For now, let’s dive into what CBD exactly is and what is the best way to take it to help you. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a type of cannabinoid, a chemical found naturally in cannabis (marijuana and hemp) plants. Early research is promising regarding the ability of CBD oil to help relieve anxiety. Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), another type of cannabinoid, CBD doesn’t cause any feelings of intoxication or the “high” you may associate with cannabis. CBD is also known for its ability to relieve stress and anxiety in the brain. But how does that exactly work? Well, let’s start by talking about the human body and its many different receptors. CBD is thought to interact with CB1 and CB2 receptors. These receptors are mostly found in the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system, respectively. These receptors are part of our body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), this system in the brain is responsible for so many of our day-to-day functions. A few of these functions include mood, sleep, appetite, memory, etc. There is still a lot that is being discovered about this system in our bodies,
what has been found out is amazing. We all have this ECS in our systems, even if you haven’t had any form of cannabis in your system. When we are born, this system in our brains is in a form of homeostasis, though over time it can become unbalanced. That’s where CBD can come in to help. The endocannabinoids can bind to either receptor, the effects that result depend on where the receptor is located and which endocannabinoid it binds to. The CB1 receptors are located in the brain and throughout the body, while CB2 receptors are found mostly in the immune and gastrointestinal system; although CB2 receptors are also found in the brain, they are not expressed quite as densely as CB1
receptors. We have another blog that goes deeper into this topic.

With this, how can CBD help with different levels of anxiety? At AHS, we have many different products that help with differing levels of anxiety. For example, our SoCal gummies (peach rings, neon rings, and sour bears) are an ingestible CBD that is good for on-the-go anxiety or stress. If you feel any precursors to an anxiety attack or know something that causes you stress is coming up, you can take a gummy and
it may help alleviate these symptoms within half an hour or so. This form of intake goes through your digestive system, which the CBD (also having anti-inflammatory properties) can also help with any stomach aches or pains you may be having. Another intake option would be a tincture/CBD oil that works throughout your entire body and more with your brain’s receptors. While gummies are good for anxiety you’re having in the moment, a tincture helps with overall anxiety and bodily care. You take the oil by leaving it under the tongue for about thirty seconds to a minute, allowing the CBD to enter into your blood stream faster. The CBD oil works best when taken in the morning and before bed so it can stay in your system longer. The tincture can help with overall health by putting your brain in homeostasis as mentioned before. It’s like putting part of your body at optimal settings, though if you’re having other medical conditions, always speak to your doctor before trying new treatments. For generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) says that CBD has been shown to reduce stress in animals such as rats. Study subjects were observed as having lower behavioral signs of anxiety. Their physiological symptoms of anxiety, such as increased heart rate, also improved. CBD may also benefit people with other forms of anxiety, such as social anxiety disorder (SAD) and post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It may help treat anxiety-induced insomnia as well. In 2011, a study
researched CBD’s effects on people with SAD. Participants were given an oral dose of 400 milligrams (mg) of CBD or a placebo. Those who received CBD experienced overall reduced anxiety levels.

If you take any medications, or have any questions on how you should take CBD, we have many specialists and a nurse on staff at AHS who can help with whatever you may need.

CBD, also known as Cannabidiol, is a chemical compound found in the cannabis or hemp plant. There’s also the more well-known chemical THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) in the same plant which causes a psychoactive effect. Unlike THC, CBD does not cause these effects, but instead reduces overall anxiety, stress, and has anti-inflammatory properties. All of these put together can help put the body into a
better state of being.

Now, let’s start with the Isolate. An isolate is the purest form of CBD that has the added benefit of terpenes in it. Terpenes are naturally occurring chemical compounds found in plants and some animals. They’re responsible for the aromas, flavors, and even colors associated with various types of plant life. In terms of cannabis, terpenes are what make certain strains smell or taste different from others. Generally, the CBD isolate comes in a white powdery form that contains 99% pure CBD. A traditional extraction process removes all the active compounds from the cannabis plant. Then, a refining process that stripes away all other phytocannabinoids, including THC, and any other plant matter. What remains is the CBD chemical compounds in its purest form. The isolate has 0% THC and has a quick absorption rate. This compound works well for 7/10 pain, anxiety, insomnia, etc.

Next, let’s discuss the Full Spectrum. A full spectrum compound has some unique qualities. It has increased effectiveness due to the different cannabinoids working synergistically. For AHS, our full spectrum products contain the legal limits for THC, which is 0.3%. With this, you get the continued benefits of the product without the psychoactive effects. Usually, these products would be used for chronic pains leveling to 9/10 and severe issues within the body. Because of the benefits of the entire plant, full-spectrum CBD products are priced higher than their broad-spectrum counterparts or CBD isolate. It’s also more challenging for manufacturers to maintain consistent ratios when using a full-
spectrum extract — again raising the overall cost of these oils. Unfortunately, if you take a drug test while taking a full spectrum product, it will show up on that test, so be warned.

And finally, the Broad Spectrum. A broad spectrum product is usually the way to go. It combines both isolate and a full spectrum to amplify the benefits, all without any form of THC. It has a quick absorption rate and is a good choice for someone who gets drug tested and doesn’t want anything to show up. It is also great for acute/chronic pains, anxiety, and insomnia that are about an 8/10. What’s even better about this compound is that you’re getting additional benefits from the plant, such as cannabinoids and terpenes. Also, many users believe that full- and broad-spectrum CBD products have a greater effect than CBD isolates. This is due to the “entourage effect,” which is said to allow other plant compounds to work together and potentially alter or enhance the medicinal effects of the CBD. In other words, having the presence of multiple compounds (not just CBD) actually bolsters the therapeutic value.

At the end of the day, each one of these compounds have amazing effects that can help with different conditions. Whatever you may need, one of these compounds may be a good fit for you! Always consult a health care professional before trying CBD. We provide free consultations and have a nurse on staff if you have any questions about your care or CBD.

CBD, or Cannabidiol, is one of the many active compounds found in the cannabis plant. Tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as THC, is another active compound and the most well-known, thanks to its psychoactive properties, this compound being the one that gets you “high.” Luckily, CBD is nonpsychoactive and has many of the same medical benefits as THC. This allows you to take advantage of the therapeutic benefits without leaving you with the inebriated feeling that often goes hand in hand with THC. There has also been research that has shown that CBD is a very powerful painkiller and has anti-inflammatory properties that help make internal and external pain much more manageable. What’s also nice about this compound is that it is not addictive and very safe for you to take. Even if you take too much, at worst you will have a headache or diarrhea. When it comes to the medicinal properties of CBD, there are different ways to take it.

For example, at AHS, we have products that can be ingested (such as our gummies) that can help with internal inflammation and anxiety! Our SoCal Peach Rings are a good example of this. If you have a stomachache, are having high anxiety, or are having extreme stress, this gummy can help reduce the symptoms you are having in about half an hour or so (though it can work differently for every individual.) It doesn’t always make the symptoms go away completely but can help reduce said symptoms to make it much more manageable. In cases where you need something a little more generalized/stronger for overall use, we have our CBD tinctures. The tinctures are a CBD oil that is put under your tongue for about thirty seconds to a minute. This oil works well throughout the entire body and connects to the brain’s CB1 and CB2 receptors. All humans are born with something called an endocannabinoid system (ECS), this system in the brain is responsible for so many of our day-to-day functions. Some of these functions including sleep, mood appetite, memory, etc. While experts are still learning more and more about these functions every day, but what we do know is incredible. Did you know that all humans have this endocannabinoid system in them even if they don’t use any form of cannabis? Everyone is born with this system and is in a homeostasis when we are born. Over time, our brains can get out of this homeostasis and become unbalanced, that’s where CBD can come in to help rebalance everything and put you mind and body into a healthier state. We have another blog coming out soon that will go into further detail on this topic!

Our bodies being in that homeostasis is good regardless of condition and can help our bodies stay in an actively healthier state. While not all CBD products can accomplish this, a lot of them can help you get closer to that point. Each item has a different use, some better for pain, others better for sleep.

At out store, we have specialists that can answer any questions about any conditions you may be having, or if your having smaller conditions that you don’t want to take medications for. If you have further questions, we also have a nurse on staff to make sure that CBD is safe to take if you are taking other medications or just need a general recommendation for CBD.

One of the bigger questions we get at AHS is, “How long does it take for CBD to take effect?” The answer is luckily fairly simple, depending on the product you take.

For something like our gummies, that can take anywhere between half an hour to forty-five minutes, depending on the person. The gummies go through your digestive system, allowing the CBD to help with potential inflammation in your body as well as anxiety and stress. This is usually a go-to for CBD consumption because of how easy it is to ingest and how easy it is to carry around.

Along with that, we have CBD vapes. This is the fastest way to get CBD into your body. What’s so great about these vapes is the do not cause popcorn lung in anyone who uses it, which makes it a better alternative to cigarettes and other vapes alike. Like regular vapes, they also come in many different flavors. They don’t give you that feeling of intoxication either, with any CBD product in out store, everything with any form of THC is within the legal limits (0.03%). So you don’t get that “high” feeling, but will feel more relaxed and clearer headed over all. These are a good way to quickly get CBD into your system and have a quicker relaxation.

We also have CBD cream that takes about thirty minutes or so to take full effect. This product is used for topical pains such as back pain and skin irritation. The cream can go about four layers into the skin, allowing it to work deep into the tissue, though you should not put this product near your eyes or other sensitive areas on your body. We also have is our CBD patches. These work very similarly to the cream
and can be a good alternative in case you don’t like the creamy feeling on your skin. In addition, the patches can help with fatigue, irritation, and muscle tension.

There are also our tinctures/CBD oil, that can be held under the tongue for thirty seconds to a minute. This allows the CBD to enter the blood stream easier and take effect. While you can put the oil in either food or drinks, it will take most of the efficiency away from the product. Otherwise, the oil stays in your system for longer than most other products, especially if you take it in the morning and at night. This is another popular form of intake due to the CBD to go through the entire body and stay in your body for longer.

If you have any questions about CBD or how it can interact with any medication you may be taking, we have many specialists and a nurse on staff at AHS who can help with whatever you may need.