a lot worse. Cut off your coffee after lunch and try to get a good night sleep. Life will become much better.
Fitness & Exercise
Physical activity can be the easiest (and quickest) way to alleviate your anxiety. There’s probably no better feeling than the moment after you get done working out or after you come back from a run. Do this regularly and it can be your go-to source to alleviate daily stress.
Do Some Yoga
You don’t necessarily have to pay those expensive rates to do yoga. Just search for top yoga videos online and get your body (and mind) in the zone and see what a difference a yoga session can make.
Stretch
Doing some stretching in the mornings can make a world of difference. Make a 2-3 minute stretching a part of your morning routine and you’ll notice how much fresher your body feels throughout the rest of the day.
Go On A Run
There’s probably nothing better than to plug in some earphones, block out the rest of the world, and go on a run. It really helps you forget about your immediate worries and feel great after you sweat everything out. You also start thinking about anything and everything, which can help you get your mind off things that are stressing you out.
Tip: Start with something easy. How about a 10 min jog around the block?
Work Out
Lifting heavy things can help put things in perspective. Your work problems seem less disastrous after doing a heavy set of pushing and pulling. Turn off your smartphone and give it all you got for 45 minutes – 1 hour.
Tip: Don’t have a gym membership? No problem! There’s plenty of body workouts you can do at home.
Take a walk during your breaks
Don’t just go get coffee with your coworker during a break. Go for a walk on your own. The physical action of walking + the silence can help you think things through and come up with new insights that you probably wouldn’t have thought of otherwise.
Tip: You could even try listening to some podcasts
Activities/Hobbies
Set a goal with your extracurricular activities
Life can get toxic if everything is just about work. Make yourself focus on something other than work. Get yourself involved in some type of extracurricular activity and really get into it. Make some goals that are hard yet attainable. (i.e. sign up for a marathon)
Plan a Hang Out Night
Silence and meditation is great. But you also need to find some time to let things go and have fun. Make sure to plan a night out with your friends a couple times a month.
Tip: Board games are a great way to get your friends together without the stress of having to go out and spend money
Find Healthy Distractions
Find distractions other than your smartphone (and social media). If you find yourself always getting on Facebook and scrolling through the random newsfeed, it’s time for you to think of something else. Keep a book by you at all times. Or read through a Medium post instead of getting on Instagram. You’ll find that it’s a much better experience than seeing the obnoxious memes and “I’m awesome” posts you see on social media.
Learn a Hobby
Whenever he felt stuck with his work, Albert Einstein took out his violin and played his favorite pieces. This habit actually helped him make breakthroughs in his work as it allowed him to forget about the problem for a bit, and then revisit it another time.
Constantly worrying about a problem is not going to help you solve it any better or faster. Try taking your mind off of it for a while by engaging in a healthy habit.
Tip: Here are some great ideas for a hobby: drawing, reading, playing an instrument, playing mind-stimulating games.
Plan a night in (don’t go out!)
Going out and partying every weekend can get old quickly. Going out on Friday, Saturday nights to forget about your woes during the weekdays can quickly make matters worse. You’ll feel even more tired during the week, so your anxiety level will only increase. Trying to overcome that through alcohol and partying is only a temporary bandaid.
Clean up your area (or your house)
Having a messy surrounding can only aggravate your mental state. Whenever you take a break, try to take a minute to clean up your surrounding. The processing of cleaning and tidying can actually be quite therapeutic. Plus, you’ll feel much better when you come back to your desk or home.
Personal Routines
Get Good Sleep
The difference of your mood can be quite drastic depending on how you sleep. Make sure to set a routine on when you go to bed. Try to make your bedroom as sleep-friendly as possible. Close your blinds, get rid of any noise, and invest in a quality mattress.
Tip: Having a hard time falling asleep? Close your eyes and slowly count to 100.
Find Quiet Time (Meditate)
It doesn’t matter if you work at home, in an office, or at a retail store. Try to find at least 10-15 minutes of quiet time during the day. Go into the bathroom stall if that’s the only place where it’s quiet. Just close your eyes and try to think of nothing for as long as possible.
Play (and have fun!)
As we grow up, we tend to forget how to “play”. Like to really play like how children run around in the playground. It’s really a shame. This might be quite hard, but try to find a way to really go have fun and let loose.
Tip: Join some intramural soccer / softball leagues!
Plan Your Day The Night Before
If you don’t know what you’re doing that day until you wake up, things might easily overwhelm you. Always try to plan out the day the night before to see what the “big” things you need to get done the next day.
Try Breathing Slower
Do you feel like it’s harder to breathe when you feel overwhelmed? Try taking regular breaks to go outside and get fresh air. Intaking oxygen can really help clear up your mind. A study has shown that localized CO2 can become concentrated and mildly increase anxiety because the CO2 ratio change can signal to the body that it is suffocating.
Get Rid of Clutter
Keeping your surroundings clean can go a long way in making you feel motivated while also lowering your anxiety. According to researchers, a messy surrounding can actually prevent the natural decline in cortisol that occurs over the course of the day. Keep your desk clean and you’ll keep your mind clean ????
Wake up 15 minutes earlier
How many of us gets up from bed to realize we’re barely going to make it to work on time? The morning scramble of brushing your teeth and getting dressed ASAP ensues. In the short span of 20-30 minutes of waking up and getting to work, you have already increased your anxiety and stress level to a whole new level. Think of the opposite scenario if you force yourself to wake up 15 minutes earlier? You can fix yourself a nice breakfast and maybe even do some stretching before starting your day.
Create a Budget
Financial stress can be your main source of stress. With recent graduates coming out of school with an average of $37K in debt, it’s no wonder people are stressed. The new generation is literally starting with a disadvantage. One way you can manage the stress that comes from money is by having a monthly budget. Knowing where your money is going can make a world of different in terms of stress.
Tips: Use apps like YNAB and make sure you check in on it at the beginning or end of every month.
Vent! Let your feelings out. Talk to someone
Meditation, reading, and going on walks are all great for reflection and to think. But sometimes, when things are bothering you, you just have to talk it out with someone. Don’t hesitate to confide with your close friends or family. Just don’t overdo this one where you start gossiping (that could make things actually more stressful)
Have a set morning routine
Having some “solo” time established in the morning can help you get your day started off right. Establish a routine that works best for you. Wake up, take a walk, eat some breakfast, read the morning news. This is YOUR time – do what will make you happy and get you ready for the day.
Read for 15-20 min in the morning
Reading can really help take your mind off things or help you get motivated. If you engage in self-help books or biographies in the morning, it could be a great way for you to prepare for your big to-dos later in the day.
Tips: Use apps like GoodReads to discover books that you’ll love
Read 20-30 minutes before going to bed
Can’t go to bed? Too many things worrying you? Read! If you have a lot bothering you, pick up a novel that could absorb your mind. If you just need something to help you get to bed, you could also engage in some more tactical books that could help tire your brain.
Write in a journal every morning about your anxiety
Why not write down your worries? It’s good to reflect and maybe even to share your feelings with your closed ones. But sometimes, there’s nothing better than just writing it all down.
Tip: Use apps like Evernote to write down your thoughts from anywhere
Listen to soothing music when you get in bed
Want to get all that noise and worries out of your head? Try plugging in some headphones and block it all out with some soothing music. Pick some soothing music that will put you in a calm mood (avoid rap music!)
Establish a regular bowel routine
This might sound silly, but it makes sense that establishing a regular bowel routine would help your anxiety. If you have an upset stomach, or are constipated, or are never sure when your next bowel movement might come, you’re gonna be conscious of it and it’s going to stress you out. You probably don’t need any more stress with everything that’s already going on in life.
Eat simple, routine food and establish a set time when you use the bathroom!
Technology / Work
Get Off Social Media
Check around you. How many of your friends and family members are always on their phones? Aimlessly scrolling through one app after another. Constantly going through your newsfeed can only add to your stress as you see superficial posts of your friends bragging about their accomplishments and their perfect lives.
Tip: Just delete social media apps from your phone. It’s that easy!
Turn off notifications
You want to focus and enjoy whatever you’re doing at the moment. Don’t let your phone disturb you. Turn off notifications from social media or emails. Is there anything worse than ruining your family dinner by getting an crappy email from your boss?
Stop watching television (especially reality TV)
Reality TV was born to glorify and dramatize the superficial lives of other people. Don’t feed into it.
Only check your email during certain hours of the day
Emails can be a big source of distraction (and anxiety). Don’t let it keep bothering you throughout the day. Disable its notification and only check it during certain times of the day. You’ll find life and work to be much more peaceful.
Attitude
Get Yourself to smile
A new study by University of Kansas psychologists that will soon be published in the journal Psychological Science indicates that smiling can actually reduce stress and help us feel better. Try to smile more often. Are you finding it hard to smile? Turn on some sitcoms or a stand up comedy show in the evenings to relax and laugh.
Visualize Something Positive
Just by visualizing a positive outcome will increase the likelihood of its happening. Visualize the success of your afternoon presentation or your next sales meeting. Notice how it makes a difference.
Surround Yourself With Optimistic People
Negative people will automatically affect your attitude and make you see the world in a negative lens. They’ll drain your energy and actually discouraging you from taking action a lot of times. They’ll say “it won’t work” or “you’re wasting your time”. If anybody says that, just avoid them.
Put Things In Perspective
Is your boss stressing you out? Did you miss a deadline? Whatever is causing your anxiety, try to put things in perspective. There’s a lot worse that could happen. At least you weren’t born in Syria or North Korea. Seriously.
Don’t gossip
Gossiping is the equivalent of having a negative attitude. It’s all fine to vent out your frustration once in a while. But don’t let that lead to gossiping. Gossiping with coworkers or friends can only lead to more headaches in the future. Let your friends know you don’t want to gossip. Change the topic of the conversation and they’ll get the idea.
Set daily “big” goals (rather than a lot of menial tasks)
You don’t have to try to conquer the world every day by completing tens of different tasks. Set a few BIG goals that you can realistically accomplish. Setting too many goals for the day can cause extra stress when you can’t get to all of them. There’s no worse feeling than having to push things off to tomorrow.
Rejuvenation
At times, your body might just be mentally and physically exhausted, making it hard for you to be motivated or optimistic. Find ways to rejuvenate your mind and body.
Get a massage
This could turn into an expensive habit, but gift yourself a massage every once in a while. Feel and embrace the total relaxation of your muscles!
Get a haircut
Having confidence in yourself is a great way to reduce daily stress. When you look good, you feel good. Go get yourself a haircut, style your hair, and feel good about yourself!
Take a hot bath with epsom salts
Had a crappy day at work? Come home and prepare yourself a hot bath! There’s nothing better than just forgetting everything and laying in the bath.
Or… find a way to take a bath in nature like this guy!
With more than a half a dozen states having now fully legalized cannabis (both hemp and marijuana) and with 19 more medically legalized states, the momentum for full cannabis legalization…
With more than a half a dozen states having now fully legalized cannabis (both hemp and marijuana) and with 19 more medically legalized states, the momentum for full cannabis legalization is accelerating in the United States. Among the many benefits that cannabis legalization would bring, one that is not mentioned as often is the prospect of using cannabis to treat our pets. Many dog owners and veterinarians have already come out vouching for the healing properties of CBD oil, a non-psychoactive compound found in cannabis.
The use cases and benefits of CBD oil for humans have started to become widely known through various peer-reviewed studies. Among others, CBD oil has been recommended to help with conditions such as anxiety, addiction, depression, chronic pain, arthritis, seizures, and more!
As we get to know more about the effects of CBD for mankind, we find ourselves naturally asking: Could CBD help our canine companions? Scientifically, dogs (and most mammals) have a similar anatomy to humans. Studies in the last decade have shown that the endocannabinoid system can be found in most mammals. Considering that CBD works directly with this nervous system, we can confidently conclude that CBD will have some sort of influence on our dogs. But how?
CAN CBD HELP OUR DOGS?
Early research and anecdotal testimonials show that CBD has helped pets in many different ways. Here’s a preliminary list of various conditions that CBD has been found to help treat (and/or cure):
Allergies
Anxiety
Appetite
Arthritis
Cancer
Chronic Pain
Deteriorating Quality of Life
Digestive Issues
Fatty Tumors
Glaucoma
Homeostasis
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Inflammation
Joint & Mobility Issues
Phobias (Fireworks, Thunderstorm)
Seizures
Skin Problems
In more general terms, feedback from pet owners show that CBD can be used to soothe your dogs. Some particular examples are during situations such as separation anxiety, thunderstorm fears, social anxiety, and long-distance traveling.
One of the biggest use cases that veterinarians are coming to find are with joint pains that dogs tend to suffer as they get older. Hemp CBD has been found “useful in treating acute ailments like sprains and strains, torn ligaments, bone breaks, and even during post-operative care to reduce swelling, pain, and stiffness.”
More than anything, the most promising aspect of using CBD is the fact that it could help your dog get off synthetic drugs, which typically has many short and long-term side effects. Even if it can’t fully replace the conventional drugs, hemp oil could possibly help you lower the doses that the dog has to take.
HOW CBD WORKS FOR OUR DOGS- THE CANINE’S ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM
Research on how cannabinoids (including CBD) affect the human body has shown that they mainly interact with our endocannabinoid system, a nervous system that exists throughout our body.
The most widely known method of administering CBD oil to your pets is through tinctures. Using the tincture, you can put a few drops of CBD into dog’s mouth directly. However, since that could get messy quite quickly, you could just drop the oil into the dog’s food or treats.
Since hemp CBD is now legally sold in all 50 states, you can find many brands selling CBD products meant for pets online. It’s important to note that Hemp CBD is different from Cannabis CBD. Hemp CBD contains no THC and is therefore completely non-psychoactive. Cannabis CBD typically has a mix of CBD and THC, which makes it psychoactive. Cannabis CBD can only be found in licensed dispensaries in states that have legalized marijuana. (Giving your dog THC could potentially have negative side effects, including marijuana poisoning.)
When it comes to dosage, figuring out the right amount to give your dog can be the hardest thing. Dosing recommendations are hard to come by for humans as well. The general advice is that it will take trial and error before you find the appropriate dose that works for you (or your dog). Start at a small dosage and gradually increase depending on the effects (or reactions) you see from your pet.
One thing to remember is that once you give your dog a dose, it may take a couple hours before you notice any effects from your dog. If you believe your dog is not feeling any effects after a few hours, increase the dosage slightly later in the day or wait until the next day to try a slightly higher dose.
WHAT PET OWNERS ARE SAYING (TESTIMONIALS)
“Miles has been going to the beach, he’s been running, he’s being himself.”
Although CBD oil has yet to be approved by many veterinarians or the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), many dog owners have taken the initiative to try this alternative method for their dogs. Here’s a few snippets of what they have to say:
“My dog has cancer and is almost 14. The only option was chemo but we decided that we don’t want him to go through that. Instead we are giving him CBD oil drops. He’s hopping away everyday and I’m glad we gave him ‘extra’ life”
“My dog has had severe storm anxiety all his life. We have difficulty keeping his weight up because he vomits so much when he is anxious. The oil helps him sleep and helps him to be able to eat without vomiting.”
One article reports, “Though initially hesitant about giving her pet an unapproved drug, Denise figured where’s the harm? Miles has terminal cancer and would die soon. ‘I wasn’t that worried. I was actually pretty excited, because it has been used with human cancer patients for pain and nausea,’ Denise said. Since then, in the last couple of weeks, ‘Miles has been going to the beach, he’s been running, he’s being himself.'”
There is still a predominant view among veterinarians that marijuana [cannabis] is only a toxic plant
Even with all the positive spotlight that CBD is getting to treat our pets, many vets and experts are still cautious of endorsing and using this plant and its extracts. From the reports and surveys conducted, their resistance seems to stem from two main factors:
1. Legitimate negative side effects caused by owners who use THC infused extracts (marijuana)
2. Lack of awareness in non-psychoactive cannabinoids
The first point is a legitimate concern for vets. Since the legalization of recreational cannabis in states such as Colorado, some veterinarians have indeed seen an increase in cases where dogs suffer from marijuana poisoning. If pets consume a large amount of psychoactive cannabis (THC), this can cause a dog to suffer seizures, go into a coma, or die. What makes it worse is that there is no specific antidote for THC poisoning. This requires the dogs to take multiple other drugs, which further complicates the situation.
The bigger issue here though is the social stigma that still exists around cannabis. There is still a “predominant view among veterinarians that marijuana [cannabis] is only a toxic plant”. Many vets are not even aware that different strains of cannabis exist, especially those that are non-psychoactive like CBD.
On the other hand, one could also wonder if there’s a different, external factor that might be contributing to the resistance in the veterinarian profession. The market for pet medication is a multi-billion dollar industry. The Federal Trade Commission reports that retail sales of pet medication was $7.6 billion in 2013 and is expected to hit $10.2 billion by 2018.
When there’s so much money on the line, one has to wonder if there’s something other than pure lack of awareness that’s pushing the resistance to cannabis.
“CBD might mean the positive smoking memories are gradually erased.” – Dr. Morgan RESEARCH SHOWS CANNABIS COULD HELP CURE YOUR BAD HABITS Once considered a dangerous drug and the The…
“CBD might mean the positive smoking memories are gradually erased.” – Dr. Morgan
RESEARCH SHOWS CANNABIS COULD HELP CURE YOUR BAD HABITS
Once considered a dangerous drug and the The Assasin of Youth, Cannabis is now being softly promoted to help you quit your drug addiction. Early research shows that Cannabidiol(CBD), found in cannabis, can help curb a wide range of addiction. Ranging from alcohol addiction, smoking, to even substance abuse, CBD (or a mix of high CBD and low THC) shows promising results to help reduce one’s substance dependence. Here are some highlights from published clinical trials:
Clinical trials proved that those treated with CBD significantly reduced the number of cigarette they smoked by ~40% during treatment (Source)
A study used CBD for the treatment of alcohol-induced neurodegeneration. Neurogeneration is considered to be the main cause of chronic and relapsing nature of alcoholism. (Source)
CBD lowers stimulus cue-induced heroin seeking behavior, helping to prevent heroin craving and relapse (Source)
CBD actually counterbalances the “high” effects of THC, helping to curb side effects caused by smoking marijuana (Source)
HOW DOES CBD WORK IN OUR BODIES?
Recent research publications reveal that CBD has a lot of promising physiological benefits. There are publications that show it can help with conditions such as addiction, anxiety, depression, multiple sclerosis, cancer, stroke, obesity/metabolic syndrome, neuropathic pain, Huntington’s disease, myocardial infarction, movement disorders, hypertension, glaucoma, seizure disorders, Parkinson’s and osteoporosis, and MORE!
Sounds a bit too good to be true?
The reason why CBD has shown to be so helpful in all of these illnesses is because of how CBD affects our bodies. When you take CBD, you’re supplementing an internal system known as the endocannabinoid system. Discovered by Dr. Rahael Mechoulam from Hebrew University in 1992, this system is found across our brain, organs, glands, connective tissue and immune cells. It also has regulatory roles in many physiological processes including appetite, pain-sensation, mood, and memory. In this system, cannabinoids can help regulate every physiological system such as our nervous system, digestive system, reproductive system, immune system, endocrine system, and muscular system. By taking CBD, you are stimulating the receptors of your nervous system.
Learn more about CBD by visiting our CBD Resource page. We’ve created a comprehensive guide to help you understand what CBD is, how it works, and all of its known benefits.
SO HOW DOES IT ACTUALLY HELP WITH ADDICTION?
When it comes to substance abuse, the reason CBD is known to be so beneficial is because of its role in our neurosystem. To better understand this, let’s take two examples: 1. Alcoholism & 2. Smoking Addiction
1. CBD helps protect your brain against damages caused by alcohol
When someone starts drinking alcohol excessively, the liquor damages our body in two main areas: our liver and our brain. Between these two, the reason one starts to rely on alcohol and relapses into a habit of drinking is because of the latter. Excessive alcohol causes neurodegeneration, which means that it starts to slowly kill off the neurons in our brain. This impairment causes behavioral and cognitive changes that increases the tendency for us to chronically relapse into substance abuse.
One of CBD’s main benefits is known to be as a neuroprotectant. This means it protects (and even repairs) the brain from the damages caused by substances such as alcohol. In the study to test this hypothesis, “the CBD gel resulted in a 48.8% reduction in neurodegeneration” in the patient. In layman terms, CBD helped protect the patient’s brain from further damage.
2. CBD helps reduce withdrawal symptoms from smoking
The most apparent behaviors of withdrawal symptoms from smoking are anxiety, insomnia, and irritability. These are mainly caused by the fact that nicotine and THC enhances the brain reward mechanisms, while also desensitizing the neuron receptors at the same time. When you stop smoking, your brain is asking for reinforcements through the signals of withdrawal.
CBD helps to reduce these negative symptoms by interfering with brain mechanisms responsible for the reinforcements. In parallel, CBD also stimulates the receptors of your nervous system, which prevents (or repairs) the neurons from being desensitized.
If you’re looking to quit smoking, what type of product is your best bet? How about for alcohol addiction? Or any other substance abuse?
Our in-house research of combing through published papers and conducting our own survey show that there’s no one perfect product (or even dosage). You might not feel a thing taking CBD capsules, while taking CBD tinctures sublingually (under your tongue) might make a world of difference. What works for one person won’t work the same way for others.
So the best advice is to try a variety before making a decision. Don’t buy the most expensive option or even the highest concentration. The best strategy is to start off at a smaller dosage and building up your intake gradually. If you’re confused about the different type of products that are out there, check out our post on Top 6 Ways to Take CBD.
One solid advice is to utilize CBD as a substitute to any drug dependence you might have had before. If you smoke, using a vape pen to smoke CBD will probably be more effective for you than taking CBD pills. Another method is to find ways that are most comfortable for you. If you think eating sweets can also help curb your cravings, then consider trying CBD edibles (candies or taffies).
Whatever you do try, know that the first couple of weeks will be trial and error. We hope you’ll find the product that works for you.
DISCOVER THE TOP CBD BRANDS
The market is getting saturated with many different CBD brands. We’ve compared the top brands to help you with your decision. Check it out.
The buzz around CBD continues to grow as hemp deregulation spreads across the country. Stories of the benefits of CBD for a bedridden child or an autistic individual has inspired…
The buzz around CBD continues to grow as hemp deregulation spreads across the country. Stories of the benefits of CBD for a bedridden child or an autistic individual has inspired hope in those parents looking for an alternative remedy. Yet, ironically, when you try to actually look up the benefits of this chemical, it’s quite impossible to find. It seems like a lot of people are writing about how promising it is. But everyone is tiptoeing around the actual question. What does it actually do for you?
So is it a hoax? Is CBD the modern day snake oil?
From our research, we can confidently say that CBD is definitely not a fraud. Too many doctors, researchers, and even personal testimonials backing its performance have come out to deny the benefits of CBD.
“His quality of life now is a 1000X better than when he was on pharmaceuticals.” – CNN special report, WEED
So then, why such lack of transparency? With all the technology that exists today, why don’t we know more about CBD? We’ll dig into that a bit later, but let’s first start off with why there’s so much hope and hype behind this chemical.
WHAT THE MEDIA SAYS ABOUT CBD
The media continues to fuel the momentum behind CBD, as reports continue to pour out that praise and proclaim the benefits of CBD. Here are just a few examples:
“For the first time in a decade, he is living like a normal boy.” – Wired
“Immediately after starting the cannabis oil, Ryan went into his longest remission ever” – Fox 17
“Cannabis oil cures boy of cancer after doctors gave him 48 hours to live” – Green Rush Daily
“Charlotte is largely seizure-free and able to walk, talk and feed herself after taking oil infused with a special pot strain” – CBS
“Dog owners use CBD oil to treat pain, nausea, anxiety” – Fox 10
“Her son went from self-harming behavior like banging his head to being able to ride a bike. “ – Forbes
Even with all these miracle stories, all these stories do conclude with inconclusive remarks and some skepticism. This ambiguity definitely doesn’t help the customers who are looking to CBD as a potential cure. They’re asked thinking What are its actual benefits? How does it work? Why don’t we know more about it?
WHY THERE’S LACK OF TRANSPARENCY BEHIND CBD
This lack of transparency can be boiled down to a couple reasons that are all intertwined. First, what’s holding everything back is the taboo against cannabis (“marijuana”) that continues to exist in our society. We still hear amazingly exaggerated horror stories of what marijuana can do to us. The Reefer Madness that started back in the 1930s hasn’t gone away. This recent video of Gary Johnson faking a heart attack because of a ludicrous claim against marijuana is just one example.
This taboo, which started around the same time that the US government outlawed cannabis, continues to slow down the progress for medical research around CBD. The FDA and DEA refuse to change their stance on cannabis, which is quite odd considering the US government holds onto a patent that highlights the benefits of CBD. Ultimately, all of this taboo and restrictions have inhibited extensive research around CBD and all the other cannabinoids in cannabis. (Cannabis is known to have 85+ different cannabinoids, many of them potentially having health benefits)
Due to the inconclusive research, it’s hard for any CBD brand to claim any actual benefits for their products. Objectively claiming a certain benefit without approval by the FDA is not only ethically wrong, but it could also lead to legal trouble for these companies.
WHAT PRELIMINARY RESEARCH TELLS US: CBD HEMP OIL BENEFITS
Although the effects of CBD aren’t conclusive, we can discuss what preliminary research shows. To be clear, there has been tremendous progress in the research behind CBD. We now know how CBD actually interacts with our body and brain. What is still to be determined is what those interactions actually translates to.
So, research and clinical trials continue as researchers seek to define the concrete benefits of this chemical. It is important to note that much of this progress continues to be slowed down by the fact that our government does not budge on its stance against cannabis.
Yet, progress is progress. The list that we have complied below shows the findings that our science community has found when it comes to the benefits of CBD. This list was organized by going through medical journals and research publications.
CBD first came to the national spotlight when CNN’s documentary highlighted how the hemp extract improved Charlotte’s conditions, a child suffering from dravet syndrome. Complementing this story, several anecdotal evidence and initial research show that CBD has strong implications to help patients with epilepsy.
Here are the snippets and corresponding links behind the conclusion reached from research and clinical trials done behind epilepsy and CBD:
Evidence strongly supports CBD as therapeutic candidate for a diverse range of human epilepsies
CBD was an effective and relatively potent anticonvulsant in both maximal electroshock and audiogenic seizure tests
2. Chronic Pain
Early results imply that CBD can help reduce chronic pain, especially those related to nerve pain.
The results indicate a potential for therapeutic use of cannabidiol in chronic painful states.
We report that systemic and intrathecal administration of cannabidiol (CBD) significantly suppress chronic inflammatory and neuropathic pain without causing apparent analgesic tolerance
Cannabis sativa extracts, containing known doses of tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol, have granted approval in Canada for the relief of neuropathic pain in multiple sclerosis.
Interested in checking out the best hemp CBD extracts available on the market? Visit our Best CBD Oil Reviews page to see the top brands. We’ve reviewed top online brands under 11 different categories to help you with your next CBD purchase.
3. Anxiety
One of CBD’s most promising implications have been in its anti-anxiety properties. Some pet owners have even reported that using CBD oil on their dogs have helped treat them for anxiety issues. Early clinical trials have shown that this seems to be the case for both humans and animals:
Studies using animal models of anxiety and involving healthy volunteers clearly suggest an anxiolytic-like effect of CBD. Moreover, CBD was shown to reduce anxiety in patients with social anxiety disorder.
Pretreatment with CBD significantly reduced anxiety, cognitive impairment and discomfort in their speech performance, and significantly decreased alert in their anticipatory speech.
Results suggest that CBD reduces anxiety in social anxiety disorder and that this is related to its effects on activity in limbic and paralimbic brain areas.
4. Depression
CBD dosing experiments have shown that small dosages of CBD has an “Active” effect, which means that it actually helps you stay active and focused. Interestingly, large dosages have the opposite effect: a sedative effect. More research has to show what is the optimal dosage to take for the anti-anxiety and antidepressant effects to be optimal, but it’s something one can also experiment with to find the dosage that suits them best.
Our results demonstrate that CBD exerts fast and maintained antidepressant-like effects as evidenced by the reversal of the OBX-induced hyperactivity and anhedonia. In conclusion, our findings indicate that CBD could represent a novel fast antidepressant drug, via enhancing both serotonergic and glutamate cortical signalling through a 5-HT1A receptor-dependent mechanism.
5. Arthritis
CBD’s benefits of alleviating joint pains has been the main reason behind brands developing topicals infused with CBD. You can find many brands who are starting to offer lotions or muscle freeze applications that include CBD.
The results of testing for CBD’s effects on diabetes is in a very primitive stage. However, early findings have shown that cannabinoids (both THC and CBD) can have positive effects in slowing down cell damages that are related to diabetes.
We now report that CBD treatment significantly reduces the incidence of diabetes in NOD mice from an incidence of 86% in non-treated control mice to an incidence of 30% in CBD-treated mice.
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 62 subjects with noninsulin-treated type 2 diabetes were randomized to five treatment arms: CBD (100 mg twice daily). CBD decreased resistin (-898 pg/ml; P < 0.05) and increased glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (21.9 pg/ml; P < 0.05)
Evidence is emerging that some nonpsychotropic plant cannabinoids, such as cannabidiol, can be employed to retard β-cell damage in type 1 diabetes.
7. Drug Addiction, Alcoholism & Smoking
This would be quite an ironic benefit and application of CBD. Using a compound of a Schedule 1 Drug (marijuana) to stop the addiction of other narcotics. One of the most promising application is using CBD to curb the habits of cigarette smokers.
Early clinical trials have shown that CBD can reduce nicotine addiction and have actually reduced the number of cigarettes smoked by 40%!
Cannabidiol (CBD), the second most abundant component of cannabis, is thought to modulate various neuronal circuits involved in drug addiction. A limited number of preclinical studies suggest that CBD may have therapeutic properties on opioid, cocaine, and psychostimulant addiction, and some preliminary data suggest that it may be beneficial in cannabis and tobacco addiction in humans.
The role of the endocannabinoid system in nicotine addiction is being increasingly acknowledged. Those treated with CBD significantly reduced the number of cigarettes smoked by ~40% during treatment.
CONCLUDING THOUGHTS
It is true that more research needs to be done to conclusively state these findings as actual benefits of CBD. However, all of these initial results have very promising and powerful implications. Many of these could replace synthetic drugs that have flooded the market and allow patients and customers to use a natural plant as a remedy.
But then again, maybe that’s the exact reason why progress has been so slow… approval of CBD as a legitimate supplement and drug would be a significant blow to big pharmaceutical companies. Just a food for thought.
There’s a lot of options when it comes to buying CBD products. There’s a ton of new brands popping up everyday to offer the latest version of CBD oil. All…
There’s a lot of options when it comes to buying CBD products.
There’s a ton of new brands popping up everyday to offer the latest version of CBD oil. All these brands are offering a lot of different types of CBD products. To make it even more confusing, all their products come in different concentrations.
So which one is the right one for you?
If you’re unsure which brand to go with, you can always check our Best CBD Review page to see which brand would be the best fit for what you’re looking for. (Hint: Whatever brand you choose, make sure they provide 3rd party results and that they use domestic hemp)
Even after you choose a brand that you like, it’s easy to get confused by what type of CBD to buy. Many brands are now offering a wide range of products, including capsules, lotions, tinctures, and more. The Paradox of Choice can easily cause more stress.
So, to make it easier for everyone, we broke it down and created a list of the top ways to take CBD. Our analysis describes what each type of product is, when it’s most effective (or noneffective), and how to properly use it.
Overall, the top 5 ways to take and use CBD oil are (listed in no particular order):
Tinctures
Concentrates
Capsules
Topicals
Sprays
Vapes
When buying any of these products, we highly recommend that you do your own research on CBD and hemp extract with reputable clinical publications before making a decision on which product and concentration to buy. Now, let’s get started!
Tinctures are the most common usage of CBD on the market. Compared to any other products, tinctures and concentrates are probably the most pure applications of CBD, as manufacturers don’t do any separate processing of the CBD oil. Some brands do add a little flavor to their tinctures, which makes it easier (and more enjoyable) for customers to take.
Tinctures are taken by dropping a couple drops on or under your tongue. Dosage can range from 100mg-1000mg, so it’s important that you do your own research on what strength you choose. The main downside of tinctures is it could get a bit messy if you happen to spill drops while using it. For some, using tinctures to drop a CBD extract on/under their tongue could seem a bit awkward, especially if you use it everyday.
How To Use
A tincture is known to be most effective by not swallowing the liquid right away. You want to ingest as much as you can sub-bilingually. Place the drops under your tongue and along the cheeks for as long as you can
Concentrates
CBD concentrates typically contain the strongest dosage of CBD compared to any other type of products. It can contain up to 10 times the concentration compared to other CBD products. In comparison to tinctures, concentrates are also convenient in that it only takes a few seconds to consume, and a lot less chance of things getting messy.
The downside of Concentrates is that it’s typically not flavored. This could be a deal breaker for some people, as they find the natural flavor undesirable. Also, for beginners, the concentrates might look a bit intimidating since they’re shaped like syringes.
Overall, CBD concentrates seem to be most popular among customers who are extremely busy, yet seek high potency CBD.
How To Use
Similar to tinctures, Place the concentrate under your tongue and along the cheeks and ingest it slowly.
Capsules
Using capsules is probably the easiest way to add CBD to your life as a daily supplement. It is much easier to take than tinctures or concentrates. Plus, if you take vitamins (or any other supplements), you can just add CBD pills to your daily regimen.
Capsules typically offer 10-25mg of CBD. Since each capsule offers a set amount of CBD, it is much easier to keep track of your daily serving size. On the flip side, CBD pills are limiting when you are trying to increase your serving size or tweaking it to find what dosage works best for you.
One way to overcome this is by using other types of products, such as tinctures, in addition to capsules to better adjust your daily serving sizes.
How To Use
Capsules are great as it’s the easiest to take in your daily regimen. Just take one capsule (or as needed) daily with water.
Topicals
More brands have started to add CBD in topicals, such as lotions, salve, and lip balms, for its skin benefits. CBD topicals are known to help with chronic pain, inflammation, acne, psoriasis, cancer treatment, anti-aging, and so many more.
For topical products, always look for keyword on the product labels that indicate that the product uses nano technology, encapsulation, or micellization of CBD. This shows that their solution can carry CBD through the dermal layers, rather than just staying on the skin.
As you can imply, using CBD infused topical layers are meant to help more directly with skin or joint related issues.
How To Use
CBD infused topicals are recommended to be used as other similar body care products – use it when you deem necessary or when you have certain skin conditions. Apply generously to body areas that could benefit from the topical solution.
Sprays
CBD sprays are typically the weakest in concentration among the different type of CBD products. Typical concentration of CBD sprays ranges from 1-3mg. Compared to other type of products taken orally, it’s harder to measure the exact dosage you take each day, since sprays are a bit more inconsistent.
We’ve found that sprays are popular in that it’s easy to carry around and use while you’re on the road. As you can imagine, it’s easier to use spraying the oil into your mouth a couple times, than using a tincture or concentrate while you’re traveling.
How To Use
Spray one serving of the bottle into your mouth. Serving size should be labeled on the bottle (typically 2-3 sprays). Use daily or as needed.
Vapes
Based on reviews, smoking or vaporizing CBD vape oil seems to have less effects when compared to other methods of administering CBD, such as tinctures, concentrates, and capsules. On the flip side, others argue that smoking or vaporizing has less drawbacks than taking CBD orally, since ingesting CBD orally could result in inconsistent absorption and a delayed effect.
Overall, smoking CBD is great in that you can easily adjust the dosage you take in by how you feel. Plus, seems like it’s working for Nate Diaz, who told reporters he was smoking CBD to recover when asked at a post-fight press conference.
How To Use
In order to use CBD vape oil, you will need an e-cigarette, vape pen, or vaporizer. Add, heat and inhale the appropriate amount of vape oil to your choice of device.
Other Types (to keep in mind)
Edibles
Gel Pen
CBD Patches
CBD Gums
Among the other types of CBD products, edibles are gaining a lot of popularity as they offer an enjoyable and tasteful way to take CBD. However, the main problem with these applications is that it’s hard to vouch for the consistency of your intake compared to the other types listed above.
So What Type Should I Use?
Honestly, from the research we’ve done, there doesn’t seem to be one right answer or one superior option. It’s just a matter of preference. Here’s our advice on how to find the best product for you:
Do as much research about CBD as possible. Check out our CBD Resource Guide or even the Reddit CBD community.
Next, figure out what brand you trust. You can see side-by-side comparisons on our CBD Brands Review page. Be wary of what you should look out for when when shopping for a brand. Check out our post: Be Careful When You Buy Your Next CBD Oil
After you’ve decided on a brand, make sure to try out a couple different types of their products. It might be easier to try out edibles or capsules first. Then, gradually try other types, such as tinctures or concentrations, to see if it’s more effective for you and to see if it’s a good fit to your daily lifestyle.
I wish you the best of luck as you search for the CBD product that suits you well! With any questions or feedback, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected].
Shopping for CBD oil can be quite a sketchy experience. Brands use overly vague language on their sites, like “CBD helps with homeostasis” or “daily wellness”. You’ll find it extremely…
Shopping for CBD oil can be quite a sketchy experience. Brands use overly vague language on their sites, like “CBD helps with homeostasis” or “daily wellness”. You’ll find it extremely hard to find what benefits hemp extracts actually offer. They won’t tell you how much CBD to take (or what’s even recommended). Most sites don’t even use the term CBD on their pages because they could get in trouble. Rather, you’ll find substitute terms, such as Hemp Extract, Hemp Oil, or even Phytocannabinoid Oil being used.
But before diving into why these issues exist, let’s first explore what CBD is and why it is still so controversial.
WHAT IS CBD?
Cannabidiol (CBD) is the second most common chemical compound found in the hemp plant. Overall, there are more than 85 other unique compounds found in the plant. Yet, CBD gets the most attention as it is the most abundant and the most researched outside of THC, which is the psychoactive compound that gets you high. All these compounds, including CBD and THC, are called cannabinoids (phytocannabinoids to be exact).
Cannabinoids are chemical compounds that interact with the body’s central regulatory system, also called the endocannabinoid system. This system is known to manage homeostasis and affect bodily processes such as appetite, mood and sleep.
Sadly, the full benefits and effects of CBD and other cannabinoids are still relatively unknown since cannabis has been restricted for the past 80 years. Yet, one interesting thing to note is that the US Department of Health and Human Services holds a patent titled ‘Cannabinoids as Antioxidants and Neuroprotectants’. This patent claims that:
Cannabinoids have been found to have antioxidant properties … This new found property makes cannabinoids useful in the treatment and prophylaxis of wide variety of oxidation associated diseases, such as ischemic, age-related, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The cannabinoids are found to have particular application as neuroprotectants, for example in limiting neurological damage following ischemic insults, such as stroke and trauma, or in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and HIV dementia.
What is interesting is that even though the government holds such a patent, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) refuses to approve CBD as a drug. The FDA’s inflexibility and the overall social stigma around cannabis continues to inhibit the research around CBD oil. That’s why when you visit any brand that sells CBD products, you’ll notice a disclaimer stating:
“These statements are not health claims, the FDA has not evaluated these claims. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.”
In addition to the roadblocks from the government, hemp brands selling CBD Oil continue to face an uphill battle when it comes to marketing. Although selling industrial hemp oil extract is completely legal in the US, social media companies, such as Facebook, continue to restrict any promotional attempts that are associated with hemp.
To test the restrictions of Facebook, we purposely tested various ad campaigns related to hemp. Our tests were expanded to include general terms related to the industry, such as hemp foods, hemp protein, hemp apparel, hemp oil. Oddly enough, even the most casual applications of hemp, such as hemp protein powders or hemp seeds, were often rejected by Facebook’s ad policies.
Their reasoning?
Ad Denial Notification from Facebook
WHY BRANDS CAN’T RECOMMEND DOSAGE & TYPES OF PRODUCTS
One of the more confusing aspects of shopping for CBD oil is when you have to choose from the different types of CBD products and their dosage. There’s a range of different types of hemp extract products available on the market: tinctures, capsules, concentrates, sprays, and even topicals.
On top of that, CBD companies offer their hemp oils in varying doses. For example, you’ll find bottles labeled as 100mg, 300mg, all the way to 1000+mg. It’s easy to assume the more milligrams, the stronger the CBD oil. Yet, how do you know what is the appropriate amount for your condition?
Sadly, CBD brands cannot make recommendations on what concentration customers should take. This is caused by liability issues since CBD has not been approved by the FDA as a drug. That’s why you’ll find common advice such as “We recommend you do your own research before deciding which concentration to buy”.
One reputable resource we found regarding CBD dosage is a study published by Mayo Clinic, a nonprofit medical research group based in Rochester, Minnesota.
SO WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?
If you believe in the benefits of hemp extract, these barriers shouldn’t stop your from trying out CBD products. Although it might be confusing at first, we encourage you to do your own research to learn more about hemp extracts.
Only time will tell if the US government will loosen its restriction around cannabis. Only then will more research and definitive science behind phytocannabinoids come about. Unfortunately, we can’t be sure that day will come anytime soon since big pharmaceutical companies continue to lobby hard against the legalization of cannabis.
In the meantime, our best advice is for you to do your own research before deciding which brand, which type of product, and which concentration to buy. Here are some good links for you to start:
More brands are starting to use hemp for its superior quality With all the controversy and confusion surrounding hemp, it’s still quite confusing to shop for hemp products….
More brands are starting to use hemp for its superior quality
To get to the point, you’re probably reading this guide because you decided you want to try hemp. Perhaps you’ve heard about the health benefits hemp can have on your diet or your skin. Or you might be looking for sustainable products and have heard about how eco-friendly hemp is. Whichever is the case, our goal is to help you select the right hemp product so you can enjoy hemp in your healthier and more sustainable lifestyle.
WHY HEMP?
Hemp is the most sustainable and versatile crop in the world. Yet, it has been prohibited in the US over the past 80 years due to its misconstrued association with marijuana. Your purchase of hemp will help eliminate these misconceptions and help our society adopt more sustainable measures through hemp.
THE HEMP BUYING GUIDE
In this guide, I will go over the basics on selecting a hemp product that you will enjoy and benefit from. Elsewhere on the site, we go into more detail on each of these topics and more, so make sure to check out those resources as well!
Did you know hemp is one of the oldest crops in human history? Traces of hemp and its variety of applications have been found in every single continent (except the arctics). In 1941, a US magazine actually touted hemp to be the “Next Billion Dollar Crop” with over 25,000 applications. Learn about all the different aspects of hemp through our Hemp 101 Resource.
Now that you know how amazing hemp is for you, let’s find out what type of hemp products are out there. There’s really limitless applications of hemp available – it’s a matter of how you want to adopt it into your life. Hemp offers a sustainable alternative to many products we use today, such as hemp plastic, paper, fabric, etc. Check out our in-depth review of each hemp product category.
It is still federally illegal to cultivate hemp in the United States. So all the products made from hemp has to be imported from other countries. Each region in the world grows different strains of hemp that are better suited for certain types of applications. For example, Canada is known to produce the best hemp seeds, whereas China mainly focuses on hemp fabric. Before you buy your hemp product, check their labels to see if you can find out where they get their hemp seeds from. If it’s an honest company, they’ll be transparent where they source their hemp from.
Also check our Hemp Countries page to see which countries are best known for different types of hemp applications
4. Read the Hemp Product Reviews
There’s a lot of different hemp brands and products now available in the market. How do you know which product offers the best quality? fit? price? Our team researched and broke down all the different types of hemp products and their brands to help you get the best value in your next hemp purchase.
Interested in trying one of the best hemp CBD extracts available on the market? Visit our CBD Oil Reviews page to see the top hemp extract brands on the market. We’ve reviewed top US brands under 10 different categories to help you with your next CBD purchase.
If you used our Product Reviews section to compare products, we’ve provided direct links on those pages to the sites that offer those products at the lowest price.
If you want to further explore and shop online, come check out our list of hemp products, where we’ve curated the highest-quality boutique hemp products.
