CONCENTRATES

CBD acts on the brain’s endocannabinoid system, which may have several health benefits. While the effects may vary based on someone’s sensitivity and dose, possible benefits of CBD include: appetite control, anti-stress properties, anti-anxiety properties, antioxidant, anti-arthritic, anti-inflammatory, which may help relieve inflammatory pain. CBD research involving the nervous system and neurodegenerative diseases is promising. At the same time, the compound may have other uses, such as the potential for antifungal and anti-bacterial use. Unlike cannabis concentrates, CBD concentrates will not have the same effects on the body and mind that accompany THC. One common misconception around CBD is that it is not psychoactive. Psychoactive means having an effect on the mind, and since there are lots of cannabinoid receptors in the brain, CBD definitely has an effect on the mind. So while THC and CBD are both psychoactive, CBD does not produce the strong euphoria or “high” associated with THC.

In 2018, the FDA approved Epidiolex as the first pharmaceutical-grade CBD medication. Epidiolex treats seizures in two rare and severe epilepsy types called Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome in people aged 2 years and older. Clinical trials found that people with Lennox-Gastaut and Dravet syndromes take Epidiolex with other seizures than people taking a placebo with other seizure medications. There is not enough research to confirm whether CBD would help people with other, more common forms of epilepsy.

CBD concentrates typically fall into three main categories: isolate, full-spectrum, and broad-spectrum. Each of these categories are primarily defined based on the active components that the extract contains. To learn more about each of these primary categories, continue reading.

CBD Isolate: CBD isolate is a highly concentrated form of CBD that virtually doesn’t contain any other active compounds from the hemp plant. During the process of creating CBD isolate, nearly everything else in the plant is separated from the CBD through the implementation of high-pressure liquid chromatography. As a result, a 99 percent pure CBD concentrate is created to form an extremely potent product.

Full-Spectrum CBD: Full-spectrum CBD contains several different extracts from the hemp plant. In addition to CBD, it may also contain terpenes, essential oils, cannabinol, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and other active compounds in the hemp plant.

Broad-Spectrum CBD: Broad-spectrum CBD is very similar to full-spectrum CBD in that it contains many different active compounds found in the hemp plant in addition to full-spectrum CBD. However, unlike full-spectrum CBD, broad-spectrum CBD does not contain any THC.

Dabbing is the process of inhaling vaporized concentrates with specialized equipment like a dab rig. You might also hear people refer to the concentrates themselves as dabs. And while traditional glass dab rigs were the OG way of dabbing, today there are lots of electronic (like e-rigs) and portable options like nectar collectors on the market.

You can also use a handheld electronic vaporizer for concentrates. There are lots of models out there that will vaporize both concentrates and flower, which makes these fun pieces of tech doubly useful.

You can melt concentrates into a carrier oil or butter, then use the infusions to make your own tinctures, edibles, creams or balms. Different consumption methods offer their own unique advantages. Thoughtful trial and error is the best way to find what works for you.

How will CBD concentrates make me feel?

A few common reasons that people seek out CBD is to help manage pain and anxiety or to get better sleep, and you might enjoy these same benefits of CBD concentrates. That said, when consuming a high potency product like CBD concentrates, there might be a more noticeable physical experience than when you take lower-dose CBD gummies or tinctures. High amounts of CBD might make you feel drowsy or give your body a tingling sensation, for example.

Who should use CBD concentrates?

Concentrates are safe (albeit potent), and can be consumed by anyone who wants a big dose of CBD in a jiffy. Vaporizing and smoking are the two most common ways to consume concentrates. Through the act of inhalation, your bloodstream absorbs CBD much faster than it would after eating an edible or using a tincture under your tongue. Your body will also have access to a lot more of the CBD in the concentrate when it’s inhaled. When consumed, a CBD edible goes through your digestive tract and some of the potency is lost in the process of digestion.

How do you take CBD concentrates?

You can use concentrates in any number of ways. While the most common way to consume them is through inhalation, you could also melt concentrates and use them to infuse your own homemade oils, creams, or balms. Another approach might be to pair concentrates with other products like gummies or topicals to diversify how you consume CBD

Which form of CBD concentrate is most effective?

If you’ve used a concentrate to infuse butter or oil for edibles, the effects can last anywhere from eight to twelve hours. Slipping an infused oil under the tongue allows the membrane in your mouth to absorb the CBD, and these effects last up to four hours. A concentrate that’s been added to a topical cream or balm won’t get into your bloodstream, and you may notice effects of a topical last for a couple of hours.

What is the best form of CBD concentrate?

Different consumption methods offer their own unique advantages. Thoughtful trial and error is the best way to find what works for you. You can melt concentrates into a carrier oil or butter, then use the infusions to make your own tinctures, edibles, creams or balms.If you are new to cannabis, hemp, and/or cannabinoids, the old sage advice applies doubly with concentrates: start low and go slow. CBD dabs can hit hard and fast, so err on the side of too little because too much of even a good thing can be unpleasant.