CBD myths continue to proliferate despite the growing popularity of this beneficial nutritional supplement.

Hemp’s popularity is booming in America, and thousands of people have discovered the benefits of CBD. However, a great deal of stigma and confusion remain. In our latest video, we take a look at 5 common myths about CBD.

• CBD Myth #1: CBD will get you high.

Hemp is not marijuana. Hemp-derived CBD products have less than 0.3% THC and will not result in feelings of intoxication. While it’s possible to have side effects from CBD, as long as you use a quality CBD tincture, these are rare and usually minimal.

• CBD Myth #2: Urinalysis tests only test for THC.

While hemp extracts predominantly contain CBD, they are not completely THC free. It is possible to fail a drug test from taking CBD supplements.

• CBD Myth #3: You need THC to activate CBD.

Despite its growing popularity, there are still myths and misconceptions around hemp-derived CBD oil. Our latest video takes a look at the truth behind 5 CBD myths.

Hemp contains numerous naturally occurring compounds, called cannabinoids, that interplay to create beneficial effects. CBD can work alone, but when it interacts with other cannabinoids to greater effect, this is known as the “entourage effect.”

• CBD Myth #4: Hemp-derived CBD is not as effective as CBD from marijuana.

CBD is CBD, no matter the original source. The human body does not recognize whether CBD is sourced from medical cannabis or hemp.

CBD Myth #5: CBD Products are illegal since they come from cannabis.

According to the analysis of numerous hemp experts, the 2014 Farm Bill and other laws and precedents make it legal to possess and distribute CBD oil in the U.S.

Sponsored by our friends at PlusCBD Oil.

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.

Every Day Optimal CBD Oil Gummies are stronger than most other CBD gummy bears, all while tasting like one of our favorite sweet and sour candy treats.

As big fans of CBD gummies, we’ve enjoyed seeing the growing variety on the market. These gummies from Every Day Optimal stand out for two reasons: their fabulous flavor, which reminded our reviewer of “Sour Patch Kids,” and their potency.

The majority of gummies we see are 10mg. We always recommend that new users of CBD start small until they discover their optimal dose, and Every Day Optimal makes gummies in three strengths. CBD won’t make you “feel high,” but it can have side effects like sleepiness.

On the other hand, experienced users of CBD will love these stronger 25mg gummies. They taste great, make dosing easy, and have reliably strong relaxing effects. They seemed to relieve symptoms of anxiety and chronic pain in our review team.

Every Day Optimal CBD gummies, available in 25mg strength, pack potent CBD relief into a delicious sweet & sour candy.

Every Day Optimal paid us a fee and offered us free products in return for our honest opinion. If you purchase a product from one of these links, we’ll receive a percentage of sales. We only select the highest-quality CBD products for review on our site. Read more about sponsored content on Ministry of Hemp.

Read on to learn more about Every Day Optimal CBD oil Gummies and see our official review.

ENJOY ‘CLEAN FARMED’ CBD WITH EVERY DAY OPTIMAL

Every Day Optimal makes all their CBD products from quality ingredients, including “clean farmed,” non-GMO hemp plants grown in the U.S. They use industry-standard CO2 extraction to ensure a final product free from harmful residues. Their popular CBD oil tincture is available in strengths of up to 4000mg per bottle!

We appreciate Every Day Optimal’s commitment to purity and transparency by putting all of their third-party lab results online. All of their products, including Every Day Optimal CBD Oil gummies, are gluten-free. Every Day Optimal is even planning to launch a vegan gummy in the future. We’re looking forward to trying it and we bet it will be hotly in demand!

EVERY DAY OPTIMAL CBD OIL GUMMIES OFFICIAL REVIEW

• Highlights: Every Day Day Optimal CBD Oil Gummies combine a potent dose of full spectrum hemp extract with a delightful sour gummy flavor.
• Strength: 25mg per gummy, 30 gummies per 750mg bottle, also available in 10mg and 15mg gummies
• Price: $59.99 – $89.99
• Customer Service & Shipping: Fast customer service. Standard flat rate shipping starts at $4.99.
• Independent Test Results: Online.
• Flavor & Texture: These edibles have an authentic chewy gummy texture and a great sour flavor that almost entirely covers the taste of hemp.
• Ingredients: Full spectrum hemp extract / CBD oil plus Sugar, Corn Syrup, Gelatin, Citric Acid, Natural & Artificial Flavors, Calcium Lactate, Silicone Dioxide

Every Day Optimal uses domestically sourced, non-GMO, pesticide free hemp plants. Every Day Optimal also makes CBD tinctures, capsules, pet products, e-liquid and even a unique CBD gum.

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.

Hemp in space sounds like a science fiction dream. It will soon to be an exciting new reality thanks to a partnership of terrestrial firms hoping to learn about the effects of microgravity on the crop.

Space Tango, a start-up business from the heart of Kentucky seeks to harvest hemp in space. Co-founder and chairman, Kris Kimel, wants to lean about how the biology and quality of the crop will develop without the influence of gravity. The goal is to see if the medicinal value of cannabinoids prospers on this new frontier and to offer unique CBD products to the public.

Anavii Market is partnering with Space Tango on their journey into this new frontier. Anavii Market is an online CBD marketplace that seeks to improve quality reliability in the industry. Their goal is to provide a trusted source of CBD to the public.

Space Tango and Anavii Market will soon begin experimenting with the immense potential of growing hemp in space. (Photo: NASA)

We caught up with Kimel to learn about Space Tango’s hemp project.

He told us, “We’re primarily interested in looking at how biomedical … systems operate and change when removed from the gravity well of earth.”

WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT GROWING HEMP IN SPACE

Prior to Space Tango, Kimel was the founder and president of the Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation (KSTC), “which is where this notion of looking into space and microgravity kind of germinated.” As his interest grew, he left the company and moved over to Space Tango full time.

After nearly a decade of research on this new frontier, Kimel tells us there’s still so little they know and so much to learn when it comes to how plants develop in a gravity stress-free environment. Since hemp has had such little research within the last century and only recently has had its doors opened to scientists, Space Tango remains optimistic in breaking through new discoveries.

Kimel and his team are aware that principle biological systems (i.e. cells, organisms) become scrambled grown without gravity. In turn, this “opens up new pathways, new understandings, of those systems that you’d never see on earth.” Prior to their experiments with hemp, they’ve developed medical implants which can only be manufactured in space.

HEMP IN SPACE: HOW IT ALL WORKS

Permanently installed on the International Space Station are two research and development laboratories for the Space Tango team. Within each of those labs are 21 component parts of operations known as CubeLabs. The purpose of these modules is to reduce the amount of hands-on interaction required to grow organisms in space. They’re about the size of a “Kleenex tissue box and fully equipped with microtechnology.”

CubeLabs function to:

• Operate independently.
• Supply a responsive payload.
• Process data and images to earth in real-time.
• Reduce application development life-cycle.
• Decrease astronaut interplay.

Space Tango’s module on the International Space Station features multiple “CubeLabs,” modular research labs each the size of a box of tissues. The firm will soon be growing hemp in space in one of these labs. (Photo: NASA)

The purpose of these CubeLabs is to find medical solutions which can be applied back here on earth. This is also Space Tango’s primary interest in cultivating hemp. “Our science team has looked at recent developments of CBD and we think an enhance in cannabis and CBD holds great potential for treatment of serious conditions such as epilepsy or migraine headaches.”

Furthermore, due to cannabis’s entanglement in legal issues, new research is constantly being developed. Kris believes him and his team have the ability to discover aspects of CBD and marijuana which aren’t currently there. He tells us, “What we do know in combination with microgravity holds very great potential.”

THE FUTURE OF HEMP IN SPACE

If these experiments go as planned, Space Tango hopes to offer CBD products to both consumers and the medical industry. The first experiments with hemp in space are scheduled to begin in either January or February of 2019. Due to regulations and policies with both the state and NASA, there are some legal actions Space Tango still needs to take before allowing hemp to enter this new frontier. However, Kimel informs us that Space Tango is committed to making sure they go about the experiments the right way.

So, how do these experiments work?

“Obviously, things are more difficult and complicated in space,” Kimel tells us. “Once the technology is designed, we install it into our labs and, from there, it takes about four to six weeks and then they’re brought back to the lab for analysis.”

Through these analyses, Space Tango believes they can find treatment for certain diseases which you couldn’t find here on earth. Kimel claims, “you get a better resolution with certain kinds of drugs in space.”

“Our ultimate goal is to have a transformational benefit of life on earth,” he concluded.

CBD golden milk is the perfect way to make a healthy drink even better.

We’ve already looked at CBD cocktails, but you don’t need liquor to enjoy the relaxing benefits of mixing CBD into your favorite beverages.

The most recent beverage trend hitting major coastal cities doesn’t use alcohol as a main ingredient. Instead, the main ingredient is cannabidiol, the non-psychoactive ingredient in cannabis. The most important thing to be aware of when you’re ingesting a CBD drink is how your body reacts to edible CBD. Generally, ingesting CBD orally takes longer to take effect, meaning you’ll be on the safer side sticking to just one drink per hour.

The benefits of drinking a CBD-infused drink include relaxation, reduced anxiety, reduced inflammation, decreased joint pain, better sleep and nausea relief. CBD golden milk takes a drink that thousands of people love and adds the powerful effects of CBD. These kinds of beverages also provide you with a discreet method of ingesting the compound, and deliver a slower onset as opposed to vaping CBD. If you’re looking for a less invasive way to enjoy CBD, we recommend sticking to edibles and drinks.

Read on for our CBD golden milk recipe and some of our other favorite CBD drinks.

CBD golden milk is the perfect way to make this popular drink even better.

CBD GOLDEN MILK RECIPE

This tasty drink provides several health benefits. Turmeric, commonly known as “golden milk” is believed to support our immune system, digestion and even liver function. Served hot, this beverage provides a boost in natural antioxidants, which aid in protecting your heart health and also have the potential to lower your risk of infections.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of water
• 1 inch ginger root
• 1 inch turmeric root or 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon of coconut oil
• 1 cup of hemp milk
• 1 pinch of black pepper
• 2 teaspoons of honey
• 2 teaspoons of CBD oil

Instructions:

1. Heat the milk
2. Add all of the ingredients to a blender
3. Pour into a mug
4. Enjoy!

You can store this recipe in the refrigerator.

A refreshing glass of lemonade becomes even more relaxing with CBD oil. CBD drinks can help you unwind after a long day.

CBD LEMONADE SPRITZER WITH BASIL

Enjoy a refreshing and calming lemonade spritzer. It’s perfect to make for social events or even as a drink to enjoy with dinner. Fans of spritzers and lemonade will appreciate the invigorating flavors they know and love, all while receiving the benefits of CBD.

Ingredients:

• 6-8 lemons
• 1 cup of sugar
• 5 cups of water
• 1 bunch of fresh basil
• 1 cup of seltzer
• 1-3 teaspoons of CBD tincture

Directions:

For the Simple Sugar:

1. Heat one cup of water and one cup of sugar over medium heat in a small pan
2. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved and let it cool completely
3. Juice the lemons
4. Mix the remaining 4 cups of water, lemon juice, CBD tincture and simple syrup

To Serve:

Place a few basil leaves at the bottom of your glass. Fill ¾ of the way with lemonade, and finish it off with your desired amount of seltzer water. Garnish with a slice of lemon.

FROTHY CBD MILK RECIPE

This easy-to-make recipe puts a twist on a classic warm beverage. If the basic ingredients are staples in your kitchen, you’ll always be able to whip up this CBD treat. With the colder seasons right around the corner, now is the time to master this recipe and serve it to your guests.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of milk
• 2 teaspoons of CBD oil
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 pinch of sea salt
• 2 teaspoons of honey or sweetener of your choice

Instructions:

1. In a saucepan over low heat, mix the honey, milk, vanilla extract, salt and preferred amount of CBD
2. Use a whisk to blend the ingredients and heat until warm
3. Serve warm, or pour over ice for a cold beverage

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.

Soothe Puff CBD Vaporizer makes vaping CBD an easy, elegant, and delicious experience.

If you’re looking for a simple or discreet way to vape CBD oil, Soothe has you covered with their new Puff disposable vape. A growing number of consumers are vaping CBD because it’s fast and convenient. You can easily take a small dose without attracting attention anywhere people are using e-cigarettes. Many people find that CBD goes into effect quickly when vaped, especially compared to CBD edibles and capsules.

The Puff CBD Vaporizer packs 125mg of full-spectrum CBD extract into each pen. It’s fully charged, so you can use it right out of the box. It’s got great packaging, too, so it’d make a lovely gift for a CBD newcomer in your life. We tried the Snoozeberry flavor, which includes Blueberry OG and Strawberry OG terpenes. These are added aromatic oils found in different amounts in all forms of cannabis among other plants. The terpenes not only give this vape it’s incredible berry flavor but may have beneficial effects of their own. Using the Puff felt relaxing, and seemed to quickly ease some of our reviewer’s severe chronic pain.

Soothe Puff CBD Vaporizer is a simple, elegant and delicious way to vape CBD on the go.

Soothe paid us a fee and offered us free products in return for our honest opinion. If you purchase a product from one of these links, we’ll receive a percentage of sales. We only select the highest-quality CBD products for review on our site. Read more about sponsored content on Ministry of Hemp.

Read on to learn more about Soothe and get our complete review of the Puff CBD Vaporizer.

SOOTHE PUFF CBD VAPORIZER IS VEGAN, KOSHER, GLUTEN-FREE & DELICIOUS

Unboxing the Puff CBD Vaporizer felt like taking out a high-end tech toy, and this elegance and care shows in every aspect of their product. The Puff is vegan, kosher, and gluten-free and is sourced from non-GMO hemp grown with organic practices. Most importantly for many of us is the flavor, which kept us coming back for more. To use the Puff, just draw on the end and you’ll receive a mouthful of delicious CBD vapor while the end lights up silver white.

Soothe works closely with family farmers in Kentucky for their hemp, in the process helping to revive agriculture in the region. They’re also committed to exploring sustainable farming practices, such as reducing water usage and keeping soil healthy for future generations of hemp growers.

SOOTHE PUFF CBD VAPORIZER OFFICIAL REVIEW

• Highlights: Soothe’s Puff CBD Vaporizer is a beautifully designed disposable vape pen full of delicious terpene-rich berry flavored CBD extract.
• Strength: Each drag on this vape dispenses a maximum of 0.5 mg CBD, with 125mg CBD total per pen
• Price: $40
• Customer Service & Shipping: Fast customer service. Free shipping on orders over $75.
• Independent Test Results: Available on request.
• Flavor & Vaping Experience: Each hit from a Puff CBD vaporizer is gentle and should not hurt your throat, while providing potent CBD relief and a delicious berry flavor. Terpenes give a rich, full flavor that’s different from other forms of e-juice flavoring; the result does not taste at all “hempy.”
• Ingredients: Full spectrum hemp extract / CBD in fractionated MCT (coconut-based) oil with added organic terpenes
• Other: Also available in Sunkiss and an upcoming Guavaberry flavor, each with unique terpenes.

Soothe offers a full range of other CBD products including CBD oil drops, topicals, and pet products. Soothe only uses organically-grown hemp from Kentucky for their CBD.

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.

Let’s look at why so many leading athletes are working out with CBD.

CBD is quickly becoming a vital part of many workout routines. In capsule or oil form, CBD is an important part of any holistic health and wellness routine. Whether you’re a professional athlete, amateur jogger or busy mom, this beneficial supplement made from hemp can help. Whatever style of fitness regimen you prefer, muscle development and muscle recovery play key roles in overall health and wellbeing.

Since the World Anti-Doping Agency lifted its ban on CBD, many fitness professionals and athletes use CBD as the staple for their high-performance fitness regimens to build muscle and boost stamina. CBD can do a lot of ‘good’ for the human body. That being said, it’s important to use the highest quality CBD from natural hemp oil, from a CBD supplier you can trust. Bargain priced “CBD” products frequently contain very little CBD content by volume. If you’re going to buy CBD oil, be sure it is 100% premium and pure from hemp with less than 0.3% THC content – which will ensure it is legal in all 50 states.

CATABOLIC HORMONES PLAY A KEY ROLE IN BUILDING MUSCLE

Catabolic hormones are those in the body which cause a breakdown of muscle tissue. For athletes and others with the goal of increasing muscle mass and improving muscle tone, reducing the levels of catabolic hormones, such as cortisol, is imperative.

Cortisol is a hormone that reduces protein synthesis and actively prevents tissue growth. Excessive cortisol levels are usually the culprit when those who work out diligently fail to achieve the muscle building results they expected from their rigorous fitness routines.

Some top athletes are now working out with CBD. CBD oil can reduce the effects of anxiety and promote more restful sleep, all of which promote a better workout.

The key to understanding cortisol’s negative effect on muscle-building is to recognize that cortisol levels fluctuate throughout the day. The hormone is secreted by the adrenal gland. Cortisol levels are usually higher in the morning, decreasing throughout the day, and at their lowest at night. This explains why muscle recovery happens most efficiently while we sleep.

Of course, cortisol does provide some important benefits, or the body wouldn’t produce it. Cortisol is instrumental in the liver, helping to remove toxins from the body. Cortisol has other roles in the immune system regulating blood sugar levels, and enhancing short-term memory. At natural levels, cortisol is quite beneficial and CBD oil can help maintain a healthy cortisol balance.

CBD’s ANTI-CATABOLIC PROPERTIES AND THE IMPORTANCE OF SLEEP

From research done on the Endocannabinoid System, we know that CBD oil consumed engages CB2 receptors in the limbic and paralimbic regions of the brain, the control centers of the Endocannabinoid System responsible for regulating sleep and mood. Nearly 25 percent of Americans struggle to achievedeep REM sleep. However, with the support of CBD, regular deep REM sleep can be achieved to augment protein synthesis for building muscle tissue at the most optimum time when growth inhibiting cortisol levels are at a minimum. This is one indirect way CBD helps to manage cortisol levels.

A preliminary study published in September by the Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research suggests CBD works directly with the Endocannabinoid System to interfere with cortisol secretion as reported by the US National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health, where subjects experienced a significant decrease in cortisol levels in their blood. This means that CBD can slow the breakdown of muscle mass and help athletes to build more muscle.

We know about CBD’s calming anti-anxiety and mood-regulating effects when working in natural harmony with our Endocannabinoid Systems. It’s easy to see how CBD’s multiple and very beneficial therapeutic effects, and its direct anti-catabolic action all combine to keep cortisol at the properly balanced levels to benefit our systems.

WHY HIGH-STRESS WORKOUTS AND OTHER STIMULANTS MAY BOOST CORTISOL LEVELS

Increasing levels of the hormone testosterone with intense periods of weight lifting is the well-known mechanism for building muscle mass, but the level of cortisol which also increases during an intense workout has the exact opposite effect.

Cortisol levels rise significantly in response to stress no matter what time of day or what the situation. That’s why the fitness community calls cortisol “the stress hormone.” An intense heavy workout routine is a source of physical stress. That’s in addition to the unavoidable day-to-day environmental stresses everyone experiences.

High intensity workouts can actually produce harmful stress hormones in the body. Working out with CBD may counteract some of these negative effects of intense exercise.

When cortisol levels soar in response to extreme workout stress, the high amount of the catabolic hormone can cause high blood pressure, lower bone density, and eat up muscle tissue negating the positive benefits of the workout. In the worst-case scenario, unregulated cortisol can cause the physical condition to nosedive. That’s the exact opposite result of what your fitness regimen is trying to achieve.

This is (unfortunately) similar to the effect that caffeine causes. It has been demonstrated that as little as 2-3 cups of coffee per day can cause cortisol levels to rise. However, CBD oil’s natural stimulating effects provide all the energy-boosting benefits without the jitters while maintaining cortisol at beneficial levels.

Pre- and post-workout CBD oil supplements can balance cortisol levels to let you optimize results from your workout time. But, as always with CBD, there is good news and more good news.

CBD BOOSTS STAMINA AND HELPS YOU ‘FIRE ON ALL CYLINDERS’

Stamina is something that each person desires for their workout or work day.

The most understood feeling of stamina is what we all know as the “runner’s high” that you can get from any long-form workout. For years, endorphins have gotten the credit for maintaining stamina through long, cardio-focused workouts. However, recent research has shown that the endocannabinoid system is the true generator of the legendary “runner’s high.” Findings show that it’s the rush of anandamide, the natural endocannabinoid compound regulated by CBD via the Endocannabinoid System, which deserves the credit for the sudden onset of the euphoric, pain-free, calm sensation.

Now within a CBD-optimized homeostasis where you are “firing on all cylinders,” stamina and energy levels are improved, breathing is well-regulated, and CBD’s anti-inflammatory action keeps muscles cramp-free while balancing dopamine at proper levels to promote smooth movement and balance. Some scientists refer to this homeostasis as “the Goldilocks Zone.” It’s that state in which mind, body, and spirit function together and everything is “just right.”

CBD BOOSTS STAMINA BY REGULATING BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS

The last key to building muscle and boosting stamina is maintenance of our blood sugar levels. Contrary to common belief, we can do this through more ways than just a balanced diet.

Using CBD oil can actually boost stamina, which is just one of several benefits of working out with CBD.

Chronic inflammation has long been established as a cause of insulin resistance resulting in Type 2 diabetes. As reported by Diabetes.co.uk, the immune system, cell growth, sugar metabolism and heart function all also appear to prospectively benefit from CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties.

When blood sugar is regulated, less insulin is present and therefore less fat is stored. When less fat is stored, your body works in an anti-catabolic mode to help produce more muscle.

WHY YOU SHOULD BE WORKING OUT WITH CBD

CBD oil’s anti-catabolic properties are making it the most recommended supplement in fitness regimens where increasing muscle mass is a primary goal. CBD’s additional benefits for runners, yoga enthusiasts, professional athletes and more in the health and wellness world strongly suggests that this is not a fad, but a supplement that is becoming the norm. More and more people are beginning to second-guess western medicine and are looking for a more natural way to help fight disease and pain – and CBD is increasingly the answer.

CBD can be ingested in capsule form, oil form or topically as a cream. CBD creams and salves also have a place in the fitness industry for topical inflammation, pain relief and flexibility – three things that are key to a safe and successful workout. It’s important for each fitness enthusiast to research the different ways to leverage CBD’s benefits and test dosages to see what works best for your body. The future is bright with CBD.

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.

A theoretical syndrome, clinical endocannabinoid deficiency, could provide new insight into painful conditions suffered by millions.

Scientific advancements have helped us to find working treatments for countless debilitating conditions. However, there are some illnesses that continue to prove notorious and mysterious, with no known causes or cures. Research into the endocannabinoid system (ECS), a network in the body influenced by plant-derived cannabinoids, has provided medical experts with a fresh perspective on ailments such as fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and migraines.

Dr Ethan Russo, a professional neurologist and cannabis researcher, first published the concept of a spectrum disorder in 2004. He first began working on the idea of dysregulation in the ECS in 2001. Both doctors and patients have noticed that cannabis and CBD oil seem to benefit people with these conditions. Russo has proposed that the effectiveness of cannabinoid medicine in the trio of aforementioned conditions can be explained by Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency (CECD).

Though still theoretical, clinical endocannabinoid deficiency could be a common contributor to numerous conditions, from fibromyalgia to migraines.

INTRODUCING CLINICAL ENDOCANNABINOID DEFICIENCY

For the ECS to function efficiently, the body must produce endocannabinoids (naturally occurring, cannabis-like chemicals) such as anandamide (AEA) and 2-Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG).

However, studies have found that some people have lower endocannabinoid levels than others, which brings about health complications. There is an increasing body of clinical research which shows anxiety to be associated with reduced anandamide levels, and major depression to be linked with reduced 2-AG levels. When the body is unable to produce endocannabinoids in the concentrations required, chemical imbalances occur, which leads to illness.

Cannabinoid receptors interact with both endocannabinoids and cannabinoids, with the plant-derived compounds able to mimic endocannabinoids or otherwise influence them for ECS regulation. Therefore, it is logical that a cannabinoid treatment could effectively remedy CECD.

Russo’s latest significant update on his CECD research came in 2016, with a paper that continued to build on the concept, incorporating available clinical evidence. This followed an earlier 2008 release.

FIBROMYALGIA AND CLINICAL ENDOCANNABINOID DEFICIENCY

Medical researchers have been unable to come up with a definite cause for fibromyalgia. Patients suffer from an array of debilitating symptoms that have a significant effect on quality of life. These symptoms include chronic deep muscle and tender point pain, impaired cognitive function (or “fibro fog”), headaches, sleeping difficulties and restless leg syndrome. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 20 percent of fibromyalgia patients experience one of or both of these mental health disorders. Typically, this is a result of the pain and fatigue caused by the condition. In 2011, a study found that CBD could reduce anxiety beyond placebo levels, with patients given a 600mg dose administered via CBD capsules.

Moreover, several symptoms of fibromyalgia are indicative of ECS dysregulation — for instance, inflammatory conditions occur due to problems with immune system response, which is modulated by the ECS and specifically the CB2 receptor. Studies have also found that serotonin levels are affected in fibromyalgia patients, which may be noteworthy considering CBD is an agonist of the 5-HT1A receptor.

MIGRAINES AND CLINICAL ENDOCANNABINOID DEFICIENCY

Around 39 million Americans are affected by migraines, according to the Migraine Research Foundation. Migraines can cause dizziness, nausea, numbness or tingling in the face and other unpleasant symptoms. Research has shown that migraine sufferers have “statistically significant” differences in anandamide levels in cerebrospinal fluid, which is found in the brain and spinal cord.

Migraine sufferers have been shown to have lower levels of anandamide, a naturally occurring chemical found in all people that’s similar to those found in cannabis and hemp.

Russo found that endocannabinoid system changes could help to alleviate migraines in his 2004 research. The main finding was that anandamide, a key neurotransmitter in the ECS, heightens the effectiveness of the 5-HT1A receptor while inhibiting the 5-HT2A receptor. This could help with treating acute migraines and as a preventative treatment. Furthermore, the results showed that several cannabinoids exhibited anti-inflammatory properties and dopamine-blocking effects.

The light and sound sensitivity that results from migraines may be due to an overactive nervous system. The ECS is renowned for regulating such imbalances (Russo, 2016). Some have suggested that the root cause of migraines can be traced back to the trigeminovascular system, which brings blood to the brain. Studies have shown that endocannabinoids can influence this system. Migraines and cluster headaches may be best managed with a treatment that is an agonist of the CB1 receptor.

In the case of migraines, one study found that while a CBD and THC treatment was not necessarily more effective than existing anti-migraine treatments, the side effects were significantly reduced.

Fascinatingly, cannabis was a common treatment for migraines in Europe and North America from the mid-1800s until the 1940s, a time when the herb was being prohibited around the globe.

NEXT STEPS IN CANNABINOID RESEARCH

As governments all over the world look into the benefits of medical cannabis, the number of high-quality studies being carried out in clinical settings is sure to increase.

With time, we should get an in-depth look at the potential of cannabinoids as a treatment for fibromyalgia, migraines and other illnesses. As our understanding of the ECS deepens, we may learn more about the wide-scale implications of dysfunction in the system.

A gloved scientist with a vial of CBD and a hemp leaf. ‘Full spectrum’ extracts contain more cannabinoids, terpenes, and other beneficial chemicals found in hemp & cannabis.

Furthermore, more research needs to be done on the possible interactions cannabinoids have with receptors outside of the ECS and the effects this may have on the body.

CLINICAL ENDOCANNABINOID DEFICIENCY SHOWS HOW MUCH WE HAVE LEFT TO LEARN

It’s essential to bear in mind that the work of Dr Russo and others on CECD is at the forefront of cannabis science, and we still have plenty to learn about the endocannabinoid system, the effects of its dysregulation, and the genuine potential of cannabinoid-based medicines for treating notoriously complicated conditions such as fibromyalgia.

However, the theory has certainly fleshed out since 2004. There are studies that suggest medical cannabis and CBD can have a therapeutic effect for certain conditions. But in his 2016 paper, Russo noted that contradictions in CECD research were common. He reported that excessive levels of endocannabinoids could also be damaging for health, potentially leading to obesity and hepatic fibrosis.

Regulation of the endocannabinoid system is probably not be as simple as taking a dose of CBD or THC. There are dozens of cannabinoids in hemp and cannabis. Research indicates that whole-plant tinctures can be preferable to isolates of just one chemical. Given that endocannabinoid imbalances differ from patient to patient, the ideal medication for these imbalances may vary too. Perhaps someday, these treatments may be more be tailored to fit a person’s exact illness.

It’s clear we still have a lot more to learn about the endocannabinoid system before we can fully understand how it contributes to our health and well-being.

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.

We were impressed with Sagely Naturals Relief And Recovery Cream, a high-quality, effective CBD topical salve.

The first thing we noticed after unboxing this CBD cream was the quality of the bottle itself. Sometimes companies try to cut costs by offering low quality packaging, but that wasn’t the case with Sagely Naturals. The bottle was solid and the pump was responsive, providing small or large quantities of the cream with ease.

Sagely Naturals Relief And Recovery Cream is non-greasy and light. We liked that it felt like regular lotion, not a pain relief cream. The subtle peppermint and menthol scent reminded us that pain relief was on the way!

With a member of our review team struggling with lower back pain, we knew Sagely Naturals’ CBD would be put to the test. Relief and Recovery Cream is easily massaged into the skin, and quickly begins both cooling and warming the affected area. The heat level increased gradually, peaking after about 15 or 20 minutes, but remained at a pleasant level for hours afterwards. After applying twice, pain levels seemed to have decreased noticeably the next day.

Sagely Naturals Relief and Recovery collection includes a topical CBD cream, a headache roll-on, and CBD capsules with turmeric.

Sagely Naturals paid us a fee and offered us free products in return for our honest opinion. If you purchase a product from one of these links, we’ll receive a percentage of sales. We only select the highest-quality CBD products for review on our site. Read more about sponsored content on Ministry of Hemp.

Read on for more about Sagely Naturals Relief and Recovery product line, and our complete review.

SPREADING THE HEALING POWER OF HEMP WITH SAGELY NATURALS

Two friends, Kaley and Kerrigan, started Sagely Naturals to create a product that they both would want to use and that could treat their mothers’ everyday aches and pains. As believers of the powerful effects of CBD, they set off to create products that help people without any psychoactive effects.

Sagely Naturals creates their products using organic, non-GMO hemp that adheres to strict quality control standards of operations. Every batch of CBD is triple lab tested to ensure quality and purity. Moreover, they only use essential oils and natural ingredients that are free from parabens, synthetic fragrances, artificial colors, dyes, and sulfates.

While this CBD topical has a lower strength than some products on the market, the combination of top quality hemp extract with added natural healing ingredients meant that Sagely Naturals Relief and Recovery Cream was more than up to the challenge of easing muscle soreness.

SAGELY NATURALS RELIEF AND RECOVERY CREAM OFFICIAL REVIEW

• Highlights: Sagely Naturals Relief and Recovery Cream combines the cooling/warming sensations of menthol and peppermint with high quality CBD relief that effectively targeted our pain.
• Strength: 50mg per 120ml (4oz) ounce jar, also available in a 60ml jar
• Price: $19.99 or $35.99
• Customer Service & Shipping: Fast, friendly customer service. Shipping starts at a flat rate of $3, with free shipping on orders over $36.00
• Independent Test Results: Available on request.
• Texture & Scent: This CBD topical has a light, lotiony texture that quickly absorbs into the skin without greasy residue. It has a mild scent of peppermint and menthol.
• Key Ingredients: CBD plus Peppermint & Menthol, Safflower Seed Oil, and Argan Oil
• Full Ingredient List: Full spectrum hemp extract / CBD oil with Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol  Glycerin, Sclerocarya Birrea (Marula) Kernel Oil, Tetradecane, Menthol, Hemp Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil, Carthamus Tinctorious (Safflower) Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Stearic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, and Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil

Sagely Naturals uses only U.S.-grown, organic, non-GMO hemp in their products. Sagely Naturals Relief and Recovery Cream is part of their complete Relief and Recovery collection, including CBD capsules, oral spray, and a headache stick. Their Tranquility collection combines CBD with additional relaxing natural ingredients.

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.

Just CBD Gummies have the most “authentic” gummy bear taste of any CBD edible we’ve sampled.

If you snacked on gummy bears as a kid (or like us, sugar-craving adults), these CBD gummies from Just CBD have a near-identical flavor. It’s the perfect combination of chewy texture and tangy fruit sweetness. Since they’re made from CBD isolate, there’s basically no hemp aftertaste, just pure gummy flavor. They’re the perfect choice for people who don’t like the taste of CBD or hemp.

It’s a good thing Just CBD sent us a larger-sized jar of these gummies to review, because otherwise we’d have run out before it was time to write this article. Our friends and loved ones kept helping themselves to these tasty, relaxing treats. Crafty people take note: these gummies come in a great plastic screw-top jar that will be perfect for reusing later.

Just CBD gummies combined a craveable gummy bear flavor with the healing benefits of CBD.

Just CBD paid us a fee offered free products in return for our honest opinion. If you purchase a product from one of these links, we’ll receive a percentage of sales. We only select the highest-quality CBD products for review on our site. Read more about sponsored content on Ministry of Hemp.

Read on to learn more about Just CBD Gummies and see our official review.

JUST CBD MAKES IT EASY TO EXPERIENCE ‘NATURE’S SECRET MIRACLE’

The team at Just CBD believe CBD is “nature’s secret miracle” and want to share the benefits of CBD with everyone.

Just CBD only sells high-quality CBD products and they’re transparent about the contents of their products. They make third-party lab results available on their web site, and they clearly label the strength of every product. We tried the 75 gram jar of Just CBD Gummies. Each gummy contains 10 milligrams of CBD, with 75 bears per jar.

We appreciate the wide variety of products available from Just CBD. They even have smokeable CBD “doobies” for people who want the experience of lighting up a joint without THC.

JUST CBD GUMMIES OFFICIAL REVIEW

• Highlights: Just CBD Gummies are almost identical to the gummy bears we loved as kids: sweet, tangy, chewy with no hemp aftertaste.
• Strength: 750mg of CBD per 75g jar, 10mg of CBD per gummy
• Price: $50.00, other sized jars are available for $23.99 – $60.00, with a 50mg sample bag available for $10.00
• Customer Service & Shipping: Fast customer service. Free shipping.
• Independent Test Results: Online.
• Flavor & Texture: If you’ve ever eaten a gummy bear, you can imagine the flavor: fruity, tangy, and sweet with no hemp aftertaste. They are just the right amount of chewy, too.
• Ingredients: CBD Isolate with Corn Syrup, White Grape Fruit Juice from Concentrate, Gelatin, Modified Potato Starch, Citric Acid, Malic Acid, Rice Flour, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Titanium Dioxide, Red 40, Yellow 5 and Blue 1
• Other: Numerous other flavors and style of gummies are available, including apple rings, gummy worms and sour styles.

Just CBD products are made in the U.S. from domestically grown hemp. They offer a wide variety of CBD products including tinctures, vaping supplies, pet treats, smokeable “doobies” and pure CBD isolate. Some research suggests isolates may be less effective than full spectrum extracts.

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.

Looking for amazing CBD cocktail recipes for your next party?

We all love the idea of serving fancy cocktails to our friends, but why not take your fun to the next level?

And the best part is that instead of having a wretched hangover the day after, some people report that adding CBD to their cocktails reduces that terrible feeling.

CBD cocktails are a simple way to add elegance and chill vibes to your party.

If you think that’s too good to be true, this guide might just take that edge off for you. We’ll begin by giving you a basic idea about what makes CBD cocktails special and then move on to some simple CBD infused cocktail recipes.

WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF CBD COCKTAILS?

The effect of the intake of CBD infused cocktails varies for different people. But generally, it is one of euphoria without the irking sense of anxiety caused by regular cannabis. CBD (Cannabidiol) is usually known to have a calming effect, relaxing the senses from other physical discomforts.

With CBD, you get to enjoy Disneyland’s “It’s a Small World” ride without freaking out and jumping off the carriage.

According to bartenders across the trendiest cities in the country, New York, Los Angeles, Portland – you name it; CBD in cocktails enhances the drinks’ flavor. This supplement is also known to reduce inflammation and anxiety, and that effect extends to cocktails infused with CBD.

Some people who have experimented with CBD cocktails also claim it reduces the negative effects of intoxication, though there isn’t any scientific research to support this yet. There is some evidence that cannabinoids can reduce nausea.

Don’t get us wrong: you’ll still get sick if you overindulge, but CBD could help you enjoy your drinks a little more.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT CBD COCKTAILS

Q. How is CBD oil used in food and beverages?

A. CBD is used in food products and beverages, usually in the form of CBD oils and tinctures. CBD tinctures are alcohol based. Adding CBD isolates or syrup infusions to your drinks are also a great way to customize your experience.

Q. What’s the difference between CBD oil and CBD tinctures?

A.  CBD oils and tinctures affect the taste of cocktails differently.Unfortunately, these two terms are frequently used interchangeably today, but the difference is the ingredients: CBD oil is oil-based, while tinctures infuse CBD oil into an alcohol base.

Oils are either infused or drizzled on the drinks. CBD oils provide that intense hemp smell and concentrated flavor. But there is a chance that oil bases may get trapped in the layers or drop to the bottom, eventually getting left behind in the glass.

We’ve included some CBD cocktail recipes to get you started, like these mint juleps.

Tinctures, on the other hand, blend in more smoothly with other alcohols to give you that complete experience.

Q. How does the alcohol content of the cocktail effect CBD?

A. The ABV index, or ‘alcohol by volume’, measures the amount of alcohol in a given volume of alcoholic beverage. The more the alcohol content in your cocktail, the lesser your chances are of noticing the effects of CBD. But, if you go overboard with the CBD content, you might end up getting too sleepy for the better part of the time.

Q. What’s the ideal CBD dosage to use for cocktails?

A. The CBD dosage varies from one person to another, which can also depend on your preference. A high dosage of CBD oil, when mixed with alcohol, tends to make you sleepy and intoxicated. However, you won’t feel the effects of CBD if your drink has more alcohol in it. So, for a starter, it would be better to balance the mixture with a lower dose of CBD oil, and you can increase the dosage over time.

CBD COCKTAIL RECIPES

Now for the fun part — the recipes! When it comes to infusing CBD with your cocktails, the world is your oyster. There are so many permutations that you can try!

You can actually create some of them with just a basic bar set-up from home. Aside from the ingredients, you only need two things — creativity and the desire for something smooth and delicious!

CBD-Infused Green Derby

Doctors agree that having fruit does wonders for your body. While cocktails aren’t the recommended way to do this, with grapefruit juice and lemon juice, this CBD cocktail is a great way to at least tell yourself you’re doing something healthy.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. CBD Infused Bourbon
• 0.5 oz. lemon juice
• 1 oz. grapefruit juice
• 0.5 oz. honey syrup

Procedure:

• Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker. Shake until ingredients are well-combined.
• Prepare a Collins glass with ice. Pour in the mixture.
• Add soda water and top the concoction with fresh grapefruit.

You can start with our CBD-infused Cosmo recipe, but don’t be afraid to experiment. The potential of CBD cocktails is nearly endless.

CBD-Infused Cosmopolitan

Want to live your best Sex in the City life? Spice up the regular ‘ol Cosmopolitan with CBD syrup. You don’t need Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, or Samantha to get a taste of New York City.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. vodka
• 1 oz. cranberry juice cocktail
• 1/4 oz. CBD syrup
• 3/4 oz. fresh lime juice
• 3/4 oz. Triple sec
• Orange twist, to garnish

Procedure:

1. Mix the vodka, cranberry juice, CBD syrup, lime juice, and the Triple sec in a cocktail shaker.
2.  Add ice. Shake vigorously for about 20 seconds, until the shaker becomes very cold.
3. Strain the concoction into a martini glass using a strainer or a slotted spoon.
4. Garnish it up with the orange twist.

CBD Mint Julep

Level up your CBD drink with this Mint Julep! Quench your thirst with this minty flavor as it eases your stress and tension. Don’t settle for less ‘cause you’ll surely include this in your list of favorite drinks.

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 ounces bourbon
• 1/2 ounce simple syrup
• 2 – 8 mint leaves + extra for garnish
• 15 mg CBD tincture

Procedure:

1. Muddle up the leaves and the simple syrup along with the CBD Tincture together in a chilled julep cup.
2. Add the bourbon and top it off with pebble ice.
3. Swizzle and top with more ice.
4. Garnish with additional leaves or fresh mint sprigs.

Some people report that CBD cocktails reduce the negative effects of alcohol intoxication.

CBD COCKTAILS ARE EASY & FUN

Creating a CBD infused cocktail is not as daunting as you think it would be. It may take a little bit of practice, but anyone can follow the recipes above! Adding CBD is a fun way to level up your drinking experience. It doesn’t hurt that these cocktails provide everything you need for a good night out without the hangover.

Are you ready for an amazing time? Let us know how your CBD-infused concoctions turn out!

Enjoy!

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.