What is CBD? 

CBD (Cannabidiol) oil is sweeping the globe for it’s highly effective and seemingly miraculous impact it may provide for symptoms associated with a variety of conditions such as Arthritis, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and in some cases eliminating seizures entirely with individuals suffering from Epilepsy.

So, what exactly is it…?

CBD is an abbreviation for the full term “Cannabidiol” which is a molecular cannabinoid found prominently within hemp and cannabis plants.

CBD (Cannabidiol) is rapidly becoming a go-to natural/safe alternative to already highly effective pharmaceutical drugs on the market that pose the risk of extremely harmful side effects.

CBD has been proven to be a highly effective anti-inflammatory.

There have been approximately 91 cannabinoids discovered within the cannabinoid profile to date. However, clinical studies are being performed around the globe and it is believed that there are a variety of other cannabinoids within the spectrum that have yet to be discovered.

Scientists, medical professionals, and passionate growers are coming together around the world, working hand-in hand throughout this process of discovery. The future is looking bright and the benefits are seeming to be miraculous!

The Endocannabinoid System

Think of the endocannabinoid system like a snowflake, no snowflake is identical to any other snowflake. Each one of us in some micro or macro way, is simply unique. The endocannabinoid system is the same way, no two endocannabinoid systems are identical in functionality and each person possesses their own system.  

The endocannabinoid system is biologically unique. A molecular make up of endocannabinoids. They are neurotransmitters.

What do endocannabinoids do exactly…?

CBD and other cannabinoids bind to cannabinoid receptors (CB1 & CB2 receptors) and serve a vital role in bodily communications with our peripheral nervous system, and vertebrate central nervous system. This also includes a variety of brain functionalities.

This system is literally designed to process and dispense cannabinoids throughout the body. Can you believe that your body literally has an entire system designed to process these molecules? This displays the importance of cannabinoids roles and even more-so the importance of obtaining a high quality, pure and effective source.

Did you know…?

Recent studies indicated that CBD Oil might provide significant relief in patients suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Alleviations range from decreasing anxiety levels and calming portions of the brain associated with Insomnia which is highly prominent within individuals suffering from PTSD.

We understand how important your health is to you, as it is just as important to us here at Avani Botanicals!

It is extremely important to obtain only the highest of quality, purest, most effective CBD (cannabidiol) in order to obtain the health benefits of which you may be seeking.

Quality is of the uppermost importance when it comes to reaping the benefits of which you seek when consuming CBD Oil. Avani Botanicals takes pride in providing our patients / consumers with 3rd party tested, pesticide free, gluten free, GMO free and highly effective Phyto-cannabinoid rich full spectrum CBD oil infused with high terpene strains to provide a delicious natural flavoring.

CBD oil has been hyped as the next big solution for everything – from chronic pain and depression to anxiety and so much more. But is it effective for arthritis symptoms?  

What is CBD?

Two kinds of the cannabis sativa plant, hemp and marijuana, produce chemical compounds called cannabinoids. Cannabidiol (CBD) is one type of cannabinoid, but it doesn’t get you high. THC – another cannabinoid – is the psychoactive part of marijuana and does get you high. Most CBD products come from hemp, which must have less than 0.3 THC present.

You might be surprised to learn that your body makes its own cannabinoids (called endocannabinoids) and has cannabinoid receptors, some related to inflammation and pain. Researchers once thought the CBD in products attached to these receptors, but now they suspect CBD helps your body use its own endocannabinoids more effectively.

Can it help arthritis symptoms?

Some preliminary research suggests that CBD may help with arthritis pain. In animal studies, which may not translate to humans, CBD relieved arthritis pain and inflammation. On the other hand, results of human studies are mixed. For example, a 2016 analysis of human trials for RA, OA and fibromyalgia found that CBD improved pain and sleep, but the studies were small and of poor quality.

Even so, Daniel Clauw, MD, a professor at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and an expert in chronic pain, doesn’t write off CBD’s potential benefits and recommends it to some of his patients. 

“A recent trial* showed CBD alone was effective in [the treatment of] knee OA, and it appears as though it is very safe,” he says. “Nearly all potential side effects of cannabinoids are from THC, not CBD.”  

Here are his suggestions if you want to try it:

• Use low doses, which seem to work best for pain relief.
• Start with a CBD-only product, 5 – 10mg twice daily, and then slowly increase, going up to dose of 50 – 100mg per day.  If that doesn’t help, try a CBD product with a low dose of THC.
• Use only at night at first; slowly increase dose if needed.
• Edibles’ effects last longer than vaping, so don’t try them until you know what CBD strain and dose work for you.
• Use caution if you are 25 years old or younger and using CBD products that contain THC. This age group is at highest risk of addiction, dependency or even psychosis.

Is CBD legal?

It’s complicated. State laws regulating the sale, production and possession of CBD oil widely vary, and many states allow some form of CBD. If passed, new provisions in this year’s Farm Bill would legalize industrial hemp and could make hemp-derived CBD oil legal in all 50 states. But be aware that except for an FDA-approved medication for childhood epilepsy, the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration still maintains that CBD is illegal.

Choosing a Product

CBD comes in many forms, including capsules, extracts, honey-infusions, topical ointments and edibles. But because CBD isn’t FDA-regulated, it’s important to be cautious when choosing a product. In fact, ConsumerLab.com found that the amount of CBD in products may vary widely – from 2 mg to 22 mg per dose – and the strength isn’t always accurately disclosed on the label. (The amount of any incidental THC may not be accurately disclosed either).

If you want to try CBD, discuss it with your doctor first and do your homework. Talk to a practitioner who is familiar with CBD oil and contact the manufacturer to see proof of a third-party analysis for purity and potency.

How Do I Know if My CBD Product Has the Entourage Effect? 

It’s so easy to get caught up in the excitement surrounding the ever-growing presence of CBD products in health and wellness shops. Like any new product you purchase, it’s important to check out the label. There are many telling pieces of information on them, including if the product has the entourage effect.

Now, most CBD products won’t openly say, “Entourage effect included.” Instead, you are going to look for other words that classify what type of CBD product you are purchasing. While they all come with their own sets of benefits, these each have a different level of potency. Here are some terms to look out for when shopping for the highest-quality CBD products.

Types of CBD

Full Spectrum CBD Oil

Full spectrum is the terminology to look for when seeking a product which has the entourage effect. CBD products that are truly full spectrum are extracted while maintaining the integrity of as many cannabinoids as possible, including tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), therefore, CBD oil derived from hemp will have trace levels of THC up to .3% by law.

Its low concentration of this molecule makes the product non-intoxicating. However, with THC in the equation, all of the cannabinoids are present. All cannabinoids being accounted for is the basis of the entourage effect and what makes full spectrum CBD oil one of the highest-quality hemp products on the market.

So, if you are buying CBD oil, and it’s labeled as full spectrum as well as zero THC… it’s not full spectrum.

Broad Spectrum CBD Oil

Broad spectrum CBD oil also carries the entourage effect, for the most part. However, the formula is likely not as potent as full spectrum hemp extract. The reason for this is that broad spectrum CBD oil contains little to no THC.

After the extraction process, some companies will remove THC from the final product. However, the remaining cannabinoids remain in the formula, therefore, broad spectrum can sometimes also technically be full spectrum, depending on the formula. Since THC levels are so low in hemp to begin with, the differences are minimal. However, broad-spectrum CBD oil may not be as bioavailable or beneficial as full spectrum.

CBD Isolate

When you first see the words, “CBD isolate,” you might interpret that the product is a potent dose of this cannabinoid. While there are benefits to using CBD isolate, you are legitimately purchasing CBD that’s isolated from other hemp compounds. That means there are no additional cannabinoids in the formula. Therefore, if you are buying CBD isolate, you most likely won’t experience the benefits of the entourage effect.

The benefit to CBD isolate, however, is that it is completely THC Free, and thus anyone needing to avoid any amount of THC can feel safe taking this product as it won’t cause a failed THC drug test.

CBD, THC, and the Entourage Effect

If you brush your hand over a hemp flower, you’ll notice microscopic hairs float into the atmosphere. These are known as trichomes. Like human hair follicles, trichomes have glands. Within these glands lie chemical compounds that make cannabis one of the most unique plants on this earth–cannabinoids.

Research indicates there are 113 known phytocannabinoids on record. Each cannabinoid has its own molecular structure that allows it to interact with our bodies’ endocannabinoid system in its own unique way.

The two most commonly known cannabinoids are THC and cannabidiol (CBD). THC is the cannabinoid primarily found in marijuana. It’s the reason the plant has intoxicating properties. However, there are low doses of THC also found in hemp.

Under federal law, all hemp extracts need to be formulated using hemp plants with a THC concentration of 0.3% or less. Otherwise, the product is technically considered marijuana. Instead of higher levels of THC, hemp plants are abundant in CBD.

CBD is responsible for opening the eyes of the mainstream media because this cannabinoid exhibits a litany of beneficial side effects, with none of them causing a mind-altering experience. With that being said, CBD doesn’t do all this beneficial work for your endocannabinoid system on its own. It gets by with a little help from its friends.

The Entourage Effect and Cannabinoids

While there are benefits to THC and CBD, you won’t experience maximum results without the other 111 phytocannabinoids discovered by humankind. Research on the entourage effect primarily looks at how THC and CBD interact with other chemical compounds found in hemp. However, there has been research and studies conducted on several phytocannabinoids and their potential benefits as well.

While in their beginning stages, the studies are promising. These early analyses also lend credence to the fact the entourage effect exists, and that this phenomenon plays a vital role in experiencing maximum benefits from hemp extract.

Cannabichromene (CBC)

Like CBD, CBC doesn’t seem to elicit an intoxicating experience. This cannabinoid also shows to be antagonists of our TRPV1 and TRPA1 receptors. These receptors play a role in our pain perception. In addition, early studies report that CBC may be potentially beneficial in neurogenesis.

Cannabinol (CBN)

This cannabinoid has started to make waves in the scientific community for its possible sedative effects. Our body converts THC to CBN. While it’s not psychoactive or intoxicating, the way CBN interacts with the CB1 receptor may be the reason those exposed to THC get those sleepy eyes. Preliminary sleep studies with CBN are promising for those who are looking for a non-habit forming sleep-aid.

Cannabidiolic Acid (CBDA)

CBDA is the precursor to CBD. Like CBD, the main objective of CBDA is to bring homeostasis to the system. Research on CBDA shows that this cannabinoid inhibits the COX-2 enzyme. As a result, CBDA may potentially be a potent anti-inflammatory.

Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid (TCHA)

When pressure is acted upon THCA,