Cannabidiol (known to most of us as CBD) has been at the centre of much debate recently. The most important thing to establish, before going any further, is that CBD and THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) are totally separate entities, but both derive from the Cannabis plant.
THC is a crystalline substance, and the main mind-altering component of Cannabis. It produces the hit that people search for from smoking ‘weed’, and can only be derived from this plant.
Cannabis comes from the genus of flowering plants in the family Cannabaceae which is indigenous to and originates from Central Asia. The two most common species of this genus are Cannabis Sativa and Cannabis Indica, a.k.a what we know to be ‘Cannabis’ and Hemp – which can both produce CBD.
From both sources it acts in exactly the same way on the body/skin, and is a totally natural, non-psychoactive compound, so has no effect on the mind at all – this is not a ‘weed’-like substance!
There are also different ‘formats’ in which to receive CBD - Broad Spectrum and CBD Isolate.
Broad Spectrum
Broad spectrum CBD products contain an array of cannabinoids and terpenes - and of course NO THC. To create this, manufacturers will put their products through several levels of processing to isolate and remove as much trace amounts of THC possible [if the CBD is gained from Cannabis, rather than Hemp], while preserving the other natural cannabinoids and terpenes, which claim to be good for the body and skin. Full spectrum products are by far the most popular, because of the “entourage effect” - when cannabinoids and terpenes work together in perfect synergy.
CBD Isolate
When CBD is isolated from all other cannabinoids it is referred to as CBD Isolate. During the CBD isolate extraction process, everything contained in the plant matter is removed, including any traces of terpenes, waxes, oils, chlorophyll and more. So you’re left with 99+% pure CBD. When approaching isolate, it’s very important to verify the purity, as while many are in the 99.9+% range, there are lower purity options (such as 99.5% of lower) that may not have been correctly distilled, and therefore are not as effective.
Many CBD products are emerging on the skincare, supplement and food markets at the moment, and studies suggest it can have amazing effects. However, a key thing to consider if testing any of these products is the quality and amount of CBD Oil used.
Currently, according to the NHS, you are only likely to get a prescription for ‘medical cannabis’ if you are one of the following:
· Children and adults with rare, severe forms of epilepsy
· Adults with vomiting or nausea caused by chemotherapy
And it will only be considered as a viable form of treatment if other avenues have already been explored.
But there are so many more conditions that CBD Oil can be used for…
Over the last 12 months CBD Oils have been shown to have undeniably positive effects on many different conditions, from Crohn’s disease and constipation all the way to Multiple sclerosis, PTSD and Acne.
In the UK in 2018, skincare and beauty was one of the largest growing markets, showing a market value increase of over £210 million that year, and is expected to have grown a further £455 million by the end of 2019.
CBD claims to offer a triple-threat effect on skin – anti-ageing, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory.
It has been shown to counter the effects of free radicals and pollution on the skin, by providing an extra particle for the free radical to bond with, stopping any damage to the DNA, and keeping skin looking youthful and plump.
Skin ageing and inflammation go hand in hand as we get older, as a lot of us know, and another of CBD’s claims is to be able to help counter oxidative stress, keeping puffiness at an all time low. It also works to calm the angry redness that so many teenagers and early-20’s experience from excessive sebum (oil) production, and offset the triggers of many types of acne.
The Beauty and Skincare press have been going mad for all things CBD for the past 6 months to a year, because of these above claimed effects, so what we really need at The Brand Whisperer is the perfect CBD Oil based product to talk about day and night! We have been searching for a product to trial that has a high strength and reliable, honest content of CBD – if you find/have one let us know…