Hemp Therapies Wiki / CBD Oil & Products

CBD Oil Basics

CBD, or cannabidiol, is one of about 140 cannabinoids found in the hemp plant and is described as the main active ingredient in hemp-based products. It is the most abundant cannabinoid in naturally cultivated hemp flower, where more than 113 total cannabinoids have been identified.

How CBD Differs From THC

CBD is non-intoxicating, meaning it does not produce the “high” associated with cannabis. THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the cannabinoid responsible for that effect. A 2016 study found that active THC caused significant physical and psychological effects, including increased heart rate and euphoria, whereas CBD did not adversely affect heart rate, blood pressure, or cognitive functioning in the same comparison.

Where CBD Oil Comes From

“CBD oil” is a broad term for any oil containing CBD. It is most often derived from hemp, though CBD can also be obtained from other Cannabis sativa strains containing a higher percentage of THC, such as marijuana. CBD oil is made by combining hemp extract with a carrier oil, such as grape seed oil, olive oil, or coconut oil. Because CBD is fat-soluble, carrier oils provide the lipid base oral CBD products depend on. CBD is commonly extracted from the aerial parts of the hemp plant — its flowers and leaves — where cannabinoids concentrate.

Summary

CBD oil combines an extract of the hemp plant’s cannabinoid-rich parts with a fat-based carrier oil. Its defining chemical distinction from THC, the plant’s other major cannabinoid, is that CBD does not produce intoxicating effects, a difference research has measured directly by comparing the two compounds’ effects on heart rate and cognitive function.