CBD Oil - What is it & How May YOU Benefit from it?

I want to introduce Melissa, she is a Traditional Naturopath, Aromatherapist, Herbalist, and Crystal Reiki Master (just to name a few). Her passion in life is to teach people how to maintain their health with ways to support whole body wellness. She founded Sweet Willow Spirit Therapies. Here she educates, consults, coaches, and offers products like CBD oil.

Have you considered using CBD as a supplement for health purposes?

CBD has gained main-stream momentum like many modalities have, including essential oils. You may even know people who sell it through a multi-level marketing (MLM) company, just like essential oils.

Also, like essential oils, not all CBD is created equal. Any CBD that contains THC is considered full-spectrum, one that does not is an isolate. I prefer to use one with THC, however if your job or personal convictions prohibit it, an isolate is wonderful too.

You may have already heard of Charlotte's Web for use with seizures. Charlotte's Web was developed to have less than 0.3% THC (the federal legal limit) by Colorado breeders, the Stanley Brothers, for a little girl to help with her seizures. Charlotte’s Web has had an amazing effect on so many who suffer from a wide variety of seizures and seizure activity.

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a natural oil typically extracted from the Cannabis sativa plant and used as a dietary supplement. It works with the endocannabinoid system in the body. As you will see via the studies later in this article, it has significant medical benefits.

However, unlike cannabis, federally legal CBD does not make you feel "high" or "stoned". More and more people are turning to CBD rich cannabis because it is not psychoactive but may help with many physical, mental and emotional issues.

Whole plant CBD can give you all the wonderful cannabinoids which create the "entourage effect".

"The “entourage effect” phenomenon happens when hundreds of natural components within a plant work together with the human body to produce a stronger effect. The effect is stronger than any one of those components used alone could ever give. It’s considered a synergistic effect by nature. If you were to combine multiple compounds in their natural state, we wouldn't necessarily end up with the sum of all parts; we may get a multiplying effect instead. With the entourage effect, the different compounds can amplify each other’s effects, making the whole plant more effective in treating unwanted physical, emotional or mental symptoms." (1)

The Endocannabinoid System

A mammal’s body has areas that are made specificity for these endocannabinoids in CBD. They are called cannabinoid receptor sites. These sites make up the endocannabinoid system, which is responsible for numerous physiological and mental processes that occur naturally within the body.

This system includes several specialized cell receptors in the brain and various other organs throughout the body. It is also closely interconnected with the nervous and immune systems. Since CBD has been shown to boost just about every function in our cannabinoid receptors, studies show promise for it to have far-reaching soothing and relaxing effects.

CBD and THC fit like a lock and key into existing receptor sites. These receptors are part of the endocannabinoid system which impact psychological processes affecting pain modulation, appetite and so much more.

It also effects anti-inflammatory and other immune system responses. The endocannabinoid system is comprised of two types of receptors CB1 and CB2 which serve distinct functions in our health and well-being.

"Cannabinoid CB1 receptors are among the most plentiful and widely distributed receptors... CB1 receptors are present primarily in the central nervous system in regions of the brain that are responsible for pain modulation, movement or memory processing. To a lesser extent, they can also be found in some peripheral tissues such as pituitary gland, immune cells, reproductive tissues, gastrointestinal tissues, sympathetic ganglia, heart, lung, urinary bladder and adrenal glands." (2)

"CB2 receptors are mostly in the peripheral organs especially cells associated with the immune system." As you can see, they are almost everywhere. That is why CBD has such a far and wide reach in the body. We have known about the effects of marijuana on the body since 2,600 B.C. Modern day findings are not new, we are just understanding it more. While CBD is in the same category as marijuana, it has little to no psychotropic effects based on the federally legal limit of .03% THC.

Why CBD?

Cannabidiol - CBD is a compound that has significant medical benefits but does not make you feel "high" or "stoned". The fact that cannabis rich in CBD is non-psychoactive makes it an appealing option for people looking to help with many physical, and mental issues.

Cannabidiol, the second most common cannabinoid in cannabis, is a non-psychoactive compound with many medicinal qualities. It has been shown in scientific studies (some below) to have potent anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety, anti-psychotic, anti-spasmodic (stops spasms), anti-emetic effects (stops vomiting) along with anti-convulsant properties. It also has been shown to inhibit tumor cell growth.

It has a wide range of uses, some are listed below:

• Sleep
• Inflammation
• Pain
• Anxiety
• Cancer
• Cigarette Addiction
• Acne
• Psychosis
• Seizures
• Spasms
• PTSD
• ADD/ADHD
• Tourette’s Syndrome
• Anti-nausea
• Headaches/Migraines
• Powerful Antioxidant
• Anti-convulsant
• Neuro-protective
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome

​Some of the numerous studies that have been done on CBD for various medical conditions are listed below:

CBD for Neurodegenerative Disorders - "Cannabidiol for neurodegenerative disorders: important new clinical applications for this phytocannabinoid?" (4)

CBD and Epilepsy - "Treatment with CBD in oily solution of drug-resistant paediatric epilepsies" (5)

CBD and Breast Cancer - "Pathways mediating the effects of cannabidiol on the reduction of breast cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis."
Antiphychotic Effects - "A critical review of the antipsychotic effects of cannabidiol: 30 years of a translational investigation" (6)

Antiphychotic Effects - "A critical review of the antipsychotic effects of cannabidiol: 30 years of a translational investigation" (7)

Inflammation and Pain Suppression - "Cannabinoids suppress inflammatory and neuropathic pain by targeting α3 glycine receptors" (8)

CBD is non-habit forming and works best as a dietary supplement taken daily. Your daily mg usage will be based on your weight and severity of symptoms.

Things To Consider When Buying Any CBD:

• Reputable supplier that will provide education
• CO2 extraction – explained below
• Mg strength - how much per drop or ml – do you need high or low strength
• Whole plant extraction - not parts

Look for a supplier who can answer the questions you have. They need to be knowledgeable on how the product works, how to use it effectively and will take the time to teach you about it. If they don't understand it and cannot teach you, how are you going to be able to use it?

There are different ways CBD is extracted. Some of the common ways are CO2, solvent, ethanol or olive oil.

The CBD oil we carry on Sweet Willow Spirit is obtained via CO2 extraction. It is more expensive but renders a safer, and in my opinion, better product. CO2 is non-toxic. Every time you drink a carbonated beverage, you are drinking the results of CO2 being added to it. It is tasteless and doesn't leave anything unwanted behind.

Solvent extraction uses neurotoxic solvents such as hexane and butane which may be left behind. Butane is a known lung irritant. These solvents may compromise your immune system function and interfere with healing.

Since healing is usually why we are turning to CBD in the first place, we don’t want that. Ethanol extracts chlorophyll which has been known to give unpleasant side effects. Filtering the extract to remove the chlorophyll can significantly reduce the potency. (3)

Olive oil extraction is labor intensive, produces fairly low yields and is highly perishable. Not many companies use this method of extraction. It is mainly used by those making it at home.

​​Many brands on the market only extract the CBD from aerial parts of the plant. We want the entire plant since that's the only way to receive all the wonderful cannabinoids giving you the "entourage effect" as discussed above.

In Summary

​I hope you have found this article beneficial. As always, do your own research too. There are a LOT of CBD companies out there that charge very little for their products. Make sure you know what you are getting.

Should you have any questions, I may be emailed at Melissa@sweetwillowspirit.com.

Love and light,
Melissa - Sweet Willow Spirit Therapies

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