HISTORY OF HEMP / CBD - BE EDUCATED
CBD and hemp are not new fads for the wellness community. They have been around and enjoyed for thousands of years. The concept for Vitalibis began over 7 years ago when our Founder was searching for alternatives to pharmaceutical drugs to help his daughter with special needs. The impacts of the oil have been amazing, so he formalized Vitalibis as a socially conscious brand focused on "Be well. Do good."
Hemp and CBD have been in the news a lot lately. Many brands are chasing the money today, however people have been using hemp and cannabinoids for thousands of years for a variety of purposes: ropes, sails, paper, protein, wellness, soil remediation, etc. To learn more about this plant's history, we created the video below.
Did you know people used to pay their bills and taxes with hemp in the 1600's?
STRAINS AND EXTRACTION MATTER - BE INFORMED
When selecting a great wine, the grapes and processing are important to consumers. People are interested in what region of the world the grapes are grown, what year they were harvested and what types of grapes are used in the wine. Although not a mature industry yet, consumers should also care what strains of hemp are used to create their hemp-derived oils.
For full spectrum and broad spectrum oils, the higher quality the strain the better. Different strains provide different elemental profiles. Unfortunately, consumers today are purchasing oil without understanding that not all oils are the same.
Additionally, hemp oil extraction matters too. Years ago, solvent extraction was prevalent (extraction using ethanol, butane, etc.). Today, the majority of the oil on the market is extracted using CO2 (sub-critical, super-critical). You can learn more about these methods by Google or YouTube searches.
When starting Vitalibis, we focused a lot of attention on sourcing and extraction. Our CEO spent 18 months searching for the purest, best extraction process available. Our extraction uses a proprietary process which retains more of the benefits versus what's available from solvent or CO2 extraction. Premium, safe, hemp-derived full spectrum oil which tastes great and works exceptionally well - no synthetic ingredients or flavor systems needed.
ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM - BE SCIENTIFIC
The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) is a network of receptors (called CB1 and CB2) spread throughout the body – in the brain along with the central and peripheral nervous systems. This network of receptors controls many vital life functions, including the immune system, anxiety, memory, appetite, sleep patterns, mood, stress, inflammation and pain sensation.
This critical system wasn't discovered until the 1990's. Anandamide was the first, naturally occurring endogenous cannabinoid, or endocannabinoid. It was found by Raphael Mechoulam as well as NIMH researchers William Devane and Dr. Lumir Hanus.
The body’s ECS promotes biological balance in every cell, tissue and organ supporting brain, immune, nervous and overall health and wellness. Experts believe that its overall function is to regulate homeostasis, or balance.
Endocannabinoid deficiency can be present as a result of poor diet, lack of exercise, drug abuse, environmental toxins, genetic factors, chronic stress and compromised health. A deficiency within the ECS can manifest itself into different issues: anxiety, sleep issues, pain sensation, etc. And when deficient, the ECS can be supported by full spectrum, phytocannabinoids from the hemp plant.
For a brief Endocannabinoid System overview, please enjoy the video below.
MICRO-DOSING - BE CONSISTENT
After people become comfortable with a couple things about hemp-derived, full spectrum oil: 1) it won't get them high and 2) a little bit about how the Endocannabinoid System works, the next question is typically, "How much do I take?"
Micro-dosing follows the concept of "start low and go slow." There is no universal micro-dose amount to recommend because every person has a unique Endocannabinoid System. Discovering your personal ideal micro-dose requires some self-experimentation.
We use an analogy to help illustrate this point further: some people consume 4 double-espressos to get through each day, whereas others may sip on a watered down iced coffee.
Each person is different in their habits, health, wellness, genetics, etc. When consuming full spectrum hemp oils some may respond positively to 5mg three times per day, while others benefit from 50mg twice a day. The key is finding the dose which works best for you.
Start with a low dosage, stay consistent over several days and increase your dosage slowly until you've achieved your desired results.
STATE OF THE CBD INDUSTRY - BE CAREFUL
The hemp / CBD industry is still quite immature. Many new brands are launching every day to try and get a piece of this rapidly growing market, which some project to be $22B in 2020. What that means is be careful and ask questions because misinformation and low quality product are abundant.
A majority of brands are purchasing oil from wholesale brokers via private label arrangements. Some purchasing as few as 10 bottles to get into business. These wholesale brokers use exactly the same oil and formulas for all the brands they support. These brands have not visited the farms, extractors or fillers. They merely design their own label and carton, then ship to their customers. Some unfortunately make illegal structure function claims (anxiety, pain, sleep, nausea, inflammation) or organic claims without including certified organic logos, to get consumers attention. And many never post their test results on their websites.
Be cautious and aware that this situation exists. Search out reputable brands with high quality products and applicable testing results.
Ask yourself this question, if the brand is only buying 10 to 100 units from a private label / wholesale broker, do you think they are spending the money to even purchase product liability insurance? The answer is no. Most CBD brands do not have product liability insurance and can't qualify to receive a policy. Be careful.
ISOLATE
Isolate is a pure, crystalline powder that contains only cannabidiol. All the plant matter contained in the hemp plant, including oils, waxes, chlorophyll, and more are removed during the extraction process, offering a finished product that's cannabidiol and nothing more. Cannabidiol Isolate products are typically clear / odorless and can be infused with terpene mixes and flavoring.
For additional information, see our BLOG post.
FULL SPECTRUM
Full spectrum, phytocannabinoid rich (PCR) hemp oil contains all the beneficial elements of the plant, including cannabinoids, terpenes, chlorophyll, flavanoids, fatty acids, etc. Of the 80+ cannabinoids, the most abundant cannabinoid found in hemp is the non-psychoactive element known as cannabidiol.
Due to its full range of elements, including cannabinoids and terpenes, full spectrum oils are known to have an "entourage effect" - a wide ranging, synergistic effect that is potentially more therapeutic than isolate.
For additional information, see our BLOG post.
BROAD SPECTRUM
Broad spectrum is a bit of a mix between Full Spectrum and Isolate. Like Full Spectrum, the other compounds found within the plant are preserved in the extract; however, like Isolate, THC is completely removed. It is found in research that trace amounts of THC help agitate the cell receptors in the Endocannabinoid System for improved "entourage effects".
TERPENES
Terpenes (pronounced tur-peens) are organic compounds that give plants flavor and smell are present in cannabis flowers. Female cannabis plants produce glandular trichomes. These glands look like small hairs that protrude from the flowers and leaves. Trichomes house crucial compounds, including cannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes.
For additional information, see our BLOG post.