In case you haven’t heard, CBD is the latest and greatest health supplement to hit store shelves and online shopping carts. Even corner gas stations are jumping on the bandwagon and selling it right next to the caffeine pills! But as more and more people are discovering the health benefits of CBD, many are turning to CBD flower as the solution to their wellness needs.
What is CBD?
If you don’t know what CBD is, it’s an acronym for cannabidiol, which is a natural chemical compound that’s derived from the cannabis plant. Cannabinoids, which also includes THC, are exclusively found in the cannabis plant. But, just to make things confusing, not all cannabis is marijuana.
There are actually several strains of cannabis out there, but the two that matter in this case are marijuana and hemp. Both have CBD, but hemp has none of the mind-altering effect’s of marijuana’s THC.
Clinical studies have shown that CBD can be effective in treating a whole host of ailments, including depression, anxiety, chronic pain, seizures, sleep disorders, and so on. This, and the fact that it comes with few if any side effects, is what makes it so appealing over pharmaceutical drugs.
Why Choose CBD Flower?
Most forms of CBD come in oil droppers, capsules, gummies and topical creams, but an often overlooked form happens to be the most natural one of them all – the CBD flower.
Although CBD flowers may not be everyone’s cup of tea, it shouldn’t be written off entirely without first learning why it’s just as good as the supplemental form of the plant.
CBD flowers can help reduce the pain associated with headaches, hangovers, arthritis, and fibromyalgia, and also provide calm and clarity with its stress-relieving properties.
Just like capsules and oils, CBD-rich flowers offer all of the beneficial properties of high-THC flower, but without the anxiety, paranoia, panic attacks, and mood-altering effects that some users can experience with marijuana’s high-THC flowers. In fact, if a person feels a little bit too high from taking a THC product, CBD can actually help counteract the effect and bring them back down.
Marijuana vs. CBD Flower – What’s the Difference?
Recreational marijuana users in the 1960’s made it very clear that the plant has mood-altering effects, but today’s indica and sativa strains of marijuana can contain upwards of 25 percent THC, which is much higher than it was decades ago.
Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is just one of hundreds of cannabinoids that are found in the cannabis plant. CBD is also found in abundance in the plant, but some growers have opted to cultivate a strain of cannabis that contains only CBD for its therapeutic, non-psychoactive properties. That’s essentially what hemp is.
CBD contains very low levels of THC, and what little THC remains is regulated and counterbalanced by the CBD. This is why many consumers have opted to choose CBD-only products, like CBD oils. However, CBD-rich flowers are more synergistically aligned and may have greater benefits with the body, due to the fact that it is 100% pure and unprocessed.
The Entourage Effect
A wide breadth of cannabinoids and terpenes work together to boost the plant’s healing properties when a user smokes or vapes the entire flower, a relationship that is commonly referred to as the entourage effect. Symptoms and conditions that can be relived with high-CBD, low-THC flowers can include chronic pain, anxiety, depression, insomnia, multiple sclerosis, seizures, fibromyaliga, arthritis, and stress.
Smoking or vaping CBD flowers can produce the most immediate effects, but since it involves inhalation, it may not be suitable for children, the elderly, or those suffering from respiratory conditions.
Due to the bio-individuality of both the strain of cannabis and the person taking it, determining the correct dosage of CBD flowers will vary. Every strain of cannabis has a different CBD to THC ratio, and some folks may be more sensitive to THC than others. That’s why it’s important to find a high-CBD flower that has trace amounts of THC.
Bottom Line:
It’s best for anyone interested in CBD flowers to start off with low doses. More is not always better. Low doses means just one or two inhalations from a vaporizer or water pipe, and the slower you go, the better you are able to determine what your tolerance levels are.
Cannabis users are becoming more and more aware of the benefits of high-CBD flowers to meet their health needs. They’re a potent pain reliever, anti-inflammatory agents, and they help reduce everyday stresses that take over our lives. The unique synergistic effects of CBD flowers are powerful enough to consider trying this form of CBD in addition to the regular pills, oils, and creams.