CBD, it’s benefits and products you’ll love
By Carla Snuggs

CBD is everywhere and everyone is singing its praises. I decided it was time to create a CBD guide so you can learn all about CBD, its’ benefits, and some of the products you may want to try. CBD is shorthand for cannabidiol, a compound derived from plants of the cannabis family, especially hemp. Unlike the better known compound THC, it is non-psychotropic and does not make one high. 

We sourced Aeroflow Naturals to answer some basic questions about CBD and its benefits. Aeroflow Naturals is a trusted CBD provider backed by over 18 years of experience in the healthcare industry. Keep reading for some frequent Q&As about CBD.

How does CBD work?

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) runs throughout your body and is responsible for receiving and translating messages from cannabinoids, as well as regulating normal functions such as sleep, hunger, pain relief, and more. CBD interacts with your ECS receptors and influences the way several other compounds are received. For example, CBD may delay or prevent the ECS receptors from absorbing anandamide, the compound responsible for regulating pain.  

Is CBD Good for my health?

Potentially, yes. Once extracted from the hemp plant and diluted with a carrier oil such as coconut or hemp oil to create CBD oil it’s used to treat a variety of conditions including chronic pain, insomnia, inflammation, anxiety, and more.  

What is CBD used for?

Even though cannabidiol has been approved by the FDA to treat seizures, many products are still unregulated. We only source our products from reputable, industry-leading suppliers with incredibly pure quality and no false health claims. The FDA does not permit us to use anecdotal evidence to affirm that CBD can have beneficial (and often curative) effects on a variety of serious conditions and diseases. That being said, many CBD oil users say it helps them with challenges of:

• Alzheimer’s Disease          • Anorexia          • Anxiety          • Arthritis          • Asthma          • Chronic pain          • Depression          • Epilepsy (Seizures) • Insomnia          • Multiple Sclerosis          • Nausea (emesis)          • Obesity          • Inflammation from various condition

Interested in trying CBD? I’ve put together some of my favorite CBD products you can try.

CBD Products

Sun God Medicinals

Do you need to add a little something sweet to your coffee even though you know it is common knowledge that sugar is not the healthiest of options?  It’s no secret that the sugar we add to our coffee isn’t so great for our health.  Honey is less likely to cause rapid spikes and drops in your blood sugar levels that increase hunger.  It also contains vitamins and minerals, including magnesium, potassium, calcium, iron, sulfur, copper, iodine, zinc, phosphate, vitamin A, vitamin C, and various B vitamins.  Almond milk adds a nutty flavour that blends well with the other ingredients. Since the honey sweetens on its own, and to amp it up think Ra Hemp Raw Honey & Fresh Flowers from Sun God Medicinals.  A fresh hemp flower tincture extracted using a slow, cold-process method to preserve the cannabinoid  acids then preserved with organic sugar cane alcohol and expertly combined with raw honey.  Contains 200mg CBD-a and 60mg CBD.  Ingredients: Organic cane alcohol, raw honey, and Oregon grown  whole plant hemp high in CBD-a. Shop: Sungodmedicinals.com

Nature’s Sentry

Nature’s Sentry is a small Vermont family business and the only CBD company that is catering to a specific market that caters to women, that of the massage industry.  Nature’s Sentry CBD massage oils are top quality, Vermont grown, organic, full spectrum CBD massage oils that are sold to massage centers and spas for professional use only.  Each 2 oz. bottle contains 25 mg of organic CBD oil that is third party independently tested for purity and to ensure that it contains less than 0.3% of THC, the psycho-active ingredients within the hemp plant. They are packaged in dark glass bottles to ensure that no free radicals are created by exposure to light or contamination by plastic molecules.  If having a CBD massage, it is important to note the quality of the massage oil especially in terms of safety and efficacy.

Nature’s Sentry comes in two blends:

• Deep Tissue - for painful areas e.g. sciatica, bad back etc.

• Unscented  - for persons with aroma sensitivities or skin issues e.g. psoriasis or eczema.

Shop: Naturessentry.com

Wisdom Essentials Dream

Dream is physician formulated to help you fall asleep, stay asleep and wake up rested naturally. Shop: Wisdomessentials.com

Kingdom Harvest Hemp Extract Oil

Kingdom Harvest sublingual oil (SLO) contains phytonutrients from a whole-spectrum hemp extract to nourish the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS). They produce their Whole-Spectrum Hemp Extract from the female flowers of the industrial hemp plant grown on the Kingdom of the Happy Land in Western North Carolina in compliance with the North Carolina Hemp Program.They use ethanol, the alcohol we drink in beer, wine, and spirits, to produce multiple full spectrum hemp extracts each containing a broad range of compounds from the industrial hemp plant. They carefully remove the ethanol and blend the extracts together with fractionated coconut oil (MCT oil) to produce our Kingdom Harvest Natural sublingual oil (SLO).  Available in Natural or Peppermint. Shop Aeroflownaturals.com

Hempme

Hempme only  uses 100% certified organic, USA grown hemp, that produces high quality, Gluten-free Full Spectrum extract used in their naturally harvested honey. Each HempMe creamed honey jar contains 500 mg and is THC FREE. This honey is specially creamed for an easy spread. I love this creamed honey because it is:

• Third Party Lab Certified 

• USA Grown & Processed

• 500 mg of Full Spectrum extract in Each Jar

• Non-GMO, Gluten Free

Also try the full spectrum lip and skin balm by Hempme. It’s packed with 25mg of pure premium full spectrum 100% certified organic hemp extract. (It’s important that consumers make sure their CBD products are full spectrum and certified for amounts of CBD in the product). The base is made with beeswax and royal jelly from urban apiaries in New York City. It’s also full of many anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial oils that are great for the skin. They are coconut oil, eucalyptus lemon essential oil, emu oil, arnica oil and cocoa butter.

Empower BodyCare

Empower BodyCare.has been making CBD body care products including soaking salts, a fast absorbing topical oil, and lotion since 2013. Their products are available through their website and at over 450 retailers (and growing daily) throughout the US. They always 3rd party lab test every batch of product for potency and they 3rd party lab test the hemp extract that they infuse into their products for potency, pesticides, residual solvents, and heavy metals.  Transparency, quality, and helping people are their main objectives as they follow all FTC and FDA guidelines.  Try: 

Empower® Soaking Salts - Infused with highly concentrated Empower® Topical Relief Oil, our Soaking Salts are a luxurious blend of Epsom, Pink Himalayan and Dead Sea Salts infused with a proprietary blend of essential oils and hemp-derived CBD extract cultivated using natural and sustainable methods. 
Empower® Topical Relief Lotion - The synergistic combination of essential oils, organic carrier oils, and hemp-derived CBD extract in Empower® Topical Relief Lotion soothes discomfort*, refreshes and moisturizes the skin, and helps invigorate the body.

Color Up Therapeutics

Color Up Therapeutics is a CBD lifestyle brand with the most amazing tinctures and hemp oil pills. Try: 500mg Daily Sublingual hemp oil. Enjoy the preventative and healing benefits of their daily CBD hemp oil sublingual. It is fast acting due to its quick absorption under the tongue. I also like Color Up Therapeutics’ hemp oil pills. If you prefer one dose a day versus a sublingual tincture, or just want to maximize the efficacy of CBD oil in your body, then this is for you. CBD oil pills make it easier to discretely take an exact dosage when desired. They also have CBD for pets and luxurious, therapeutic bath bombs.

Maxine Morgan Flow Formula

Maxine Morgan is the first CBD company to help relieve Period Cramps + PMS symptoms without compromising your health + wellness. Their Flow Formula is boosted with natural ingredients like CBD, turmeric, and ginger that show promising results and most importantly is a safe alternative to Midol and Ibuprofen. 

Warfighter Hemp

Warfighter Hemp, a manufacturer of CBD products infused from industrial hemp-based in Boulder, Colorado, debuts a holistic and natural new product, that soothes the mind and body. The Warfighter Hemp Bath Bombs join the Warfighter Hemp Bath Bomb Mix in the company’s line of bathing products, making it easy to deliver relief to people suffering from a variety of ailments, including PTSD, seizures, stress, pain and sleeplessness. You can purchase the bath bombs in singles  or in a Four-pack. Founded by a veteran, Warfighter Hemp bath bombs contain 35 mg of CBD oil. 50 percent of proceeds benefit nonprofits supporting veteran independence.  Their hemp tinctures are also mazing. Try the 600 MG CBD Full Spectrum Tincture. It’s gluten-free and vegan. They also have tinctures for dogs and 50 percent of proceeds benefit SemperK9, a nonprofit that trains service dogs for veterans.

Soothe Nano Relief Lotion

I love using Soothe Nano Relief Lotion after a hard workout. Just massage it in thoroughly until cream has been absorbed into skin, up to four times daily. Ingredients: 110mg of CO2 extracted isolate CBD from hemp used to create 1100mg of Soothe Nano CBD (apricot seed oil, soy lecithin, aspen tree bark powder, modified citrus pectin, and CBD isolate) For every 10mg of our Nano Solution, there is 1mg of active CBD. Shop: Soothelife.com

Shanti Wellness 

Shanti Wellness offers CBD-infused products that are companions to healthy wellness routines for natural stress reduction and performance enhancement. Their cannabinoids are derived from sun-grown, pesticide-free hemp in the rocky Colorado mountains. They maintain full traceability from clone to extract in order to ensure quality, batch after batch. Their products are formulated in a state of the art GMP-certified facility and all their products are tested to ensure no THC and efficacy. 

Try: Balance Premium Help Oil Tincture. Balance is full spectrum hemp oil naturally rich in CBD, contains no THC, so you won't feel unwanted psychoactive effects. Balance has a fast acting, sublingual formula.  Each dropper has about 8-10mg of Full Spectrum Hemp Oil rich in the healing properties of CBD. It has worked wonders on my anxiety and pain. Shop: Shopshanti.com

Frontier Jackson

Frontier Jackson’s products are all derived from hemp and are full spectrum CBD. Frontier Jackson uses safe extraction methods, does lab testing, and provides transparency with the lab results being available to everyone. Try the Starter Kit: This product includes both the flavored tincture and the gummy drops, giving anyone new to CBD different experiences to figure out the type of product that works the best for them. When you buy the starter kit, you’ll receive a coupon code to get a discount off your next order. Shop: Frontierjackson.com

Grassroots Harvest

Grassroots Harvest, an Austin-based CBD company, whose product line includes CBD oil, lotion, edibles, tinctures, vapeables, capsules and pet products. Grassroots Harvest offers high-quality, sustainably sourced solutions that are crafted in small batches by founder Kemal Whyte and Pharmacogeneticist Joseph Drummond at their lab in Austin. Their CBD products are known for naturally lessening anxiety, reducing pain, aiding in post-workout recovery and promoting restful sleep, amongst other benefits.  I’m currently enjoying the Sublingual/Topical Hemp Oil Extract (CBD) Tincture with 500mg of organic, full-spectrum CBD per bottle and 33mg of CBD per milliliter. Also try the PEACH Rings. These Peach Rings have a high concentration of Grassroots Harvest Hemp Extract Oil (CBD) crystalline, with 15mg per gummy. Shop Grassrootsharvest.com.

Plenty Pharma

Plenty Pharma is a retail store in Loveland, CO with a website where all the products we sell are listed. They take it upon ourselves to go through a stringent vetting process with all our suppliers making sure they provide products that have high quality CBD and supply Certificates of Analysis to prove their products are not only safe from containments but also meet the less than 3% THC legal requirements. Their most popular CBD tincture is our Plenty Relief oil.  It has 600mg of CBD and is spearmint flavored. Because our products are high quality you commonly only need a couple of drops in the morning, although many people report using a couple of drops before they go to sleep to help them sleep more soundly. Shop: Plentypharma.com

Hemp Theory

Honest Marijuana Company just launched a new Hemp Theory line of hemp-based products that contain cannabinoids and provide a bevy of calming, pain-relieving benefits. Hemp Theory Hemp Oil Extract Tincture is Made with Nanobidiol™ Technology, this oil tincture ensures the user has an unparalleled hemp oil experience. Nanobidiol™ Technology is unique in that it nanoencapsulates each hemp cannabinoid molecule to make it much smaller. This in turn makes the molecules much more water-soluble, which increases their bioavailability. The hemp extract in the Hemp Theory-Hemp Extract Oil quickly and easily enters your bloodstream, allowing for one of the cleanest hemp oil experiences available.

Hemp Theory Powerful Fast Pain Relief Hemp Cream combines the ease and convenience of a pain relief cream with the medicinal benefits of hemp. This fast acting cream is made from only the highest-quality natural hemp oil so you can get the pain relief you need without worrying about side effects or getting high. It is also different from the pain-relief pills you’re used to taking, as it contains nanoencapsulated cannabidiol (via Nanobidiol™ Technology) that enters the bloodstream quickly and easily for ultra quick pain relief.

Dr. Ganja

DrGanja.com is a website with over 400 DBD products from 30 plus awesome CBD brands. Dr. Ganja has the biggest collection of CDB hemp flower from their brand Dr.Ganja.  Some great products to try include:

• NuLeaf Naturals 240mg Full Spectrum CBD Hemp Oil: This 240mg CBD oil is great for if you’re trying CBD for the first time. A popular purchase on Drganja.com, these CBD drops help alleviate stress, inflammation and other issues of discomfort.

• CBDistillery CBD Gummies: Vegan and delicious, these sweet gummy bears are a great way to supplement CBD on daily basis. Each gummy bear contains 30mg of CBD.

• CBD Lifter Flower: It’s all in the name for Lifter: this delicious-smelling hemp flower will melt fatigue and lift the spirits!

Check out all the different hemp flower strains that they carry here

Healing with CBD by Eileen Konieczny RN. 

Eileen’s Konieczny book, Healing with CBD: How Cannabidiol Can Transform Your Health Without the High (Ulysses Press, Sept. 2018), offers a practical and nuanced guide to cannabinoid medicine gleaned from her years of experience in the medical cannabis space. It combines lessons learned from treating patients with tales from-the-field in advocacy at the national level.  Eileen has fought for medical cannabis legalization nationally and was a recognized leader in the passing of New York’s medical cannabis bill. Eileen has served on the board of directors for the Children’s Health and Research Foundation and currently serves on the board of directors for the Association of Cannabis Specialists.  She is Past President of the American Cannabis Nurses Association, a clinical associate in the Society for Cannabis Clinicians and has been involved in licensed medical cannabis operations in New York and Connecticut.

Pop-Up PotCorn

Pop-Up Potcorn is a satisfying way to elevate and alleviate. It’s the first cannabis-infused microwaveable bag of popcorn that’s simple, salty, and good for you! And best of all, Pop-Up Potcorn hits “the sweet spot” of consistent micro-dosing with just 5-10 mgs of cannabis per bag or a CBD only option. Thanks to its thoughtful dosage and 100% pure cannabis extract, Pop-Up Potcorn is reliably potent without being overwhelming. There are three formulations: THC 10 MG for those looking for a fun, elevating experience; CBD 10 MG for those seeking to de-stress and relax, and THC:CBD 5|5 for balanced effects. Pop-Up Potcorn retails for about $8.00 per bag, and is available throughout California at select dispensaries. Shop: Popuppotcorn.com

Urban Re-leaf Cannabis Candles

Urban Re-leaf handcraft cannabis coconut wax candles in Los Angeles. There is no THC in their candles but each candle contains cannabis essential oils along with fragrances.  Our fragrances have no phthalates. They use cotton wicks and their jars come with cork lids that can be repurposed, so they are very eco friendly. Shop: Urbanre-leaf.com  

Life Elements

Serenity, focus, health and sleep with ease - Life Elements line of tinctures offers these four benefits with their naturally cultivated ingredients that blend with their full-spectrum CBD.

Creating  targeted and soothing results whether the goal is focus or a sense of calm to physical recovery and improved sleep, these premium hemp derived CBD tinctures offer advantageous benefits throughout the day.

• Focus Boost (500 mg CBD) - Can help improve serotonin flow, reduce anxiety to improve concentration and allow for higher productivity.

• Health Boost (600mg CBD) - Works to help maintain homeostasis within the immune system and can improve pain management, modulate appetite and help regulate energy throughout the body.

• Serenity Boost (800mg CBD) - This blend includes a relaxing herbal mix of lavender and chamomile. Combined with CBD, it is a powerful stress reducer and anti-anxiety alternative to addictive pharmaceuticals.

• Sleep Boost (1000 mg CBD)  - Relaxes the body with the help of ancient sleep remedies like Valerian root and Linden flower to improve sleep duration and quality.

Have you ever used a product with CBD? Leave a comment below and let me know!

*Disclaimer: Press samples were provided for editorial consideration, product testing, photography and honest review.