Cannabidiol (CBD), a major non-intoxicating compound derived from the cannabis Sativa plant t, has recently come into focus due to its several therapeutic and healing properties. This is one of the primary reasons why its demand for health and wellness purposes has increased substantially over the past few years. From regulating your mood, helping you alleviate stress and anxiety, to reducing inflammation and treating menstrual cramps, CBD has every reason to be in the limelight.

A simple google search will show you a lot of products that have CBD in them as their key ingredient such as CBD oil, CBD-infused menstrual cramp oil, CBD aromatherapy in India. With so much variability in product type, formulation, and strength, people are left wondering which product is ideal for them. However, this confusion can easily be sorted if you do a little bit of research and educate yourself about different products. In this blog, we are going to answer about available CBD-based products in India, the meaning of different terms you will come across while selecting any CBD products and how you should buy them at the end.

How Do CBD Products Help?

We all have a system called endocannabinoid in our bodies. It plays a pivotal role in regulating balancing several important physiological processes, including immune response, mood, memory, appetite, metabolism, sleepiness, wakefulness, and pain. Disturbances to physiological equilibrium, if remains uncorrected, result in health issues with symptoms ranging from anxiety, depression headaches, insomnia. It can also result in many serious conditions, including arthritis, epilepsy, and cancer.

The endocannabinoid produces cannabinoid-like molecules. These molecules, which are found in mammal bodies, are known as endocannabinoid. On the other hand, the ones which are found in plants are phytocannabinoids. CBD and other phytocannabinoids trigger the endocannabinoid by interacting with the receptors located in the central and peripheral nervous systems, contributing to our physical and psychological well-being.

There are broadly three types of cannabidiol products - isolate, broad-spectrum, and full-spectrum. CBD isolate only has cannabidiol in it. Products containing full-spectrum hemp extract have all the chemical compounds found in the hemp plant, including all cannabinoids, including CBC, CBG, CBN, and THC, flavonoids, terpenes while broad-spectrum products leave out the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

What are the different kinds of CBD products available in the market?

CBD Soft Gels: CBD Softgel or capsules are precisely what they sound like: pills infused with cannabidiol and encapsulated and hermetically sealed in gelatin, which is a natural substance familiar to our body. It helps in preserving the cannabinoid content and other beneficial ingredients intact for our system to digest which further increases absorption efficacy.

CBD soft gels are the simplest, most convenient way to enjoy the numerous benefits CBD offers. While you’ve to measure the dose of tinctures and oils, capsules come in exact, consistent doses. They are tasteless, very easy to swallow, and don’t dissolve in your mouth.

Currently, the softgels come in the form of full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, or isolate. Hempstrol introduced India's first-ever full Spectrum CBD Softgel in India where we use full-spectrum while making our products as it contains no more than 0.3% of THC. Moreover, the gelatin that our capsules are made of is plant-based. While most of the companies out there choose animal products to make the covering of their capsules, we have gone the other way to cater to our vegan customers.

CBD Skin and Pain Management Topicals: CBD oil, creams, and salves constitute topical applications of cannabidiol usually used for skincare. There are other topical applications available in the market such as CBD pain management balm, menstrual cramp relief oil which helps in easing cramps during periods. Cannabidiol has analgesic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties; hence, it is very effective in managing pain as well as treating several skin concerns such as dryness, irritation, and skin inflammation.

Pet CBD Products: As our four-legged companion's age, they tend to develop chronic conditions such as joint arthritis, diabetes, epilepsy, and cancer. Some dogs start to get anxiety issues from car rides, storms, and fireworks. . Our four-legged companions have an endocannabinoid system built inside their bodies. So, their body is well-equipped to handle cannabidiol and other cannabinoids and derive benefits in the same way as we humans do.  According to a handful of clinical studies, CBD has been very effective in controlling pain, seizures and helping our pets cope with several phobias and physical ailments. However, dogs and cats need pet-specific products which should contain appropriate concentrations of cannabinoids. It is wrong to give products meant for humans to our pets due to the fact it can cause side effects.

Isolate, Full-Spectrum, or Broad-Spectrum: What’s the difference?

When you step out to purchase CBD, you will come across these terms and it is very important to know the difference between all three of them before making a purchase:

Full Spectrum Hemp Extract: CBD products containing full-spectrum extract are the best as they deliver all the benefits found in the hemp plant. It has all the cannabinoids including THC as well as terpenes, and flavonoids, vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids. Hempstrol derives its product from hemp which doesn’t contain more than 0.3% of THC.

Broad-spectrum CBD: It includes all the naturally occurring compounds.

CBD isolates:  It is the purest form of CBD and doesn't contain THC.

Is Hemp Seed Oil and CBD Oil the same?

A lot of people confuse hemp oil with CBD oil in India. While they come from the same plant, they aren't the same in chemical composition. CBD oil is made from cannabidiol-rich portions of the plant such as flowers and leaves. On the other hand, Hemp oil is made from just the seeds. Although it contains no cannabinoids, it has several fatty acids, which balances, soothe, and moisturise the skin.

So, How will I know that I am buying a genuine, safe, and effective product? 

A 2017 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association tested CBD products from various brands. They found that almost 26 percent of the products contained considerably less CBD per milliliter than what was mentioned on the label.  With CBD getting all the limelight, a large number of brands are coming up with CBD products. Are all of them equally effective and safe? Not necessarily. Well, there are a few ways listed below to know whether you are purchasing the right CBD-based product:

The first and foremost thing is to check its certifications. The manufacturer/seller’s website you are buying from must have certificates of quality assurance/ certificate of analysis (COA), coming from a third-party source; a third-party, independent lab has tested the safety and efficacy of the products you are about to buy. The certificate specifies the exact amount of cannabinoids and other chemical compounds present in your product. This is extremely important as hemp is a phytoremediation plant; it cleans the soil by absorbing everything, including metals, pesticides, and other toxins. The certificate needs to show how much heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium, lead, arsenic as well as pesticides, and mycotoxins are present in the soil from where the hemp plants were harvested. The chosen product must “pass” all the tests.

Look for information regarding the extraction method. There are two different ways of extracting CBD - ethanol extraction and CO2 extraction. Hempstrol uses CO2 extraction, also known as green extraction, is safe and environmentally friendly. It also retains the complete range of cannabinoids, flavonoids, terpenes, essential oils, vitamins, minerals, omega fatty acids, and other helpful phytochemical found in the hemp plant.

Now, let’s look at a few red flags you need to watch out for while buying CBD products. Irrespective of which brand you choose to buy CBD-based products from, make sure you check the ingredients and it shouldn’t contain any form of additives, preservatives, emulsifiers, or flavours. Remember cannabinoids are effective in their pure and natural state; any added ingredient not only diminishes their effectiveness but also makes the safety of the product questionable. If a brand makes any unsupported health claims regarding their products, that’s another red flag buyers need to watch out for. 

With so many products available, people need to choose high-quality and safe products. Therefore, it is essential to select products that have undergone third-party testing. It is also advisable to talk with a doctor before using any CBD product.