What is cannabidiol?

Over the last decade, cannabidiol (CBD) products have begun to attract the general public's attention. As a result of several studies and experiments, many cannabidiol-based products have appeared on the market. To date, the CBD industry is still at an early stage of development, but the first steps towards unlocking the full potential of the substance have already been taken. The coming years promise to be exciting as the number of studies and experiments with CBD increases rapidly.

What exactly is CBD?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a substance found in hemp. It has recently rocketed in popularity due to the many claims about its medical potential.

Cannabis contains more than 500 chemical compounds, more than 100 of which are active ingredients called cannabinoids. These many cannabinoids each have different structures and properties.

What is most interesting, however, is that some of them are also created by our own body and regulated by our Endocannabinoid system (ECS).

An example is the molecule of bliss - Anandamide, which the brain creates to help memory, sleep, and motivation.

As we pointed out, CBD is a cannabinoid like so many other compounds in the cannabis plant. It is, however, one of the first cannabinoids discovered and isolated. It has many health benefits claimed and currently researched. Even more hypotheses are being proven every day.

So how is CBD special?

It's antibacterial, which helps it lower the risk of cancer and some infections in humans and dogs.

It helps produce anandamide in the brain, which boosts memory and relieves stress.

It could help you overcome tobacco addiction.

It's non-psychoactive, unlike THC (present in recreational marijuana), even diminishing the psychoactive effect of THC.

And you might think, 'Well, it must have some drawback.' And to that we say - Not really.

It's easily broken down by the body, so close to no adverse effects are observed, and it's non-addictive. Research is still new and on its way, so talk to your doctor about your particular condition.

"[CBD is] one of the safest known medications." - Lumír O. Hanuš, Czech analytic chemist and leading authority in the field of cannabis research.

How is CBD extracted?

Cannabidiol is obtained directly from hemp plants that have a low THC content. Generally speaking, this is achieved by isolating the compound and extracting it in a high concentration. One of the most effective methods is extraction by ethanol or other solvents like propane. This is a widely used method to extract substances from various plants. Another popular process of obtaining CBD is by using CO2, which is considered a safer alternative, both for the process and the resulting isolate.

More methods exist and even more are being developed.

Applications

Cannabidiol, by definition, has no psychoactive effect and is not addictive. This puts it in a different category from the more popular substance THC. CBD is widely used to produce products beneficial to human health. Although more clinical trials are yet to be conducted, some animal experiments have shown that CBD has more than a few positive effects on the body. It is believed that CBD can be used to treat various conditions, such as:

- anxiety

- Alzheimer's

- epilepsy

- Parkinson's

- migraine

- insomnia

- cancer

- allergies

- asthma

- inflammation

- multiple sclerosis

- chronic pain

- depression

- nausea

- post-traumatic stress

Comes in all shapes

CBD as a substance is easily infused into many kinds of products. Examples

include: Oils and tinctures, edibles (gummies), capsules (pills/softgel), creams and lotions, vape liquid, and others.

Each form has its pros and cons, and is also used for different treatments. Creams and lotions for acne and eczema, CBD-infused tampons for menstrual pain.

As word spreads and the market grows, more products will be presented to the public.

Is it legal?

According to EU regulations, hemp-derived CBD is legal, as long as it doesn’t contain any THC. Laws differ in many countries, however.
With the ongoing research into CBD’s potential, laws are changing at an increasing rate around the world. Different authorities deal with different products. Food products, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals all fall under different jurisdictions in most countries, so it is good to review the specific guidelines in your country.

Need more detailed information? Contact us.

Cannabidiol holds enormous potential. It is possible that in the near future, the medicinal properties of this substance will help humanity deal more effectively with a wide range of diseases. PBG Global is part of this process. Our company has been working on research and development of cannabidiol products since 2013, relying on its own closed production cycle - from the cultivation of hemp, through the manufacturing processes, to the application of strict quality control standards throughout the chain.

We'd be happy to hear from you!
Contact us: office@pbg.global