There are many hurdles to overcome when one is looking at Cannabidiol (CBD). There is the stigma surrounding CBD, misconceptions and the unknown. There are many aspects of CBD that are unknown and that is one of the reasons why the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) has not completely approved CBD for widespread use. That is why we here at Panacea Life Sciences are committed to give the most up-to-date information surrounding our products and CBD in general. This article will help guide you through the different CBD and FDA subjects that should be understood before purchasing CBD.
What is the FDA? What is the importance of it?
The first thing people want to know is, what is the FDA doing to work toward answers surrounding thoughts on CBD? In this article they go into detail about what they are working toward. The FDA wants people to understand what CBD is and what it is not (much like us). Unfortunately, there are many CBD companies that make huge claims that are just not true. This article explains the potential harmful effects that CBD may or may not have on people that use it.
Some of these harmful effects include liver failure, it may affect other medications that you are using, using CBD along with alcohol or other medications may slow brain function, among other risks it may have. The FDA also warns users of certain side-effects that could be potentially harmful. Then they list questions that are not answered and have not been researched extensively to give any type of information on it.
The FDA is here to keep us all safe and that is just what they are working toward doing. It is important to note that there is still so much to learn about CBD. If you decide to begin your journey with CBD, make sure to pick the right product for you. It is also imperative to start off small and slowly increase the amount you use to make sure that there are no side effects for you personally. Always consult a doctor before beginning the use of CBD to make sure it will not have effects on the medication that you are using.
What is CBD?
Cannabidiol or more well known as CBD is one of the 113 cannabinoids found in the Cannabis sativa plant. The Cannabis sativa plant is also known as the marijuana plant as well as the hemp plant. Yes, they are similar, but not the same thing.
The marijuana plant has much higher percentages of THC or Tetrahydrocannabinol. This is one of the more well-known cannabinoids found in these plants because of the inebriating effects caused by THC ingestion. CBD and THC are often confused with one another, but that is simply not correct. THC is not legal in all 50 states while CBD is legal across the country.
CBD does not have the effects that gets users “high”, but it has many other potential benefits regarding health. In the 2018 Farm Bill it gave permission to farmers across America to grow and sell the hemp plant. The hemp plant, unlike the marijuana plant, has high amounts of CBD and must have .3% or less of THC to be deemed a CBD product. This .3% is low enough that it will not cause the “high” people describe when using marijuana derived products. However, there are some states that have legalized the use of THC for medical and even recreational purposes.
But we are talking about CBD here. What does the FDA have to say about this interesting cannabinoid?
Types of CBD
There are several different types of CBD that can start your CBD journey. Here are a few:
- Edibles: Edibles are often found in gummy form (we have cherry flavored gummies). These gummies are eaten like any other type of gummy but with CBD! These are taken orally and go through the digestive system to reach the stomach where, when broken down the CBD is absorbed into the bloodstream by the lining in the stomach. This is an easy and delicious way to get CBD into your system each day. The amount of time it takes to feel is a little longer than other types of CBD, but still effective.
- Tinctures: A tincture is an oil like substance that is placed under the tongue more often than not and is absorbed from there. Tinctures are quicker to the bloodstream than an edible. However, some users do not enjoy the taste of a tincture (it tastes quite earthy) others do not care at all.
- Tablets: This type of CBD product reaches the bloodstream similarly to tinctures. Instead of an oil this tablet dissolves in the mouth and the CBD is absorbed from there.
- Vapes: Here at Panacea Life Sciences, we do not advocate for the use of CBD vapes, as they are potentially dangerous, but they are a kind of CBD product available to purchase elsewhere. After inhaling the CBD vapor is absorbed into the bloodstream.
- Topicals: There are several types of CBD topicals. CBD salves, lotions, creams and even hand sanitizer are available. These never do reach the bloodstream, but their benefits are potentially soaked in by the pores in the skin. These are best used when used liberally and often. CBD hand sanitizer is used just like regular hand sanitizer, to rid hands of harmful bacteria.
- Soft gels: This last type of CBD is used the same way edibles are used, but no chewing is involved. The soft gel is full of CBD and once it reaches the stomach the outer layer is dissolved, and the CBD is absorbed into the bloodstream from the stomach lining.
CBD Uses
Now that you know what types of CBD products are available, what are people using them for? Here is a list:
- Produce a sense of calm: Those who have used CBD before have described CBD to give a sense of calm to those who have feelings of anxiousness. In this study they found that rats had a positive reaction to CBD. They felt less helpless and enjoyed activities more.
- Anti-inflammatory properties: CBD has been described as anti-inflammatory. Panacea Life Sciences did our own research on this topic. Pet owners gave their canines CBD daily to see what the effects would be on their osteoarthritis. They described more mobility in their furry friends. You can read more about our findings here.
- Skin health: This study took before and after photos of users of CBD topicals. They also did several different tests to test before and after the use of CBD. They found that the CBD topical helped increase the skin health of users who had skin conditions or did not.
FDA Approved CBD Products
The uses and products above are not FDA approved. They are still being researched, but there are CBD products that are FDA approved. Believe it or not, they are all for medical use. Epidiolex is one of the CBD FDA approved medications. This medication assists those who have one of these two severe types of epilepsy: Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome. This drug helps control the seizures in these people.
Marinol (dronabinol), Syndros (dronabinol), and Cesamet (nabilone) are also FDA approved medications that contain CBD. These are CBD and THC blended medications generally used for cancer patients to decrease nausea caused by cancer-fighting medication, or pain associated with spasticity in Multiple Sclerosis patients. These approved drug products are only available with a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider.
What to watch for when purchasing CBD:
There are certain things that the FDA warns people of while looking at CBD products. We want you to know these things so that you may enjoy your CBD experience and be as knowledgeable as possible.
CBD retailers that make claims without having human or animal clinical studies linked to them are not reputable. It is important to understand what to look for when purchasing a CBD product. Unproven claims are one of them. If a CBD retailer does not include a list of ingredients, turn away. There could be unknown chemicals that could harm you. The processes at which the CBD is extracted from the hemp plant could also be harmful. Understanding the processes that are available is important. There are several different types of processing as well.
We here at Panacea Life Sciences make sure that our CBD is tested in house as well as a third-party testing. We test for potency, toxins, microbes, terpene, and solvents to ensure the highest quality of our natural CBD products.
CBD and the FDA
There are several things that still need to be learned regarding CBD and we are committed to give the most up-to-date information to our customers. Key points in this article are: if a CBD company makes claims without proper follow-up information, they are not reputable. The FDA has not approved all CBD products. If you want to start using CBD always start with a lower amount and gently increase it over time. Stay safe. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to email us at [email protected]
Links:
https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/2018-farm-bill
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0031938418307509
