Cannabidiol (CBD) is a plant-based compound in hemp with restorative health benefits. The compounds in hemp are called cannabinoids. A well known cannabinoid is THC. Unlike its mind altering counterpart, CBD is nonpsychoactive; making it ideal for health purposes.

Interesting fact: CBD is a nontoxic substance used as medicine for certain types of epilepsy.

CBD offers health benefits to humans and animals. With its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, CBD is able to help with anxiety, depression, pain, nausea, insomnia, inflammation, epilepsy, anorexia, neuropathic pain and more.

Interesting fact: The many positive effects of CBD are clinically documented. (direct link: http://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31881765/)

The human body has hundreds of cannabinoid receptors, which make up the Endocannabinoid System (ECS). Many symptoms arise when our ECS is depleted. Replenishing our ECS with CBD helps induce homeostasis in the human body.

There are two types of cannabinoid receptors in our ECS, named CB1 and CB2. CBD interacts with these receptors to generate normalizing processes in our body.

CBD interacts primarily with CB2 receptors in our immune system. CB2 receptors are responsible for CBD’s anti-inflammatory effects and the physiological regulatory effects of cannabinoids.

Interesting fact: Cannabinoids occur in other plants, such as Echinacea: a plant used as a natural remedy for the common cold.

Full spectrum CBD contains the entire hemp plant, it is unrefined and has a complete cannabinoid profile. Full spectrum CBD allows for the Entourage Effect.

The entourage effect describes the synergistic quality of CBD with other cannabinoids (like THC, CBG, CBC, CBN) to create stronger and long-lasting effects.

CBD has garnered attention for its medical benefits. Evidence demonstrates cannabinoids help with pain, inflammation, anxiety, depression, nausea, insomnia, epilepsy, anorexia and more.

CBD has been recognized mostly for its anti-inflammatory response, but the cannabis and hemp prohibition that our country faces has resulted in a lack of funding and opportunity for research. It will be exciting to see what else is discovered about the effects of cannabinoids to heal the human body.

CBD extracted from industrial hemp is legal in America under the Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2015.

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Kava or kava-kava (Piper methysticum) is an evergreen plant from the South Pacific. The kava plant's roots are prepared into a ceremonial brew that has relaxing and medicinal qualities.

Kava has long been consumed in the South Pacific as a social beverage for relaxation and reducing anxiety similar to alcohol. The buzz surrounding kava grows as western society begins to seek alternatives to alcohol and its taxing effects like the dreaded hangover.

For thousands of years, islanders from Vanatau, Fiji, Tonga, Hawaii, and Samoa have consumed kava as a ceremonial beverage for social, religious and medicinal reasons. Each island has a unique ritual for drinking kava, a beverage many people believe to have healing properties.

Kava’s benefits stem from the phyotchemicals that are found in the root. The compounds are called kavalactones, and scientists have identified 18 so far. Kavalactones create the topical anesthetic (why your mouth gets numb) and sedative qualities that one experiences. In addition, kava has been known to induce mild euphoria, provide mental clarity, reduce feelings of depression, and make people more sociable.

Effects are felt within thirty minutes and continue for up to 3 hours.

Kava’s effects result from phytochemicals in the root called kavalactones, a mixture of compounds that have sedative, anti-stress, anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, analgesic and neuroprotective properties.

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Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a small flowering plant from India that has berries that have medicinal use. It is a powerful adaptogen.

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Found only in the Amazon basin, Guarana (Paullinia cupana) is a plant that has been consumed by indigenous tribes over centuries as a stimulant with a range of properties that include weight loss, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anti-obesity and lowering cholesterol.

The Guarana seed contains an abundance of bioactive polyphenols and flavonoids that promote cell metabolism and body function. Interesting fact: Guarana has been officially designated by the Brazilian Food Supplement Law as a good source of bioactive compounds.