Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About CBD

I’m really excited to offer a science-splanation of CBD, and answer your questions on this topic. I created this video in partnership with Equilibria Women, a CBD company that I LOVE and whose products I’ve been using for over a year. This is the transcript of that video.

Before we get started, a few disclaimers:

• I am not a medical professional, and this is not medical advice. Just my thoughts and a summary of my research of cannabis.

• Please consult with your physician before starting ANY supplement. 

• These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or ailment. Equilibria™ assumes no responsibility for the improper use of these products. Equilibria™ does not make any health claims about our products and recommend consulting with a qualified medical doctor or physician prior to consuming our products or preparing a treatment plan. 

What is the mechanism of action? (What pathways in the brain does it work on?)

What are the benefits? How does it help the body like everyone says? 

Let’s kick things off with a little science lesson.

Everything we do happens via receptors and ligands - breathe, move, eat, think. Receptors are proteins that bind to a specific molecule - a ligand - and undergoes a conformational change. These changes trigger a number of different activities - eventually transferring messages to cells or converting into enzymes tattoo enable other reactions in the body. These receptor-ligand interactions are called expressions, and occur countless times in the body.

Your brain is the central computer of your body, sending commands to move, smell, taste, do, and a million other functions. These commands are transferred from your brain to your various body parts via nerve cells. This is the nervous system - central nervous system being your brain and spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system being the nerves and ganglia elsewhere in your body.

Within your nervous system lies the endocannabindoid system, which helps regulate and manage your body’s many processes - memory, metabolism, communication between cells among them. 

We’re still learning a lot about this system, but CB1 and CB2 are two main receptors that function within this system, and cannabinoids are the ligands that bind to them. 

CB1 - cannabinoid receptor type 1 - are expressed most densely in the brain and regulate the release of neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and glutamate. These are also referred to as brain chemicals and help regulate our moods and emotions and memory. 

CB2 are expressed mainly in your peripheral nervous system, especially in your immune cells. We’re still learning about the cause of chronic inflammation, but new research suggests that it can occur when your immune system is off balance and starts attacking healthy cells. This is the cause of autoimmune disease, like arthritis, lupus, inflammatory bowel disease, and even psoriasis.

Endocannabinoids are those produced in your body. However, we produce fewer endocannabinoids the older we get, leaving the CB1 and CB2 receptors without their ligands. The lack of CB1/CB2 receptors binding with ligands can - along with other factors - lead to a neurotransmitter imbalance (which can be observed in anxious or sad feelings, or even clinical anxiety or depression) or the diseases caused by chronic inflammation.

This is where phytocannabinoids come into play. Phyto means from plants, and refers to all plant-derived cannabinoid products. You’ve probably heard of the two most common ones - THC (delta-9-tetryhydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol). Consuming phytocannabinoids can help fill the gap between your body’s own endocannabinoids and offering enough ligands for CB1 and CB2 receptor expression. This helps manage neurotransmitter release and inflammation within the immune system, along with other functions we haven’t identified yet.

Is it actually effective?

How does it work? It helps my body but doesn’t get me high like THC would?

CBD is effective - but not all CBD products are created equally.

There are over 100 other phytocannabinoids in Cannabis Sativa, the hemp plant species used to produce most CBD products. Full-spectrum refers to including all the phytocannabinoids, which work together and increase the effectiveness of others. This is called the entourage effect, and there’s a lot of research happening to quantify the entourage effect versus individual phytocannabinoids.

Cannabis Sativa - the hemp species that Equilibria harvests - does contain a tiny amount of THC (well within the legal limits). THC is a powerful ligand for CB1, and larger doses cause the euphoric effect of feeling ‘high’. Equilibria’s drops and softgels contain less than 0.3% of THC, which is well within the legal limits. They will not leave you feeling high, but I do feel noticeably more relaxed about 20 minutes after taking then.

CBD isolate products only contain cannabidiol, and broad-spectrum CBD contains other phytocannabinoids, but no THC. This might be effective for you, but will have zero or limited entourage effect. You should also look for products that contain a high-quality carrier oil (which helps dissolve and stabilize CBD and enhance absorption). In my research, I’ve found that MCT is the best option, which is what Equilibria uses.

What I also like about Equilibria is that they own their entire supply chain, from seed to finished product. They’ve invested in high quality hemp seeds that are non-GMO, employ organic farming techniques, harvest their crops by hand, and manufacture with the kind of quality I only see in pharmaceutical products. Because CBD and supplements are largely unregulated, there aren’t requirements to be transparent on where raw materials are sourced or how they’re manufactured. 

How key is consistency? I take it here and there and feel it’s helping but could be placebo…

Do you need to use it daily to see an effect or can you go for occasional use? It is $$$

Consistency is incredibly important with a CBD regimen, and it goes back to the endocannabinoid system.

There is a good chance that your endocannabinoid levels are lower than your body needs, so daily use of CBD helps rebuild these stores and get your ECS running on all cylinders. Once your CBD stores are full, continue to take it every day because it will more effectively interact with your CB1 and CB2 receptors.

High quality CBD products like Equilibria are expensive, but the benefits are worth it for me. I am noticeably less anxious and calmer. I drink less wine than I used to and sleep better. And it’s one thing I can do to help manage my health now and into the future, when I’m more susceptible to diseases caused by chronic inflammation. 

How to get started? Do I need to talk to a doctor?

How do you know how much to use?

Like I said at the top of the video, PLEASE talk with your doctor before beginning any kind of CBD regimen. ESPECIALLY if you’re on other medications, or are at risk or have liver problems. 

Equilibria’s dosage specialists are incredibly smart and skilled in designing a regimen that’s right for you. I speak with mine whenever I feel like I need a change, and we adjust or increase my dosage. It’s something I haven’t seen in other CBD companies and I really value this from them.

Can it show up on drug screens for employment?

Does it come up on a drug test for the federal government?

Can I pass a drug test if I take it orally or topically?

It typically takes CBD 1 week to be eliminated from your system, so I would keep that in mind. But it also depends on the sensitivity of the drug screen, and if they’re testing for CBD or just THC. 

From a topical delivery (lotions, creams, bath products), CBD rarely enters the bloodstream. 

Is it safe for pregnancy or while trying to conceive? 

Okay to use for period cramps if you are TTC?

Can it interfere with birth control? (specifically IUD?)

Are there any studies being done on safety during pregnancy and breastfeeding?

Is it safe for breastfeeding moms?

There have been no studies on the safety and efficacy of CBD in women trying to conceive, pregnancy, or while nursing. That said, your baby will ingest whatever you ingest. I personally did not use any CBD products during these phases, but it’s something worth discussing with your physicians. 

Do you feel like it helped you post miscarriage? Miscarried yesterday and I am a total mess.

I didn’t take CBD after my miscarriage, but I wish I considered it as an option. I would definitely consider it, along with therapy.

I know they pay you, but is their CBD THAT much better than cheaper options?How to choose a CBD product and brand?

I have only ever taken Equilibria, but I will share my mother-in-law’s experiences. I gifted her some Equilibria, and she responded incredibly well to it with regards to sleep and mood regulation. 

After she finished the Equilibria products, she bought a different product from Amazon. In her words, the taste was terrible and it didn’t offer the same benefits as the Equilibria ones.

You get what you pay for. Equilibria is one of the best brands on the market for a number of reasons:

• They control the entire supply chain, guaranteeing the quality of their product

• They formulate their products with the highest quality raw materials and manufacture with the quality of pharmaceutical products

• Their dosage consultants design a regimen that’s specific to YOU, and you have access to them when your needs change.

Is there an Equilibria-like counterpart for men?

Men can take Equilibria! The brand focused on women, given that it’s founded by women and much of this space is focused on men.

I’ve read CBD is bad for a man’s reproductive system, is this true? 

There was one journal article that evaluated all the published articles, and showed there may be a connection between cannabis and reducing sperm count and concentration. That said, it did not differentiate between cannabis indica (marijuana, with higher THC concentration) or cannabis sativa (hemp, with a much lower THC concentration), and this warrants significantly more research. 

I hope that answers some of your questions about CBD and Equilibria, and you found this helpful! If you’d like to give Equilibria a try, I would definitely start with one of their gift sets or the Brilliance Box in Mint, and definitely set up an appointment with a dosage consultant. You can use code hitha for 15% off your first order.