What is Hemp, what is CBD?

If you haven’t tried it yet, you have no doubt heard it!

CBD, Full Spectrum Hemp or Cannabis... you will be familiar with one or all of these terms but like me, about 7 months ago, you probably don’t know what this all means. You will probably be wondering, how can it help you or if you will even be able to function like a human being and not a stoned teenager after taking it for the first time!

So lets start from the beginning and explain…

What is Hemp?

The hemp plant has been around for hundreds of years and years. Hemp and marijuana are both classified biologically as cannabis however they are used very differently.

Hemp is a variety of Cannabis sativa L. The hemp plant can be used for a variety of different things such as using the fibres to make textiles and the seeds that provide valuable protein and oil. Hemp has been reported as being used by the Egyptians to make paper and may have been used earlier than that!

Hemp V’s marijuana

The Hemp plant has 113 cannabinoids (which is the name given to the components of the plant). The main difference between the hemp plant and marijuana plant is the levels of the cannabinoid THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) – the stuff that gets you high!

The hemp plant actually has very low levels of THC but high levels of the non-intoxicating cannabinoid CBD (cannabidiol). CBD is fast becoming the hot topic for people that are looking for a natural alternative to help ease anxiety, relieve symptoms of depression, help manage pain and reduce inflammation – but more on that later!

How does it work?

We actually have something in our bodies called the endocannabinoid system. This is really quite fascinating if you are a bit of science geek like myself! Anything with a spine has one of these systems and its made up of little neurotransmitters that bind to receptors within the body.

There are CBD1 and CBD2 receptors all over the body and you might be surprised to know that we make CBD in our bodies, so by using hemp to assist with a healthy body and mind you aren’t introducing anything that’s foreign to the body – and this is why CBD and hemp oils are so great for us.

So should I just be using CBD?

As we have already discussed – the hemp plant has 113 cannabinoids. Some people just use the CBD cannabinoids, but there are ongoing studies to suggest that if you make use all of the cannabinoids in the plant that this can enhance the effectiveness of the CBD.

If you are going to use the full spectrum of cannabinoids this is obviously going to have THC in the product. This won’t be enough to get you stoned (products have to have less than 0.3% THC to be sold in the EU), however some people may want to avoid this due to drug testing as work.

This is when you can go for a broad-spectrum hemp, which will be THC free – getting all of the benefits of the other cannabinoids but with the peace of mind that you wont be pulled up by your boss!.

So what can we use hemp for?

I am not here to make any medical claims but what I can do is share my experiences and also the experiences of others.

I use full spectrum hemp to help ease my anxiousness and to help me better manage my stress levels (a full time, full on corporate job, two rescue pups, a house renovation and a side business tends to push my buttons at times!).

It has categorically changed my life (and my husband has made it through 3 lockdowns and is still alive – and that’s a miracle in itself let’s be honest!). I’m sleeping better, I have more control over my feelings and I don’t tend to sweat the small stuff as much as I used to.

I have clients that are worried about the build-up of inflammation in their bodies and people that want to improve their gut health and overall health (body and mind) and are using the full spectrum products along side their daily health routines for better prolonged health.

I have athletes that are at the height of their career that are using hemp to aid sports recovery and heart rate variability. We have chiropractors using the topical creams to soothe their patient’s pain after treatments.

I am also helping hundreds of people get a better night’s sleep – which I also used to suffer with.

This list goes on…

So what should you check for when buying hemp products?

There are 3 things I always look for when I am looking into health products.

1. Know where the ingredients are sourced. A lot of hemp and CBD products come from areas of the world where they don’t think about the soil the plants are grown in.

This can lead to heavy metal build up which can be passed onto you through the product – so always ask to be pointed towards the plants test certificates – this should reassure you that it is a reputable company with good processes and standards.

2. Get a high absorption rate! Typically, CBD and Hemp come in oil form and although some might boast huge amounts of CBD – that’s no good if you can’t absorb it! Think of our bodies like cucumbers – made up of water – we all know that that oil doesn’t mix with water right?

Make sure your choosing a product that is either water soluble or has another type of delivery method that ensures high absorption rates. Ours boasts 100% absorption!

3. Make sure the product starts to work instantly! This is sort of, tied into point two, but its so important (take it from me)! If you are suffering with a situation that is making your mind race, palms sweaty and your heart beat a million times a second – you want something that is going to work FAST – not in 4 hours!

To summarise, do your homework – as with anything that you are putting into your body. Make sure you know the source. Work with someone you trust.

If you would like to speak to me more about the wonders of hemp, how it can help or if you are looking for an opportunity to be part of one of the fastest growing industries in the world then just pop me a message and we can have a chat.

Big love

Lucy x