This ongoing worldwide pandemic has been a whirlwind of an experience. One thing that’s made it even harder is trying to keep up with the rapidly changing information around best practices in both preventing infection from the novel coronavirus and getting relief when infection occurs. 

However, there has been some good news lately, thanks to a breakthrough discovery of something that may have the potential to help with COVID-19 protection and recovery: cannabinoid compounds. 

What are Cannabinoid Compounds

Cannabinoid compounds come from the Cannabis sativa plant. There are many different subtypes of cannabinoids, referred to as metabolites. The different metabolites have slightly different chemical structures and can impact the human body in different ways. Although they come from the same family of plants, these compounds are not the same as the THC found in regular cannabis and do not have the same biochemical effects. 

Possibilities in Protection and Recovery 

Forbes reported that several recent studies have indicated that cannabinoids and some of their metabolites may help prevent COVID-19 infections and improve recovery time if a person does get infected. Researchers believe that specific cannabinoids may prevent the coronavirus from replicating by creating a stress response that produces a specific protein called interferons. 

Richard van Breemen, a leading researcher at Oregon State University, has been at the forefront of this research. His research focused on two cannabinoid compounds, cannabigerolic acid, and cannabidiolic acid, also known as CBGA and CBDA. These compounds can bind to the spike proteins in the COVID-19 virus and prevent the virus from entering new cells. Keeping the virus out of new cells has potential for new disease prevention and treatment methods. 

Limited research has also been done by a pharmaceutical company authorized to produce a specific CBD product used with patients with a severe seizure disorder. They discovered that there was a lower infection rate amongst patients who had a “medication record,” where they took the pharmaceutical-grade CBD medication. 

It’s important to note that these studies focused on using very high-grade CBD products administered in tightly controlled doses by medical professionals. There’s still a lot of research to be completed, and there are still many unknowns about the potential use of CBD and cannabinoids in COVID-19 prevention and treatment. Therefore, you should not assume that using or consuming CBD (or any other cannabis product) will prevent, treat, or cure COVID-19. 

What’s Next for Cannabinoids and COVID-19

So far, much of the research has been conducted “in-vitro,” meaning no testing was performed on either humans or animals. Some research has been done using mice, giving them extremely high doses of very high-quality CBD. The pharmaceutical company research has only been done with tightly controlled groups who were already using an FDA-authorized CBD product. 

More research, both in test tubes and mice, will still need to be done, but after that, the next likely stage is a limited human trial. These clinical trials will apply the tested principles to human subjects before the results are carefully peer-reviewed and studied by the scientific community. 
So while it’s too soon to just go grab a CBD edible from the corner store and call it a day, there is hope that CBD and specific cannabinoids may have a role to play in antiviral research.There is also anticipation that it may serve as a preventative measure alongside others such as boosting your immune system and social distancing.

Should one show interest in trying CBD, Beni Bush provides high quality organic CBD available for purchase.

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Cannabidiol has received quite the media coverage in recent years. Often known as CBD, it is one of the many natural compounds found in the cannabis plant, which are commonly referred to as cannabinoids. Tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as THC, is the key psychoactive component found in cannabis that induces the sensation of feeling “high.” 

Unlike THC, CBD is not psychoactive. However, both elements have their own unique benefits and potential that are often overlooked, especially CBD. Ready to learn more about these incredible compounds? Let’s dig a little deeper. 

The Endocannabinoid System (ECS)

The Endocannabinoid System primarily consists of two components. The first includes endocannabinoid receptors present on the cells’ surface throughout the body. The second includes the endocannabinoids, which interact with the receptors. 

Anandamide, a well-known endocannabinoid, is responsible for the creation and uptake of serotonin, a neurotransmitter associated with mood. This molecule also induces “runner’s high.” Experts are still researching the ECS to understand it better. Nevertheless, we still have enough information to know that it helps regulate different bodily processes and functions, including;

CBD is known to act as stimuli for the cannabinoid receptors present in the immune system, gut, and brain. This interacts directly with our ECS, improving its overall function. Consumption can also activate the endocannabinoid system present in the brain and the nervous system. 

The ECS comprises three main elements: enzymes, receptors, and endocannabinoids. 

Further research is still necessary to confirm exactly how CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system, and the extent of the interaction. However, early research has established that CBD doesn’t cling to CB1 and CB2 receptors in the same way that THC does. 

Rather, it works by preventing endocannabinoids from breaking down. This possibly makes them more effective on the body. Taking that into consideration, studies show us that CBD can help manage nausea, pain, and symptoms of different other diseases.

Benefits of Using CBD 

CBD is most commonly used in the form of oil to manage the symptoms of various health conditions. It is extracted from the cannabis plant and added to a carrier oil like coconut oil to promote faster absorption. In the wellness world, CBD is gaining more recognition for its possible benefits. Here, we will be discussing science-backed benefits. 

CBD and Pain Relief

Using cannabis to treat pain is a practice that dates all the way back to 2900 BC. Research shows that using potent CBD may help relieve chronic pain by affecting the endocannabinoid receptor activity, reducing and relieving inflammation. Another study indicated that oral CBD given to rats helps minimize pain caused by a surgical incision.  

A source of comfort for those dealing with Depression and Anxiety

Depression and anxiety are common disorders that can be hard to deal with if not properly addressed and left untreated. Today, most people dealing with these conditions rely on pharmaceutical drugs that, unfortunately, often come with undesirable side effects. These side effects can include insomnia, irritation, and lethargy, among many others. 

CBD has been shown to improve overall mental health and wellbeing for those dealing with depression and anxiety. This has sparked the interest of many as it shows potential to be a natural alternative to conventional medicine. 

In a clinical study conducted in Brazil, participants received a dose of oral CBD or a placebo before performing a public-speaking experiment. Experts concluded that the CBD dose was most effective in substantially calming the participants’ nerves. However, the placebo had little to no effect on the candidates’ anxiety levels. 

CBD and Mood

CBD can help support emotional stability. Studies show that CBD interacts with the ECS to affect how your brain’s chemical receptors respond to the body’s serotonin levels. A bad mood is often associated with low serotonin levels in the body. Clinical studies have indicated that CBD, which is natural and non addictive, interacts with serotonin, a neurotransmitter, and can cause enhanced feelings of well-being. 

CBD and Sleep 

CBD can also assist users in improving their sleep cycles. Many people like to take CBD before going to sleep so they can wake up feeling energized and refreshed the next day. In a study involving insomnia patients, using CBD to help with better sleeping habits led to reduced sleeplessness.   

Which CBD Products to Use?

When it comes to CBD, you should know the difference between full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and CBD Isolate products. Full-spectrum CBD products contain multiple extracts derived from cannabis plants, such as essential oils, terpenes, and other cannabinoids naturally found within them. The synergistic effects of these cannabinoids and other compounds lead to what is known as the entourage effect, where accessory cannabinoids interact with each other and amplify their effect.

Broad-spectrum CBD products allow you to enjoy the benefits of the entourage effect minus the small amounts of THC. The THC is carefully removed, leaving you with a still potent and highly effective CBD product. 

Pure CBD is referred to as CBD isolate, but it lacks all the beneficial terpenes and other beneficial cannabinoids naturally present in the plant. Since they are the least effective form of CBD, they also tend to be the least expensive. 

CBD is separated during the chemical extraction process, and all other cannabinoids are removed during the chemical extraction process. In the absence of these beneficial cannabinoids, you will not be able to experience all the benefits and the superior entourage effect. 

That is because the compound may help us in three important ways:

The CO2 extraction method helps maintain the overall quality and effectiveness of cannabinoids and terpenes. This method utilizes pressurized carbon dioxide to take out the desired components from the cannabis plant. When used at a particular pressure and temperature, CO2 acts as a solvent and is seen as one of the most effective and safest extraction methods out there. The method is also FDA-approved and is commonly used in the food, wellness, and supplement industry.

It is also very important to purchase CBD products that are premium quality and from a brand that has and is transparent about third-party lab testing. A good company will always provide its consumers with up-to-date lab test reports for their batches to ensure ultimate transparency. 

For organic CBD products made with the best raw material and techniques, check out Beni Bush. You can choose from a variety of high-quality broad-spectrum and full-spectrum CBD products that are free of any heavy metals, pesticides, molds, and preservatives. Their full-spectrum products are also tested to assure that they do not contain more than the legal limit of 0.3% THC in them.

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CBD has become increasingly popular during the last few years. Most people are aware of its potential stress relieving and anti-inflammatory properties, but some of its more unique uses have escaped common observation. One of them is found in its ability to improve athletic performance. CBD is a potent workout enhancer for pre and post workout. 

So, what exactly are its benefits? 

Reduces Pain and Inflammation 

Like we mentioned above, most people are aware that CBD is a natural anti-inflammatory. Inflammation causes pain, so by inhibiting an inflammatory response, CBD can reduce aches and pains. In addition, CBD has been shown to act on certain receptors that are responsible for how we interpret pain. This can help athletes during or after their workouts. By providing pain relief and reducing the time spent sore, CBD allows athletes to go longer and have shorter recovery time. 

Muscle Recovery

The real benefits of CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties come after a workout. CBD has been shown to relieve delayed onset muscle soreness or DOMS. That’s the pain you feel a day or two after a heavy workout. When you work out, you create tiny tears in your muscles. This is a normal process and the healing of the muscle is what creates mass. But this can be painful. Luckily, CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties can reduce these muscle pains and body aches. An added benefit is being able to apply CBD topically, so you can rub it right where it hurts. Relief usually comes quickly. 

Promotes Mobility

This attribute is probably closely linked to the anti-inflammatory properties of CBD, but we thought it should get its own category. CBD has muscle relaxing effects and can reduce muscle spasms. By doing this it allows athletes to stretch deeper and move faster. This can be beneficial during and after workout. 

While we aren’t making any claims that CBD cures or prevents diseases, scientific studies have found that CBD does help those that are dealing with Multiple Sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis is a debilitating disease of the central nervous system. MS can severely limit people’s mobility to the point of paralysis, but CBD has been shown to help by exhibiting myelin repairing properties. 

Better Sleep

We all know that we feel and operate better after a good night’s sleep, but we may underestimate just how important sleep really is. Bad or no sleep has been shown to be as impairing to the body as alcohol. Sleep is the time when your body repairs and restores all your major bodily systems. You’ll shorten recovery time and enhance workout time with a good night’s sleep. 

CBD has been shown to act on receptors responsible for sleep. Because of this CBD may help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. CBD also reduces the amount of time spent in REM sleep and increases the time spent in deep sleep. Deep sleep is where the body does most of its repairs. 

Helps Manage Stress and Anxiety Symptoms

CBD can also help those dealing with anxiety. Anxiety can cause muscle tightness, poor coordination, rapid heart beat, and sweating. If an athlete is competing, this isn’t ideal and will obviously affect performance. People generally perform better when they are under less stress. CBD can help athletes reach a more optimal mental state.

One study gave either a CBD oil or a placebo to people before a performance. The group that took CBD was found to have less nervousness, less anxiety and improved cognitive function. 

Improves Physical Performance

More research is needed, but there is quite a bit of anecdotal evidence supporting CBD’s positive effect on physical performance. People say CBD gives them energy that allows them to perform better athletically. This is a phenomenon customers have reported. This could be due to the relieved pain and better sleep associated with CBD. 

We know that the sativa strains of marijuana are more stimulating than other strains. And while CBD has no or less than 0.3% THC it is still extracted from the sativa species. Perhaps this phenomenon can be explained by the entourage effect associated with broad or full spectrum CBD oil.  

More Research 

Clearly more research is needed in many areas. Keep in mind, up until recently CBD was hard to study because it was associated with a schedule 1 substance. Only in 2018 did it become legal nationwide.  In the coming years it will be interesting to see what science uncovers. 

Luckily, you can reap the benefits of CBD now. Take a few drops before your morning workout and see for yourself. 

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Cannabidiol (CBD) is just one of the various compounds found in the cannabis plant. Science has recently begun to study many of its potential health benefits. You’ve probably heard about it lately. Perhaps friends or family have told you how it’s helped them cope with mental or physical ailments. Or maybe you use it yourself and have experienced its benefits first-hand. 

But did you know that your dog or cat can use it too? That’s right, just like humans, your canine or feline friends can also safely benefit from the use of CBD. That’s because they too have an endocannabinoid system. This system is what CBD stimulates in order to regulate the body and bring it back to homeostasis. 

Dog and cat owners have found that CBD can help their pets cope with a variety of ailments. CBD can be used to comfort those dealing with issues such as pain, anxiety, depression, cancer, seizures, neurological and digestive disorders. CBD can also help with behavior problems as well. If your pet is irritable, withdrawn, shows signs of trauma or doesn’t get along with other animals, CBD may be able to help. CBD can also help by healing wounds, increasing appetite and easing end-of-life difficulties. 

How CBD works

CBD acts on the endocannabinoid system. We actually produce natural endocannabinoids which are used to regulate our bodies and maintain homeostasis. The stability of all our body’s internal systems is called homeostasis. If you have an injury or illness, your body’s systems will be out of sync. In an attempt to regain homeostasis your body will produce natural cannabinoids that help your system regain normal function.

Sometimes the body needs a boost or just doesn’t produce enough of a certain chemical. This is when supplementation is needed. Just like thyroid, diabetes, or anti-depressant medicines CBD can help supplement an underperforming system. Except unlike most of those medicines, CBD is completely natural. 

CBD can also help stimulate the endocannabinoid system to produce more receptors. This helps natural cannabinoids work better. The two types of receptors CBD acts on are CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors are found in the central nervous system while CB2 receptors are found in immune cells and the peripheral nervous system. 

The endocannabinoid system controls inflammatory and immune responses. Excess inflammation can cause a host of problems such as rheumatoid arthritis and cancer. Overactive or underactive immune responses can cause allergies, cancer and auto-immune diseases.  

Safety

CBD is a non-psychoactive compound–meaning it doesn’t produce a high–found in the cannabis plant. Both marijuana and hemp are classified as cannabis, but their chemical constitution varies greatly. Hemp is high in CBD and very low in THC. Marijuana is the reverse. THC is the chemical that gets you high. Since CBD is extracted from the hemp plant it is not going to get your pets stoned. 

A 2017 report by the World Health Organization found that CBD is safe and well tolerated by animals. CBD doesn’t usually interact with other medications or have side effects. However, it’s always a good idea to check and see if there are any contraindications between CBD and your pet’s medicine. 

Keep in mind that until recently the cannabis plant was illegal in all states. Only recently in 2018 did the hemp plant become federally legal which eased and dropped some restrictions. While CBD is currently legal in all 50 states, it is still illegal for a vet to recommend it. Even if they think CBD will help your animal, they can’t suggest it. But we imagine these laws will change soon.    

Navigating CBD Products

CBD comes in many different types and forms. Navigating and understanding them all can be a bit confusing. First let’s look at the different types of CBD available. 

Full-spectrum CBD extracts all the chemicals from the hemp plant. These include CBD, other cannabinoids, terpenes and sometimes a tiny bit of THC. By law it has to be less than 0.3%. This is usually the most potent way to take CBD because all the compounds enhance each other and create something called the entourage effect. Basically, science found these chemicals work better together than alone. However, pets may be sensitive to the THC and have a bad reaction. Also, the flavor can be kind of grassy and turn off pets.

Broad-spectrum CBD has all the compounds besides THC. This is the best choice for dogs and cats because they get all the beneficial compounds minus the THC. So, they’ll still get the entourage effect and all the positive benefits without the risk that THC can pose. This has a less grassy, more mild flavor. Check out our tincture here. 

CBD Isolate is pure CBD and nothing else. CBD isolate has no flavor possibly making it easier to slip into a picky animal’s diet. However, CBD isolate doesn’t produce the desired and powerful entourage effect. It lacks the other compounds naturally found in the plant making it less effective than the full & broad spectrum. 

In addition to the various forms of CBD there are many products offering different routes of administration. CBD oil can be dropped into your pet’s food, mouth, or treats. You can also rub it on high-absorption areas such as the ears. 

There may be some trial and error needed to determine which kind works best for your pet. 

Dose

Dosages will vary by animal and situation. Again, some amount of trial and error may be needed. 

The general recommendations for dosages are 1 to 5 milligrams for every 10 pounds. Meaning, if you have a 50-pound dog the dosage would be 5 to 25 milligrams. The first time it’s best to start on the lower side and see how your animal reacts. The lower doses usually won’t have much of an impact, but sometimes they can be just enough. If you notice a change with the lower dose, you may not need to go higher. Still, you might want to try the middle range next time to see if further benefits can be gained. Most animals respond best to the middle range. If you don’t notice anything within an hour, you can dose your pet again. Make sure to keep track of how much you give them each time and not exceed the highest recommended dose. 

Make sure to always read the label of your CBD product because the potency between products can vary greatly. Also keep in mind that sometimes it’s hard to visibly gauge how your animal is feeling. They might be feeling better but you just can’t tell. If your animal becomes overly lethargic or sleepy you are probably giving them too much.  

If your animal has an acute anxiety or pain problem, you can dose them every 8 hours. Otherwise, once or twice a day is usually sufficient. 

Thoughts and Conclusions 

For many, our animals are family members. We want to provide them with the best life possible. It’s heart wrenching when they are in pain or sick and of course we want to do anything you can to help them. One of our customers told us about how when their cat got sick it was hard to concentrate on anything else because they just wanted her to get better. Their cat was already taking prescription meds, but it didn’t seem to be enough. So, they tried CBD and it ended up making all the difference. Their cat became active and affectionate again. They believe the combination of prescription medicine and CBD is what finally helped her. 

CBD is a great enhancement to any health regimen and can work in tandem with other prescription medications to give your pet exactly what they need.

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In the past few years, people have become increasingly concerned with how their food is grown. They no longer want consumables grown with pesticides, or harmful chemicals. They have instead opted for foods that are USDA Certified Organic. 

Now even CBD can be made adhering to the USDA Certified Organic standards. Up until recently, USDA organic hemp was not widely available and therefore it was hard to certify CBD as organic. It is a long and difficult process to obtain USDA certification, but it is worthwhile because it offers customers the assurance of safety and quality. Companies that do gain certification are sure to stand out among the rest. 

How the laws have changed 

Hemp imported from outside the U.S has always been able to receive USDA certification. In the U.S. hemp and CBD only became legal to grow nationwide with the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill. This allowed companies to start pursuing USDA Organic status. 

Until that point, most companies had to be part of pilot programs in order to grow hemp. Therefore many weren’t able to participate, even though the passage of the 2014 Farm Bill authorized hemp to receive USDA Organic certification. In January 2016, the first company was able to receive this certification and seven other companies followed suit and received certification. Then laws changed again in February 2016 so third-parties were no longer able to investigate and certify hemp companies. Later the same year, the USDA tightened regulations and only allowed hemp grown through state pilot programs to receive the certification. The fact that the flower wasn’t considered part of the definition of industrial hemp made it even harder to gain certification. The flower is the part of the plant with the highest concentration of alkaloids. 

Thankfully in 2018 hemp became a federally legal crop and many of the restrictions were loosened. Hemp is now no longer considered a controlled substance. This allowed a group of companies to begin the certification process. Beni Bush is actually one such company. Check out our organic products here.

High standards

The certification is still difficult to obtain so there are only a few CBD companies that sell USDA Certified Organic CBD. CBD hemp is rated in four different categories. They are as follows; hemp farming and organic certification, processing, testing/auditing and transparency. 

Here at Beni-Bush we strive to excel in all categories. All of our CBD oil is USDA Certified Organic.

The process to obtain USDA Organic status can be rigorous. For CBD it means adhering to certain processes and using only other USDA organic ingredients. We do not use any fertilizers, growth hormones or pesticides on the hemp. We utilize sustainable farming practices that improve the conditions of the soil and prevent soil erosion. After the hemp is grown, we are only permitted to use certain types of extraction processes such as CO2 extraction and lipid extraction.   

Although this process may be difficult, we believe that it is well worth it. At Beni Bush, we took the extra step to ensure that our customers receive a quality product. The USDA Certified Organic seal is one of the most commonly recognized seals among consumers. It tells customers that these products are safe and sustainable. We are proud to be one of the few CBD companies with this certification.

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