So if you remember my CBD post from last year I was JUST starting my CBD Oil journey and was still learning the in’s and out’s of what it all meant. But a year later, and having used it and many other CBD products I felt like it was time for an update!
So first…
THE SCIENCE
CBD: abbreviation for cannabidiol, one of the many cannabinoids, or chemical compounds, found in marijuana and hemp. But hold up, wait, no – it doesn’t get you high. CBD contains such a low dosage of THC (another compound in cannabis which is “psychoactive”) that it won’t produce the “stoned” or “high” effect that you get when you smoke marijuana and it doesn’t show up on a drug test, either. (I’ve drug tested to make sure!) So essentially, you’re able to enjoy all of the natural benefits of the marijuana plant without the “side effects.” CBD interacts with the body through the endogenous cannabinoid system (ECS) or endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system regulates the body’s “homeostasis,” or general state of balance, from mood, sleep, appetite, hormone regulation, and pain and immune response. Essentially, it attempts to restore our body’s “normal balance” to make us feel at our optimal level. In the past decade or more, there have been over 23,000 of studies published in peer reviewed medical journals detailing the effects of cannabis, cannabis oil, and cannabinoids on the body. Needless to say, there’s a lot of good information to be found about the positive effects of CBD Oil for people.
And something to note, not all CBD Oil is the same. At all. And I’ll dive more into that shortly.
THE WHY
Why would you use CBD Oil? I think the better question would be… Why wouldn’t you?
+ Pain Relief
+ Reduces Anxiety / Stress
+ Minimizes Depression / PTSD
+ Reduces Inflammation
+ Alleviates Cancer Symptoms
+ Treats Acne
+ Neuroprotective Properties (Parkinsons, Alzheimers, MS, etc.)
+ Benefits Heart Health
+ Antipsychotic Effects (schizophrenia and other mental disorders by reducing psychotic symptoms)
+ Anti-tumor treatment
+ Diabetes prevention
+ Treats migraines
+Insomnia
… the list goes on!
CBD helps modulate the transcription of over 1100 different genes at the level of the chromosome that help every system maintain dynamic equilibrium also known as metabolism.
There are more cannabinoid receptors in the body and brain than any other receptor, making it the most prevalent regional epicenter of activity throughout every space in the body. It facilitates and mediates signals that are responsible for almost every function.
And… You can also use CBD Oil for your pets and for your children!
THE COMPANY
As I mentioned before, not all CBD Oil companies are the same and their quality and processes vary greatly for one to the next so it’s so important you order from a reputable company. The ONLY company I will order from is Thoughtcloud. I did a ridiculous amount of research before I chose Thoughtcloud (because honestly, it intimidated me a little bit and was a tad overwhelming to do something completely new and different like this at first.) I got on the phone with several other companies and tried e-mailing and chatting with others to really get a feel for their product, how it worked, what I should be ordering for myself, etc. When a friend had posted on Facebook about her amazing experience with one company in particular (Thoughtcloud) I wanted to chat with them next. Heading over to their site I noticed they had a chat feature (which I love) and I immediately logged into that where I found myself chatting with Leo Pena who is actually the founder + owner of the company and is also a chemist, biologist, formulator, herbologist, and holistic medical practitioner. I told him about my hyperthyroidism condition and even asked him questions about his product vs a couple other “big names” in the CBD world. He was super patient, answered all my questions, explained his testing process for his product, etc. I felt a definite sense of peace after to him and I knew I was ready to order. I chose a bottle of hemp oil and to this day, it’s still my favorite.
THE TYPES
If you go to the Thoughtcloud website you’ll notice there are TONS of options. Which is totally awesome! But, I know lots of options can also feel really overwhelming too so I thought I would go through the site and highlight some of my favorites and showcase some of the differences between them.
You’ll see on the website there are a few different “types” of oil:
+ “Full Spectrum”
+ “Sustainable Isolate”
+ “High CBG”
+ “High CBN”.
You also might notice that there are different colored labels:
+ Green (coconut oil)
+ Blue (hemp oil)
+ Yellow (pets)
+ Purple (low-weight, i.e kids)
+ Orange (high CBG)
+ Red (high CBN)
The only difference between our Coconut Full Spectrum and Hemp Full Spectrum is the carrier oils. Use the coconut for a milder flavor and switch to hemp if you’re allergic to coconut. There is no difference in potency. Only in taste.
And you’ll also notice different MG numbers:
+ 500mg
+ 750mg
+ 1500mg
+ 3000mg
The MG’s represent the amount of CBD per ML in the bottle. The amount of CBD remains the same in each bottle and is adjusted to keep the ratio depending on the size of the bottle. So no bottle is “stronger” than the next the amount of CBD included in each bottle is in relation to how large the bottle is, make sense? The 30ml will have double the mg of the 15ml and so on…
*The only bottle that doesn’t follow this rule is the 500mg bottle which has less CBD than 750mg bottle with the same 15ml.
Now let’s talk Full Spectrum, Isolate, High CBG and High CBD. Basically the formulas work to target different ailments. So depending on why you’re wanting to try CBD Oil will depend on which formula you choose. Let me list them out for you!
ISOLATE:
Anxiety
Lupus
ADD/ADHD
Stress
Bipolar
OCD
PTSD
Depression
Migraine/Headache
Hypertension
Cramps
Phantom Limb
Spinal Injury
Fibromyalgia
Anorexia
Cachexia
Gastrointestinal disorders
Nausea
Diabetes
Crohn’s Disease
FULL SPECTRUM:
Pain
Asthma
Insomnia
Arthritis
Inflammation
Depression
Epilepsy
Multiple Sclerosis
Alzheimer’s
Parkinson’s
Spasticity
Osteoporosis
ALS
OCD
The difference between Isolate and Full Spectrum is that Isolate contains solely CBD whereas the Full Spectrum contains 5 variations of CBD. Those variations are CBD, CBC, CBG, CBN, and CBDV.
HIGH CBN:
Insomnia
Severe pain
Delays disease onset
CNS disorders
Alzheimer’s disease
MS, Huntington’s disease
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS)
Parkinson’s disease
Neuroinflammatory disorders
Fibrosis
HIGH CBG:
Inflammation
inflammatory bowel disease
inhibits abnormal cell growth
MS
Colon disorders
Huntington’s disease
Bladder dysfunctions
You’ll also see on the website there is a VAPE option and several different vape flavors as well as the Vape Bundle so let me dive into those, too!
Flavors:
+ Horchata
+ Banana Split
+ Birthday Cake
+ Strawberry Limeade
+ Pina Colada
+ Mojito
+ Bubble Gum
+ Cheesecake
+ Cherry Cola
+ Waffles
+ Orange Creamsicle
Vaping is basically a way to “smoke” the oil BUT erase the “smoking” connotation that goes along with it because vaping CBD with Thoughtcloud’s Rubi Vape Pen is completely safe. And yes, I’ll admit I was totally hesitant to it as I’ve never smoked and wasn’t sure what to expect but again Leo was awesome, answered all of my questions and I felt totally confident giving it a try. There is absolutely zero “damage” done to your lungs from vaping – that was my biggest question. Thoughtcloud’s vape pen is made with fractionated coconut oil (MCT), that is the reactor, so you don’t have any of those harsh chemicals like Propylene Glycol that a lot of other companies are using as the heating reactor and preservative in their vape pens. One big factor to consider -and perk of vaping – is you’ll feel the effects much more immediately than the oil. So people dealing with anxiety or pain may want to vape over dropping the oil under your tongue to feel more immediate relief. If you do choose to take orally, make sure to drink lots of water to help metabolism and avoid an upset stomach.
Some people have questions about how to fill up their vape pen and get it set up and I think this video is super helpful.
And one of Thoughtcloud’s newest additions is their topical + skincare line!
And I’ll tell you their topical CBD pain management balm was a godsend post surgery for me. Definitely helped to heal and soothe my incisions.
For this line we have a variety of products as well that I’ve recently started using and quickly fell in love with. A couple of these products are currently out of stock so if they are at the time you read this post keep checking back because it’s totally worth it.
+ Ozonated Coconut CBD Skin Cream
+ Facial Glaze Serum
+ Beauty Mask (soothe + relax + detox)
+ Full Spectrum Facial Beauty Bar
+ Pain Management Balm
+ BATH BOMBS (need I say more?)
If you’re wanting to use all-natural products, you’re not going to get more all-natural than this.
MY EXPERIENCE
It’s been a year since I started using CBD Oil and it’s been a complete game changer for me. From having the ability to just relax + destress, to diminishing inflammation, to migraine relief and even helping my insomnia I can not tell you all enough how much I love and support the use of CBD Oil. I use a mix of all of the products above (I’ve tried basically everything) so I can speak first hand about all of the products. If you have a question, totally shoot me a message and I’m happy to help!
Which one do I use?
I prefer the hemp oil over coconut and I get the 1500mg bottle (most bang for your buck!) Although when I started I got the 750mg bottle because I wasn’t sure if I would like it or how well it would work. Now that I know it’s amazing I opt for the bigger bottle! I also use the Nighttime Formula to help with sleep. I’ve been using Full Spectrum but will be switching over to Isolate soon to help with some GI issues!
How much do I use?
15 drops which is considered the “serving size”.
THE DISCOUNT
And yes, Thoughtcloud rocks and gave me an awesome discount code for all of y’all to use on your order! It takes off a % depending on what your order is so the bigger the order, the more you save. AND you can use my discount code on all of their big sales promotions as well to save even more!
Website: https://tinyurl.com/Thoughtcloudcbd
Discount Code: JENNRICHARDSON
