Let's Talk CBD!

CBD has gained main-stream momentum like essential oils have. You may even know people who sell it through some MLM company, just like essential oils. Also like essential oils, not all CBD is created equal.

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol shortened to CBD is a natural oil typically extracted from the Cannabis sativa plant and used as a dietary supplement. As you will see via the studies later in this article, it has significant medical benefits. However, unlike cannabis, federally legal CBD does not make you feel "high" or "stoned". More and more people are turning to CBD rich cannabis because it is not psychoactive but many help with many physical, mental and emotional issues.

THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING ANY CBD:

• Reputable supplier that will provide education and materials

• CO2 extracted

• Mg strength - how much per drop or ml

• Whole plant extraction - not parts

Look for a supplier who is able to answer the questions you have. They need to be knowledgeable on how the product works, how to use it effectively and will actually take the time to teach you about it. If they don't understand it and cannot teach you, how are you going to be able to use it?

There are different ways CBD is extracted. Some of the common ways are CO2, solvent, ethanol or olive oil. The CBD we carry is obtained via CO2 extraction. It is more expensive but renders a safer, and in my opinion, better product. CO2 is non-toxic. Every time you drink a carbonated beverage, you are drinking the results of CO2 being added to it. It is tasteless and doesn't leave anything unwanted behind.

Solvent extraction uses neurotoxic solvents such as hexane and butane which may be left behind. Butane is a known lung irritant. These solvents may compromise your immune system function and interfere with healing. Healing is usually why we are turning to CBD in the first place. Ethanol extracts chlorophyll which has been known to give unpleasant side effects. Filtering the extract to remove the chlorophyll can significantly reduce the potency. (3)

Olive oil extraction is labor intensive, produces fairly low yields and is highly perishable. Not many companies use this method of extraction. It is mainly used by those making it at home. (3)

Some companies show on the label how much of the CBD (cannibidiol) is in the entire bottle. This can be misleading. I've seen it anywhere from 100mg all the way up to 1,000mg per bottle. If you break it down, it can end up being quite low per dose. Lower than you may want to facilitate healing. Ask questions, know what you are buying. See the pictures below.

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This 1 ounce bottle hardly seems worth the effort. It was $40 and gives you a whopping 1.33 MG of CBD per 12 drops. The 100 MG you see on the front label means the ENTIRE bottle contains 100 MG of CBD. In order to get 25 MG into your system, you need 228 drops (11.5 ML). That's 1/4 of the bottle. This bottle may last the average user about 6 days. At $40 for 6 days, with 30 days in a month, this would cost you $200 a month! Plus, it's horrifically awful tasting. Also, did you see it is only from aerial parts? You are not getting the benefit the entire plant has to offer.

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This picture is from a bottle of CBD a friend sent me. No where on all of the packaging does it tell you how man MG you are taking when you take a ml of it. Their "formula" is very hard to understand in my opinion. Had they just given you the MG per ML, you could figure out how much you need on your own. CBD is not one size fits all. Depending on your weight and the severity of your symptoms will generally dictate how much you use.

The picture below is what we give when you buy our CBD. We want you to be in control of your own health and able to use the product as needed within guidelines. As it says on the card, it is a "jumping off point". You are able to increase or decrease as needed.

Many brands on the market only extract the CBD from the aerial parts. We use the entire plant since that's the only way to receive all the wonderful cannabinoids giving you the "entourage effect".

"The “entourage effect” phenomenon happens when hundreds of natural components within a plant work together with the human body to produce a stronger effect than any one of those components used alone could. It’s considered a synergistic effect by nature. If you were to combine multiple compounds in their natural state, we wouldn't necessarily end up with the sum of the parts; we may get a multiplying effect instead. With the entourage effect, the different compounds can amplify each other’s effects, making the whole plant more effective in treating unwanted physical, emotional or mental symptoms." (1)

WHY CBD?

CBD can be so helpful to its uses for the following issues.

• Sleep

• Inflammation

• Pain

• Anxiety

• Cancer

• Cigarette Addiction

• Acne

• Psychosis

• Seizures

• Spasms

• PTSD

• ADD/ADHD

• Tourette’s Syndrome

• Anti-nausea

• Headaches/Migraines

• Powerful Antioxidant

• Anti-convulsant

• Neuro-protective

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Numerous studies have been done on CBD for various medical conditions. You can read about some below. Click on the underlined words to be taken to the studies.

CBD for Neurodegenerative Disorders - "Cannabidiol for neurodegenerative disorders: important new clinical applications for this phytocannabinoid?"

CBD and Epilepsy - "Treatment with CBD in oily solution of drug-resistant paediatric epilepsies"

CBD and Breast Cancer - "Pathways mediating the effects of cannabidiol on the reduction of breast cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis."

Antiphychotic Effects - "A critical review of the antipsychotic effects of cannabidiol: 30 years of a translational investigation"

Inflammation and Pain Suppression - "Cannabinoids suppress inflammatory and neuropathic pain by targeting α3 glycine receptors"

​CBD is non-habit forming and works best as a dietary supplement when taken daily. As stated above, your daily amount will be based on your weight and severity of symptoms. (See above chart).

We carry Patriot Botanicals brand made from industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa), which is 25 MG per ML. Since there are about 20 drops per ML, each drop would be about 1.25 MG. To learn more or purchase your own 15 ML full spectrum (peppermint/vanilla) or no THC (unflavored) bottle, visit our website. If you have any questions, please email me at melissa@sweetwillowspirit.com.

As always, do your own research too. There are a LOT of CBD companies out there that charge very little for their products. Make sure you know what you are getting. If you want to learn more about CBD read my blog post WHY CBD? As with most products, they are not all created equal. Have a blessed day!

Love and light, Melissa

Caution: The material on this page is not meant to take the place of diagnosis and treatment by a qualified medical practitioner. Since the actual use of this product by others is beyond our control, no expressed or implied guarantee as to the effects of their use can be given nor liability taken. Use at your own discretion. Any application of the recommendations is at the user’s risk. Sweet Willow Spirit, LLC disclaims any liability arising directly or indirectly from the use of this information and assumes no responsibility for any actions taken. This should not be used in place of traditional therapies but solely as a complementary means for bringing well-being. The FDA has not evaluated the statements on this website. No claims are made as to any medicinal value of any oil or healing modality.

(1) Rasoanaivo, P., Wright C.W., Willcox, M.L., and Gilbert, B. (2011). Whole plant extracts versus single compounds for the treatment of malaria: synergy and positive interactions. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3059462/

(2) Our supplier Aromamatrix/Patriot Botanicals handouts designed by Roxanne Benton, and the CBD Wheel picture

(3) The Complete Guide to CBD Extractions (CO2 Cannabis Extraction, Olive Oil and Solvents) Extraction 101 https://www.marijuanabreak.com/cbd-cannabis-extraction