What is "CBD"?

CBD (or cannabidiol), is one of the many active chemical compounds found in the cannabis sativa plant, also known as cannabis or hemp.

While it is an essential component of medical marijuana, CBD is a non-psychoactive compound that does not cause the sensation of ‘getting high’ that is often associated with cannabis.

What is CBD Used for?

People are turning to CBD and consider it beneficial in supporting physical and mental health.

It should be noted that some of the following requires more comprehensive scientific evidence to fully understand and support these uses of CBD. You should seek advice from a medical practitioner before taking CBD.

Habit Changes

CBD may support people who are trying to reduce dependencies on smoking or other substances. Research is ongoing on the role that CBD can play in supporting an individual managing feelings while trying to quit.

Mood

Studies and clinical trials are exploring reports that CBD in low doses can reduce general feelings of stress.

Authors of a 2015 review had suggested that the effects of CBD showed improved mood among people experiencing stress.

Muscle Soreness Due to Exercise

There are claims that the non-psychoactive compounds in CBD can reduce workout aches and discomfort.

CBD may have a positive impact for those that exercise frequently and contains anti-inflammatory properties.

Energy & Focus

Studies are still in its early stages and have mainly focused on this compound’s calming and relaxing properties. Early evidence also suggests, however, that CBD may help improve energy and focus.

How can a chemical compound that promotes calmness and relaxation also have the opposite effect? Read in detail how CBD can improve energy and focus here.

Heart Health

CBD’s antioxidative properties may be able to support heart health by maintaining blood pressure already within normal range.

Occasional Sleeplessness

CBD is known to have an impact on sleep modulation and help those who have trouble falling and staying asleep. Some experts attribute recent spikes in the sales of CBD products to our increasing desire to find alternative or complementary methods of relaxing and unwinding.

Skin Health

CBD is becoming a more common ingredient in skin creams and ointments. Skincare products containing CBD may be able to support skin health. Facial moisturizers containing CBD have also had success in acne prone skin.

How Can CBD Be Taken?

Hemp-derived CBD is available in a wide variety of consumer goods.

A considerable amount of these products are catered towards most diets and lifestyles. Often they are:

Vegan
Zero-calories
GMO-free
Fast-acting
100% organic
Environmentally-friendly

Capsules

Set yourself up for peak performance with our next-level CBD products. Our formulations deliver a greater amount of CBD to your body--4x that of oil-based formulations[1]. As always, our CBD is THC-free, meaning you won’t experience any psychoactive effects after consumption.

CBD gel capsules, or softgels, are a popular option. Capsules are easy to swallow and often have no taste, meaning they can be added as a dietary supplement with food.

People often prefer taking flavorless or odorless capsules over tinctures, which can be oily and messy.

Consumers will have confidence when taking capsules that they will be receiving an accurate dosage of CBD versus taking “dropperfuls” of oils or tinctures.

[1] When compared after 2 hours to oil-based formulation such as tinctures, softgels and capsules with NextEvo absorption beginning in as little as 10 minutes

Cosmetics & Beauty Products

There are ranges of beauty and body products containing CBD, such as;

Body washes to help energize and hydrate
Muscle balms and bath bombs for relaxation
Moisturizers and lotions for massaging into skin
Topical ointments

Edibles

CBD can be incorporated or mixed with food or drink products, such as;

Chocolates & gummies
Baked goods
Cooking oil
Water
Infused juice and energy drinks
Tea & Coffee

Popular CBD tinctures are commonly oil formulas. CBD oils are typically taken by swallowing drops.

Recent research suggests that up to 95% of oil based formulas of CBD is not absorbed. There is also evidence showing that there is no benefit for holding an oil under the tongue as the oil cannot penetrate the oral mucosal tissue of the mouth. Instead, there’s a growing body of research around the effectiveness of water-soluble formulas that increase the bioavailability of CBD (how quickly and how much of it can reach your bloodstream).

Vaping CBD is increasing in popularity, but has been shown to be an unsafe practice regardless of the substances in the vape pen.

When vaping devices are heated, a chemical reaction takes place in the vapor, which could pose additional risks to the lungs, especially in young people.

We cover why oil products are an ineffective way of taking CBD here.

How Does CBD Work?

Is CBD legal? Will it make me high? These are just some of the common questions many newcomers to CBD have. Find the answers to these and more in our CBD 101 guide.

CBD helps to support our body’s Endocannabinoid System (ECS). This is our primary regulatory system which works to;

Regulate our internal processes (like sleep, mood).
Produce natural endogenous cannabinoids - these act like neurotransmitters that bind to cannabinoid receptors throughout the body.
Promote homeostasis (balance) throughout the body.

When the body recognizes a threat to the balance of its internal systems, cannabinoids bind to the receptors. This activates a warning signal to alert of potential damage to the body’s internal state of homeostasis.

CBD interacts with these receptors, which in turn helps stimulate our body’s natural production of endogenous cannabinoids and effectively blocks the central nervous system’s response to external stressors.

These receptors are found on the surface of cells throughout the body. The two main receptors are:

CB1 receptors: mainly found in the brain and spinal cord. They coordinate movement, emotion, mood, thinking, appetite, and other functions
CB2 receptors: found in the cells throughout the body’s immune system.

As daily stressors and poor lifestyle choices threaten to throw our bodies off balance, CBD can help to support and maintain an internal state of homeostasis.

To learn more about the Endocannabinoid System (ECS), see here.

What is the Difference Between CBD & THC?

CBD is non-psychoactive, whereas THC is.

CBD is just one of the hundreds of natural compounds found in the cannabis sativa plant (including THC).

While CBD and THC belong to the same plant species, they have different chemical compositions. One of the biggest differentiators is the amount of THC in each plant. Legally, hemp plants must have 0.3% or less THC.

A plant with more than 0.3% THC is considered a marijuana plant and cannot be sold in areas where cannabis has not been legalized by a state, either for medical or adult use.

This means hemp-derived CBD isn’t intoxicating and allows you to take advantage of the support it helps to provide— without the psychoactive effects of THC.

Will CBD Make Me Feel High?

No, CBD is a non-psychoactive compound and will not get you high.

Because CBD is extracted from the same cannabis sativa strain of hemp as THC, it is often mistakenly associated with marijuana in the minds of both consumers and regulators.

Hemp-derived CBD will not cause a “buzzed” feeling. Instead, CBD often makes users feel calm, relaxed or focused.

THC does produce psychoactive effects. During the extraction process, THC is isolated and removed (although small traces of THC can be left behind). By law CBD products cannot contain more than 0.3% THC.

In fact, we manufacture our NextEvo^TM Naturals Premium Pure CBD as THC-free formulas, so users can benefit from incorporating CBD products into their daily regimen.

Is CBD Safe?

Generally yes, CBD can be used as a safe and effective supplement. CBD is recognized as safe by The World Health Organization. They support the position that “there is no evidence of public health related problems associated with the use of pure CBD”.

With that said, there is a very small percentage of users who have experienced side effects after taking CBD. Potential risks and side effects are:

Possible Risks & Side Effects

Nausea - feelings of Dizziness or Fatigue
Heightened States of Euphoria
Diarrhea, Vomiting or Dry Mouth
Low Blood Pressure
Blood Thinning
Liver Damage
Interactions with other Drugs and Alcohol
Mood Changes - Irritability or Irritation
Gastrointestinal Problems
Loss of Appetite or Increased Hunger
Reduction in Fertility for Males

Avoid CBD If You Are …

Under 18 years of age. You must be 18+ to buy or consume CBD products in the U.S. Regular use among teenagers is associated with issues concerning memory, behavior and intelligence.
Pregnant or nursing. The FDA strongly advises against CBD use during or following pregnancy. CBD can be contaminated with other ingredients and can potentially be harmful to fetal development.
Taking certain medication. CBD might change how quickly the liver breaks down certain medications and change the effects of them. (People with liver disease may need to use lower doses of CBD). Check with your doctor about possible drug interactions.
Subject to regular drug testing. Even at THC levels below 0.3%, some CBD formulas can return a false positive. If in doubt, use a 0% THC formula.

Is CBD Legal?

CBD is readily obtainable in most parts of the United States. You should check the cannabis laws in your state and any travel destination.

Cannabis that contains higher levels of THC is now listed as marijuana and remains a Schedule I drug.

Does CBD Show Up on a Drug Test?

CBD is usually absorbed and flushed from the body in a matter of hours and doesn’t attach to hair follicles, so it will not show up on a drug test. Bear in mind that most drug tests are not screening for THC and not CBD.

For peace of mind, stick to CBD products that contain zero THC (check the certificate of analysis).

How Do I Pick Good Quality CBD?

Unscrupulous CBD vendors exploit the fact that consumers are largely unaware of the difference between a low-quality and premium CBD formula. The difference in purity and effectiveness can be significant.

Look for producers who supply a Certificate of Analysis from a third-party laboratory. This will list the ingredients, from the CBD and other cannabinoid content, to the presence of heavy metals, pesticides, solvents and other undesirable ingredients.

By nature, CBD is a lipophilic compound. This means it is easily dissolved in oils and fats, but not in water. Given that our bodies are almost 60% water, oil-based CBD products pose a barrier to fast and effective delivery to the bloodstream. The level of absorption is also referred to as bioavailability.

NextEvo CBD is Water Soluble

If your body is having a hard time absorbing an ingredient, the product is considered to have poor bioavailability. Poor quality brands will fall short of their promised benefits by ignoring the importance of bioavailability in their formulations. Choose premium brands that use advanced technology - such as our SmartSorb™ formulation - to enhance the absorption of the CBD molecules and allow for greater levels of CBD to reach your bloodstream.

It’s important to purchase your pure CBD products from trusted retailers. There are some CBD products that may bypass thorough testing and the FDA has not published any guidance on manufacturing requirements. Many smaller retailers may sell low-grade products that could contain harmful toxins and very little CBD.

NextEvo is committed to rigorous scientific research to evaluate the safety and efficacy of our Premium Pure CBD products. NextEvo Naturals SmartSorb™ technology, a proprietary emulsion is clinically shown to deliver 4 times the CBD into your bloodstream and starts to get into your system in as little as 10 minutes.