CBD has become popular all across the US due to its purported stress-reducing and pain-relieving benefits. This compound comes from a plant that has been in existence for thousands of years. As a matter of fact, hemp is probably the earliest plant industrially cultivated by mankind. Archeological evidence confirms the hemp plant’s use for textile fiber dating back to 8,000 BC. Archeologists unearthed the remains of hemp cloth traced to be of someone from Mesopotamia.
Being such a versatile product that it could be the base material for tools and clothes makes some wonder: where is CBD located on hemp exactly? What is it? How do they harvest it? And how does CBD affect the human body?
CBD, an acronym for cannabidiol, is an active ingredient found within hemp. It is one of over 540 phytochemicals found in the Cannabis Sativa plant. And right now, It is the central cannabinoid found in industrial hemp and cannabis.
Unlike THC, the former most famous cannabinoid, CBD doesn’t have psychoactive properties. That means that you don’t get a “high” when you consume CBD. The manufacturer extracts the CBD from the hemp plant’s flowers, making sure of leaving only 0.3% of THC content. The extracted compound will undergo further refining to make various CBD products, including CBD oil extracts, topicals, pills, and more.
CBD contains lots of active compounds that work with your cannabinoid system to improve body functions. This action may translate to improved health and wellness. Many users report feeling health benefits after consuming CBD. Those include pain relief, anti-nausea and anti-inflammatory effects and easing neurological disorders, among others.
Scientists in the 1990s discovered the endocannabinoid system. Since then, they’ve slowly unearthed more details about the ECS’s functioning over the past two decades. The ECS is critical for the effects of CBD by the body. It regulates bodily processes like appetite, memory, mood, sleep, and reproduction.
There are ECS receptors spread all over the human body. They are present in our organs, skin, brain, and spinal cord. The system remains active within the body all the time, without the ingestion of cannabis or hemp-derived CBD.
CBD itself interacts with ECS receptors (CB1 and CB2) to help the body function more efficiently. Endocannabinoids produced by the human body and phytocannabinoids produced by plants are crucial compounds that may help boost your immune system, reduce inflammation, and relieve stress.
Hemp is a Cannabis Sativa variety. It’s a strain of cannabis cultivated and harvested commercially for its flowers, stalks, and seeds. It is usually grown outdoors, given it’s sturdy and tall, reaching 2 to 4 meters in height.
The seeds of the hemp plant themselves find much use in the cosmetic and food industries. Stalks, on the other hand, are a fiber source crucial in the clothing and building industries. The cannabinoid content in hemp comes from harvesting its flowers. That is what the CBD industry does.
Hemp contains nearly no THC. THC, or Tetrahydrocannabinol, is the psychoactive compound responsible for producing a mentally altered state, otherwise considered a “high.” The characteristics of this state include a heightened sensory perception, pleasure, or euphoria. THC is the actual reason marijuana has its psychoactive properties.
Please, do note that marijuana and hemp contain unique compositions. You cannot use one or the other interchangeably to achieve the same effects. Hemp particularly has a high concentration of CBD content. Now, with those details cleared up, let’s continue learning more about exactly where is CBD located on hemp.
The chemical structures of THC and CBD are, in fact, frequently confused with one another since they are very similar. These two compounds resemble each other very much when observed in their raw forms. Both CBD and THC are present in trichomes, which are abundant in the female flowers of the cannabis plant.
Furthermore, the presence of both compounds can also extend to the plant’s leaves. The cannabis plant itself has a high content of THC, something that industrial hemp does not.
CBD may ultimately come from two primary sources: the female cannabis plant’s flowers or industrial hemp. Similar to THC, CBD is present in hemp trichomes. Trichomes are resinous-rich buds containing CBD, as well as other active cannabinoids. They are fine crystalline hairs that form on mature flowers.
You can recognize high-quality CBD flowers by examining the trichomes of the hemp flower’s surface. Hemp flowers with lots of trichomes have a frosty appearance. This indicates the flowers are of superior quality and highly potent.
Trichomes are responsible for the production of CBD, THC, and other cannabinoids. They also produce resin and are critical in the storage of essential oils. Trichomes also house terpenes, the compounds that give CBD flowers their flavor and aroma.
Trichomes start to appear during the flowering stage of the cannabis plant. They emerge on the hemp plant’s stalks, leaves, and flowers. Growers must exercise caution when dealing with hemp plants during the flowering stage since physical contact can degrade their quality. Trichomes are volatile, light and heat can damage them, and resin fills the inside of them.
They emit sticky oil once they burst. This oil is responsible for the stickiness of some cannabis buds. More trichomes imply more resin release in the event any hemp plant gets handled roughly. Trichomes contain more cannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes than any other part of the hemp plant. Well, with that, now you know the answer to where is CBD located on hemp?
Trichome concentration varies depending on genetics. Different plants contain different concentrations of trichomes. Factors such as nutrition also play a part in trichome concentration. However, it is essential to note that more trichomes don’t necessarily mean a higher CBD concentration.
Within the trichome family, there are different kinds of it that serve slightly different functions each.
These are the smallest trichomes on the hemp plant. They range from 10 to 15 micrometers. They appear on the entire plant’s surface, but they are invisible to the naked eye. The tiny size of these trichomes limits the CBD concentration they can hold.
These are slightly larger and more abundant than bulbous trichomes. They are mushroom-shaped with a head and a stalk.
They are the largest and most abundant trichomes found on the hemp plant. They are visible to the naked eye since they measure around 50 to 100 micrometers. Capitate-stalked trichomes act as the primary source of cannabinoid and terpene production.
While you now know where is CBD located on hemp, also know that trichomes are the producers of the cannabinoids that offer us lots of potential health benefits.
The purpose of trichomes depends on the specific plant. Some plants, like the Venus flytrap, use its trichomes to attract prey. Other plants use their flowers and trichomes for pollination. You’ll instantly smell a unique aroma when you walk into a place where cannabis plants grow. This aroma’s also the work of the trichomes.
Trichomes act as a defense mechanism for the cannabis plant. Trichomes’ bitterness tends to deter animals that would otherwise try to eat the hemp plant. They also protect the plant from harmful UV rays, dampness, frost, mildew, and mold.
Plastids and vacuoles are transported from stalks to the heads of trichomes as the hemp plants mature. Here, they help cell metabolism, ultimately forming molecules that act as precursors to CBD. Trichomes typically change color once they mature. This is how farmers measure the plant’s maturity when deciding the right time to harvest.
Using CBD products isn’t like using marijuana products because CBD is not physically nor psychologically addictive. CBD is entirely safe and, while research is still ongoing, its purported benefits might help you deal with various psychological and medical conditions. As a matter of fact, many people worldwide are using CBD products to cope with several chronic conditions. Studies done on animals show that the CBD compound serves as a chemo-preventive supplement for colon cancer and can also prevent colitis in mice. While scientific research continues, anecdotal evidence suggests using CBD to manage pain might be an effective substitute for traditional solutions. Lots of individuals are using CBD to relieve aches, depression, and stress.
Cannabidiol is a natural compound found in the hemp plant. Despite the many benefits associated with CBD, there are rare instances when users can experience side effects. The most common side effects of CBD include:
Several factors can contribute to you experiencing these side effects. They include your age, amount of CBD ingested, your weight, environmental factors, health condition, and if you are under any medication. If you are on medication, you should talk to your doctor before consuming any CBD product. Also, if you are not sure of what dose to take, there’s a method to calculate that.
Even though most CBD products from high-quality manufacturers are safe, physicians warn against certain groups of people taking CBD. Breastfeeding and pregnant women, as well as children, should avoid CBD products. A study by the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology discovered that CBD could increase the placenta’s permeability and, thus, endanger the fetus.
CBD products rose in popularity over the past few years. There’s no doubt that more research is paramount to unearth more medical benefits of CBD. Many CBD users could use a better understanding of the cannabis and industrial hemp world.
Taking CBD is not the same as consuming cannabis; the benefits of each differ. If you stumbled upon a CBD manufacturer that lists the hemp flowers as their source of CBD, that’s a good sign they know what they are talking about. Use the knowledge in this article to help you choose better the source of your CBD products next time you buy.
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