Is CBD safe?
At its November 2017 meeting, the World Health Organization (WHO) Expert Committee on Drug Dependence (ECDD) concluded that, in its pure state, CBD does not appear to have abuse potential or cause harm. In humans, CBD exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential and is generally well tolerated with a good safety profile.
The comprehensive review of 132 studies by Bergamaschi et al. describes the safety profile of CBD, mentioning several properties: catalepsy is not induced and physiological parameters are not altered (heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature). Moreover, psychological and psychomotor functions are not adversely affected. The same holds true for gastrointestinal transit, food intake, and absence of toxicity for nontransformed cells.
Source: An Update on Safety and Side Effects of Cannabidiol: A Review of Clinical Data and Relevant Animal Studies
Kerstin Iffland and Franjo Grotenhermen
What do current consumers use CBD for?
In A Cross-Sectional Study of Cannabidiol Users, published in July 2018 where a self-selected sample of 2,409 respondents were recruited via an online survey and where the anonymous questionnaire was accessed from October 25, 2017 to January 25, 2018 (designed to characterize whom, how, and why individuals are currently using CBD), the studied showed that almost 62% of CBD users reported using CBD to treat a medical condition.
Though the study showed the use of CBD among individuals for both specific health conditions and general health and well-being was widespread, the top five medical conditions CBD was use for were Pain, Anxiety, Depression, Insomnia or other Sleep Disorders, and Migraine, Cluster and Tension Headaches. Also, a large percentage of respondents indicated that CBD treats their condition(s) effectively in the absence of conventional medicine and with non serious adverse effects.
Source: A Cross-Sectional Study of Cannabidiol Users, Jamie Corroon and Joy A. Phillips
Can CBD help my medical condition?
Full Spectrum Hemp Extract enriched with CBD is reported by consumers to reduce chronic and joint pain, improve sleep and moods, soothe anxiety and migraine headaches, as well as improve a handful of other symptoms. Consumers have taken CBD at high dosages for Bipolar Disorder, a muscle disorder called Dystonia, Seizures, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease, Cancer, and Schizophrenia.
In a 2017 study, the Brightfield Group in partnership with HelloMD, one of the nation’s largest online community of medical cannabis patients, collected data from over 2,400 HelloMD medicinal cannabis community members from the United States (primarily California) and abroad in June 2017 and found that consumers of CBD were very satisfied with its effectiveness for treating a variety of medical conditions.
Key findings from this 2017 study were: 1) CBD is most commonly used to treat insomnia, depression, anxiety and joint pain; 2) 80% of CBD users found CBD to be very or extremely effective for treatment; 3) About 66% of CBD users indicated that CBD products are either “more effective” or “much more effective” in relieving their medical conditions than are over-the counter (OTC) products; 4) 43% of hemp-derived CBD users now use CBD instead of other medications to treat their conditions.
However, due to federal regulations, we cannot make statements or claims about whether or not CBD-enriched Hemp Extract will help with specific medical conditions. However, you can learn more about the healing power of CBD on our research page.
If you have a chronic medical condition and are on a prescription medication for your medical condition, we highly recommend that you consult with a licensed health care provider before starting any dietary supplements, including Full Spectrum Hemp Extract.
Source: Brightfieqld Study Summary Report: Understanding Cannabidiol (CBD)
Are there any serious adverse effects from CBD?
No, when used at the standard dose as a nutritional supplement.
At its November 2017 meeting, the World Health Organization (WHO) Expert Committee on Drug Dependence (ECDD) concluded that, in its pure state, CBD does not appear to have abuse potential or cause harm. In humans, CBD exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential and is generally well tolerated with a good safety profile.
Moreover, in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, published on June 1, 2017, when CBD was administered in very high dosages for treating epilepsy and psychotic disorders, the most commonly reported side effects were tiredness, diarrhea, and changes of appetite/weight. The majority of these clinical studies for treatment of epilepsy and psychotic disorders also showed that administration of CBD via different routes and long-term use of 10 mg/day to 400 mg/day did NOT create a toxic effect on patients. Also, dosages up to 1500 mg/day have been well tolerated in the literature.
Source: An Update On Safety And Side Effects Of Cannabidiol: A Review Of Clinical Data And Relevant Animal Studies; Kerstin Iffland and Franjo Grotenhermen.
Are there any CBD-drug interactions?
The short answer is yes. CBD-drug interaction has been reported in clinical trials when CBD was used at very high dosages and with certain prescription medications.
In vitro, CBD is thought to be metabolized in the liver by the complex Cytochrome P-450 system (Cyp3a4 and Cyp2c19). Found within the liver, approximately 60% of clinically prescribed drugs are metabolized via the CYP540 system. Various drugs such as Ketoconazol, Itraconazol, Ritonavir, and Clarithromycin inhibit CP3A4 enzymes. This may lead to slower CBD degradation and can consequently lead to higher CBD doses that are longer pharmaceutically active. In contrast, Phenobarbital, Rifampicin, Carbamazepine, and Phenytoin induce the CYP3A4 system, causing reduced cbd bioavailability (ie, making CBD less effective).
Due to limited research data on CBD-drug interactions, any drug metabolized by the Cyp450 enzyme system could potentially interact with CBD. CBD was also found to interact with Ugt1a9, Ugt2b7, Cyp1a2, Cyp2b6, Cyp2c8, Cyp2c9 and Cyp2c19 substrates in vitro. Data collected were were from clinical research for treatment of epilepsy and psychotic disorders, using CBD at very high dosages.
We always recommend that you consult with a licensed health care provider before supplementing with CBD when on prescription medication(s) and especially if you have a chronic or serious medical condition or ANY problems with your liver. For more detailed research information on CBD-drug interaction, please refer to our Research page and on our Safety & Precaution page.
Source: A Systematic Review On The Pharmacokinetics Of Cannabidiol In Humans; Sophie A. Millar, Nicole L. Stone, Andrew S. Yates, Saoirse E. O’sullivan.
Can I trust what is written on my CBD product label?
The short answer is NO!
Currently, hemp-derived CBD products do not require the same level of mandated regulatory compliance as Cannabis-derived CBD products, that is, they do not require microbial, pesticide, and heavy metal contamination testing. There are also tons of companies mislabeling their products and some putting novice consumers in harms way.
A 2017 study from the University of Pennsylvania found that nearly 70 % of products sold online did not accurately label their concentration of CBD and THC. The study analyzed 84 products from 31 different CBD companies and found that 26 % of the products were over-labeling their CBD content, meaning that they contained less CBD than indicated.
The over-labeling of CBD products in this study is similar in magnitude to levels that triggered warning letters to 14 businesses in 2015-2016 from the FDA (ie., actual CBD content was negligible or less than 1% of the labeled content), suggesting that there is a continued need for federal and state regulatory agencies to take steps to ensure label accuracy of CBD products. In addition, the study reported that a number of products under-labeled their THC content (i.e,these products had contained a significant amount of THC, more than what was labeled) which can cause undesired adverse effects to consumers.
Some companies are selling synthetic CBD products and are harming consumers. For example, in 2018 in Utah, products claiming to contain CBD actually contained a synthetic cannabinoid called 4-cyano CUMYL-BUTINACA (4-CCB). The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 51 cases of people experiencing adverse reactions following the use of this “CBD oil,” with 30 of those people being hospitalized. Adverse reactions reported in victims included altered mental status, seizures, confusion, loss of consciousness, and hallucinations. Since then, the CDC issued a health alert warning about “the hazards of consuming unregulated products labeled as CBD.”
Hemp & Heroes is a “Seed to Sales” company. We oversee our seed cultivation, use a proprietary pharmaceutical grade filtration system, formulate our products in-house (abiding by strict regulatory guidelines), and provide third party verification and testing results to you with transparency. All of our products are made with your safety in mind and our rigorous process ensures a consistent quality Full Spectrum Hemp Extract product line.
Bottom line, unfortunately, buying CBD products (both hemp-derived and cannabis-derived) is currently very problematic, so we highly recommend that you look for products from companies with transparent and valid third party testing verification as a start, and please always do your due diligence before trying any nutraceutical products.
Source: Labeling Accuracy Of Cannabidiol Extracts Sold Online.” Jama, November 7, 2017 Doi:10.1001/jama.2017.11909
Is there scientific research being conducted on CBD?
Absolutely! In the United States and all over the world, hundreds of randomized control trials are being conducted in an ongoing effort to fully understand the healing power of CBD in Cannabis Sativa L., which the hemp plant belongs to. With very promising results found in animal and human studies, only time will tell when research will reveal CBD’s full potentiality, and what could be one of mother nature’s most prized gifts to all living things. Please keep up-to-date with the latest CBD news on our research page!
FAQ | FULL SPECTRUM HEMP EXTRACT
What is Full Spectrum Hemp Extract ?
Embracing the “full-spectrum” of the hemp plant’s naturally occurring phytonutrients (over 100 varieties of phytocannabinoids, over 200 varieties of terpenes, and 20 varieties of flavonoids) is part of a process called Whole Plant Medicine.
Full Spectrum Hemp Extract has an abundant amount of CBD and many other healing phytocannabinoids such as CBG, CBN, CBC and with less than 0.3% THC, along with terpenes and flavonoids. Hemp Extract is used by consumers as a nutritional supplement at low dosages and at very high dosages for medicinal purposes.
Full Spectrum Hemp Extract is produced when agricultural hemp (the flower,leaf, and stalk) is extracted and then formulated with hemp seed oil or other oils such as coconut, grape seed, or olive oil.
Unlike many other companies, we extract only the hemp flowers, which contain the highest concentration of CBD and other phytocannabinoids. We also formulate our products using refined organic hemp seed oil, which is also full of health benefits because it contains vitamins A, C and E and beta-carotene and is rich in proteins, carbohydrates, minerals and fiber. Hemp seed oil also contains sterols, aliphatic alcohols and linolenic acids, including a-linolenic acid (ALA), an omega-3 fatty acid precursor that the researchers wrote may have favorable nutritional implications and beneficial physiological effects on the prevention of coronary heart disease and cancer.
They key to producing a high quality Full Spectrum Hemp Extract is having the skills and time honored experience to extract the oil from quality organic hemp flower effectively, while keeping most of the phytonutrients intact.
Source: Maria Angeles Fernández-Arche et al “Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) Seed Oil: Analytical and Phytochemical Characterization of the Unsaponifiable Fraction,” Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, DOI: 10.1021/jf404278q
How much Full Spectrum Hemp Extract do I need?
An effective dose of CBD is highly individualized because of many variables such as your age, weight, metabolism, overall health status, genetics, the status of your Endocannabinoid system, as well as your product’s quality and formulation.
From the most recent survey conducted by the Brightfield Group in 2018 of over 3,600 hemp-derive CBD consumers throughout the United States, consumers were typically using anywhere from 8 mg to 100 mg of Hemp-derive CBD a day. A popular dose for the millennial age group was 51-100 mg a day. A popular dose for middle age and older consumers were 21 to 50 mg a day.
For novice consumers, who are healthy, and not on prescription medications, we suggest you start at a low-dose and slowly titrate upward until you achieve your desire healing results. However, if you are on a prescription medication or suffer from a chronic illness, please consult with your license health care provider before starting Full Spectrum Hemp Extract rich in CBD and other phytocannabinoids.
Note, most consumers typically take their CBD once a day before bed or twice a day for chronic conditions. Our consumers have also reported consistently that our proprietary formulation was more potent than the leading competitors ( i.e. requiring them to take less product to achieve the same healing effects)
Why does Full Spectrum Hemp Extract work better than CBD crystalline isolates?
Many consumers will testify that CBD along with other naturally occurring therapeutic phytocannabinoids like CBG, CBDV, CBC, CBN, plus various kinds of terpenes, flavonoids, and many of the wonderful phytocompounds found in Hemp Extract work best together.
According to Israeli researcher Raphael Mechoulam, the synergies of all of the phytocompounds working together is now known as “the entourage effect.” That is, Full Spectrum Hemp Extract works better than CBD in its pure form (CBD isolates or CBD crystallines), that can also be delivered as an oil product. Unfortunately, these CBD isolate/crystalline oil products often are mislabeled as Full Spectrum Hemp Extract.
In a recent meta-analysis paper published on September 12, 2018, it was observed that CBD-rich extracts presented a better therapeutic profile than purified CBD (crystalline isolate), in population of patients with refractory epilepsy. The roots of this difference were noted to be likely due to synergistic effects of CBD with other the phytocompounds (aka entourage effect), but this remains to be confirmed in controlled clinical studies.
To see if you are taking a Full Spectrum Hemp Extract, ask the company for a certificate of analysis (COA) for potency from a legitimate third party certified testing center. Then look to see if there are detectable phytocannabinoids listed along with CBD, such as CBG, CBDV, CBC and THC (less than .03%). When you only see CBD detected on the COA, then this oil is made up of CBD crystalline isolates and it will NOT contain any other healing phytocompounds (ie. phytocannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids) and it was mislabeled as a Full Spectrum Hemp Extract.
Source: Potential Clinical Benefits Of CBD-rich Cannabis Extracts Over Purified CBD In Treatment-resistant Epilepsy:Observational Data Meta-analysis; Fabricio a. Pamplona, Lorenzo Rolim Da Silva, Ana Carolina Coan.
Why does Hemp&Heroes work better than other brands?
If you can conceptualize that CBD as the star player of the “Full Spectrum Hemp Extract Team,” it is understood that its this hemp team that helps CBD do its magic. It is also very clear that not all Full Spectrum Hemp Extracts are created equal, because not all hemp seed genetics and extraction capabilities are created equal.
Embracing the “full-spectrum” of the hemp plant’s naturally occurring phytocompounds, is part of a process called “Whole Plant Medicine.” The hemp plant and its products consist of an enormous variety of chemicals. Some of the 483 phytocompounds identified are unique to the Cannabis plant family, including 100 varieties of phytocannabinoids, over 200 varieties of terpenes, and 20 varieties of flavonoids.
We source organically grown industrial hemp flowers directly from Colorado farm partners who cultivate a subset of hemp seed genetics that is owned by Hemp&Heroes and our seed partner. Our seed genetics create a unique hemp stock (full of bountiful phytocannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes) that is harvested and dried to create premium organic hemp flower biomass.
We extract the hemp flower biomass using organic cane alcohol and then filter via our proprietary pharmaceutical grade system, located in Denver Colorado, to produce a pharmaceutical grade, potent, pure, and solvent-less Full Spectrum Hemp Extract, while preserving most of the hemp plant’s trichromes (the phytocannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids). All end products are also formulated using only refined organic hemp seed oil. )
According to Israeli researcher Raphael Mechoulam, the synergies of all of the hemp plant’s phytocompounds working together is now known as “the entourage effect,” the phenomenon where the 400+ compounds in the Cannabis plant work in concert to have a synergistic effect on the body. In other words, it is the sum of its parts that make Cannabis products so effective.
Our extraction process along with a unique formulation process (a trade secret) maintains the purity of the medicinal content of the hemp’s flowers so that our consumers can benefit from its healing properties and power. It is our proprietary processing techniques that enable us to create a superior “Full Spectrum Hemp Extract Team” and thus a more superior hemp-derived CBD product than our competitors.
Strict third party verification and testing are then performed at ISO/IEC 17025 accredited facilities, RM3 Labs in Boulder, Colorado and Evio Labs in Davies, Florida, to ensure potency and purity of all of Hemp&Heroes end products before distribution.
With extensive peer reviews and data gathered from back to back comparisons, for taste and potency, compared to the top 20 hemp-derived CBD brands in today’s market, we are fully confident that our proprietary line of hemp-derived CBD products will deliver healing benefits to those in search of a potent and safe brand.
Our consumers have reported that we are more potent, better tasting, and more effective than any current brands in today’s market. However, do not take our words for it, we absolutely encourage you to shop around and compare our brand to all of our competitors and decide for yourself if this is the brand that provides you with the healing benefits that you desire.
Can I get high from the trace amount THC found in your Full Spectrum Hemp Extract?
The short answer is NO!
Marijuana and hemp are both members of the Cannabis Sativa L. species, so they do share healing characteristics. However, a crucial difference between the two is the amount of the psychoactive phytocannabinoid called delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) each plant produces.
While marijuana also contains CBD and variable percentage ranges of THC, hemp contains mostly CBD, and no more than 0.3% of THC. In other words, consuming marijuana containing products (i.e cannabis-derived CBD) can get you “high” because of the high THC content. In contrast, it would be impossible to get high from CBD, because CBD has absolutely no psychoactive properties and the trace amount of THC in our premium Full Spectrum Hemp Extract would not get you high.
Will taking Full Spectrum Hemp Extract show up as a positive Drug Test for THC?
To put it simply, a consumer of high-quality whole plant hemp extract products at the standard serving size is highly unlikely to test positive for THC.
Please know that a whole plant hemp product, in the form of Full Spectrum Hemp Extract, rich with CBD, will also contain a trace amount of THC. A product that has only CBD isolate formulated with a carrier oil (better known as a CBD oil) will have no THC. However, many companies are mislabeling their products and also do not display legitimate third party verification for their product’s potency, so you would not know what is contained in your product.
With that said, though there are not enough scientific data published for an accurate answer to this question, an individual consuming about 3 to 6 mg of THC may result in detection of a positive urine test for THC and/or its metabolites 11-nor-delta9-caboxy-THC (THC-COOH) in up to 11% to 23% of the urine test assay. There is also some data demonstrating that at daily doses of 0.5mg of THC, the positive urine screen rate is less than 0.2%.
The good news is that we provide our certificate of analysis (COA) for potency for all of our products, from a certified third party lab facility, and it will clearly list the total amount of milligram (mg) of THC that is contained in our 1 oz (30ml) tincture bottle.
To calculate approximately the amount milligrams of THC per serving size, look at our COA attached to the specific product and find the total amount of THC listed. Then, divide that amount by 60 and this will show you the amount of THC per serving size. Note, all of our serving size is 0.5 ml (1/2 dropper).
For example, in our 1 oz 500 mg tincture (from the batch dated May 23, 2019), the total amount of THC in this 1 oz bottle was 23.04 mg. Thus, 23.0 4mg ÷ 60 = 0.384 mg, is the amount of THC contained per serving size. So if you are taking one serving of this product a day, your THC consumption is clearly less than 0.5mg of THC daily. At 2 servings of this product a day, you would be consuming 0.384 mg x 2 = 0.768 mg of THC, which is less than 1 mg of THC daily.
However, as you increase the doses of our tincture, to meet your healing needs, know that you will also increase your overall THC consumption per day.
Because we all metabolize THC differently, if your job mandates random urine drug testing, please be fully informed that specific regulations pose by your employee should be considered before you start any whole plant hemp extract product.
Can I take Full Spectrum Hemp Extract if I am taking a prescription medication?
We recommend that you always consult with a licensed health care provider before taking any dietary supplements, including Full Spectrum Hemp Extract. Also, more information can be found on our Safety & Precaution page.
Can I take Full Spectrum Hemp Extract if I have a chronic illness?
We recommend that you always consult a licensed health care provider before taking any dietary supplements, including Full Spectrum Hemp Extract.
Can I take Full Spectrum Hemp Extract if I am pregnant or breast feeding?
NO, do not take this product, as studies of safety are not conducted on pregnant and lactating women. Always consult with a licensed health care provider before taking any dietary or herbal supplements when you are pregnant.
How should I take Full Spectrum Hemp Extract tinctures and capsules?
The best way to take the Full Spectrum Hemp Extract tincture is to place the extract under the tongue area (sublingual), and allow it to absorb for 60 seconds before swallowing it. This is the recommended route for best and fastest absorption.
We also recommend that you take our Full Spectrum Hemp Extract (tincture or capsule) during or right after a meal to allow for optimal absorption.
It has been observed in research data that plasma levels of CBD were increased when CBD was administered with food or in a fed state, or when a meal is consumed after oral administration. As CBD is a highly lipophilic molecule, CBD may dissolve in the fat content of food, increasing its solubility, and absorption and therefore bio-availability. This was demonstrated in animal studies, where co-administration of lipids with oral CBD increased systemic availability by almost 3-fold in rats.
Source: Front. Pharmacol., 26 November 2018 | Https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2018.01365
What is the shelf life of Full Spectrum Hemp Extract products?
Full Spectrum Hemp Extract will stay fresh after opening for 3 to 6 months, depending on the amount of air, light and temperature exposure. Once opened, we recommend that you keep keep your bottle tightly sealed, cool (less than 25°C/77°F), and protected from excessive heat and moister. Refrigeration is recommended for optimal preservation. An unopened bottle can last up to one year.
Why does my CBD product need third party testing & verification?
Because the Hemp-derived CBD manufacturing facilities are not currently regulated, valid third party testing and verification information will show you what exactly is in your Hemp-derived CBD products and if the product is free of micro-toxins, pesticides, residual solvents, and heavy metals.
We highly recommend you only buy Hemp-derived CBD products that have third party testing and verification. Look for what is called a certificate of analysis (COA) of your product on the company’s website. If you see the product with a COA, make sure the results came from a third party testing center that is accredited by A2LA, PJLA, or ORELAP for ISO 17025 and TNI/NELAC.
Note, because so many companies are mislabeling their products, you will not know if you are purchasing something that contains CBD at the dosage labeled or if the product is safe, as some COA could contain misleading information and are not from valid testing centers.
We highly encourage you to do your due diligence when in comes to ALL nutritional supplements, because unfortunately, the supplement industry is not well regulated.