CBD stands for cannabidiol. It’s one of over 113 naturally occurring cannabinoid compounds in the Cannabis plant. The flowers of cannabis (both hemp and marijuana) secrete a sticky resin abundant in cannabinoids like CBD, as well as terpenes and various other phytochemicals.

Compared to THC — the other main cannabinoid in the cannabis plant — CBD is non-psychoactive. This means that no matter how much you take, it’s not going to produce the characteristic “high” from marijuana.

CBD has also recently been categorized as a nutritional supplement in the United States — giving the public open access to CBD supplements.

CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system — a complex network of receptors and neurotransmitters spread throughout the entire body. This system is tasked with regulating the balance of various organ systems.

The greatest abundance of these receptors is located in the brain, the central nervous system, and the immune system. Almost every organ in your body, including the skin and digestive tract, comes with cannabinoid receptors.

The endocannabinoid system controls a plethora of major biological functions, including:

NeuroprotectionImmune responseSensory perceptionStress managementCognitive performance

CBD works through the endocannabinoid system by increasing our naturally occurring endocannabinoids — thus helping the body maintain balance.

There are many different ways you can take CBD — and none of them are more effective than the others.

The most popular method is via the mouth or sublingually with the help of oil tinctures.

CBD oils are the most versatile, as you can take your dose directly into the mouth, mix it in with food, or hold it under your tongue to speed up absorption.

Many people tend to confuse CBD-rich hemp extracts with the hemp seed oil you can find at their local grocery store. In truth, these two oils are worlds apart.

Standard hemp seed oil is made by cold pressing the seeds of the hemp plant. The oil that’s produced is rich in nutrients like gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), amino acids, and trace minerals. It makes for an excellent source of nutrition — but doesn’t contain CBD or any of the other cannabinoids.

CBD hemp oils, on the other hand, are made from the resinous flowers of the female hemp plants (without seeds). The resin is extracted using state of the art extraction methods to collect the cannabinoids, and terpenes naturally found in the plant resin. This is the source of CBD.