What Is CBD Archives

There are some questions that we get at Sunset Lake CBD’s HQ that don’t quite fit in our general FAQ. One that we’ve been getting quite a lot (as our Farmer’s Roast CBD Coffee grows in popularity) is this: Does CBD counteract caffeine?

It’s a great and insightful question. After all, caffeine is the stimulant in coffee and energy drinks that help keep us awake (and a little too wired sometimes.) Doesn’t CBD make you sleepy? If so, what’s the point of CBD Coffee?

It’s hard to explain what makes our CBD coffee unique, but I will still try in the rest of this post.

Does CBD Counteract Caffeine?

How Does Caffeine Work?

If you’re like this writer, who needs at least one cup of coffee to feel normal in the morning, you should also know how and why that is. Caffeine is a stimulant of the methylxanthine class that stimulates adrenaline release and mimics the form of the neurochemical adenosine, a chemical that makes us feel drowsy in the morning and at night.¹

When we consume caffeine, our body wholly and rapidly absorbs the chemical within an hour. It enters the bloodstream and our brain, where it blocks adenosine receptors, making us feel alert and awake.² This feeling of alertness can turn sour, though, as caffeine use is generally linked with feelings of anxiety and jitteriness.

The other downside of caffeine use is the short-lived alert benefits. Because your body processes caffeine so quickly, you may feel like you need more and more coffee to stay awake and alert. The need for caffeine is where many folks turn to their second and third cups of coffee for the day.

CBD & Adenosine

CBD also interacts with adenosine, the neurochemical responsible for drowsiness. But, instead of blocking adenosine receptors like caffeine, CBD appears to prevent the re-uptake of the chemical leading to an excess of adenosine in your body.

All of those adenosine molecules need to go somewhere. Carrying an excess of adenosine in your body activates the different A-receptors around your body, leading to several other benefits. For more on those benefits, please see our CBD and Adenosine post here.

A cup of Sunset Lake CBD Coffee next to a one pound bag of beans. — Sunset Lake roasts all of it’s CBD Coffee in small (<10lbs.) batches.

Counteraction Or Complementary?

CBD and caffeine have different effects on your body and can counteract each other, but that isn’t the whole story.

Just because CBD and caffeine play tug-of-war with the adenosine neurotransmitter doesn’t mean that they don’t provide your body with other benefits, too.

Caffeine And Adrenaline

As we mentioned earlier, caffeine also stimulates the release of adrenaline, which can send the body into an alert and focused mode, a benefit most people want from their morning cup of coffee.

Caffeine And Movement

Not only will morning caffeine get you up and out of bed, but it will also get things moving. Caffeine stimulates blood flow and can stimulate gastrointestinal movements, helping keep you regular.

CBD And Caffeine

While we can’t make any medical claims about our CBD Coffee, customers who’ve purchased it seem to vibe with it. This writer can say that he enjoys CBD Coffee for two main reasons:

The full-spectrum CBD does a good job of counteracting the jitteriness common with coffee and other caffeinated beverages. I usually have one cup (two if I’m feeling indulgent) and am able to get to work and organize my thoughts fairly easily.
The taste. We’ve been spoiled by our friends down at Good Luck Coffee Roasters, who use only the best beans in their coffee. It’s hard to drink anything else now. Just give it a try, and you’ll see what I mean.

Health Considerations: CBD & Caffeine

If you have any health conditions or are currently taking any medications, you’ll want to consult your doctor or your pharmacist before enhancing your morning caffeine with CBD. Only they can provide you with personalized advice based on your current situation.

Once you get the okay, feel free to experiment with CBD and caffeine. Neither affects everyone’s body the same way, as we’re all different. One piece of advice would be this: start low and slow. If you want to combine CBD’s calming benefits with caffeine’s boost, do so gradually.

Sources

Nehlig, A et al. “Caffeine and the central nervous system: mechanisms of action, biochemical, metabolic and psychostimulant effects.” Brain research. Brain research reviews vol. 17,2 (1992): 139-70. doi:10.1016/0165-0173(92)90012-b
Lazarus, Michael et al. “Arousal effect of caffeine depends on adenosine A2A receptors in the shell of the nucleus accumbens.” The Journal of neuroscience: the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience vol. 31,27 (2011): 10067-75. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.6730-10.2011

With the release of Sunset Lake CBD’s Functional Mushroom Gummies, we’ve been getting some questions about how they work. The biggest is: can you take functional mushrooms and CBD together?

It’s a great question, and we appreciate the apprehension. Both supplements have gained popularity recently, and unlike pharmaceuticals, the FDA does not regulate them.

We will address that concern and others here. In the rest of this post, we’ll cover,

What Functional Mushrooms Are
How CBD works with your body
And how you can enjoy them together safely and effectively

This blog post is for informational purposes only and should not be considered health advice. Continue reading “Can You Take CBD And Functional Mushrooms Together?”

Self-care is essential for surviving in our post-pandemic world. If you want to take your self-care routines to the next level, consider incorporating CBD. CBD has gained popularity in the last few years for its potential therapeutic benefits. In the rest of this post, we’ll talk about:

What CBD Is
How you can work CBD into your routines
And give you some pointers on finding the right CBD for your self-care

Understanding What CBD Is

Before you work CBD into your self-care routines, you should know what CBD is and what it can do for your body.

CBD is short for cannabidiol and is a cannabinoid produced by the hemp plant that interacts with your body’s endocannabinoid system. The primary function of the endocannabinoid system is maintaining homeostasis. It does so by making our bodies more resilient to external pressures.

CBD helps your endocannabinoid system signal and work more efficiently. It does so by helping with the uptake of more beneficial endocannabinoids already present in your body. In a roundabout way, CBD can help our bodies become more resilient, which fits well with our topic of self-care.

Improving Your Self-Care With CBD

Like finding your self-care activities, finding the right CBD products, dosages, and dosing schedule that works for you will take some trial and error. Stay calm and be patient with yourself if you experience results right away.

The most crucial bit of advice when working with CBD is that you should listen to your body. If your dose feels like too much or too little, make a note, adjust, and try again.

Yoga & Meditation

One of the touted effects of CBD is the ability to quiet down that inner monologue, at least for a moment. Yoga and meditation are the same.

We stretch and notice or sit and observe our thoughts and feelings. CBD may be able to help with our mindful practice by promoting a sense of relaxation and quieting our inner voice. Next time you plan on practicing, take a small dose of CBD an hour beforehand. You may find that you’re more able to find your flow or vinyasa.

Skincare

One of the more common self-care practices is taking care of our skin. Nothing feels better than relieving red, angry skin.

CBD may be able to help with irritated and dry skin, as it’s currently being studied for its anti-inflammation properties. If this sounds like it might help you, check out our CBD Recovery Body Lotion.

There are also plenty of CBD skincare products on the market. Try one out and notice how it makes your skin feel.

Workout Recovery

One of the best ways of taking care of our bodies is by breaking it down. As backward as that seems, that’s what working out does to our muscles. We first have to rip apart our existing muscles to grow new muscles.

One unfortunate side effect of working out is soreness. Known as delayed onset muscle soreness, or DOMS for short, this dull ache can develop 12 – 24 hours after a workout. While not debilitating, DOMS can be annoying to deal with.

CBD topicals have been known to help soothe sore spots and muscle aches. While it won’t cure or prevent DOMS, using a CBD topical may help you recover faster by allowing for better rest. Getting better rest means you should be able to return to peak performance in no time.

Bath Bombs

Who doesn’t love a nice hot bath? Bubbles, steam, maybe some aromatics? With bath bombs becoming so popular, it’s no mystery that CBD-infused bath bombs are on the market now.

CBD can help relax and soothe you. Combine that with the relaxing effect of a hot bath, and you’ve got a rejuvenating experience.

Creative Activities

Whether you prefer writing, reading, drawing, painting, or building, CBD can help you focus on your creative outlet. Many folks need help enjoying their hobbies nowadays. While that may be a function of any number of reasons, CBD can help those reasons fall away, at least for a little while.

Hobbies let us cut loose and introduce play back into our day-to-day. CBD can help you save time and find that state of mind faster. When you’re more able to settle in, you may get more enjoyment from your activity of choice, too.

(Unless that activity is operating heavy machinery. That’s not such a good idea.)

Bedtime & Sleep Hygiene

One of the top reasons most Americans use CBD is for sleep. Unlike the other routines listed above, sleep is non-negotiable. The problem is that many of us don’t get as much as we’d like or can’t get more than an hour or two of sleep at a time.

That’s where CBD can help out. CBD can help quiet those racing thoughts and twitching muscles. Some products, like our 1,200mg Full Spectrum CBD Oil, combine CBD and melatonin to make a powerful sleep aid.

Endless Self Care With CBD

CBD’s usefulness is broader than the above suggestions. Once you know how you and your body react to CBD, you can use it how you see fit.

Remember, start low and slow. Adjust as needed over time and stick with it. Consistency with CBD and self-care is the key.

Broad-spectrum CBD is one of the three types of CBD and an important THC-free middle ground between full-spectrum CBD and CBD isolate.

In this post, we’ll cover what broad-spectrum CBD is, how it’s made, and the pros and cons to consider before purchasing.

What Is CBD?

First, let’s review what CBD is. When we discuss CBD, we could be referring to a few things.

CBD can mean the cannabinoid CBD— short for cannabidiol. Cannabidiol is a non-psychoactive compound that helps regulate our body’s endocannabinoid system.
We can also use CBD as an umbrella term to refer to the extract of a hemp plant. In this case, “CBD” includes several hundred other organic compounds extracted from the hemp plant like cannabinoids, terpenes, flavanoids, and more.

In the context of this post, unless otherwise clarified, we’ll be using the second, more “broad,” definition of CBD.

What Is Broad-Spectrum CBD?

Broad-spectrum CBD is one of three CBD subcategories. The other two are called “full-spectrum CBD” and “CBD Isolate” sometimes referred to as pure CBD.

The latter, CBD isolate, is a hemp concentrate that’s refined into pure crystallized CBD. (100% purity is nearly impossible to achieve, and most in the hemp industry settle for 98-99% purity.)

Full-spectrum CBD on the other hand, refers to an extract that contains all natural compounds at the time of harvest.

Why the industry has decided to muddle the matter is beyond this author. Regardless, broad-spectrum CBD is the happy middle ground between full-spectrum and CBD isolate. It can contain any combination of cannabinoids, terpenes, and other naturally occurring compounds found in the hemp plant—except for one very important cannabinoid: THC.

What Makes Broad-Spectrum CBD Different?

The cannabinoid(s) that can’t be present in broad-spectrum CBD is perhaps the most well-known. To be considered and marketed as “broad-spectrum” the product and the extract it is made from must not contain any THC. That includes delta-9 THC, delta-8, and all other tetrahydrocannabinol analogs.

We can think of a broad-spectrum CBD product as:

Made with full-spectrum CBD with the THC removed
Made with CBD isolate combined with another cannabinoid
Anything in between

How Is Broad-Spectrum CBD Made?

There are two ways to make broad-spectrum CBD: Remediation and addition. Both are different and have their pros and cons.

Remediation

Making broad-spectrum via remediation requires technical know-how and some pricey equipment, but the final product is as close to full-spectrum CBD as you can get without having THC.

Remediation is the act of removing the THC (and analogous cannabinoids) from a full-spectrum CBD extract. One of the most common industry remediation techniques is called flash chromatography.

Let’s visualize flash chromatography remediation like this: Think of full-spectrum CBD extract as a deck of cards— full of different suits and numbered cards— each a cannabinoid. Without remediation, we accept the deck as is. But with flash chromatography, we can spread the cards out and get rid of the cards we don’t want. In this case, it’s the two pesky jokers— delta-9 THC & THCa. Once we’re finished, we can reshuffle the deck and go on our merry way with broad-spectrum CBD extract.

Addition

We can also make broad-spectrum CBD by adding cannabinoid isolates together. This is the more common method, especially when we talk about broad-spectrum CBD edibles, like Sunset Lake CBD’s own CBN Sleep Gummies.

While this method is ripe for critique, it has its benefits especially when we consider dosing, accuracy, and desired effects.

What About Terpenes?

Because of the growing body of research around terpenes and how they modulate a user’s experience, asking about the fate of these aromatic compounds is fair game.

Unfortunately, terpenes are a secondary consideration when thinking about broad-spectrum CBD. Because manufacturers make broad-spectrum CBD with either isolated cannabinoids or refined distillates the terpenes are often lost.

What Are The Pros Of Broad-Spectrum CBD?

(Partial) Entourage Effect

If you’re stuck between the rock and hard place of reaping the benefits of full-spectrum CBD’s entourage effect and the need to avoid THC because of legal or professional limitations, remediated broad-spectrum CBD might be the perfect solution for you.

Non-Psychoactive

Broad-spectrum CBD is ideal for folks who are sensitive to THC. The psychoactive cannabinoids like delta-9 THC, delta-8 THC, delta-10, THCa, etc. are removed during the process.

Legal Considerations

Not all states or countries have the same limits when it comes to full-spectrum CBD’s trace THC content. In the United States, hemp’s THC limit is 0.3%. In many parts of Europe that limit is 0.05%. Removing THC completely is a good way around these limits.

Drug Testing

We’ve been dancing around this point during this section, but if you are still subject to workplace or judicial drug tests, broad-spectrum CBD may work for you. Drug screenings are usually pass-fail for THC metabolites, so it doesn’t matter what concentration you consume THC in. If it’s in your body, your liver will break it down and you’ll test positive.

What Are The Cons?

Purification & Quality Considerations

One of the biggest hangups about broad-spectrum CBD is product quality— especially if it’s made with remediated broad-spectrum CBD. Because the extraction method involves solvents and precision, there’s a slight chance that a broad-spectrum product could have,

Residual solvents that you wouldn’t want to consume
Trace amounts of THC still present in the product

If you’re considering buying a broad-spectrum product, be sure to look at the product’s certificate of analysis. These documents should tell you more about the presence of other cannabinoids and about foreign substances still present.

Incomplete Entourage Effect

While we included this on the benefits list, it also deserves a spot on our cons list. As the body of research grows, we’re learning more and more about THC’s therapeutic effects. While it may be intoxicating, researchers are finding that it may also help manage sleep, and depression symptoms, and help as an appetite stimulant.

Price

The last drawback is somewhat minor compared to the others, especially now that hemp and cannabis technology continue to evolve. Because broad-spectrum CBD requires special skill sets and technology to produce, it’s more expensive to make. Manufacturers usually pass those costs on to consumers.

Broad-Spectrum CBD: Common Questions

Safe?

Assuming that the extract is made correctly, your broad-spectrum CBD is safe for consumption. As will all CBD products, side effects are possible though relatively minor.

Be sure to ask the vendor for any certificates of analysis so that you can ensure that your product is produced and purified properly. For more guidance about how to read your certificate of analysis, you can see our full post here.

Legal?

Broad-spectrum CBD is federally legal in the United States via the 2018 Farm Bill. For more information about your local area, state, or country please contact a local attorney.

How Is It Different Than Full-Spectrum CBD?

At the core of this question is the presence of THC.

If a CBD product contains the cannabinoids CBD and THC together, it can be called a full-spectrum product. Take for example Sunset Lake CBD’s new full spectrum gummy: Vibe Gummies.

If a CBD product contains CBD and any other cannabinoid that isn’t THC or its analogs (delta-8 THC, THCa, etc.) it can be called broad-spectrum CBD.

How Long Until It Starts To Work?

Broad-spectrum CBD’s onset time is product-dependent. For product-specific onset times, please reach out to us via our contact page.

For more general information, see our posts about topicals, edibles, oils, and smokables.

What Forms Does Broad-Spectrum CBD Come In?

Broad-spectrum CBD is available in every form full-spectrum CBD is except for smokables. That includes CBD oils, edibles, beverages, pet treats, topicals, and more.

It’s simply not genetically possible to grow broad-spectrum hemp though that might be on the horizon with the development of gene-editing techniques.

Sources:

L’Heureux, Megan. “THC Remediation: A Basic Understanding.” Cannabis Science Tech, Cannabis Science and Technology, 19 Dec. 2020, www.cannabissciencetech.com/view/thc-remediation-a-basic-understanding.
“Flash Chromatography.” ExtraktLAB, extraktlab.com/pure99-x-chromatography-system/flash-chromatography/

Google searches for the terms “CBD” and “male enhancement” are on the rise which leaves this writer wondering why. CBD and Viagra (Sildenafil citrate) are two completely different substances that do different things.

Viagra is a prescription drug for erectile dysfunction and CBD is a cannabinoid used for relaxation, focus, and seizure mitigation But, because some companies seem hell-bent on misleading the public with some creative marketing out there, we’ll be using this post to answer the following question.

Is CBD Better Than Viagra?

Answering the question “Is CBD better than Viagra?” is tricky because the two substances are different and address different aspects of health.

What Does Viagra Do?

Viagra, also known by its generic name Sildenafil, is a medication available via prescription used to treat,

Erectile dysfunction – is a condition characterized by the inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for sex.
Pulmonary arterial hypertension – is characterized by high blood pressure in the blood vessels that supply the lungs. If left untreated, pulmonary hypertension can damage the right side of your heart.

How Does Viagra Work?

When aroused, men’s bodies release nitric oxide— a molecule that facilitates erections and directs blood to the penis with a series of chemical messengers. An enzyme called PDE5 can break down said messengers and make getting an erection harder.

Viagra is a PDE5 blocker and can prevent it from getting in the way of a good time. Viagra also works by helping relax arteries in the genitals which helps increase blood flow.

What Does CBD Do?

CBD, short for cannabidiol, is a cannabinoid that works with your endocannabinoid system to achieve and maintain homeostasis.

Homeostasis can mean different things to different people. The endocannabinoid system takes part in a lot of your body’s functions like,

Emotional regulation
Pain
Inflammation
Sleep
Memory
Cardiovascular Function

Related: CBN for Sleep?

CBD Is Not Male Enhancement

CBD as of right now has no reported erectile benefits. One might be able to argue that CBD may help with cardiovascular function and thus should help with erectile dysfunction, but as of yet no such findings have been reported. So, it is best to view marketing claims about CBD and male enhancement through a critical lens.

Can You Take CBD With Viagra?

Can you take CBD with Viagra? Yes. Should you? Now that’s a different question.

While there have yet to be any studies on the topic, just knowing how both substances work can help us make educated guesses about the risks involved.

Viagra has some uncommon side effects like,

Dizziness
Headaches
Priapism (the erection that lasts more than four hours)

We think that it’s possible CBD may compound those effects or possibly prolong them.

Agonistic Interaction

Because CBD and Viagra can relax blood vessels and thus lower blood pressure, it’s possible that taking both could compound and lead to sudden dizziness, fatigue, and even fainting.

Slowed Elimination

CBD generally works through enzyme inhibition, meaning that the molecules your body uses to break down substances are held back by using CBD. In this case, taking CBD with Viagra could slow down your body’s elimination of Viagra meaning that you might be in for a long hard afternoon.

Apples To Oranges

While both CBD and Viagra have generally good safety profiles, that doesn’t mean you should use CBD to replace Viagra to tackle your erectile dysfunction. It may not work, you may be out of some money, and CBD may interfere with your other medication.

That said, CBD may greatly benefit you and your situation. Either way, you should consult with your doctor with any questions or concerns.

Have you ever wondered why your CBD oil helps you relax at the end of the day or why music sounds amazing after a recreational edible? All of hemp and cannabis’s effects can be traced back to the expansive system of receptors and neurotransmitters found throughout your body called the endocannabinoid system (ECS).

But it doesn’t end there. The endocannabinoid system plays a role in many of our bodily functions. In this post, we’re going to cover,

Three main components of the ECS
Physiological functions our ECS regulates
The role phytocannabinoids play in our ECS

Continue reading “Understanding The Endocannabinoid System (ECS)”

Among the most popular CBD searches on Google is the age-old problem for men: How to use CBD for ED. ED, short for erectile dysfunction, is a common condition that affects many men of all ages making it one of the more common sexual health issues in the world so it’s no wonder folks are turning to more natural avenues to fix the flaccid issue.

In this post, we’re going to talk about,

What erectile dysfunction is,
Whether or not CBD for ED is a viable option,
And, what else you can do to address ED’s endless causes

What Is CBD?

CBD is short for cannabidiol and is one of the more than 100 naturally occurring chemical compounds called cannabinoids produced by the cannabis plant. We find CBD in abundance in specifically bred hemp flower.

By itself, CBD is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid meaning it will not make you feel intoxicated and does not lead to dependency.

While experts aren’t entirely sure how CBD interacts with your body, we do know that it works closely with your endocannabinoid system; an intricate cell-signaling system that manages bodily functions like:

Sleep
Mood
Appetite
Memory
Central Nervous System Development
And more…

What Is Erectile Dysfunction (ED)?

Also known as impotence, erectile dysfunction is characterized by the persisting inability to achieve or maintain an erection. Erectile dysfunction shouldn’t be confused with the occasional difficulty achieving an erection due to stress, performance anxiety, or fatigue.

Erectile dysfunction is categorized as such because of its ongoing nature that affects the quality of life and makes it difficult for a man to engage in sexual activity. ED can also cause reduced sexual desire and ejaculation issues.

ED can also be a symptom of a more serious illness like atherosclerosis (blocked arteries), heart disease, and high blood sugar. If you started experiencing consistent issues getting and maintaining an erection, you should see a healthcare professional.

The Causes of Erectile Dysfunction

ED can be caused by both physical and psychological issues, often working together. Some of the most common causes of ED include:

Vascular Issues

Conditions that negatively affect blood flower can impede blood supply to the penis making it difficult to get and maintain an erection.

Obesity

Excessive body weight can cause many other issues including hormonal imbalances, type II diabetes, and vascular issues, all of which can contribute to ED.

Neurological Disorders

Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and other nerve injuries can disrupt the signals responsible for initiating and maintaining an erection.

Medication Use

Many medications used to treat high blood pressure (like beta blockers), depression, and anxiety (SSRIs & SNRIs) list erectile dysfunction as a side effect.

Substance Use

Smoking cigarettes or using alcohol excessively can interfere with the signals sent to your brain that tell the penis to fill with blood. Substance use can also reduce testosterone production which can negatively affect ED.

Anxiety & Depression

Performance anxiety, depression, and general anxiety can all interfere with the way your brain communicates with your penis, thus further exacerbating the anxiety.

Fatigue

Sometimes your body just won’t listen to your brain. Getting and maintaining an erection takes energy. Excessive fatigue can lead to temporary ED.

Can You Use CBD For ED?

This is a tricky question. Because erectile dysfunction can be caused by so many underlying issues, it’s impossible to say whether or not CBD will be able to help. Not only that, but it would be irresponsible to do so.

CBD cannot help with ED’s underlying issues like obesity, neurological injuries, substance use, and more. You should be wary of any company or brand that claims that their CBD products can help with ED. That would be like if superfood producers said that their anti-oxidant-rich acai bowls could prevent cancer. Irresponsible.

Can CBD Act Like Viagra?

Not only will CBD not address most of the underlying issues of erectile dysfunction, it won’t address the symptom itself. CBD will not act like Viagra (Sildenafil citrate) and will not give you an erection.

CBD And ED’s Underlying Causes

While CBD won’t address most of the physical causes of ED, it may be able to help with some of the underlying psychological causes of erectile dysfunction.

Anxiety

A 2015 review of nearly 50 independent studies suggested that CBD may help alleviate generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, and other forms of anxiety.¹ If it is true that CBD helps with anxiety, using CBD before a sexual encounter may help with performance-related anxiety and leave you more at ease, thus helping with situational ED.

Fatigue

While CBD won’t help with immediate fatigue as it doesn’t act like a stimulant, using CBD to better manage your sleep may help with fatigue in the long run. Many people use CBD oils and infused edibles to help with sleep-related issues.

Does CBD Help With Blood Flow?

One last avenue that’s worth mentioning is CBD’s effect on blood flow. There aren’t many large-scale studies yet, but a few suggest CBD may help increase blood flow to the brain after one dose, and more generally after repeated dosing.² While we don’t know why this is, some preclinical studies have shown that CBD use can reduce vascular inflammation in isolated arteries.

CBD And ED Studies

As of this writing, there are only a handful of studies into the link between cannabis use and erectile dysfunction and even fewer into the link between CBD specifically and ED.

A study published in 2019 in the American Journal of Men’s Health found that their data suggested that ED is twice as high in cannabis users than in the control group.³ While there could be many reasons why that’s the case, it warrants further research and should be taken with a grain of salt.

Instead Of CBD, Focus On…

Cannabidiol (CBD) as of right now isn’t a viable treatment for ED and likely never will be. Instead of getting discouraged, focus instead on the underlying causes of ED,

Sleep

Better sleep will help you in so many facets of life including lowering stress, reducing anxiety, curbing impulsivity, and more. More sleep also means more energy and if you struggle with fatigue-related ED symptoms, getting a solid eight hours of rest could certainly help you.

Related: CBN For Sleep

Stress

Finding better ways to manage stress and addressing chronic stress will help you get better sleep, make maintaining a diet easier, and make you feel better. Getting rid of stress is easier said than done though and will take some trial and error. When you find something that works for you, keep at it!

Exercise

Exercise, and especially regular cardio sessions, will help your heart and vascular system immensely. If your ED is related to your heart health, doing regular cardio exercises will help you immensely.

CBD For Erectile Dysfunction: The Flacid Truth

The idea that CBD can help with ED is one dreamt up by marketers to sell you CBD products. If you come across any cannabis or CBD brands that claim that their products can help solve your erection issues, be very wary. Are those claims backed by any scientific studies? And, if they are, who paid for those studies?

The unfortunate truth here is that while CBD may be able to help with a lot of things, maintaining an erection isn’t one of them.

Sources

Blessing, Esther M et al. “Cannabidiol as a Potential Treatment for Anxiety Disorders.” Neurotherapeutics : the journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics vol. 12,4 (2015): 825-36. doi:10.1007/s13311-015-0387-1
Sultan, Salahaden R et al. “The effects of acute and sustained cannabidiol dosing for seven days on the haemodynamics in healthy men: A randomised controlled trial.” British journal of clinical pharmacology vol. 86,6 (2020): 1125-1138. doi:10.1111/bcp.14225
Pizzol, Damiano et al. “Relationship Between Cannabis Use and Erectile Dysfunction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” American journal of men’s health vol. 13,6 (2019): 1557988319892464. doi:10.1177/1557988319892464

If you’ve visited a retailer that sells hemp or cannabis you may have come across the term “entourage effect.” No, they’re not referring to the HBO show of the mid- to late-aughts. The entourage effect as coined by cannabis scientists refers to the compounding nature of hemp’s cannabinoids. Taken individually cannabinoids can only do so much, but together they can do so much more.

In the rest of this post, we’ll tease out,

What the entourage effect is
Where the term was coined
And, all of the moving parts

Continue reading “The Entourage Effect: What Is It & How Does It Work?”

Two solvent-based extractions dominate the hemp industry. But, which one is better? CO₂ vs ethanol extraction? The question has lingered for years even though technically there are no correct answers. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages.

In this post, we’ll highlight the two main methods of solvent-based extraction,

Ethanol
Supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO₂)
And compare them head-to-head

Continue reading “CO₂ vs. Ethanol Extraction: Which Is Better?”

Hemp (Cannabis Sativa L.) is an ancient plant— literally. Originating in Central Asia, the first recorded cultivation of hemp was in China around 2800 BCE. From there, it traveled the globe, eventually making its way to the New World in the 1600s.

In this post, we’ll cover the abbreviated history of hemp including,

What is hemp in the 21st century
Its uses
How it’s different than cannabis

Continue reading “What Is Hemp? Benefits, Uses, History, & More”

Chances are you’ve heard about CBD, and one of the most popular ways that people consume it: CBD oil. In a recent survey, 55% of CBD users responded that CBD oil was one of their main dosing methods, second only behind CBD-infused edibles and candy. Nearly 100 million Americans have tried CBD so it’s safe to say that CBD oil isn’t going anywhere. Continue reading “What Is CBD Oil? Our Complete Guide”

It seems like almost every month we are now hearing about a new and exciting cannabinoid. You’ve probably heard of THC and CBD. But what about CBDV? CBDV, short for cannabidivarin, is getting some media attention lately. And, while hemp research has been hindered for decades by international prohibition, thankfully there are intrepid scientists who wade through rivers of restrictive governmental red tape in order to conduct groundbreaking cannabinoid research.

In this post, we’ll explore,

What CBDV is
How it’s different than CBD
What the research says about its applications

Continue reading “What Is CBDV & What Is It Used For?”