What Does Total Cannabinoids Mean?

We live in a world of buzzwords and clickbait. We hear words like “CBD” and “THC” on a daily basis, but do we really know what they mean and how they affect us?

How Does CBD Affect The Endocannabinoid System?

Before we dive into the buzzwords and myths associated with CBD, let’s take a quick look at the endocannabinoid system.

The endocannabinoid system is a network of receptors located throughout our bodies that interact with cannabinoids like CBD and THC.

These receptors are responsible for regulating many of our body’s processes, including pain, stress, and mood, and communicate with all other systems in the body.

The endocannabinoid system plays a vital role in our bodies and is responsible for keeping us healthy and balanced.

By understanding the endocannabinoid system, we can better understand how cannabinoids, such as CBD and THC, interact with it and affect us.

Can CBD Cause Anxiety?

THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the psychoactive compound found in marijuana. It is responsible for the “high” associated with marijuana use.

CBD, or cannabidiol, is the non-psychoactive compound found in hemp and some marijuana strains. It does not produce a “high,” but it does have many potential health benefits.

Cannabinoids

Cannabinoids are naturally occurring compounds found in both plants and animals. In plants, they are known as phytocannabinoids, while in animals they are known as endocannabinoids.

Phytocannabinoids are found in cannabis sativa plants, such as marijuana and hemp, while the most common endocannabinoid is anandamide, also known as the bliss molecule!

THC and CBD are two of the most well known and most studied cannabinoids, which is why we hear about them all the time! CBG (cannabigerol) is also growing in popularity.

Psychoactive

Is CBD psychoactive? What exactly does that mean and will you get high? The answer is no.

This is one of the biggest differences between THC and CBD. CBD is a non-psychoactive compound, meaning it does not produce a “high.”

While CBD may interact with your brain and offer several therapeutic health benefits, it does not produce the same intoxicating effects as THC. 

THC

THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the cannabinoid in marijuana that is responsible for the feeling of being “stoned.”

Another common question is whether or not THC has medicinal benefits, such as using it as an anti-inflammatory. While there is some evidence that THC can have anti-inflammatory effects, it is not as effective as CBD.

Full Spectrum

Full spectrum means the full plant profile, including up to .3% THC. We like to compare full spectrum with eating whole foods. CBD isolate on the other hand, would be more like taking a pill or supplement.

Essentially, isolate means only the CBD molecule is extracted, nothing else, not the entire plant profile.

This may be good for people worried about passing a drug test. We tend to believe in full spectrum, due to the amplified benefits and entourage effect induced by consuming the entire plant profile vs just isolated CBD. Learn more about the differences between full spectrum and isolate here.

Certificate of Analysis (COA)

COAs are essentially documents sent from a lab that have tested your product and verify the strength and safety of your CBD. The product’s ‘COA’ is essentially proof that the product conforms to what the label says as well as any marketing messages.

At Blooming Botanicals, we provide a QR code on the label of each product that you can easily scan with the camera on your phone to access all of our test results. You can also view our COAs here.

Artificial Ingredients

CBD is meant to be a health product, so keep an eye out for odd ingredients you can’t pronounce, fillers, preservatives, anything sketchy! With CBD, less is more. Generally there are 3 main ingredients for our CBD tinctures…

• Full spectrum CBD
• MCT oil (carrier oil)
• Herbal infusion (all natural lavender, turmeric, terpenes)

That’s it! No other oils or unnecessary ingredients needed. 

Where Does CBD Come From?

There are many myths surrounding CBD and its effects. One of the most common myths is that CBD is the same as marijuana. This is not true.

While both CBD and marijuana come from the same plant, CBD is non-psychoactive. That said, all of our CBD products are made with full spectrum CBD.

This means they contain up to .3% THC, which is not enough to get high, but is enough to potentially fail a drug test.

So while THC and CBD are not the same, they are often used in conjunction to enhance benefits, which is something to be mindful of.

How Does CBD Make You Feel?

The next question is whether or not CBD is a placebo. The answer is no. While CBD is still relatively new and more research is needed, there is evidence that CBD has a variety of health benefits.

One of the most validating experiences we have to date with CBD was seeing our dog, Arlo, recover from an ACL injury using CBD.

We had tried everything and after CBD, he was running around like a puppy again, even the vets were shocked! With animals, there is no placebo effect.

They don’t know you are giving them CBD so there would be no real way for CBD to induce a placebo effect. Could humans potentially experience a placebo effect when taking CBD?

To that we say anything is possible…but if you are experiencing relief regardless, does it matter? A win is a win!

How Does CBD Work?

Another myth is that CBD is a “cure-all.” While CBD does have many potential health benefits, it is not a “cure-all” or magic pill. One reason CBD gets this reputation is due to the nature of how CBD works in the body.

CBD is meant to help bring your body and mind back into balance, and will help target whatever is “out of whack” which will look different for different people.

For example, one person may rave about CBD for anxiety, while another person may rave about CBD for pain. It all depends on the ailments you are experiencing and trying to manage.

Total Benefits of CBD

CBD is a non-psychoactive compound that has many potential health benefits. Users report using CBD mostly for anxiety, pain, sleep, focus, and gut health.

While CBD is still relatively new, there is evidence to suggest that CBD has a variety of therapeutic effects.

We take this one step further by infusing medicinal herbs into our various tinctures and topicals.

Always consult with a doctor before taking CBD. Ultimately, CBD will not get you “high,” but it may have other beneficial effects.

Learn more about finding high quality CBD to maximize the potential benefits.

Want more tips? Check out our Instagram @bloomingbotanicalshemp