Where Does CBD Come From?
Today you can find CBD almost anywhere from Whole Foods to the local gas station. In 2018 the Farm Bill legalized the cultivation and commercialization of hemp-derived products and its use, and, in turn, it’s production has skyrocketed. It is being sold in drinks, baked goods, gummies, bath bombs, pet products, clothes…you name it!
When it comes to CBD, much of its fame is due to its reputation for relieving pain and reducing stress in the body. It comes from a plant that has been around for thousands of years; some say hemp was the earliest plant cultivated for textile fibers. We think it made its way to Europe in 1200 BC.
So, where exactly does CBD come from? And how is it harvested and processed for use in the human body? Read on to find out.
What is CBD?
Before we answer how it comes to be, we must explain what it is. What does CBD stand for? CBD is short for cannabidiol, one active ingredient found in hemp plants.
Unlike CBD’s more notorious cousin, THC, CBD is not psychoactive and will not get you high. It is extracted from the hemp plant’s flowers and used to make both a wide variety of ingestible CBD products and topical skin and body care products.
There are many active compounds in CBD oil that work with your cannabinoid system to help the body function better, leading to improved health and wellness.
CBD products are legal if they contain less than 0.3% THC. The many reported health benefits of CBD to include decreased inflammation, a sense of calm, and reduced stress. See our other blog on more health benefits.
Where Does CBD Come From?
Now onto the real question, where does CBD come from? In short, it is harvested from an extraordinary plant called hemp.
About Hemp
Hemp has been used for centuries and can be used to make various commercial and industrial products, including rope, textiles, clothing, shoes, food, paper, bioplastics, insulation, and biofuel.
Although hemp (Cannabis Sativa) and marijuana (Cannabis Indica) are two varieties of the cannabis plant, hemp plants are known for their high CBD content. In contrast, marijuana is known for the opposite.
And hemp just so happens to be one of the most regenerative plants on the planet. Unlike cotton, hemp plants can be grown abundantly without much water or fertilizer. It’s naturally resistant to pests, so it doesn’t require pesticides or insecticides. And it captures carbon from the air and puts it into the ground through its root system.
Hemp seeds are also considered a complete protein source, which means that they provide all the essential amino acids. Your body cannot produce essential amino acids and must obtain them from your diet.
How is it Harvested?
Although CBD isolate is often used in vape cartridges and processed into other smokable forms, the most common way to consume CBD is through tinctures and capsules or applied to your body to reduce inflammation and nourish your skin. To collect the CBD oil, it first must be extracted from the plant.
The CBD oil first has to be separated from the raw plant material. And there are a few ways to extract it. CO2 extraction is the best way to get the purest high potency CBD.
The CO2 extraction method puts carbon dioxide under high pressure while maintaining a low temperature. The gas is transformed into a liquid due to the pressure and then passed through the plant material with up to a 90% extraction efficiency. The resulting extract is a highly concentrated, totally pure cannabidiol oil.
How Does CBD Affect the Human Body?
The list of CBD benefits seems genuinely neverending and continues to grow. Both consumer testimonials and a growing body of research suggest this sustainable plant can have a significant impact on your health and wellness.
In the 1990s, scientists discovered the endocannabinoid system (ECS). This system in the body helps CBD to be absorbed. The ECS is a physiological system that is connected to all other systems in the body.
Throughout our bodies, there are ECS receptors. They are in our brain, spinal cord, organs, and skin.
The cannabinoids from CBD bind to these receptors and bring balance to the body and help it function more efficiently. Our bodies can also produce these compounds, and when we create them, they are called endocannabinoids. When plants produce them, they are called phytocannabinoids. In both cases, these natural compounds are believed to reduce inflammation, boost your immune system, and reduce the effects of stress.
Of course, we can produce these chemical compounds on our own, but like any multivitamin or supplement, a boost can sometimes help! The best CBD oil products, tinctures, and capsules can give your body the help that it needs to perform optimally.
Taking Hemp into the Future
We hope this guide to learning about CBD and where it comes from was helpful. Knowing that our products are natural, sustainably sourced, USDA Certified Organic, and 3rd party tested should give you maximum confidence that you are getting the best CBD products you can buy. But knowing that all of the hemp that goes into our products is grown and harvested by farmers that want to make a difference in our world should make you feel good when you buy one of our products.
Hemp grows in almost any environment, might be a key to health and wellness, regenerates the soil, reduces carbon in the air, and our exposure to pollution, is biodegradable, is a renewable biofuel superfood, and helps conserve water. Not many plants on earth have a resume quite so spectacular. Learn about why hemp can be a solution to many of the world’s complex problems here.
