Cannabidiol, better known as CBD, promotes overall health and well-being. CBD is becoming increasingly popular for many good reasons. Google it and you’ll see why!

CBD is extracted from cannabis plants and although it is also present in marijuana, CBD oil is most often extracted from agricultural hemp.

One very important difference between marijuana and CBD oil is that they act on different receptors in the body. Cannabinoid receptors are found on nerve cells throughout the body, including in the brain.

CBD does not alter your state of mind because CBD does not affect the same receptors as THC, the ingredient in marijuana that gets you high.

A major plus is CBD oil’s lack of intoxicating effects and a lower potential for side effects than other medications.

If you are interested in trying a CBD oil, become a smart consumer:

Get CBD oil NOT hemp seed oil – Hemp seed oil comes from the seeds of the hemp plant and will not have the same properties or effects as CBD oil.

Know where your product was grown – Check the labels or the company’s website to see whether they say where it was grown, and look especially for those grown in Colorado.

Colleen Lanier, executive director of the Hemp Industry Association, considers Colorado to have the most robust hemp program. The state performs spot-tests of hemp plants to check THC levels and will investigate the potential use of any illegal pesticide.

A high quality brand of CBD will always provide third-party lab results to their consumers.

Buy USA – Stay away from products made with hemp grown overseas. They are not subject to any state or federal testing results available to consumers.

You want ‘full spectrum’ – Check the labels or the brand’s website to find out if the manufacturer uses the whole plant in their products. This maybe called Whole Plant or Full Spectrum.

Production methods matter – Investigate the company’s production methods. Safer and more effective products have the CBD processed through ethanol and/or supercritical CO2 extraction. CBD Oil made with solvents like butane and hexane may leave unsafe residues.

Precautions and side-effects

As with most supplements, consult with your physician before using any dietary supplement including hemp extract.

CBD oil is not recommended during pregnancy or while breast-feeding.

Brands

Blue Bird Botanicals CBD

I’ve investigated a number of brands and found significant differences. The one I sell in my office and recommend to my patients is Blue Bird Botanicals CBD Products.

They are grown legally in Colorado and rigorously tested for safety, quality, and cannabinoid content. They use ethanol/alcohol to extract their hemp. It is a clean and cold extraction method that allows for optimal retention of terpenes and other sensitive compounds.

Bluebird has every batch of their full-spectrum hemp extracts and supplements third party tested. Laboratories analyze all products for cannabinoid potency, heavy metals, bacterial/microbial life, mycotoxins (fungus), and pesticides. They test for potency, heavy metals, and pesticides.

Your results depend on the quality of the product you use so please, be a savvy consumer.

There are also many topical CBD products so far my favorite is Pure Ratios CBD Patch, currently it is the only CBD topical product I sell as I’m still on the look out for others that I’m impressed by.

Pure Ratios CBD Patch
They are:
Lab tested
Dependable up to 96 hours
Made with all natural ingredients
Free from chemical enhancers
Free from adhesives mixed in with formula
Free from additives
Hypoallergenic
Water-resistant
First and Only patent pending long-lasting topical reservoir patches